Audition: Evening with the Stars
AUDITION
Audition form
Performances of all kinds are welcome. Whether the talent is singing, dancing, acting, or other kind of performance, Evening with the Stars is a great place to take the stage in this perennial favorite auditioned variety show is back—for all ages—by popular demand.
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Intermediate Pottery Wheel
REGISTRATION DEADLINE
Intermediate Pottery Wheel
Class dates: SUNDAYS
May 10-June 21, 1:00 - 3:30 PM
Designed for students who have taken the 7-week Beginner Pottery Wheel class with our instructor, Patricia Shook. All materials are included. Students will be given one 25lb block of clay.
RECEPTION EXPOSURE
RECEPTION EXPOSURE
EXPOSURE is a curated and judged photography exhibit for amateur and professional photographers.
Artists: Please enter work by March 18, 2026.
RECEPTION for Things I’ve Seen
RECEPTION
Things I’ve Seen
See work by 2-time EXPOSURE Best in Show winner, Wayne Setser. In this exhibit, the photographer hopes these photographs do more than show the viewer what he saw. He hopes they allow the viewer to hear what he heard, and perhaps even feel what he felt in the moment the shutter was released.
Evening with the Stars
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This perennial favorite auditioned variety show is back—for all ages—by popular demand.
Auditions are Thursday, April 30 at 6:00 PM
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Youth Pottery Wheel
REGISTRATION DEADLINE
Youth Pottery Wheel
Class dates: SATURDAYS
May 16 - 23, 1:00 - 3:30 PM
In this 2-day workshop, learn to center clay on the wheel and throw a cylinder and bowl shapes, and make mugs. Students will be allowed to have one item finished to firing. Final firing will be 2 to 4 weeks after the final class and students will be notified to come pick up their pottery.
Live Drawing Studio
Live Drawing Studio
Practice gesture and live drawing portraiture. Bring your own paper and drawing materials and we’ll provide drawing boards and easels. It is free to participate but cash contributions to our model are appreciated. Be advised that all of our live drawing sessions will include clothed models. No instruction will be offered during this self-guided session.
The Studio
THE STUDIO
Join an art club that meets once a month for tweens and teens. The goal of the club is to bring together the artistic youth of our community and create an enriching space for sharing, learning, and creating art! We’ll paint, draw, sculpt and many other forms of art. The Studio is free to join. Please register your attendance for each session.
Table Read: Play On
Play On
A theatre group tries desperately to put on a play in spite of maddening interference from a haughty author who keeps revising the script. Act I is a rehearsal of the dreadful show, Act II is the near disastrous dress rehearsal, and the final act is the actual performance, in which anything that can go wrong, does.
Grand Ball
Grand Ball is a dance for grandparents (and honorary grandparents!) and their grandchildren featuring recorded music from the 1940s through the 2020s.
Admission by donation. We suggest minimum $5 for grandkids and $10 for grandparents.
Proceeds benefit AACA's scholarship programs:
Marian Biddle Trew Scholarship for Youth
Laura Abbot Scholarship for Senior Citizens
Kids Arts Camp 2026
REGISTER NOW
WEEK 1 June 1 – 5 (Register by May 18)
WEEK 2 June 8 – 12 (Register by May 25)
AACA’s 29th annual arts camp for grades K-6 is for students who will have completed the grade in the 2025-26 school year. There are daily classes in art, music, drama, and dance. The beloved summer camp led by Kay Frank and Lisa Sharp is a great introduction to the arts in a week full of fun for newbies and practiced performers alike. Friday performance at 1:00 PM.
Auditions: Mean Girls
AUDITIONS
AUDITION FORM
Mean Girls is a high-energy stage musical based on the 2004 film. Cady Heron, a former homeschooled student from Africa navigates the vicious social hierarchy of public high school. She infiltrates the "Plastics," led by queen bee Regina George. Will she lose herself to popularity before learning the importance of friendship and being true to herself?
Jr. Musical Theatre Camp 2026
REGISTER BY JUNE 1
CAMP DATES June 15 – 26
PERFORMANCE DATES June 26 & 27
AACA’s 5th Jr Musical Theatre Camp is for grades 1 - 6. Campers enjoy two weeks of theatre games and classes in acting, music, movement, and stage craft with directors Michael Webb and Ethan León. The camp ends with three performances on Friday, June 26 at 6 PM & Saturday, June 27 at 12 PM and 2 PM.
Youth Theatre Camp 2026
REGISTER BY JUNE 22
CAMP DATES July 6 - 17
AACA’s annual Youth Theatre Camp for ages 11 - 17 is an area favorite. Campers enjoy two weeks of classes in acting, improvisation, stage combat, music, movement, and stage craft with directors Bob Borwick, Kelly Borwick, and Pam Thigpen. The camp ends with a performance of the musical “Wnderful" on Friday, July 17 at 7:00 PM.
