Good Shot Judy entertains
The 75th anniversary of the Virginia Highlands Festival will be celebrated in a variety of ways this summer with a gala dinner and dance, an exhibition of the festival’s history at the William King Museum of Art, an anniversary concert at the Moonlite Drive-In Theatre and a special performance by the famous comedy troupe Second City.
Diamond Gala: Dinner and Dance
A celebratory dinner and dance at the Martha Washington Inn & Spa harken back nostalgically to the Swing Dance Era and to the Virginia Highlands Festival’s beginnings in the 1940s in which a Formal Ball was the kick-off event of early festivals. The event is Friday, July 27, at 7 p.m. with free dance lessons at 6 p.m. with instructor Sho Rich, a certified Arthur Murray dance instructor.
The band for the event is Good Shot Judy, a big-amp jazz band from Williamsburg, Virginia, that has set stages aflame nationwide. The band reflects the era in American music history when pop music was dominated by small jazz combos, big brass bands and crooners who sang with them. The band recreates a nightclub ambiance from the time when Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin graced the stages.
“The room will be adorned with traditional black, gold and white accents with sparkling lights for a magical evening,” says Deirdre Cole, the executive producer of the festival. A tuxedo is not required but guests are encouraged to wear semi-formal to formal attire. There is a four-tiered ticket selection, depending upon the food selections that are made for dinner. Tickets are available on the website of the Virginia Highlands Festival.
The Virginia Highlands Festival: Celebrating 75 Years of Appalachia
The William King Museum of Art mounts an exhibit that showcases highlights of the Virginia Highlands Festival’s 75 years. The title of the exhibit is “The Virginia Highlands Festival: Celebrating 75 Years of Appalachia” and it runs from June 27 to Jan. 5, 2025.
The exhibit consists of the signature art that the festival has commissioned over the years, posters, photographs and a variety of memorabilia that the festival and community members have collected. Text panels will highlight the history of various areas of the festival, such as the Antiques Market, the Arts & Crafts Show, Performing Arts, Writers Day and others.
A centerpiece of the exhibit is the five-foot papier-mâché head of Robert Porterfield, which was developed by artist D.R. Mullins for the festival’s 50th anniversary celebration and parade. Porterfield was the founder of the Virginia Highlands Festival as well as the Barter Theatre.
William King Museum of Art is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day, except staying open late on Thursday until 8 p.m. and Sunday 1-5 p.m.
75th Anniversary Concert at the Moonlite Drive-In Theatre
The Virginia Highlands Festival teams up with the refurbished Moonlite Drive-In Theatre for an anniversary concert. 2024 marks 75 years both for the festival and the theater. The concert Saturday, Aug. 3, from 5-10 p.m. features country legend Clint Black on tour, celebrating the 35th anniversary of his “Killin’ Time” album. Lance Stinson and Mason Ramsey are the opening acts.
Black will be performing his triple-platinum debut album—a collection Rolling Stone named one of the most important albums in country music history—live from start to finish for the first time in concert. The set will also include many more of his classic hits. In tandem with the tour, a special vinyl reissue of “Killin’ Time” will be released.
In one of the most storied careers in modern music, Black surged to superstardom as part of the fabled Class of ‘89, reaching #1 with five consecutive singles from his triple-platinum debut, “Killin’ Time.” The superstar logged the #1 Billboard Country song of both 1989 and 1990 for “A Better Man,” and “Nobody’s Home” respectively, both from “Killin’ Time.”
“Time flies when you’re...Killin’ Time!” commented Black. “My band and I are very excited to play the album top to bottom. Revisiting these songs has been inspiring and we can’t wait to hit the road and play it for the fans!”
The organizers see the event, which will be a fundraiser for further restoration of the theater, as one of the largest in Southwest Virginia this year.
“It’s a milestone event for both organizations. We are beyond excited to start an annual tradition together with this first concert,” said Deirdre Cole, the festival’s executive producer. Music chair Seth Ritchie said that the Moonlite will serve as a much-needed venue for musical events held during the Virginia Highlands Festival each year.
The Moonlite Theatre has been purchased by the new owners: Renee Blevins, her husband Kyle Blevins, their daughter Rebecca Crusenberry, and son-in-law Chance Crusenberry. Since March, they have begun restoring the building and grounds and plan for its use as a multi-purpose entertainment venue.
Tickets for the concert are available online at the Virginia Highlands Festival’s website and at the gate on the evening of the event.
Second City performs at Barter Theatre
Second City returns to the Virginia Highlands Festival Tuesday, July 30, at 8 p.m. at the Barter Theatre’s Gilliam Stage for a performance of their new Comedian Rhapsody program. Second City has performed at the festival several times in the past and will be a part of this year’s 75th anniversary celebration.
Second City’s Comedian Rhapsody is a brand-new revue featuring the best sketch comedy and songs from Second City’s history, new classics and of course, some trademark improvisation.
Second City is the world’s premier comedy club, comedy theater and school of improvisation. It opened its doors 60 years ago in Chicago as a humble comedy cabaret in 1959. The group has launched the careers of comedy notables Tina Fey, Stephen Colbert, Steve Carrell, Bill Murray, Amy Poehler and many others.
Tickets are $45 and are available through the ticketing system of Barter Theatre. Get your tickets early for the best seats.
