The Shadow
ALLEGHANY HIGHLANDS, Va. (VR) – The Alleghany Highlands Arts Council has announced its 2025-2026 Performing Arts Series, featuring a diverse repertoire of music, dance, and storytelling by artists from around the world.
This year’s lineup features an array of acclaimed artists, starting with The Spirit of Scotland on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, at the Historic Masonic Theatre. The performance, featuring a band of Celtic musicians, inspiring singers, and skilled Scottish dancers, is a journey through the nation’s history and traditions, complete with the haunting sound of bagpipes, joyous accordion melodies, and vibrant Highland dancing.
On Tuesday, November 6, 2025, the play The Accidental Hero will light up the stage in Curfman Hall at Covington Middle School. In the spirit of Veterans Day, this powerful and humorous one-man multimedia show, written and performed by Patrick Dewane, tells the true story of his grandfather, a WWII American officer. Using a collection of typewritten accounts, photos, and rare film footage, Dewane brings to life his granddad’s miraculous journey from Omaha Beach and the Battle of the Bulge to the unexpected liberation of the Czech villages of his own grandparents. This heartwarming and compelling narrative explores themes of identity, homecoming, and the untold stories of the Greatest Generation.
On Wednesday evening, December 17, Maestro David Stewart Wiley and the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra offer a holiday gift to our community with the Christmas section of George Frideric Handel’s “MESSIAH,” a revered English-language oratorio composed in 1741. This timeless piece, a cherished holiday tradition, features powerful choruses and moving instrumentals and solos that bring sacred scriptures to life, providing a meaningful and inspiring musical experience for audiences. This event will be held in the acoustic richness of Curfman Hall at Covington Middle School.
Spring bursts open on Tuesday, March 31, with the high-energy vocal talent of Ball In The House, a dynamic R&B/Soul/Pop a cappella group based in Boston, known for engaging audiences through singing, dancing, and beatboxing. The Curfman Hall Stage at Covington Middle School will come alive with a diverse range of music styles, from doo-wop and Motown to contemporary pop, featuring both unique covers and original compositions. Having performed extensively at colleges, theaters, and festivals, and even opening for major acts like The Temptations and The Beach Boys, Ball In The House has also gained recognition for their commercial jingles and appearances on shows like America’s Got Talent. They will also give a school performance just for students at Alleghany High School.
The music of John Denver will be brought to life by Ted Vigil on Friday, April 24, at the Historic Masonic Theatre. Vigil, who shares a striking resemblance to Denver both physically and vocally, offers a heartfelt and authentic musical tribute with a repertoire from “Rocky Mountain High” and “Annie’s Song” to “Sunshine On My Shoulders”, “Take Me Home Country Roads,” and “Thank God I’m A Country Boy.” Intending to be more than an impersonator, Vigil’s tribute aims to honor Denver’s colossal musical legacy, providing audiences with a warm and delightful evening filled with some of the world’s most popular songs.
The season concludes on Tuesday, May 5, with the exquisite artistry of The State Ballet of Virginia, the Richmond Ballet. Their touring company plays a vital role in the Richmond Ballet’s mission to promote, preserve, and evolve the art of ballet. The show is slated for the Historic Masonic Theatre, and local dance students will be the special guests. Daytime workshops will also be conducted for each of our local elementary schools.
Season tickets are available for purchase online at Arts4AllAlleghanyHighlands.com or directly from any Alleghany Highlands Arts Council board member. Individual season tickets cost $125 and include two bonus guest passes for any of the six performances in the series. The Family Season Pass is $250, offering general admission to each show for everyone in the household, along with four bonus passes. These affordable options highlight the Arts Council’s mission to make world-class performing arts accessible to everyone in the Alleghany Highlands.
For more information, call the Arts Council at 540-962-ARTS (2787)
