Auditions: Ragtime
AUDITIONS
This sweeping musical portrait of early-twentieth-century America tells the story of three families in the pursuit of the American Dream.
RECEPTION for From Dark to Light
RECEPTION
From Dark to Light
The conception of “From Dark to Light,” has a duality not only with this collection of paintings, but also the artist’s choice to value time for its incalculable preciousness, to do his work and to focus his energy in the light of being a creator.
RECEPTION for Out of the Blue
RECEPTION
Out of the Blue
A cool blue runs through each of these pieces painted during the summer of 2026. The scenes, close to home or far away, simply appealed to the artist’s senses, and it turns out this planet is mostly blue.
Registration Deadline: The Studio
REGISTRATION DEADLINE
The Studio
Meets: MONDAY
November 23, 3:00 - 4:30 PM
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: Elf The Musical
Elf The Musical
Would-be elf, Buddy, is raised, unaware that he is actually a human until his enormous size and poor toy-making abilities cause him to face the truth. Buddy embarks on a journey to New York City to find his birth father and discover his true identity and helps everyone remember the true meaning of Christmas.
Table Read: Alice By Heart
Alice By Heart
In the rubble of the London Blitz of World War II, Alice Spencer’s life is turned upside down, and she and her dear friend Alfred are forced to take shelter in an underground tube station. When the ailing Alfred is quarantined, they escape into their cherished book and journey down the rabbit hole to Wonderland.
Pumpkintown at The Arts Center
PUMPKINTOWN AT YOUR ARTS CENTER
Come paint Pumpkins with us during Pumpkintown in our Visual Arts Wing!* We provide the pumpkins and paint—you provide the inspiration! But that’s not all! We’ll have the famous Pumpkin House out front, to enjoy and take selfies, as well as free parking all day!
*While supplies last
Gone 90s Country
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Two-step and toe-tap along with the twangy tunes that defined a decade. Relive the nostalgia and feel the influence that still shapes Country music today.
Table Read: And Then There Were None
And Then There Were None
Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None is a thriller play about ten strangers who are lured to a remote mansion on Soldier Island off the coast of Devon, England
Auditions: You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown
AUDITION FORM
Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and the whole Peanuts gang come to life with humor and heart celebrating friendship, hope, and everyday triumphs.
Registration Deadline: The Studio
REGISTRATION DEADLINE
The Studio
Meets: MONDAY
October 19, 3:00 - 4:30 PM
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.
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Date Night Pottery
REGISTRATION DEADLINE
Date Night Pottery
Class date: FRIDAY
October 16, 7:00 - 8:00 PM
Make a date of pottery throwing! This one hour class is perfect for those who have never tried the pottery wheel before, or want to have an adventure with your partner in crime.
Table Read: Misery
Misery-CANCELED
A famous romance writer named Paul Sheldon crashes his car in a snowstorm. A local woman named Annie Wilkes—who says she is his "number one fan"—rescues him and brings him to her quiet home.
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: ARTSPLORATIONS Arts Workshops
REGISTRATION DEADLINE
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER AGES 5-10
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER AGES 11 - 16
Fall 2026 Artsplorations are October 13
Join us for a performing arts workshops during Fall Break taught by AACA instructors. Cost is tiered Pay What You Can.
The Crucible
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Due to an unexpected casting change, we have made the decision to postpone all upcoming performances to the following week.
One of the most acclaimed plays in the American theatrical canon, this exciting drama about the Puritan purge of witchcraft in old Salem is a gripping and timely parable of contemporary society.
RECEPTION Open Exhibit 2026
RECEPTION Open Exhibit
An annual competition and exhibit of for artists in McMinn and surrounding counties.
Want to exhibit? Check out our Prospectus (deadline to register is August 26)
PROSPECTUS
RECEPTION for Threads of Resistance, Stitches of Hope
RECEPTION
Threads of Resistance, Stitches of Hope
See work by Resist-Stitch (Pat Armstrong, Jan Burleson, Diana Ferguson, Geri Forkner, Lizz Harris, and Kathryn L. Hunter), which re-imagines a future in which the wise words of our founding documents are honored.
RECEPTION for American Witches
RECEPTION
American Witches
See work by artist Adam Romano that asks viewers to wonder what it means to be the subject of a witch hunt?
