2024–25 SEASON
MUSIC | DANCE | GLOBAL | FAMILY
A Mason Arts Venue
Sunday, September 22 at 7 p.m.
Capitol Fools
Kick of the 2024–25 Hylton Center season with comedy the D.C.-area does best—politics! Former cast members and the co-writer of the long-running, beloved Capitol Steps introduce their new musical parody ensemble, Capitol Fools, in an evening where no politician is safe, and every absurdity gets its moment in the spotlight. The spirited, irreverent Fools are blazing new steps up a stairway of satire, holding up a mirror to goofiness across the political spectrum. Expect more bipartisan belly laughs as the Fools skewer the day’s news with witty song parodies, uproarious impressions, comical costume changes, and more. This performance contains content with mature themes.
Sunday, September 22 at 7 p.m.
$55, $47, $33
Saturday, October 5 at 8 p.m.
Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra with Jef Hamilton
Jim Carroll, artistic director
Join world-renowned jazz drummer Jef Hamilton and audience favorite, Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra, for an evening that places the musicality of the drum set front and center. Hamilton is versatile, in demand, and has an enviable career where he has shared the stage with Oscar Peterson, Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Brown, Diana Krall, Woody Herman, Monty Alexander, Frank Sinatra, Natalie Cole, and more. Founder, artistic director, and virtuoso saxophonist Jim Carroll leads the orchestra, comprising some of the area’s finest musicians, and is also joined by vocalist Darden Purcell, George Mason University’s director of jazz studies. Enjoy a captivating evening with the Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra that showcases the art and style of percussion.
Saturday, October 5 at 8 p.m.
$48, $41, $29
Half-price for youth through Grade 12
Appropriate for all ages
Pre-performance discussion one hour before performance
Encanto: The Sing-Along Film Concert
Disney Concerts and AMP Worldwide Present Encanto: The Sing-Along Film Concert national tour! Encanto lovers of all ages can sing along with their favorite GRAMMY Award-winning songs performed by a live band while watching the full film. Encanto: The SingAlong Film Concert will include all the music of the Academy Award-winning film, including iconic hits like “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” and “Surface Pressure.”
Fans are encouraged to dress up as Mirabel, Luisa, Isabela, or any of their favorite characters from the film and to use their voices to transform the Hylton Center’s Merchant Hall into one big celebration of the Madrigal family.
Sunday, October 6 at 4 p.m.
$48, $41, $29
Half-price for youth through Grade 12
Appropriate for all ages
Pre-performance discussion one hour before performance
Saturday, October 26 at 8 p.m.
Villalobos Brothers
Celebrate Día de los Muertos early with Artist-inResidence and the GRAMMY Award-winning Villalobos Brothers, who are redefining contemporary Mexican music while delivering positive messages of brotherhood, equity, and love. Drawing on their classical training from prestigious institutions nationwide, this lively trio of virtuoso fiddlers, singers, and songwriters blends Mexican folk music with Latin, jazz, rock, and classical, creating a fun-loving and cheerfully expressive sound that has delighted audiences across the U.S. and around the world. As a Hylton Center Artist-in-Residence, the Villalobos Brothers will also work with the community through classes and workshops during the week leading up to the performance.
Saturday, October 26 at 8 p.m.
$48, $41, $29
Half-price for youth through Grade 12
Appropriate for all ages
Pre-performance discussion one hour before performance
Saturday, November 9 at 8 p.m.
Mandy Gonzalez in Concert
Join Mandy Gonzalez, whose voice “has a potency even the most revered divas would envy” (City Pulse), for an evening of Broadway songs, film scores, and music from her debut album, Fearless. Gonzalez starred on Broadway in Hamilton as Angelica Schuyler, as Elphaba in Wicked, and as Nina Rosario in Lin-Manuel Miranda’s In the Heights. Miranda has called Gonzalez, “one of the greatest singers on earth” and penned her the song “Fearless,” based on her work with the #FearlessSquad movement. The proud daughter of a Veteran, Gonzalez’s debut at the Hylton Center will also honor the Veterans in our community.
George Mason University’s Veterans and the Arts Initiative is a proud sponsor of this performance, providing free tickets for Veterans and Servicemembers (up to two tickets each). Free tickets are limited and only available in person at the Hylton Center Ticket Ofce.
