Central Virginia has a new arts hub in the Randolph-Macon Center for the Performing Arts. In celebration of its opening, the College invites students, faculty and staff, alumni, and members of the local community to performances honoring the building’s official dedication on Saturday and Sunday, April 30 and May 1. Following a private dedication of the building on Friday evening, the public is welcome to enjoy a range of performances that showcase the building’s new spaces and Randolph-Macon’s talented performers. 

See the full schedule of events below.

Saturday, April 30

3-4 p.m.: “The Future is Flexible.” Kick off the weekend with a performance by RMC’s instrumental ensemble performing “The Future is Flexible,” a program of repertoire performed, arranged for, and commissioned by the ensemble.

• Location: Blackwell Auditorium

5-5:45 p.m.: “A Mother’s Love.” See the LUXE Show Choir bring vocals, choreography, instrumentation, costumes, staging, and production together in “A Mother’s Love,” a moving story about love, sacrifice, and finding life’s purpose on one’s own unique and personal journey.

• Location: Blackwell Auditorium

5:45-7 p.m.: Wine and Cheese Reception (Invite Only). All alumni who studied or participated in choir, instrumental music, or theatre at Randolph-Macon are invited to a special wine and cheese reception in the new lobby of the renovated Blackwell Auditorium.

• Location: Rippe Lobby

7-9:15 p.m.: “Peter and the Starcatcher.” Experience all that the revamped Cobb-Kesler Theater has to offer during a theatrical staging of “Peter and the Starcatcher,” a play that provides the backstory for Peter Pan, Mrs. Darling, Tinker Bell, and Hook. Tickets available at the door first come, first served.

• Location: Cobb-Kesler Theater

Sunday, May 1

3-4:30 p.m.: “Mozart & More.” The Richmond Symphony, under the direction of conductor Nicholas Hersh, will perform “Mozart & More.” More information about the concert and tickets are available online from the Richmond Symphony.

• Location: Blackwell Auditorium

8-8:45 p.m.: “A Mother’s Love.” Join us for an encore showing of “A Mother’s Love” performed by the LUXE Show Choir.

• Location: Blackwell Auditorium

About the Randolph-Macon Center for the Performing Arts

The Randolph-Macon Center for the Performing Arts is a new 19,200-square-foot building and a restored Blackwell Auditorium serving as a hub for RMC’s theatre, choir, orchestra, and show choir programs. The building’s three levels are home to a variety of performance spaces both new and improved, and greatly enhance the instructional and performance environment in RMC’s growing performing arts programs.

The Center for the Performing Arts encompasses the original Blackwell Auditorium, built in 1952, as well as what was formerly known as Cobb Theater. Additionally, the building offers a dedicated practice space for RMC’s orchestra and choir programs in the Haun Rehearsal Room, giving students and faculty more room for recital. Accompanying these areas are other support rooms that include drama classrooms, faculty offices, a green room, a music library, an expanded scene shop, and more.

Join the Legacy

The Robert G. Cabell III & Maude Morgan Cabell Foundation have generously offered a $500,000 challenge gift to help RMC complete fundraising for the Center for the Performing Arts. Gifts made by December 2022 will be matched by the foundation dollar for dollar. We hope you will consider a gift to support this important endeavor.

All donors of $1,000 or more will be recognized with gratitude on a plaque in the building or with a named seat in Blackwell Auditorium. Flexible payment plans are available.

If you would like to make a gift over the phone, arrange a larger gift, or have questions, contact Senior Director of Institutional Partnerships Robert Patterson at (804)752-3605 or robertpatterson@rmc.edu.