Spotlight on the Arts is sponsored by the City of Fairfax in cooperation with George Mason University and the business and arts community of Fairfax. "Spotlight" is considered one of Virginia’s foremost arts festivals. Over its 35 year history it has continued to be committed to supporting and encouraging awareness of cultural opportunities in the greater Fairfax community.

We, at Spotlight, are constantly inspired by the ways that art brings people together, creates a community and shines a light on issues that matter to all of us. We especially value our role in raising funds for scholarships that enable local arts students to attend George Mason University and realize their dreams in the Arts.

Schedule of Events:

April 20, 2023

7:00 pm: Sister Act the Musical at Fairfax High School
Sister Act is the feel-good musical comedy smash based on the hit 1992 film about a woman who must hide in a convent through witness protection service
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8:00 pm: The Road to the End at deLaski Performing Arts Buidling/GMU
With huge life changes on the horizon, Henry and his father embark on one last adventure to the Grand Canyon.

April 21, 2023

 8:30 am: Fairfax Art League Spotlight Show and Reception at City Hall
Cost: Free

8:00 pm: The Road to the End at deLaski Performing Arts Buidling/GMU
Cost: $20 General Public, $10 Students, Staff, Seniors, and Groups

7:00 pm: Sister Act the Musical at Fairfax High School | 3501 Lion Run
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7:00 pm - 10:00 pm: Spotlight on the Arts Festival Opening Reception at Old Town Hall | 3999 University Drive
The opening reception will feature performances by
- The Providence Elementary School Bucket Drummers
- The City of Fairfax Theatre Company
- Main Street Brass Quintet
- George Mason Piano Studio and More!

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April 22, 2023

10:00 am - 11:00 am: Student Art Show & Reception- Artwork by Fairfax City Elementary Students at Sherwood Center | 3740 Blenheim Blvd. (formerly Old Lee Hwy.)
Cost: Free

6:00 pm: Storytelling with "Better Said Than Done" at The Auld Shebeen Irish Pub & Restaurant | 3971 Chain Bridge Road, Fairfax
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2:00 pm: The Road to the End at deLaski Performing Arts Buidling/GMU | Aquia Creek Lane
Tickets: $20 General Public, $10 Students, Staff, Seniors, and Groups

10:00 am - 2:00 pm: Spring Art Walk on Main at Main Street
Cost: Free

8:00 pm: The Road to the End at deLaski Performing Arts Buidling/GMU | Aquia Creek Lane
Tickets: $20 General Public, $10 Students, Staff, Seniors, and Groups

10:00 am - 2:00 pm: DIY Scent Studio - Create Your Own Scent! at DIY Scent Studio | 4007 University Drive
Cost: Special Rate:  $20.00 for a 10 ml bottle!

7:00 pm: Sister Act the Musical at Fairfax High School |
3501 Lion Run
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10:00 am - 4:00 pm: HisTree Day at Historic Blenheim at Historic Blenheim | 3610 Blenheim Blvd.
Cost: Free

April 23, 2023

2:00 pm: The Road to the End at deLaski Performing Arts Buidling/GMU | Aquia Creek Lane
Tickets: $20 General Public, $10 Students, Staff, Seniors, and Groups

4:00 pm - 5:30 pm: Main Street Community Band - "Sounds of Spring" at Sherwood Center | 3740 Blenheim Blvd
Cost: Free

4:00 pm: The Passing Zone at Center for the Arts/GMU | 4373 Mason Pond Drive
Cost: $15

April 24, 2023

8:00 pm: Jazz Vocal Night - Spring at GMU Center for the Arts | 4373 Mason Pond Drive
Cost: $12 General Public, $8 Seniors, $5 Students

10:30 am - 11:15 am: Funday Monday - Spotlight on Hip Hop! at Old Town Hall | 3999 University Drive

7:30 pm: Fairfax High School Jazz Band - "Spring Concert" at Sherwood Center | 3740 Blenheim Blvd.
Cost: Free

