Tom Shoop, former Fairfax County History Commissioner, discussed his book, A Place Called Ilda, on race and resilience in 19th and 20th-century Fairfax, Virginia, near Little River Turnpike and Guinea Road; April 21, Historic Blenheim
You will receive (or may have already received) an email with a link allowing you to cast your ballot for the Board election between May 2 and May 16. If you do not receive this email today, contact the OLLI office at [email protected].
The next issue of OLLI E-News will be published Friday, May 9; the regular deadline for submission of items is Tuesday, May 6, at 6:00.
By Camille Hodges, Humanities and Social Sciences/Current Events Program Planning Group Chairperson
As spring blossoms with promises of new life, we hope your thoughts have blossomed into new ideas to share with OLLI members. If you are personally hesitant to share, perhaps you know someone whose expertise in the areas of the humanities and social sciences would benefit our OLLI members. We value your willingness to contribute your expertise.
Here are some topics for consideration:
History of the Fairfax County Courthouse
“Don’t Bother Me, I Can’t Cope”...and other dilemmas of older adulthood
Why are there so many versions of Cinderella? Or The Psychology Behind Folk Tales
The “Rosetta Stone” of Understanding Human Behavior
Your ideas?
Here is the course proposal link and due date schedule:
The History Club will meet in person at 4:00 on Wednesday afternoon, May 7, on the west side of Parking Lot K on the George Mason campus We'll be taking a tour of the redoubt at Farr’s Cross Roads, an important Civil War site. A map of the campus that includes Lot K (west side is to the left on the map) is linked here Fairfax Campus Map.
We will meet at the Farr's Cross Roads historical marker (illustrated at the right) with experienced presenters from the Bull Run Civil War Roundtable. They will explain the historical significance of the site, and then take us on a short walk of about 100 yards on a well-groomed trail to the site of the actual redoubt.
All are welcome; you don’t have to be a History Club member to attend, enjoy the great outdoors, and what should be a very interesting walk and talk.
Theater for the Merry Month of May - You Are Invited
By Norma Jean Reck, Coordinator, Theater Lovers' Group
Friday, May 9 Speaker - Be Sure to Zoom in at 1 p.m. Which of these types of theater do you enjoy the most? Murder mystery dinner theater or stage productions? Magic shows or comedy shows? You get it all with the amazing Stagecoach Theatre Company of Ashburn. This gem of a theater company does it all with something for everyone from five to adult; even gives classes if you want to brush up on your theater skills.
Stagecoach Theatre's owner and co-founder Jerri Wiseman will speak via Zoom with the Theater Lovers' Group on Friday, May 9 from 1 to 2:15 p.m. All OLLI members are invited to attend this fabulous event. Just look for the Zoom link under Theater Lovers' Group in the E-News Daily Schedule.
Saturday, May 18 Attend Matinee of Jesus Christ Superstar
Andrew Lloyd Weber's first production for the professional stage, Jesus Christ Superstar, ran for about a decade in London, which made it the longest running show there before being eventually overtaken by Cats. It is loosely based on the Gospels but focuses on the psychological and personal conflicts between characters, particularly Judas's dissatisfaction with Jesus' direction. It will be performed at Workhouse Arts Center W3 Theater. Military and senior tickets are $35 and can be purchased online at workhousearts.org. Optional dinner after the show.
Editor's Note: At the author’s request, all words are published unedited, exactly as submitted.
I walk into
the corner market
a blank slate
yearning for lawsuit fruit
a prairie of cherries
a crack pot apricot
with avocado bravado
I search for unflappable apples
parts of speech peaches
say a prayer to Santa Banana
wearing a passionfruit swimsuit
wondering how did I land
on this pomegranate planet
just another glum plum
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.
Center for the Arts, Concert Hall
Pre-performance discussions will take place in Monson Grand Tier, which is located on the third level of the Concert Hall, 45 minutes prior to curtain. As seating is limited, a livestream will also be available on screens in the main lobby.
Virginia Opera: Loving v. Virginia
Sat, May 3, 7:30
Sun, May 4, 2:00
Pre-performance discussion
Concert Hall
Admission: $110, $70, $40.
