Dr. Peter Henriques, Mason Emeritus Professor of History, Analyzes George Washington’s Drive to Become Commander of the American Revolutionary War Army: Large Class in TA‑1, April 10.
Theater Lovers' Group Upcoming Events and Volunteer Opportunity
By Norma Jean Reck, Coordinator, Theater Lovers’ Group
On Wednesday, April 24, at 4:00, the Theater Lovers' Group (TLG) will meet Castleton Festival Co-founder via Zoom.
Co-founder Dietlinde Maazel will be on hand to tell us the wonderful story of the founding of Castleton Festival in Castleton, Virginia, located in the lush, green, rolling hills of nearby Rappahannock County. You might be surprised to learn about the diversity of musical and theatrical offerings available to us a mere hour's drive from Fairfax. Look for the link in OLLI's daily schedule under Theater Lovers' Group (TLG) club meeting. Open to all OLLI members.
On Sunday, May 5, at 2:00, TLG will see The Heiress of Hawtrey Hall performed by City of Fairfax Theater Company.
Who doesn't love an English Regency romantic comedy, especially when it was written by a young local playwright? Giggle out loud at the humorous escapades of insistent suitors and meddling family members that Heiress Grace Coventry deals with as she protects her beloved Hawtrey Hall and fights for financial independence. Dinner after the show. Group ticket price TBD. Email Norma at njreck@cs.com for more information or to sign up.
Needed: Theatrical Audio Describers Volunteers; Training Provided Free, See Shows for Free
Contact Marianne Metz at themelodylingers@gmail.com for more information and to sign up for auditions in April.
The Metropolitan Washington Ear, Inc. (MWE), a non-profit organization, provides reading and information services for the blind and visually impaired throughout the DMV area, and specifically to major theaters. During the month of April, they are seeking volunteers to audition to be Audio Describers (AD). Those selected will go through AD training the weekend of May 31.
Theatrical Audio Describers learn to verbally describe visual aspects of a performance such as sets, costumes, and action on the stage that help the visually challenged to "see" the play as well as hear it. ADs are volunteer positions. Tickets to shows are free.
By Brenda Bloch-Young and Doris Bloch, Co‑Moderators
Continuing our Wednesday Conversations series, Team Bloch (Brenda Bloch-Young and Doris Bloch) will moderate the OLLI Zoom discussion on April 24 at 4:00.
The topic for April 24: Memories of O.J. Simpson. How did you react when you heard the news of O.J.'s death? Do you remember the coverage of the white Ford Bronco being chased on LA freeways? And the trial that seemed to go on forever? Seems that 150 million Americans watched the verdict announced on TV. There have been several news articles on what we learned or should have learned from that verdict.
Join us Wednesday afternoon at 4:00 on the 24/7 Chat Line to share your thoughts.
Did you know that eclipse glasses can be recycled? Astronomers Without Borders is collecting them and distributing them to other continents for future eclipse viewing, especially in areas where there is little funding to purchase the glasses for the populace.
If you still have those glasses and would like to donate them, there is now a labeled collection box in the Tallwood social room to receive them. Please deposit them by April 25, so we can get them to the collection site while they are still preparing distribution lots. Thank you.
The April 2024 Photo of the Month theme was Planes, Trains, and Automobiles. We selected John Olsen's photo "Blue Angels," which may also be viewed at this page. To view other photos by members of the Photography Club, visit the club's photo website.
-- By John Olsen and Edward Marion, Photography Club Co-Coordinators Back Back to Top of Page
Poet's Corner
Courtesy of the Poetry Workshop
Our Passage
in my new yard
sits an ancient
chipped Buddha
half-buried and
overgrown with ivy
how many families
have watched the flowers
around that statue
bloom bold
then fade away
what is it like to kneel
half submerged
under crisp moon rises
embedded in creeping moss
thru rolling decades
in the shrill dark
can it hear the deep dirt
and sense the pressure
that time and rust
wreak on all
our proud structures
maybe we should
have remained
savanna wanderers
with itchy feet
leaving only
rocky foot tracks
to mark our passage
For tickets for either Center for the Arts Concert Hall (CFA) or Hylton Center, call 1-888-945-2468. You can also buy tickets online through the event calendar (see links below) or visit the venue's box office. For more information, see the CFA ticket pageor the Hylton Center ticket purchase page.
Dr. Linda Apple Monson produces a periodic “Notes from the Director.” This email is full of information on interesting online performances by the students and faculty of the School of Music. If you would like to receive these bulletins, just sign up at this linkto stay in touch. Also, the Center for the Arts has a website,Mason Arts at Home, which has a calendar of online events and access to many past performances.
Small Island Big Song
Sat, Apr 20, 8:00
A pre-performance discussion will take place in the Center for the Arts, 45 minutes prior to curtain.
Concert Hall
Admission: $48, $41, $29.
The Okee Dokee Brothers
Sun, Apr 21, 10:30 and 1:00
Concert Hall
Admission: $15.
Bamberg Symphony with Hélène Grimaud
Sat, Apr 27, 8:00
A pre-performance discussion will take place in the Center for the Arts, 45 minutes prior to curtain.
Concert Hall
Admission: $65, $65, $45.
Mason Opera, Spring 2024: Mozart’s The Impresario and Steven Stucky’s The Classical Style: An Opera (of Sorts)
Fri, Apr 19, 8:00
Sat, Apr 20, 2:00 and 8:00
Sun, Apr 21, 3:00
Harris Theatre
Admission: $20 Adult, $15 Senior.
