In the Audience: The Fralin Museum of Art

In the Audience

The Fralin Museum of Art

by Andrew Barat

Although the Fralin Art Museum is not a performance group here at UVa, which is what I have been mostly writing about, it is still a great opportunity for anyone interested in art to check out.  The Fralin is located right on Rugby Road, so very close to the Academical village and right near the other arts buildings we have at the University is free.  Exhibits are held throughout the year and give a wide range of studio art types from paint to sculpture and many different takes on the medium as well.

Admission to the museum is free and they are open Tuesday to Sunday from 12:00 to 5:00.  Tours are given to elementary school groups, organizations, and senior groups so feel free to hop on one of these guided tours or even volunteer to be a docent at the Fralin and lead the tours yourself.  I am excited to check out the exhibit this semester called Realms of Earth and Sky (which will be open from August 29th to December 21st of 2014) to see the museum's collection of Indian art.  With all the exhibits and tours the museum offers it is definitely a place students should take advantage during their time at UVa.

For a look at their upcoming and current exhibits as well as more information on the Fralin Art Museum check out their website.

In the Audience: Arts Madness

In the Audience

Arts Madness

by Andrew Barat

Every year, UVa Arts puts on a multiple day event called Arts Madness.  During this time there are performances and showcases for all kinds of arts groups grounds, seminars on certain forms of art and even a graffiti wall.  The whole point of this event is to get the UVa community involved with all its artistic opportunities and showcase what students have done at UVa.  The showcase that happens during the event is a great way for artistic groups to show off what they can do, and events like the poetry slam give those who want to an outlet to express themselves they might normally get during the year.

During my first year, First Year Players was one of the groups who got to perform for this event.  I was lucky enough to be able to be a part of the songs we chose to perform and I also got to see other groups perform as we waited to go on and after we performed as well.  There was a fashion show, dance performance and an acapella group all performing on this one stage for anyone who wanted to come see a sample of the arts in our community.

Whether it's to perform with a group, showcase a talent, or just preview the arts, Arts Madness is a great event to get to for anyone interested in the arts at UVa. If you want to see past schedules of Arts Madness, click here for the UVa Arts site for the event.

In the Audience: Your Local Theater

In the Audience

Your Local Theater

by Andrew Barat

I love to go to the movies with friends and there are plenty of opportunities to see movies in the downtown mall area, but the University also hosts movies in the Newcomb Hall Theater throughout the year.  The movies that are shown here are recent releases, before they go on sale as videos usually, and are at a much discounted rate.  I have been able to see movies before Oscar season that I wasn't able to see while they were in theaters.  I love seeing movies on the big screen too, so it's great that all of these are only a few dollars to see one of these movies.

My friends and I decided to take advantage of the theater our first year and see Skyfall, the most recent James Bond movie.  Even though it wasn't one of the movies considered for best picture that year, we still wanted to see it at the theater due to all of our love for anything James Bond.  We were able to finish up any work we still had to do for classes or our clubs and then met at Newcomb for dinner at the dining hall and then walked just downstairs to watch the movie.  It was great having the option to take a study break or quick get together where we didn't have to worry about catching a bus or taxi or figuring out rides to a theater that was further away.

In the Audience: Live in Concert

In the Audience

Live in Concert

by Andrew Barat

A great way to take advantage of the arts community in Charlottesville is by going to one of the many concerts that occur throughout the year.  Some artists come to John Paul Jones Arena, our basketball stadium, or to venues in downtown Charlottesville like the Jefferson or nTelos Wireless Pavilion.  All of these venues are just quick and free bus rides away from grounds.  A wide variety of artists come to Charlottesville that plays any kind of music from country to electronic. It has always been fun finding a band one of my friends or I like and going together to see them live.

Each of these venues has something different to offer with their varied size and atmosphere.  John Paul Jones Arena is a much larger venue than the others, and has ticketed seating to accommodate for the large amount of people who come to these concerts.  The Jefferson is an indoor theater that has a smaller crowd size but lets you get closer to the artist with a smaller crowd.  nTelos Wireless Pavilion is an outdoor venue that is covered to provide shade and block rain, and has general admission tickets for standing room for most of the crowd.

Two of my favorite concerts I have ever been at were at nTelos Wireless Pavilion, just at the end of the downtown mall.  Jack White came my first year at UVa and, this summer, Vampire Weekend stopped by on their tour.  Both concerts were incredible, and me and my friends enjoyed being in the outdoor venue for both concerts.  There was a large crowd for both of these performances, which was fun to see a lot of UVa students come out to see the same bands that I love.

There are always plenty of shows scheduled so be sure to check out all the listings for each of these venues:

John Paul Jones Arena

nTelos Wireless Pavilion

The Jefferson Theater

In the Audience: Virginia Film Festival

In the Audience

Virginia Film Festival

by Andrew Barat

Every November, Charlottesville hosts the Virginia Film Festival where you can see anything from new movies before they are released worldwide to showings of classics like Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.  The festival is held primarily at the downtown mall, but takes advantage of theaters around that area and UVa as well. 

