Visual and Performing Arts Center at WCSU

05/02/2025

"Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" runs the next two weekends at the Visual and Performing Arts Center at WCSU. In this play based on the movie of the same name, a progressive white couple's proud liberal sensibilities are put to the test when their daughter brings her black fiance home to meet them. Blindsided by their daughter's whirlwind romance and fearful for her future, Matt and Christina Drayton quickly come to realize the difference between supporting a mixed-race couple in your newspaper and welcoming one into your family -- especially in 1967. For tickets, visit wcsuvpac.eventbrite.com.

Special Captioned Performance on 5/11
The 2 p.m. performance of Guess Who's Coming to Dinner on Sunday, May 11 will be accompanied by supertitles for the hearing impaired, providing complete text captions of dialogue and important sound cues to ensure full accessibility for everyone in the audience.

Community Conversation After 5/10 Matinee
Join us immediately following the matinee performance on Saturday, May 10 for our Community Conversation with the director, cast, crew, and special guest Dr. Marisa Calvi-Rogers. The conversation will be hosted by faculty dramaturg Dr. Donald P. Gagnon, and moderated by student dramaturgs Donovan Shaw and Oiara Quichiz. Admission to the Community Conversation is included with your ticket purchase to this performance.

04/29/2025

04/15/2025

Join us May 1-4 for the 28th Annual Jazz Fest at WCSU! This clip is from the 26th Jazz Fest in 2023, featuring the Jazz Orchestra conducted by Dr. Jimmy Greene.

Schedule of events:
Thursday, May 1 at 7 PM - WCSU Jazz Groups
Friday, May 2 at 7 PM - WCSU Jazz Orchestra with guest Jeremy Pelt
Saturday, May 3 at 7 PM - WCSU Jazz Faculty
Sunday, May 4 at 1:30 PM - High School Honors Jazz Ensembles, WCSU Alumni Combo

For tickets and more information, visit wcsuvpac.eventbrite.com.

04/08/2025

There are only four more chances left to see Curse of the Starving Class! This critically acclaimed play by Sam Shepard is a darkly comic look into the world of the dysfunctional Tate family, as they struggle amongst themselves for food, freedom, and purpose in their run-down lives. The Tates will do just about anything to raise themselves out of the downward spiral into which they’ve fallen. But is it even possible? Or are some families, Shepard asks, just cursed from the start? This production is directed by WCSU Professor Sal Trapani. Performances are at 8 p.m. on Friday, April 11; 2 and 8 p.m. on Saturday, April 12; and 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 13, in the Studio Theatre in the Visual and Performing Arts Center on the Westside campus.

For tickets and more info: wcsuvpac.eventbrite.com or wcsu.edu/svpca

Photos by Tony DeZinno.

04/04/2025

“Curse of the Starving Class” runs the next two weekends only! This critically acclaimed play by Sam Shepard is a darkly comic look into the world of the dysfunctional Tate family, as they struggle amongst themselves for food, freedom, and purpose in their run-down lives. The Tates will do just about anything to raise themselves out of the downward spiral into which they’ve fallen. But is it even possible? Or are some families, Shepard asks, just cursed from the start? This production is directed by WCSU Professor Sal Trapani. Performances are at 8 p.m. on Friday, April 4; 2 and 8 p.m. on Saturday, April 5; 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 6; 8 p.m. on Friday, April 11; 2 and 8 p.m. on Saturday, April 12; and 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 13, in the Studio Theatre in the Visual and Performing Arts Center on the Westside campus.

For tickets and more info: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/curse-of-the-starving-class-tickets-925447366987

Western Connecticut State University

04/03/2025

“Curse of the Starving Class” runs the next two weekends only! This critically acclaimed play by Sam Shepard is a darkly comic look into the world of the dysfunctional Tate family, as they struggle amongst themselves for food, freedom, and purpose in their run-down lives. The Tates will do just about anything to raise themselves out of the downward spiral into which they’ve fallen. But is it even possible? Or are some families, Shepard asks, just cursed from the start? This production is directed by WCSU Professor Sal Trapani. Performances are at 8 p.m. on Friday, April 4; 2 and 8 p.m. on Saturday, April 5; 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 6; 8 p.m. on Friday, April 11; 2 and 8 p.m. on Saturday, April 12; and 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 13, in the Studio Theatre in the Visual and Performing Arts Center on the Westside campus.

For tickets and more info: wcsuvpac.eventbrite.com or wcsu.edu/svpca

Photos by Tony DeZinno.

03/27/2025

Inside rehearsals of “Curse of the Starving Class”, opening next Friday! Sam Shepard’s “Curse of the Starving Class” is a darkly comic look into the world of the dysfunctional Tate family, as they struggle amongst themselves for food, freedom, and purpose in their run-down lives. The Tates will do just about anything to raise themselves out of the downward spiral into which they’ve fallen. But is it even possible? Or are some families, Shepard asks, just cursed from the start? Performances are at 8 p.m. on Friday, April 4; 2 and 8 p.m. on Saturday, April 5; 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 6; 8 p.m. on Friday, April 11; 2 and 8 p.m. on Saturday, April 12; and 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 13, in the Studio Theatre in the Visual and Performing Arts Center on the Westside campus. Get tickets at www.eventbrite.com/e/curse-of-the-starving-class-tickets-925447366987?

Photos by Tony DeZinno.

03/26/2025

03/17/2025

Check out these upcoming concerts at the Visual and Performing Arts Center! To see a full list of concerts, including Jazz Fest and other exciting events, visit wcsuvpac.eventbrite.com.

WCSU Department of Music | Western Connecticut State University

03/06/2025

SEASON ANNOUNCEMENT: Check out our upcoming Fall, 2025-Spring, 2026 season!

Stay tuned for tickets and more info!

03/06/2025

A notice to our patrons:

Please note that we only sell tickets directly through Eventbrite. Any other ticket site that claims to sell tickets to events at the Visual and Performing Arts Center, such as TicketCenter or Vivid Seats, is a third-party seller. They are likely to upcharge tickets to our events. When purchasing, please be sure to purchase directly from our ticket page below. If you need any assistance, please call the box office at (203) 837-8732.

https://www.eventbrite.com/o/visual-amp-performing-arts-center-at-wcsu-6275173871

WCSU Department of Theatre Arts WCSU Department of Art WCSU Department of Music

02/28/2025

In Performance: "Finishing the Hat" from Sunday in the Park With George, running this weekend only at the Visual and Performing Arts Center at WCSU. Inspired by the painting A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte, this musical merges past and present into beautiful, poignant truths about life, love, and the art of creation. This moving study of the enigmatic painter Georges Seurat by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine won a Pulitzer Prize and was nominated for 10 Tony Awards. Be sure to check out Color & Light, an exhibition by the Department of Art inspired by the work of Georges Seurat, on view during the run of this production in the Visual and Performing Arts Center.

For tickets and more info, visit wcsuvpac.eventbrite.com.