Mason Wind Symphony Concert: The Blue Marble: An Earth Concertvation Experience
Thu, Apr 25, 6:30 to 9:30
6:30-7:45 Sustainability Marketplace Opens to the Public 6:30-7:30 Pre-Concert Discussion: Mission eARTh – A call to action for artists and audiences in Earth Conservation
8:00-9:30 Wind Symphony Concert
Concert Hall
Admission: $12 Adult, $8 Senior.
Mason School of Dance: Spring: Dance Innovations
Fri, Apr 26, 2:00 and 8:00
Sat, Apr 27, 2:00 and 8:00
Harris Theatre
Admission: $20 Adult, $16 Senior.
The United States Army Band: Red, White, and Blue
Fri, Apr 19, 7:30
Merchant Hall
Admission: Free on a first-come, first-served basis, with doors opening at 7:00.
Frank Solivan and Dirty Kitchen
Sat, Apr 20, 5:00 and 8:00
Gregory Family Theater
Admission: $30.
Virginia National Ballet: Led Zeppelin
Sat, Apr 20, 7:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $45, $40, $35.
Ordway Ballet: Whodunnit? A Murder Mystery Ballet
Sun, Apr 21, 1:00 and 5:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $30, $27, $24 Adult; $28, $25, $22 Senior.
Matinee Idylls: Bridging the Gap
Wed, Apr 24; Lunch, 12:30, Concert 1:30
Gregory Family Theater
Lunch, concert, and dessert reception: $65
Concert and dessert reception only: $40.
The Hylton Performing Arts Center’s 14th Anniversary Gala
Sat, Apr 27
6:00 Reception in the Didlake Grand Foyer
7:30 Dinner, Honoree Tribute, and Auction
9:00 to 11:00 Desserts and drinks
Admission: $350.
The New Dominion Choraliers Ceili: An Irish Music
Festival
Sun, Apr 28, 5:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $50.
Please note: OLLI Meetings and Clubs may currently take place in several formats: some are in person only, some are online only, and some are hybrid, meaning that they take place in person and are accessible online simultaneously. OLLI events and activities meeting online bear the identification "Z" in their course or event number (except clubs; you may need to check the OLLI calendar and daily schedule email for location and other event information). Refer to the university's coronavirus website for official university updates.
The following list covering the next two weeks is extracted for your convenience from the master online calendar maintained by the office. The list is accurate as of mid-week, but for the most up-to-date information, please view the latest forecast of coming events on our website (News/OLLI Calendar). Note: All OLLI members are welcome at, and encouraged to attend, meetings of the Board of Directors, committees and resource groups, kick-off coffees, etc., bolded below. The OLLI office has sent (or will send) emails with links and meeting passwords to club members; you may also log in at the member portal and click on ZOOM CLASS LINKS.
Sat Apr 20
10:30 am
1:00 pm
Tai Chi Club – online
Personal Computer User Group
Mon Apr 22
9:30 am
4:00 pm
What’s in the Daily News? – online
Family History/Genealogy Club – online
Tue Apr 23
1:00 pm
4:30 pm
Stay Active and Independent for Life – online
Tai Chi Club
Wed Apr 24
1:45 pm
1:45 pm
4:00 pm
4:00 pm
Bridge Club
Spanish Club
Theater Lovers’ Group – online
Conversation with Team Bloch – online
Thu Apr 25
4:00 pm
4:30 pm
Reston Book Club – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Fri Apr 26
9:30 am
9:30 am
10:00 am
11:00 am
11:00 am
12:00 noon
1:00 pm
Mah Jongg Club
Crafts and Conversation
Grab ’n’ Gab Coffee Klatch
Classic Literature Club – online
Homer, etc. – online
Photography Club
Stay Active and Independent for Life – online
Sat Apr 27
10:30 am
Tai Chi Club – online
Mon Apr 29
9:30 am
What’s in the Daily News? – online
Tue Apr 30
1:00 pm
4:30 pm
Stay Active and Independent for Life – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Board Game Club
Bridge Club
Memoir and More Writing Group – online
Mah Jongg Club – online
History Club – online
Spanish Club – online
Conversation with Team Bloch – online
Thu May 2
11:50 am
4:30 pm
6:00 pm
All the News
Tai Chi Club – online
Ethnic Eats Club – online
Fri May 3
10:00 am
1:00 pm
1:00 pm
2:30 pm
Annual Business Meeting
Cinco de Mayo Celebration
Stay Active and Independent for Life – online
Caregivers Group – online
OLLI E-News was created by Rod Zumbro, who served as its editor from 2005 to 2013.
Editorial Staff
Chief Editor: Paul Van Hemel
Associate Editor: David Gundry
Weekly Editor Team: David Gundry, John Nash, Sheri Siesseger,Paul Van Hemel Proofreaders: Rebecca Jann, Susan Van Hemel, Tom Appich, Martha Kossoff, Anne Hartshorn, Bonnie Becker, Carol McManus
Submissions: Members are encouraged to submit letters to the editor, letters to Ms. Ollie Ettakit (on etiquette matters), OLLI-related news items, articles, and photos. Submit material to: ollienewseditor@gmail.com. Deadline: Tuesday, 6:00, for that week's issue (Monday, 6:00, for letters to the editor); early submissions are greatly appreciated. Please limit articles to about 250 words. Note: You can view past issues of OLLI E-News on the DocStore. To search the content of issues, use Search Our Site or put your search term in Google followed by "site:olli.gmu.edu/" without the quotes.
