Arts and Performances
Discover the countless opportunities to enjoy visual and performing arts at Mary Baldwin University. From the prestigious Broman Concert series to theatrical performances to guest and student art exhibitions, MBU is a regional hub for artistic expression.
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Concert Series
Carl Broman Concert Series
The Carl Broman Concert Series has brought professional musicians to the Mary Baldwin campus since 1979. These performances, occurring once per semester, present a wide range of musical genres and instrumentation. Recent performers have included operatic singer Joseph Parrish, the all-female quintet Seraph Brass, and jazz pianist Cyrus Chestnut.
Sunday Recital Series
Visiting musicians and MBU faculty will showcase their musical prowess at weekly Sunday Recitals throughout the semester. Hosted by the MBU Department of Music, these recitals offer affordable venues for students and community members to encounter breathtaking music.
Partner Institutions
American Shakespeare Center
The American Shakespeare Center (ASC) is dedicated to invigorating the theatre and language of Shakespeare and his contemporaries for modern audiences. The ASC is a proud partner of MBU’s graduate Shakespeare and Performance program.
Lyda B. Hunt Gallery
MBU’s Hunt Gallery is dedicated to the exhibition of contemporary work by professional artists as well as MBU students and faculty. The gallery exhibits work that reflects a wide variety of media and artistic intentions.
Heifetz International Music Institute
Since partnering with MBU in 2012, the Heifetz Institute has brought some of the most talented musicians from around the world to Staunton, Va for special training and performances.
Performance Venues
Francis Auditorium
227 E. Frederick Street, Staunton, Va
MBU’s primary on-campus event venue, Francis Auditorium welcomes performances from the Heifetz Institute, Broman Concert Series musicians, and other musical performers.
MBU at the Wharf
23 W. Johnson Street, Staunton, Va
Located in Staunton’s historic Wharf District, MBU at the Wharf provides practice facilities and a performance stage for MBU’s dance and theatre students right in the heart of the city.
Rose Theater
203 N Market Street, Staunton, VA
Tucked beside Rose Terrace on MBU’s main campus is the outdoor Rose Theatre. Erected in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, this natural venue has hosted plays, choir concerts, and dance recitals.
Blackfriars Playhouse
10 N. Market Street, Staunton, Va
Just steps from MBU stands the world’s only re-creation of Shakespeare’s indoor theatre: the Blackfriars Playhouse. The theatre serves as a second home and a shared laboratory for Shakespeare and Performance students.
Fletcher Collins Theatre
301 Deming Drive, Staunton, Va
Fletcher Collins Theatre, located in the Deming Fine Arts Building, is MBU’s main campus black box theatre. The theatre predominantly shows full-length undergraduate performances and one-act plays by May Term students.
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The best way to get to know Mary Baldwin is to experience it for yourself. Schedule a campus visit to get a better feel for what it’s like to be a student here.