April 25, 2023

8:00 pm: Mason Wind Symphony - Spring 2023 at GMU Center for the Arts | 4373 Mason Pond Drive
Cost: $12 General Public, $8 Seniors, $5 Students

7:00 pm: Artist in Conversation with Indigenous Enterprise at Sherwood Center | 3740 Blenheim Blvd.
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April 26, 2023

8:00 pm: Spotlight on the Arts - Jazz Combos Concert

Directed by jazz pianist, Wade Beach, these exploratory groups provide students opportunities in improvisation, composition and arranging as well as small ensemble performing experience. The Mason Jazz Combos perform several times a semester and are open to music and non-music majors, instrumentalists, and vocalists of all musical abilities.

April 27, 2023

7:00 pm: Sister Act the Musical at Fairfax High School |
3501 Lion Run

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7:00 pm: Route 236 Trombone Quartet at Stacy C. Sherwood Center | 3740 Blenheim Blvd.
Cost: Free

April 28, 2023

7:30 pm: Clybourne Park at Old Town Hall | 3999 University Drive
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7:00 pm: Sister Act the Musical at Fairfax High School |
3501 Lion Run
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8:00 pm: Town Hall Performance Series at Sherwood Center | 3740 Blenheim Blvd.

April 29, 2023

7:30 pm: Clybourne Park at Old Town Hall |
3999 University Drive
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5:00 pm - 6:00 pm: Next Reflex Dance Collective - Flight: A Migratory Performance Series at Van Dyck Park | 3720 Bleinheim Blvd.
Cost: Free

2:00 pm: Sister Act the Musical at Fairfax High School
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5:00 pm: Fashion Show - Fairfax Academy at Sherwood Center | 3740 Blenheim Blvd.

2:00 pm: Fairfax Muster - Green Machine Historical Ensembles! at Veterans Amphitheater | 10455 Armstrong Street
Cost: Free

8:00 pm: Indigenous Enterprise at GMU Center for the Arts | 4373 Mason Pond Drive
Cost: $48, $41, $29, half-price for youth through Grade 12

April 29, 2023

7:30 pm: Clybourne Park at Old Town Hall |
3999 University Drive
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5:00 pm - 6:00 pm: Next Reflex Dance Collective - Flight: A Migratory Performance Series at Van Dyck Park | 3720 Bleinheim Blvd.
Cost: Free

2:00 pm: Sister Act the Musical at Fairfax High School
Buy Tickets

5:00 pm: Fashion Show - Fairfax Academy at Sherwood Center | 3740 Blenheim Blvd.

2:00 pm: Fairfax Muster - Green Machine Historical Ensembles! at Veterans Amphitheater | 10455 Armstrong Street
Cost: Free

8:00 pm: Indigenous Enterprise at GMU Center for the Arts | 4373 Mason Pond Drive
Cost: $48, $41, $29, half-price for youth through Grade 12

April 30, 2023

2:00 pm: Shoestring Theatre Company - "The Saturday Morning Garden Club" at Sherwood Center | 3740 Blenheim Blvd.
Cost: $20 at the door

7:00 pm: International Jazz Day at GMU Center for the Arts | 4373 Mason Pond Drive
Cost: $12 General Public, $8 Seniors, $5 Students

3:00 pm: Mason Opera at Harris Theatre/GMU | 4471 Acquia Creek Lane
Cost:  $20 General Public, $15 Seniors, $5 Students

7:00 pm: Noche Fantastica - Mason Community Arts Academy Music Faculty Showcase at Old Town Hall | 3999 University Drive

2:00 pm: Clybourne Park at Old Town Hall | 3999 University Drive
Cost: $25 Adults, $20 Students

May 1, 2023

Today your little ones can celebrate Spotlight on the Arts in Fairfax City with Drew Blue Shoes Magic!

This year's Spotlight theme is "Taking it to the Streets" where we are celebrating public & street art, music, and dance as well as scores of additional art and music events.  Spotlight runs.

Funday Monday is open to children of all ages; however, programs are geared toward those who haven't yet started school.  On any given Monday, there will be music, movement, storytelling, performances, crafts, and more.