George Mason School of Theater: 12 Angry Jurors
Fri, May 2, 8:00
Sat, May 3, 2:00 and 8:00
Sun, May 4, 2:00
deLaski Performing Arts Building, A105, TheaterSpace
Admission: $20 Adult, $10 Senior.
George Mason School of Dance: Dance Innovations
Fri, May 2, 2:00 and 7:00
Sat, May 3, 7:00
Harris Theatre
Admission: $20 Adult, $12 Senior.
Mason Symphony Orchestra Concert: Concerto Competition Winners
Mon, May 5, 8:00
Center for the Arts, Concert Hall
Admission: $15 Adult, $10 Senior.
School of Dance: May Studio Series
Tue, May 6, 6:00 and 8:00
deLaski Performing Arts Building, A301, Dance Performance Studio
Admission: $17.
School of Music Honors Recital 2025
Sat, May 10, 8:00
Harris Theatre
Admission: Free.
Manassas Symphony Orchestra: Fantasies
Sat, May 3, 7:30
Merchant Hall
Admission: $30.
ARTfactory’s Pied Piper Theatre: The Lightning Thief – The Percy Jackson Musical
Fri, May 9, 7:00
Sat, May 10, 7:00
Sun, May 11, 2:00
Fri, May 16, 7:00
Sat, May 17, 7:00
Sun, May 18, 2:00
Gregory Family Theater
Admission: $25 Adult, $20 Senior.
Manassas Ballet Theatre: The Sleeping Beauty
Fri, May 9, 7:30
Sat, May 10, 3:00 and 7:30
Sun, May 11, 3:00
Merchant Hall
Admission: $75; $65; $55; $45.
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. 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. 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 May 3
10:30 am
Tai Chi Club – online
Mon May 5
9:30 am
4:00 pm
4:00 pm
What’s in the Daily News? – online
Family History/Genealogy Club – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tue May 6
2:00 pm
4:00 pm
4:30 pm
Chair Yoga and More – online
Mah Jongg Club – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Investment Forum
Chair Yoga and More – online
Board Games Club – online
Bridge Club
History Club – online
Spanish Club – online
Thu May 8
11:50 am
3:00 pm
4:00 pm
4:30 pm
All the News
Chair Yoga and More – online
Literary Fiction Book Club – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Fri May 9
9:30 am
9:30 am
10:30 am
11:00 am
11:30 am
12:00 noon
1:00 pm
2:00 pm
2:30 pm
Photography Club
Crafts and Conversation
Dance Club
Homer, etc. – online
Cooking Club
Chair Yoga and More – online
Theater Lovers’ Group
Classic Literature Club – online
Tallwood Book Club – online
Sat May 10
10:30 am
Tai Chi Club – online
Mon May 12
9:30 am
4:00 pm
What’s in the Daily News? – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tue May 13
2:00 pm
3:45 pm
4:30 pm
Chair Yoga and More – online
Caregivers Support Group – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Investment Forum
Chair Yoga and More – online
Board Game Club
Bridge Club
Dabbling Artists Club
Spanish Club
Memoir and More Writers Group – online
Conversation with Team Bloch – online
Thu May 15
11:50 am
3:00 pm
4:30 pm
All the News
Chair Yoga and More – online
Tai Chi Club – online
Fri May 16
9:30 am
10:00 am
11:00 am
12:00 noon
2:00 pm
Crafts and Conversation
Mah Jongg Club
Homer, etc. – online
Chair Yoga and More – online
Classic Literature Club – 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, Paul Van Hemel Proofreaders: Rebecca Jann, Susan Van Hemel, Thomas 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: [email protected]. 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.
We will meet at the Farr's Cross Roads historical marker (illustrated at the right) with experienced presenters from the Bull Run Civil War Roundtable. They will explain the historical significance of the site, and then take us on a short walk of about 100 yards on a well-groomed trail to the site of the actual redoubt. 
Saturday, May 18 Attend Matinee of Jesus Christ Superstar