Visual Arts Mini Camp
REGISTER BY JULY 6
CAMP DATES July 20 - 24
Dress for a mess and join AACA instructors or five days of visual arts projects in a variety of mediums and styles. Grades K-2 meet at 9:00 AM, Grades 3-5 meet at noon. The camp ends with a collective exhibit on Friday during last 30 minutes of camp at The Arts Center.
Make Your Mark Camp
REGISTER BY JULY 13
CAMP DATES July 27 - 31
Artists who have completed grades 6 - 12 study master artists, then create their own artistic expressions. Camp ends with an exhibit of finished work during the last 30 minutes of camp.
Mean Girls
TICKETS GO ON SALE JULY 6
Mean Girls is a high-energy stage musical based on the 2004 film. Cady Heron, a former homeschooled student from Africa navigates the vicious social hierarchy of public high school. She infiltrates the "Plastics," led by queen bee Regina George. Will she lose herself to popularity before learning the importance of friendship and being true to herself?
Table Read: Noises Off
Noises Off
Called “the funniest farce ever written,” Noises Off presents a manic menagerie of itinerant actors rehearsing a flop called Nothing’s On. Slamming doors, on and offstage intrigue, and an errant herring all figure in the plot of this hilarious, high-energy comedy.
The Studio
THE STUDIO
Join an art club that meets once a month for tweens and teens. The goal of the club is to bring together the artistic youth of our community and create an enriching space for sharing, learning, and creating art! We’ll paint, draw, sculpt and many other forms of art. The Studio is free to join. Please register your attendance for each session.
Steel Magnolias
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Steel Magnolias is alternately hilarious and touching—and, in the end, deeply revealing of the strength and purposefulness which underlies the antic banter of its characters.
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Pottery Wheel
REGISTRATION DEADLINE
Pottery Wheel
Class dates: TUESDAYS
April 14 - May 26, 6:00 - 8:30 PM
Learn to throw clay on a potter’s wheel! We’ll cover the foundations of wheel work, including wedging and centering clay, as well as forming cylinders, cups and bowls. Basic glazing information will help you finish your final forms. No prior clay experience necessary! Beginners and those looking for a refresher course in wheel-throwing are welcome!
Live Drawing Studio
Live Drawing Studio
Practice gesture and live drawing portraiture. Bring your own paper and drawing materials and we’ll provide drawing boards and easels. It is free to participate but cash contributions to our model are appreciated. Be advised that all of our live drawing sessions will include clothed models. No instruction will be offered during this self-guided session.
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Watercolor Studio
REGISTRATION DEADLINE
Studio Watercolor
Class dates: THURSDAYS
April 9 - 16, 4:30 - 6:30 PM
Explore and develop your painting expertise during this 2 week watercolor class! The class emphasizes critique, compositional elements, and developing unity in a painting. Students should be prepared with supplies weekly.
RECEPTION Student Art Show
RECEPTION Student Art Show
See art by area middle school, high school, and college artists!
Proof
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This Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning play is an intelligent and compelling story about fathers and daughters, the nature of genius, and the power of love.
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Handbuilding Pottery
REGISTRATION DEADLINE
Handbuilding Pottery
Class dates: SATURDAYS
March 28- April 18, 1:00 - 4:00 PM
Learn the basics of handbuilding with clay in this 4-week class. You will learn to roll a clay slab and create sugar and creamer containers. Students will use texture tools and underglazes to decorate pottery. Pieces will be glazed for the final firing. This class is suitable for both beginners and those with some experience who want to expand their skills.
Arts on the Side ON TOUR
ARTS ON THE SIDE ON TOUR
This free gathering includes dinner catered by ARAMARK and the premiere performance of the string quartet and dance of “The Great Space,” composed by Ben Jones with choreography by Becca Hoback at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. Everyone is invited to come enjoy FREE dinner and arts program.
The Studio
THE STUDIO
Join an art club that meets once a month for tweens and teens. The goal of the club is to bring together the artistic youth of our community and create an enriching space for sharing, learning, and creating art! We’ll paint, draw, sculpt and many other forms of art. The Studio is free to join. Registration for each event is encouraged but not required.
RECEPTION for The Stars of David Project
RECEPTION
The Stars of David Project
The number six million is both overwhelming and abstract. It is recited in books, museums, and classrooms, but the human weight of that number is nearly impossible to hold. By drawing each star, the artist insists on slowing down to acknowledge every single life. Each star is imperfect, each one slightly different, and each one created with intention, because each person was singular, irreplaceable, and part of the Jewish story that continues to shape us.
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: ARTSPLORATIONS Visual Arts Workshops
REGISTRATION DEADLINE
Spring 2026 Artsplorations
(March 17 & 19)
Join us for a la carte visual arts workshops during Spring Break (March 17 & 19) taught by local art instructors. You can sign up for one or both days. Cost is tiered Pay What You Can.
Live Drawing Studio
Live Drawing Studio
Practice gesture and live drawing portraiture. Bring your own paper and drawing materials and we’ll provide drawing boards and easels. It is free to participate but cash contributions to our model are appreciated. Be advised that all of our live drawing sessions will include clothed models. No instruction will be offered during this self-guided session.