May 2, 2023

8:00 pm: University Singers Concert at GMU Center for the Arts | 4373 Mason Pond Drive
Cost: $12 General Public, $8 Seniors, $5 Students

7:30 pm: Sweet Adelines - Vienna Falls Chorus at Sherwood Center | 3740 Blenheim Blvd.

May 3, 2023

The Steel Pan Ensemble, directed by Victor Provost, Braddock Road Brass Band, directed by Graham Breedlove, and Latin American Ensemble, directed by Juan Megna, perform their spring concert. These specialty groups, within the Jazz Studies department, allow students to focus on genre-specific music from around the world. From traditional brass bands of New Orleans to music of the Caribbean, including Calypso and Soka, to the Brazilian sounds of Bossa Nova and Samba, these ensembles showcase the beauty and breadth of global artistry.

May 4, 2023

7:30 pm: Fairfax Sax Quartet – City of Fairfax Band at Sherwood Center | 3740 Blenheim Boulevard.
Cost: Free

7:30 pm: Clybourne Park at Old Town Hall | 3999 University Drive
Cost: $25 Adults, $20 Students

7:30 pm: Fairfax Saxophone Quartet"Almost Latin" - City of Fairfax Band
Cost: Free

May 5, 2023

7:30 pm: Fairfax Saxophone Quartet "Almost Latin" - City of Fairfax Band at Stacy C. Sherwood Center | 3740 Blenheim Boulevard.
Cost: Free

7:30 pm: Shoestring Theatre Company - "The Saturday Morning Garden Club" at Sherwood Center | 3740 Blenheim Boulevard.
Cost: $20 at the door

8:00 pm: Music to Free's Spring Handbell Concert - "Hope and Remembrance" at Sherwood Center | 3740 Blenheim Boulevard.
Cost: Free

8:00 pm: Spring: Dance Innovations at Harris Theatre/GMU | 4471 Acquia Creek Lane
Cost: $15 General Public, $10 Students, Faculty/Staff, Seniors, $7 Groups

7:00 pm: Fairfax Academy "Art in Motion" - Dance! at Fairfax High School | 3501 Lion Run
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May 6, 2023

8:00 pm: Spring - Dance Innovations at Harris Theatre/GMU | 4471 Acquia Creek Lane
Cost: $15 General Public, $10 Students, Faculty/Staff, Seniors, $7 Groups

7:30 pm: Clybourne Park at Old Town Hall | 3999 University Drive
Cost:  $25 Adults, $20 Students

2:00 pm: Shoestring Theatre Company - "The Saturday Morning Garden Club" at Sherwood Center | 3740 Blenheim Boulevard.
Cost: $20 at the door

2:00 pm: Clybourne Park at Old Town Hall | 3999 University Drive
Cost:  $25 Adults, $20 Students

3:30 pm - 8:00 pm: Fairfax Uncorked - Jazz and Wine Festival at Blenheim Interpretive Center | 3610 Blenheim Boulevard.
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1:00 pm: Fairfax Academy "Art in Motion" - Dance! at Fairfax High School | 3501 Lion Run
Cost:  Students $10; General Admission: $15

May 7, 2023

7:00 pm: Symphony Orchestra Concert -Dewberry School of Music at GMU Center for the Arts | 4373 Mason Pond Drive
Cost: $20 General Public, $15 Seniors, $5 Students

2:00 pm: Shoestring Theatre Company - "The Saturday Morning Garden Club" at Sherwood Center | 3740 Blenheim Boulevard.
Cost: $20 at the door

2:00 pm: Clybourne Park at Old Town Hall | 3999 University Drive
Cost: $25 Adults, $20 Students

7:00 pm: "Spring Fantasia" - DC Music Academy at Sherwood Center | 3740 Blenheim Boulevard.
Cost: Free

1:00 pm: 6th Annual Student Playwright Festival at Sherwood Center | 3740 Blenheim Boulevard.
Cost: Free

Date: April 21-May7, 2023

Location: Various Venues in Fairfax, VA 22030

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