The perk of being a UVa student for this event is that you can reserve a free ticket for yourself for any of the movies being shown.  I have taken advantage of this both years I have been in Charlottesville for the festival, seeing a movie with my friends and then enjoying other things the downtown mall offers, like dining and shopping.  The lineup of movies changes every year, so check out the Virginia Film Festival’s website to stay up to date on what will be happening this year.

One thing to keep in mind is that the festival is not limited to watching movies.  Many visitors take the time to walk around the downtown mall to see performances from local groups as well as student organizations, such as a capella or theater organizations.  Walking the mall before the film I saw was just as fun as the movie itself and I highly encourage everyone to take advantage of this event during their time at UVa or in Charlottesville.

If you want to learn more about the Virginia Film Festival, like what movies will be playing or what special events are going on, or if you want to apply to intern with the festival, check out their website!

And visit Jared Morgan's blog post to find more things to do at the downtown mall throughout the year.

In the Audience: No Instruments Necessary

In the Audience

No Instruments Necessary

by Andrew Barat

If you want to see a great performance around grounds, you can’t go wrong seeing one of UVa’s a capella groups in concert.  There is a wide variety of music that these groups cover from modern hits to classics and each show gives you something to remember.  My first exposure to a capella was at a UVa tradition called Rotunda Sing and since then I have been to a number of concerts.

Luckily, a capella grounds don’t only perform at their concerts.  Many of them perform at what we call dorm sing.  Groups will come to the quads of the first year housing areas and perform a few songs as a free sample of what you can see if you go to their concerts. 

My favorite concert I've been to has been the Academical Village People's 20th anniversary concert.  The performance was at the Paramount Theater so it was the largest venue I had seen an a capella concert at and because it was a big anniversary for the group, many alumni came to see the show as well.  The group looked like they had a lot of fun as they performed which made the audience even more excited to cheer for their favorite song or if their friend was singing a solo.  It was an incredible concert and was great to see all the former members of the group come on stage and perform as well.  The a capella groups clearly have an impact for those involved during the time at UVa and can make memorable experiences for audience members and performers alike. 

Check out the Academical Village People putting UVa’s top five Facebook posts to music!

Want to see more about all the groups on grounds?

See UVa Arts' page on the student groups on grounds.

In the Audience: Continue Your Interest in Theater with First Year Players

In the Audience

Continue Your Interest in Theater with First Year Players

by Andrew Barat

If you are an incoming or current first year or if you are an upperclassman who loves to see musicals,the performing arts group on grounds for you is First Year Players.  This organization puts on a show every semester and, despite its name, you can get involved no matter what year you are at UVa. I have been lucky enough to be a part of the cast for the two shows my first year, but my favorite experience so far has been watching the musical this past fall, Legally Blonde.  I served on the production staff for this show and got to watch all the aspects of the performance come together, from the great dances and songs to the movable set the tech teams had to construct.  When the first performance began, it was amazing to see how every aspect of FYP's community came together to create a successful show.

Here's how you can get involved:

• Cast: At the beginning of the Fall and Spring semesters auditions are held, but only first years or first year transfer students are allowed to audition. All you need to prepare is a short song, but be ready to dance and read a monologue as well.
• Pit orchestra: Anyone can audition to be a member of the orchestra for a show and auditions are held around the same time as cast auditions.  Each show will have its own requirements for instruments so contact the pit director of each show to see what they need.
• Technical Crews: You do not have to be a first year to join a technical crew.  Anyone can be a part of one of the various tech teams that are needed to put on each show.  These allow new students or upperclassmen to join as new members and meet once a week until about two weeks prior to the show.

If you want to know more about First Year Players, check out their website by clicking here. They will be putting on The Producers in the Fall semester of 2014, so be sure to come see it or join to help out with the show!

Introducing: Andrew Barat

Introducing: Andrew Barat

2014 Office of Admission Summer Intern Bio

Year: Third
Hometown: Vienna, Virginia
School: College of Arts and Sciences
Major(s): Media Studies
Blog: In the Audience

My name is Andrew Barat from Vienna, Virginia, and I'm a third year in the College of Arts and Sciences. Currently I am majoring in Media Studies but would like to pursue either a double major or minor in drama as well. I am involved with arts groups on grounds and would love to pursue a career in the study and development of cinema, plays, music or other arts media. I can't wait to share my love for this University and talk to all of my tourists about how they can feel as welcome here as I do this summer!

Favorite UVA memory...

After each show that the organization First Year Players puts on, every member runs backstage to come together and sing the Good 'Ole Song. The first time I was a part of this I truly felt like a part of the community of FYP and of the University and every time it has happened since I am reminded of how wonderful a community I am a part of here at UVa.

More information and blog posts...

Andrew's Admission Survey

Coming soon!

Andrew's Blog Posts

1. 5/27/2014: Continue Your Interest Theater with First Year Players
2. 6/10/2014: No Instruments Necessary (acapella)
3. 6/24/2014: Virginia Film Festival
4. 7/8/2014: Live in Concert
5. 7/14/2014: Your Local Theater
6. 8/5/2014: Arts Madness
7. 8/19/2014: The Fralin Museum of Art