Saturday, November 9 at 8 p.m.
$60, $51, $36
Half-price for youth through Grade 12
Appropriate for all ages
Pre-performance discussion one hour before performance
Sponsored in part by NOVEC
Cirque Kalabanté
Afrique en Cirque
Saturday, November 16 at 8 p.m.
Sunday, November 17 at 2 p.m.
“Mind-blowing acrobatic sequences with extraordinary precision”
Cirque Kalabanté Afrique en Cirque
Cirque Kalabanté invites the whole family to Afrique en Cirque, a unique fusion of African arts and European circus traditions that makes for a multi-sensory extravaganza like no other. With colorful costumes and scenery, daring acrobats and dancers perform gravity-defying feats accompanied by the pulsating rhythms of a live Afro jazz ensemble. Inspired by daily life in his native Guinea, multi-disciplinary artist and founder of Cirque Kalabanté, Yamoussa Bangoura, created Afrique en Cirque to celebrate the vitality, joy, and beauty of African culture. “Explosive drumming and dance routines, the group delivered mind-blowing acrobatic sequences with extraordinary precision” (Vice Magazine).
Saturday, November 16 at 8 p.m.
Sunday, November 17 at 2 p.m.
$55, $47, $33
This engagement of Cirque Kalabanté is made possible in part through the Mid Atlantic Tours program of Mid Atlantic Arts with support from the National Endowment for the Arts.
Half-price for youth through Grade 12
Appropriate for all ages
Pre-performance discussion one hour before performance
HOLIDAY
Chanticleer A Chanticleer Christmas
The holidays shine brighter when GRAMMY Award-winning Chanticleer comes caroling to the Hylton Center with their beloved program, A Chanticleer Christmas. Welcome the “world’s reigning male chorus” (New Yorker) back in this rich and varied program of holiday wonders, including traditional carols as well as gospel numbers, in addition to music from around the world that spans centuries. Since 1978, Chanticleer has amassed a huge following—selling more than one million albums and performing thousands of live concerts. With 12 expressive voices ranging from countertenor to bass blended with precision, clarity, and breathtaking beauty, “it’s impossible to resist the voices of Chanticleer” (San Francisco Chronicle).
Sunday, December 1 at 4 p.m.
$60, $51, $36
Half-price for youth through Grade 12
Appropriate for all ages
Pre-performance discussion one hour before performance
HOLIDAY
Sons of Serendip
Invite the holiday spirit into your heart with classical crossover quartet Sons of Serendip. “Silky beyond reason” (New York Times), this billboard-charting foursome garnered national attention as finalists on NBC’s America’s Got Talent, where they earned praise as the “most musically talented act on the show.” Combining warm and inviting vocals, harp, piano, and cello, Sons of Serendip performs songs from their holiday-themed album “Christmas: Beyond the Lights,” showcasing velvety harmony and fresh interpretations of traditional holiday tunes.
Sunday, December 8 at 4 p.m.
$48, $41, $29
Half-price for youth through Grade 12
Appropriate for all ages
Pre-performance discussion one hour before performance
Peter Wilson, conductor
Friday, December 13 at 8 p.m.
HOLIDAY
American Festival Pops Orchestra Holiday Pops: Songs of the Season
Peter Wilson, conductor
The American Festival Pops Orchestra (AFPO) spreads musical goodwill and cheer in this annual audience favorite! Holiday Pops: Songs of the Season returns under the baton of Artistic Director and Conductor Peter Wilson, the former senior enlisted music advisor to The White House who served as a Marine violinist for 30 years. Enjoy seasonal favorites including, “Night Before Christmas” narrated by George Mason University Dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts and Hylton Center Executive Director Rick Davis, toe-tapping classics from the orchestra’s embedded Big Band, and an appearance by the Mason Jazz Vocal Ensemble under the direction of Darden Purcell. The AFPO comprises more than 60 professional musicians, including faculty from George Mason University’s Dewberry School of Music and instrumentalists from music ensembles of the U.S. Armed Forces and area orchestras.
Friday, December 13 at 8 p.m.
