George Mason University celebrates the 25th anniversary of its Center for the Arts, a venue that has hosted Grammy Award winners, world premieres and the country’s presidents.
▹ Oct. 6, 1990
Opening night featuring Marvin Hamlisch, Jean-Pierre Rampal and the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra among others. This orchestra found its artistic home at the Center for the Arts and continues to present its season at the venue.
▹ Feb. 13, 1994
Jeffrey Siegel introduces Center for the Arts audiences to his Keyboard Conversations series, featuring “concerts with commentary” that illuminate the fascinating lives and works of the world’s greatest composers. In this first performance, the virtuoso pianist presented “A Chopin Showcase.” The Center for the Arts has continued to present this series each season.
▹ 1994-95 season
Eight Grammy Award winners—Richard Goode, Tito Puente, Emanuel Ax, Peter Serkin, Cassandra Wilson, Anne-Sophie Mutter, Thomas Hampson and the Cleveland Quartet—appeared on the Center for the Arts stage.
▹ March 8, 2003
World premiere of Mark Morris’ “Serenade” by the Mark Morris Dance Group with featured costume design by Isaac Mizrahi.
▹ Sept. 30, 2006
First ARTS by George! benefit, with headliner Michael Feinstein.
▹ Jan. 8, 2009
President-elect Barack Obama gives a pre-inauguration speech about economic recovery on the Center for the Arts Concert Hall stage. He also had a campaign stop at the center on Oct. 5, 2012.
▹ Oct. 6, 2015
25th Anniversary of George Mason University’s Center for the Arts
Other interesting facts:
• There are 1935 seats in the Center for the Arts Concert Hall.
• The concert hall was conceptualized by theater designer George C. Izenour.
• More than 825 nationally and internationally renowned artists have appeared on the Center for the Arts stage as part of “Great Performances at Mason.”
• The stage has hosted 121 Grammy Award winners.
• More than 5 million people have enjoyed the arts in the venue.
• 2 U.S. presidents have visited: Barack Obama made a campaign appearance in 2012, and President Clinton and the First Lady attended a performance by The Washington Ballet in which their daughter appeared.
A Conversation with Bernadette Peters
We sat down with the Broadway legend to discuss her upcoming performance for ARTS By George!
By Robyn Smith
With her signature red curls, sparkling mezzo voice and incredible generosity, longtime performer and social advocate Bernadette Peters is one of the stars who makes Broadway shine so bright. We sat down with the ARTS By George! guest artist about her upcoming performance on GMU’s stage Sept. 26.
From your immense dedication to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS to your sincere devotion toward rescued animals with Broadway Barks, you’ve enriched many lives. What drives your passion for charity?
You know, I just think it has to be in you to want to help where help is needed. I think it’s whatever strikes a chord within you: If it’s children, it’s children; if it’s Broadway Cares, it’s Broadway Cares; if it’s animals, it’s animals. But I think we all should recognize it and do whatever we can to help. And recognize what’s inside of us that we really, truly want to help make a change.
You’re renowned for portraying strong, complex female characters on stage, including mainstream favorites such as The Witch from “Into the Woods” and Annie Oakley from “Annie Get Your Gun.” How has playing these larger-than-life women affected your own life?
Oh, I learn so much about myself every time I play a role, and that’s what I love about it. I try to pick things that interest me and that I love. I want to stay there for a long while and go deeper and deeper and deeper into the role. It’s just very exciting to do; I love doing “Gypsy” for that reason too; especially since she is very, very complex.
Is that your favorite role?
That one, and Dot from “Sunday in the Park,” yeah. I love The Witch too. We just went back and did a reunion 29 years later, and that’s something, to go back to a role after you’ve lived 29 more years. It resonates in a different way.
What are some of the songs that audiences can expect to enjoy in their evening with you?
Well, I like Rogers and Hammerstein, but I love Steve Sondheim, so I do a lot of Sondheim. I sing Peggy Lee’s “Fever” on the piano—I’m laying on the piano; I’m not playing the piano—and “When You Wish Upon a Star.” When you’ve got your own show, you get to pick what you want to sing and what you want to express, so that’s the great thing about it.
The concert raises funds for student scholarships for George Mason University’s College of Visual and Performing Arts, so that includes students majoring in theater and film study. With your decades of success in show business under your belt, what are some words of wisdom that you could share with all the budding artists who’ll be in the room?
I think it’s important to not copy anyone. I think it’s important to honor yourself and to let things come out of you the way they come out of you because there’s only one of you in the world. That’s what you have to nurture. Just let it come out of you the way it comes out of you and be pure. Don’t copy anyone; we don’t need another one of anybody. We just need an original.
(September 2015)