Pumpkin Painting
PUMPKIN PAINTING
Come paint Pumpkins with us during Pumpkintown in our Visual Arts Wing!* We provide the pumpkins and paint—you provide the inspiration!
*While supplies last
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: ARTSPLORATIONS Theatre Workshops
REGISTRATION DEADLINE
Fall Break Artsplorations
Join us for a la carte theatre workshops during Fall Break (Oct 6-10) taught by local theatre directors and long time performers of ACT. You can sign up for single classes, or sign up for all of them!
Studio Watercolor
STUDIO WATERCOLOR
Explore and develop your painting expertise during this 5-week watercolor class for intermediate and advanced painters! Emphasis will be placed on compositional elements and developing unity in a painting. Students will paint during class time and should be prepared with supplies weekly. This class was originally led by Sandy Brown, but due to retirement, she has handed the torch to Chris Ingram.
Studio Watercolor
STUDIO WATERCOLOR
Intermediate/Advanced watercolorists! Explore and develop your painting expertise during this 5-week watercolor class! Emphasis will be placed on compositional elements and developing unity in a painting. Students will paint during class time and should be prepared with supplies weekly.
Loom Weaving
LOOM WEAVING
With various yarns and fabrics, create your own wall art using a loom! This workshop is open to all ages. This workshop is a good opportunity to make a gift for someone special for the holidays!
The Invisible Thread
The Invisible Thread
Barbara Ensley’s work is a playful and joyful celebration of the interconnectedness of life. There are many moments that are seemingly unconnected, when actually they are all joined by an “invisible thread” leading us to the next moment and to each other.
Gospel Quilts II: A Quilt Concert
Gospel Quilts II: A Quilt Concert
Karen Malone’s quilt concert is dedicated to the memory of the artist’s mother, Betty Loretta Milton (1936-2024), who taught Malone to sew when she was very young.
MONSTER MASHUP
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Guys, girls, ghosts, and gremlins are welcome to join in for a night of karaoke, costume contests, and more all to benefit Athens Area Council for the Arts + The Arts Center.
Auditions: Best Christmas Pageant Ever
AUDITIONS
Barbara Robinson’s misfit Herdmans crash the church pageant and end up teaching the true meaning of Christmas in this multigenerational romp.
Pumpkin Painting
PUMPKIN PAINTING
Come paint Pumpkins with us during Pumpkintown!* We provide the pumpkins and paint—you provide the inspiration!
*While supplies last
OPEN EXHIBIT & ART COMPETITION
OPEN EXHIBIT AND ART COMPETITION
See work by artists of all ages in McMinn and surrounding counties!
Black & White
Black & White
Jerry Hagaman is always looking for enigmatic images and configurations that are meant to offer some insight into his take on the world, experiences, responses, and desires. Selection of imagery, layering of content and information, and a tendency toward anti-pretty are meant to challenge the his and his viewer's expectations.
Pop Up ARTS Audition Workshop
Join us for a musical theatre audition workshop with local voice teacher, Jamey Wright! Beginners welcome!
Pop Up ARTS Watercolor
Join us on Saturdays during National Arts & Humanities Month to explore something new, try your hand at a new medium, or just create and discover with us! This week, Jean Ferguson will lead us in a beginner’s watercolor activity.
Dracula
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Autumn N. Lowry and J. Bradley McKenzie’s stage adaptation of Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel examines evil through a gripping tale.
The Foreign Landers
The Foreign Landers
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This transatlantic folk duo from South Carolina (David, mandolinist) and Northern Ireland (Tabitha, banjoist) draw on their unique international heritage to carve their own path in acoustic music. This Black Box ON TOUR performance is in the Peggy Dow Performance Center at The Arts Center.
Pop Up ARTS Contour Drawing
Join us on Saturdays during National Arts & Humanities Month to explore something new, try your hand at a new medium, or just create and discover with us! This week, Jan Burleson leads us in a contour drawing activity.
Pop Up ARTS Loom Weaving
Join us on Saturdays during National Arts & Humanities Month to explore something new, try your hand at a new medium, or just create and discover with us! This week, Nancy Kyzer leads us in a loom weaving activity