Performances, Shows & Special Events

Select dates February 6-9, 2025. Based on the Peanuts comic strip by Charles Schulz with book, music and lyrics by Clark Gesner. Happiness is great musical theatre! With charm, wit, and heart, You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown explores life through the eyes of Charlie Brown and his friends in the Peanuts gang. This revue has songs and vignettes based on the beloved Charles Schulz comic strip. Musical numbers include “My Blanket and Me,” “The Kite,” “The Baseball Game,” “Little Known Facts,” “Suppertime,” and “Happiness.” Guaranteed to please audiences of all ages! - Classics Show

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Returning to the Cardinal Ballroom for an Encore 2nd Stage Performance is local crooner extraordinaire, Lawrence Olds. His rich, smooth voice brings the standards to life as his combo of expert musicians shuffle and swing the night away. You don’t want to miss this evening of classic crooning with Richmond’s own, Lawrence Olds! Indoor 2nd Stage Show! Enjoy general admission seating in our Cardinal Ballroom. Plus, make the evening complete with wine/beer/beverages and snacks for sale at the show!

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A Musical Tribute to Prince brings the electric joy and eclectic funk of Prince’s music to the stage with vibrant, energetic and dynamic recreations of Prince’s greatest hits, funkiest jams and most soulful ballads. Accompanied by his incredibly talented band, Anthony Cosby, Jr. takes you on an unforgettable musical journey like you’ve never experienced before! Get ready to sing, dance, and party like it’s 1999 with this captivating performance that pays tribute to the musical genius of “The Purple One!” - New Horizons Show

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Folk stalwarts Tom Paxton, Cathy Fink, and Marcy Marxer have been friends for decades and began weekly Zoom songwriting sessions early in the COVID lockdown. Come hear the fruits of their collaboration!

Tom Paxton has been part of the songwriting and folk music community since the early 60’s. His songs, first popularized by Pete Seeger include “Ramblin’ Boy”, “Can’t Help but Wonder Where I’m Bound”, “The Marvelous Toy”, and “The Last Thing on my Mind”, among many others.

Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer are two-time Grammy® Award Winners with a career spanning over 35 years. Their superb harmonies are backed by instrumental virtuosity on the guitar, five-string banjo, ukulele, mandolin, cello-banjo, and more.

Together, Tom Paxton, Cathy Fink, and Marcy Marxer have melded their musical styles. Their concert performance will include both old and new material and please new and old fans alike. Claim your tickets in advance today!

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Roberta Lea and her Best Kept Secret Band hail from the Norfolk area. She is a strong soulful singer/songwriter who is making waves in the country music scene with songs like “Too Much of a Woman”, “Make Up Your Mind”, and “Uniform” – an ode to those who serve in our armed forces. Roberta is a Virginia Commission for the Arts Touring Artist and she is a member of the Black Opry Revue – a home for black artists and black fans of country, blues, folk, and Americana music. Don’t miss your chance to support this up and coming country music diva! Indoor 2nd Stage Show! Enjoy general admission seating in our Cardinal Ballroom. Plus, make the evening complete with wine/beer/beverages and snacks for sale at the show!

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Join us from 12-6pm! Ready for a Spring refresh? Get inspired! Meet local artists and makers while shopping for unique handmade goods on Market Day with RVA Makers Market, an arts and craft faire highlighting a curated selection of Central Virginia’s greatest makers among rising stars who can’t wait to share about their process with you. Plus, The Center's four art galleries will be open with free admission, making this a great day of shopping and art! Mark your calendar and bring the whole family! LEARN MORE HERE!

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Renowned worldwide for high-energy spectacular showmanship, their viral video “Bring Me Sunshine,” and for being the first live band to reach the final rounds of “Britain’s Got Talent;” The Jive Aces have firmly established themselves as the UK’s No.1 Jive & Swing band. Enjoy classics like “When You’re Smiling,” “Mack The Knife,” and “Sing, Sing, Sing,” plus originals such as “La Dolce Vita” taken from their various albums. The in-demand sextet averages 300 shows a year and has worked with Van Morrison and Keely Smith and performed for Her Majesty The Queen. The Jive Aces have headlined and sold-out the Royal Albert Hall as well as thousands of festivals, theatres, and dance halls. Don’t miss their exciting performance at The Cultural Arts Center on March 30th! - Classics Show

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Combining stunning acrobatics, dance, striking visual effects, physical comedy, and inventive choreography, Galumpha brings to life a world of imagination, beauty, muscle and merriment. The three performers create a sensory feast of images ranging from the ridiculous to the sublime, drawn together into a seamless whole, consistently bringing audiences to their feet! Galumpha is a triumphant mix of art and entertainment, offering world-class, award winning choreography and fun for the whole family in their new show titled “Art of Human Architecture.” - New Horizons Show

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Back by popular demand, one of Richmond’s greatest treasures returns to The Cultural Arts Center for an outdoor afternoon concert of music spanning the genres of gospel, blues, jazz, soul, and more. Whether acting, dancing, or singing, Desiree never disappoints – so get your tickets now before they are gone! Center Field Outdoor Concert! General Admission Seating. Bring your lawn chair or blanket and join us for a fun afternoon of live music on our  outdoor stage! Wine/beer/beverages and snacks available for sale at the show. Pets and outside alcohol are prohibited. Children ages 3 and under are welcome to attend without a ticket.

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Join us from 12-6pm! Just in time for Mother’s Day! Meet local artists and makers while shopping for unique handmade goods on Market Day with RVA Makers Market, an arts and craft faire highlighting a curated selection of Central Virginia’s greatest makers among rising stars. You’ll be sure to find thoughtful and personal gifts for all the moms in your life. Plus, The Center's four art galleries will be open with free admission, making this a great day of shopping and art! Mark your calendar and bring the whole family! LEARN MORE HERE!

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If you like old-time swing and cabaret music, you will love the smooth and swinging sounds of Antique Melody Show. Anchored by the unique guitar stylings of Art Mayer and led by the ‘smoke-and-honey’ vocals of Marilyn Brown, this local swing favorite is fleshed out by Allen Cole on clarinet, Kassia Arbabi on violin, Andy McCarty on keys, and Carter Blough on the upright bass. Enjoy an afternoon of gentle rhythms and old-time melodies with Antique Melody Show! Center Field Outdoor Concert! General Admission Seating. Bring your lawn chair or blanket and join us for a fun afternoon of live music on our  outdoor stage! Wine/beer/beverages and snacks available for sale at the show. Pets and outside alcohol are prohibited. Children ages 3 and under are welcome to attend without a ticket.

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For the past five decades, Grammy-winning BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet has been making some of the most potent and popular Cajun music on the planet. Born out of the rich Acadian ancestry of its members, and created and driven by bandleader Michael Doucet’s internationally renowned fiddle playing and soulful vocals, BeauSoleil is notorious for bringing even the most staid audience to its feet. BeauSoleil’s distinctive sound derives from the distilled spirits of New Orleans jazz, blues, rock, folk, swamp pop, Zydeco, country and bluegrass, captivating listeners from the Jazz and Heritage Festival in New Orleans to Carnegie Hall, then all the way across the pond to Richard Thompson’s Meltdown Festival in England. Don’t miss BeauSoleil’s return to The Cultural Arts Center as part of their 50th anniversary tour. - Heritage Show

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12-6pm. Treat your tastebuds to all the best handmade ice cream around while also enjoying fun and games inspired by our favorite warm weather dessert! Event to include tastings, carnival games, ice cream art contests & activities, and more! A tasty event for all ages!

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