$60, $51, $36
Half-price for youth through Grade 12
Appropriate for all ages
Pre-performance discussion one hour before performance
HOLIDAY
Seán Heely’s
Celtic Christmas
D.C.-based, award-winning Celtic fiddler, Gaelic singer, and harpist Seán Heely returns for a magical winter tour through the Scottish Highlands and across the rugged Irish coast. Featuring Highland and Irish dancing and the MacMillan Pipe Band, the festive journey follows ancient Gaelic carols tucked in perfectly with lively Irish tunes and familiar Christmas melodies with a Celtic twist. A musical ambassador for Scottish music and culture, Heely won the Dan R. MacDonald Memorial Prize from the Gaelic Performing Arts’ Clan Donald Lands Trust in April 2023. Audiences are invited to bask in the warmth of the holidays in this jubilant evening of fiddle and bagpipes.
Sunday, December 15 at 2 and 5 p.m.
$50, $43, $30
Half-price for youth through Grade 12
Appropriate for all ages
Pre-performance discussion one hour before performance
The Acting Company
The Acting Company
The Comedy of Errors
Written by William Shakespeare
Adapted by Christina Anderson
Directed by Devin Brain
The Acting Company presents 2022 Tony Award nominee Christina Anderson’s delightful adaptation of one of Shakespeare’s earliest works, The Comedy of Errors In this farcical romp, separated families and mistaken identities create hilarious mayhem in a race against the clock. Founded in 1972 and based in New York City, The Acting Company has been hailed as “the major touring classical theater in the United States” (New York Times). The company has given over 400 actors an artistic home to develop their craft and has helped kickstart the careers of Kevin Kline, Jefrey Wright, Patti LuPone, and Rainn Wilson, among others. Experience this comedic play for the ages.
Content Warnings: loud noises, stylized stage violence, discussion of mature content (adultery)
Saturday, February 15 at 8 p.m. $50, $43, $29
Half-price for youth through Grade 12
Pre-performance discussion one hour before performance
Czech National Symphony Orchestra
Steven Mercurio, music director
Sandy Cameron, violin
Maxim Lando, piano
Sunday, February 23 at 4 p.m.
Czech National Symphony Orchestra
Steven Mercurio, music director
Sandy Cameron, violin
Maxim Lando, piano
Liszt: Piano Concerto No. 1
Barber: Violin Concerto Op. 14
Dvořák: Symphony No. 8
Czech National Symphony Orchestra (CNSO) performs a masterful program of fiery, powerhouse works under the direction of Music Director Steven Mercurio, featuring rising violinist Sandy Cameron performing Barber’s Violin Concerto Op. 14 and works including Liszt’s Piano Concerto No. 1 performed by Maxim Lando. The CNSO, which ranks among the most highly sought after orchestras in Europe and the United States, is consistently praised for its versatile programs comprising classical, film scores, jazz, musicals, and more.
Sunday, February 23 at 4 p.m.
$60, $51, $36
Half-price for youth through Grade 12
Appropriate for all ages
Pre-performance discussion one hour before performance
Keyboard Conversations® with Jefrey Siegel
The internationally acclaimed pianist Jefrey Siegel returns with his popular Keyboard Conversations® —concerts with captivating commentary. A Few of Our Favorite Things is a program of beloved, familiar works composed by some of the most popular composers of all time: Chopin, Rachmaninof, Debussy, and Scott Joplin— music known to non-concert goers as well as classical music aficionados. The program will conclude with a short Q&A with the audience.
Sunday, March 2 at 2 p.m.
$50, $43, $29
Half-price for youth through Grade 12 Appropriate for all ages
JigJam
Just in time for St. Patrick’s Day, JigJam, “the best Irish group in bluegrass” (Irish American News), guarantees foot-stomping, heart-pounding feel-good tunes. The quartet made its Grand Ole Opry Debut in 2023 to a sold-out crowd where they were joined by Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood, Steve Earle, and Lauren Alaina, among others. JigJam includes Ireland’s County Ofaly natives Jamie McKeogh (lead singer and guitar); Daithi Melia (5-string banjo and dobro); Tipperary-born Gavin Strappe (mandolin and tenor banjo); and St. Louis, Missouri’s own Kevin Buckley (fiddle). These talented multi-instrumentalists have released three albums and are winning over audiences with their infectious blend of bluegrass and American folk. Celebrate the rich musical heritage of the Irish with “Ireland’s answer to New Grass Revival” (Midwest Records).
Friday, March 14 at 8 p.m.
