Five Reasons to Attend the 2025 Virginia Theatre Festival

If you attended the festival in 2023, you must have seen the unforgettable production of Cabaret, directed by UVA alum and Broadway veteran Matthew Steffens. This summer, Steffens returns to his first artistic home to direct and choreograph the beloved Broadway musical, Into the Woods. The production will feature a stellar cast comprised of noted professional artists from NYC and beyond alongside local luminaries!

This Tony Award-winning masterpiece from Stephen Sondheim takes audiences on an unforgettable journey into the woods, as beloved fairy tale characters (Jack and the Beanstalk, Little Red Riding Hood, and Cinderella) spill from the pages of the storybook onto the stage. Featuring an unforgettable score and enchanting story, Into the Woods exposes the complicated consequences of happily ever after.

Lloyd Suh’s The Heart Sellers offers a funny, touching, and timely look at immigrant identity, friendship, and finding home in a new land. The play is set in 1973, just eight years after the passage of the Hart-Celler Act which abolished immigration quotas in America.

The two 20-something women, one from South Korea and one from the Philippines, spend the evening bonding over their common longing for the homes they have left behind and the excitement for what lies ahead in their shared new land. The pair shares hopes, fears, laughs, dreams, and a bottle or two of wine over the course of an evening as they ponder the question, “would you give up your heart to make a new home?" This beautiful new work is a must-see for fans of intimate, character-driven theatre.

A chance to celebrate the world's greatest entertainer? Don't mind if we do! Get Happy! is a dynamic and electric evening of some of the greatest hits and little-known gems from American icon Judy Garland, performed by acclaimed cabaret performer and UVA alumnus Jenna Pastuszek.

Eschewing imitation for celebration, Pastuszek weaves her own story amongst the carefully curated tunes, melding her own formidable talents with the unbeatable allure of timeless standards to take audiences over the rainbow and then some. Pastuszek will be joined by vocalist Will Stephan Connell and music director Kyle Branzel for what promises to be a perfect summer escape!

The Virginia Theatre Festival isn't just about what's on stage during the show -- it's about engaging with and exploring beyond the performance! This year, the festival will have a "Community Conversations" series, which allows patrons to participate in post-show discussions with cast and creative members! *A ticket to the performance is required to attend post-show discussions*

Into the Woods
Tuesday, July 1: Featuring cast and creative team members; moderated by Artistic Director Jenny Wales.

The Heart Sellers
Saturday, July 12: Featuring cast and creative team members; moderated by Professor Sylvia Chong.
Thursday, July 17: Featuring cast and creative team members and School of Law Professor Kevin Cope; moderated by Professor Shilpa Davé.

There's plenty to do in Charlottesville, so you may as well stay more than one day! If you're more of a night person, grab dinner on the Downtown Mall before catching a show on Friday or Saturday night. Afterwards, head to one of our beloved bars -- Miller's Downtown and The Whiskey Jar often have live music late into the night. For upscale vibes and creative cocktails, head to The Fitzroy or The Alley Light.

If you're more of a mid-day theatre lover, there are showings at 2PM on Saturday and Sunday too! That gives you the perfect amount of time to grab brunch beforehand and then do some more exploring afterwards! Here are our top seven farm-to-table brunch spots for some inspiration!

Make sure you check out our places to stay page too -- there are a lot of hidden gems in and outside of the city just waiting to be discovered! We look forward welcoming you to the Charlottesville area and seeing you at the Virginia Theatre Festival this summer!