Table Read: Murder on the Orient Express
Murder on the Orient Express
Isolated and with a killer in their midst, the passengers of The Orient Express rely on detective Hercule Poirot to identify the murderer of an American tycoon – in case he or she decides to strike again.
2026 Arts Gala
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Celebrate the arts with us! Your generous bids on auction items supports community arts and arts education! Cocktail hour is at 6:30 PM when the silent auction opens. Bid on curated items, enjoy a fancy dinner, and dance the night away with a live band! The annual Arts Gala is a black-tie optional dressy affair.
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Intermediate Pottery Wheel
REGISTRATION DEADLINE
Intermediate Pottery Wheel
Class dates: MONDAYS
March 9-April 20, 6:00 - 8:30 PM
Designed for students who have taken the 7-week Beginner Pottery Wheel class with our instructor, Patricia Shook. All materials are included. Students will be given one 25lb block of clay.
Auditions: Steel Magnolias
AUDITIONS
Part comedy and part drama, Robert Harling’s classic examines the bond between six women in a small southern town.
Annie
ALL SHOWS SOLD OUT
Please call 423-745-8781 or stop by in person to be added to the waitlist.
This worldwide phenomenon and winner of seven Tonys including “Best Musical” is a triumphant story with beloved music and treasured characters.
The Studio
THE STUDIO
Join an art club that meets once a month for tweens and teens. The goal of the club is to bring together the artistic youth of our community and create an enriching space for sharing, learning, and creating art! We’ll paint, draw, sculpt and many other forms of art. The Studio is free to join. Registration for each event is encouraged but not required.
Seasons of Love - Our Three Tenors
SOLD OUT
Please call 423-745-8781 to be added to waitlist.
Our Three Tenors, Tim Frazier, Rusty Patterson, and Mike Simmons, perform their first full-length concert in more than five years, celebrating love in all its forms.
Live Drawing Studio
Live Drawing Studio
Practice gesture and live drawing portraiture. Bring your own paper and drawing materials and we’ll provide drawing boards and easels. It is free to participate but cash contributions to our model are appreciated. Be advised that all of our live drawing sessions will include clothed models. No instruction will be offered during this self-guided session.
Now We Juke-ing!
SATURDAY/SUNDAY (1/31 & 2/1) POSTPONED
INFORMATION ABOUT POSTPONEMENT
Written and directed by Cynthia McCowan, “Now We Juke-ing!” tells real-life stories of how growing up in North Mississippi juke joints shaped the cultural perspective of a young Black girl.
“Now We Juke-ing!” is rated PG-13
SONGWRITER’S NIGHT WITH KYSHONA
Songwriter’s Night with Kyshona
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An intimate evening with singer-songwriters sharing original music, curated by Kyshona Armstrong.
RECEPTION for Unconfined
RECEPTION
Unconfined: An Exhibit by Calvin Walton
Calvin Walton’s artistic journey is a continuous evolution—a commitment to honing the gift of creating. Each piece is a vibrant expression of his vision, bringing forth powerful and vivid creations that invite viewers to engage with the world through his eyes.
RECEPTION for Roots, Rocks and Rivers
RECEPTION
Roots, Rocks and Rivers: An Exhibit by Bill Long
Inspired by his frequent travels into the depths of Appalachia, Bill Long has created dozens of creative interpretations of the many pristine, beautiful mountain creeks he has encountered along the way. These works are the culmination of his prolific work in natural realism.
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Beginning Oil Painting
REGISTRATION DEADLINE
Beginning Oil Painting
Class dates: TUESDAYS
February 3 - March 10, 4:30 - 6:30 PM
In this 6‐week class, students will be introduced to the basics of Alla Prima (Direct) painting with oils. Each week we’ll study a new technique to help you develop a set of skills that will lead you to create your own unique oil paintings. All materials are included.
Table Read: The Diary of Anne Frank
The Diary of Anne Frank
Tony Award for Best Play and Pulitzer Prize for Drama winner. This staged adaptation of the posthumously published book “Diary of a Young Girl” details Anne Frank’s life in hiding in Nazi occupied Amsterdam during World War II. We are reading the play for Holocaust Remembrance Month.
Live Drawing Studio
Live Drawing Studio
Practice gesture and live drawing portraiture. Bring your own paper and drawing materials and we’ll provide drawing boards and easels. It is free to participate but cash contributions to our model are appreciated. Be advised that all of our live drawing sessions will include clothed models. No instruction will be offered during this self-guided session.
Table Read: Vonya and Sonia and Masha and Spike
Vonya and Sonia and Masha and Spike
Middle-aged siblings Vonya and Sonia share a home where they complain about the circumstances of their lives. Suddenly, their movie-star sister, Masha, swoops in with her new boy toy, Spike. Old resentments flare up leading to threats to sell the house.