$48, $41, $29
Half-price for youth through Grade 12
Appropriate for all ages
Pre-performance discussion one hour before performance
Chloé Arnold’s Syncopated Ladies LIVE
Founded by D.C.-native Chloé Arnold, an Emmy Awardnominated tap dancer and choreographer, and protégé of Golden Globe winner Debbie Allen, Syncopated Ladies LIVE is a spellbinding and inspirational all-female tap dance celebration of sisterhood, empowerment, rhythm, and joy. These dynamic performers are reinvigorating the artform of tap, weaving together inspiring stories, electric energy, and intricate footwork, while dancing to everything from pop and hip-hop to salsa and R&B. With viral videos that have amassed over 100 million views, Syncopated Ladies has worked with Beyoncé and performed on FOX’s So You Think You Can Dance, Good Morning America, and at the U.S. Open Tennis Championship. Check out this Queen Bey-approved tap dance sensation in Syncopated Ladies LIVE.
Saturday, March 22 at 8 p.m.
$48, $41, $29
Half-price for youth through Grade 12
Appropriate for all ages
Pre-performance discussion one hour before performance
Mountain Stage hosted by Kathy Mattea
GRAMMY Award winner and West Virginia native Kathy Mattea hosts a taping of Mountain Stage, live from the Hylton Center’s Merchant Hall. Since 1983, Mountain Stage has, for nearly 40 years, given listeners the “best seat in the house” for performances by rising stars and longtime legends. Recorded in front of a live audience, each two-hour episode features contemporary artists in genres ranging from roots, folk, blues, and country to indie rock, synth pop, world music, alternative, and beyond. Witness the stars of today and tomorrow in this on-the-road taping of one of the most beloved and enduring programs in public radio history. This performance will be taped live for radio broadcast and is recommended for patrons ages 7 and older.
Mountain Stage is produced by West Virginia Public Broadcasting and distributed by NPR Music.
Sunday, April 6 at 7 p.m.
$70, $55, $40
Half-price for youth through Grade 12
Pre-performance discussion one hour before performance
Peter Wilson, conductor Saturday, May 17 at 8 p.m.
American Festival Pops Orchestra Armed Forces Day Celebration
Peter Wilson, conductor
Commemorate Armed Forces Day with a patriotic musical tribute performed by the American Festival Pops Orchestra (AFPO) in collaboration with George Mason University’s Veterans and the Arts Initiative, a nationally recognized program that is based at the Hylton Center. Under the baton of Peter Wilson, the AFPO will perform a stirring salute to the community’s Veterans featuring the music of Barber, Copland, and John Williams, including scores from iconic war films and American patriotic classics. The former senior enlisted music advisor to The White House and Marine violinist for 30 years, Wilson retired in 2020 and was awarded the Legion of Merit. The AFPO comprises more than 60 professional musicians from the National Capital Region.
George Mason University’s Veterans and the Arts Initiative is a proud sponsor of this performance, providing free tickets for Veterans and Servicemembers (up to two tickets each). Free tickets are limited and only available in person at the Hylton Center Ticket Ofce.
Saturday, May 17 at 8 p.m.
$60, $51, $36
Half-price for youth through Grade 12
Appropriate for all ages
Pre-performance discussion one hour before performance
“Delightful mix of magic and handmade robots”
TIME OUT
Mario the Maker Magician
Mix magic with robotics, add hilarious slapstick, and voila—you have Mario the Maker Magician! Mario infuses classic magic tricks and illusions with high-tech robotic innovation to create an assortment of homemade contraptions that do his comedic bidding. Infectiously positive and bursting with heart, Mario is on a mission to entertain and inspire future computer programmers, AI specialists, and robotic engineers along the way. He has appeared on Sesame Street, NBC’s Universal Kids, The Tonight Show, and a 2018 tour with illusionist David Blaine, who calls him “the best kids’ magician in the world!” Recommended for ages 4 to 10.
Sunday, September 29 at 3 p.m.
$15
PHINDIE
Enchantment Theatre Company
My Father’s Dragon “Inventive and endearing”
Nine-year-old Elmer Elevator is on a mission to rescue a baby dragon held captive on Wild Island. Celebrating the 75th anniversary of Ruth Stiles Gannett’s Newbery Honor-winning book My Father’s Dragon, Enchantment Theatre Company brings this story to life by blending original music, puppets, and creative scenic efects. “It fully captures the spirit of the beloved stories, the essence of childhood, and the imagination of the audience, both young and old” (Phindie). Recommended for ages 5 to 10.
Saturday, November 23 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. SF $15
SF = The 2 p.m. performance is sensory friendly.
Elena Moon Park & Friends
Celebrate folk and children’s music from around the globe with Elena Moon Park & Friends. With an emphasis on East and Southeast Asia, plus original songs reimagined to mix musical traditions, languages, styles, and stories, Park celebrates learning about the world through music. Sing and clap along to Taiwanese train songs, Tibetan jump rope rhymes, Cambodian folk songs, sing-alongs in English, and more, performed on string instruments, accordion, and drums. As an Artist-in-Residence, Elena Moon Park will also work with the community through classes and workshops during the week leading up to the performance. Recommended for all ages.
Saturday, February 8 at 11 a.m. SF Gregory Family Theater $15
A Year With Frog and Toad
Saturday, March 29 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Based on the books by Arnold Lobel
Music by Robert Reale Book and Lyrics by Willie Reale
“A delight for young and old”
BOSTON GLOBE
A Year With Frog and Toad
Direct from Broadway comes the Tony Award-winning musical A Year With Frog and Toad, based on the beloved children’s books by Arnold Lobel. Featuring a jazzy score by Robert and Willie Reale and produced by Wishing Star Productions, LLC, this charming musical follows two best friends—cheerful Frog and curmudgeonly Toad—through the four seasons. A Year With Frog and Toad tells the story of a friendship that endures with wit and heart. Bring your entire family to experience what the Boston Globe raves “[is] a delight for young and old.” Recommended for all ages.
Saturday, March 29 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. SF $15 SF = The 2 p.m. performance is sensory friendly.
Balsam Range
The 2018 International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA)’s Entertainer of the Year, Balsam Range makes its Hylton Center debut in an evening of mountain music. This North Carolina quintet has garnered 13 IBMA awards after 13 critically acclaimed albums, collaborated with renowned artists, and toured from coast to coast, remaining fiercely loyal to traditional bluegrass all the while.
Saturday, October 19 at 5 and 8 p.m. $30
Appropriate for all ages Food and beverage available for purchase
Graham Breedlove Group
Saturday, January 25 at 5 p.m.
Graham Breedlove Group
“One of the most exciting trumpet players on the planet” (International Trumpet Guild Journal), Graham Breedlove brings his quintet for an exhilarating program of music. The “luminous, fine-grained” (Washington Post) group, featuring fellow members of George Mason University Dewberry School of Music faculty, performs a mix of traditional New Orleans music, modern jazz, and original tunes.
Saturday, January 25 at 5 p.m. $30
Appropriate for all ages Food and beverage available for purchase
Saturday, February 8 at 5 p.m.
Dylan Triplett
Dylan Triplett is a blues and soul prodigy from St. Louis, Missouri, and was raised in a musical family. He began singing at age nine and has been performing professionally since late 2016. His rise in the industry recently earned him the 2023 Blues Music Award for Best Emerging Artist Album presented by the Blues Foundation and the 2023 Blues Blast Award. The Hylton Center is thrilled to welcome Triplett and his band for their Hylton Center debut!
Saturday, February 8 at 5 p.m.
$30
Appropriate for all ages
Food and beverage available for purchase
Saturday, March 29 at 5 and 8 p.m.
Alison Brown
GRAMMY Award-winning banjoist Alison Brown is renowned for her innovative sound blending bluegrass, folk, and jazz. She has earned praise and legions of fans worldwide touring with the Alison Brown Quartet and as a soloist, recording 12 critically acclaimed albums. This intimate evening with one of the most multifaceted artists on today’s roots music scene is not to be missed.
Saturday, March 29 at 5 and 8 p.m. $30
Appropriate
Food
Wednesday, October 16 at 1:30 p.m.
Wednesday, November 13
Matinee Idylls presents a series of intimate performances by a variety of distinguished artists. These delightful afternoons feature a one-hour concert, followed by a cofee and dessert reception with the artists.
Performances take place in the Jacquemin Family Foundation Rehearsal Hall.
CONCERT
1:30 p.m.
TICKETS
Concert and dessert reception: $40
Appropriate for all ages
