George Mason University
Center for the Arts

The Center for the Arts Concert Hall is a 1935-seat venue with continental-style seating. Each year it houses operas, symphony orchestras, theatre productions, dance performances, cultural shows, and more. The Concert Hall comprises the Orchestra level, including an Orchestral Pit, and a large Grand Tier (Balcony).

An assortment of snacks and beverages are available for purchase at our concessions bars in the lobby beginning 1 hour prior to curtain and at intermission. Food is only allowed in the lobby area. Beverages in covered containers, such as a water bottle or using our reusable tumblers, may be taken to your seat. Reusable tumblers are available to purchase at the Center for the Arts Ticket Office.

Frequently Asked Questions surrounding the 2025–26 Virginia Opera Season:

Why are you only presenting two of the full opera season?

• Producing and presenting an art form as robust and complex as opera is an expensive proposition, and, like everything else these days, expenses are on the rise. When you factor in the additional cost of touring a full opera with orchestra and chorus to multiple cities, the costs mount even higher. Due to escalating costs, we are presenting two operas in Fairfax this coming season, rather than the full season to which most of our patrons have become accustomed. This was not an easy decision to make, but it is the right one for the long-term sustainability of this important partnership.

If I purchase two operas at the Center for the Arts and one or two operas at the Richmond and/or Norfolk venues, can I still get a discount?

• For Center for the Arts 2025–26 subscribers who include Cinderella and/or Intelligence as part of a curated package of three or more eligible performances, Virginia Opera will extend a special 25% off discount to experience Aida in either Norfolk or Richmond. Center for the Arts subscribers will receive the offer code to redeem this discount through Virginia Opera beginning August 4.

I cannot get to the other venues: will the other two titles be streamed online?

• No, Virginia Opera does not have the capability to stream the performances.

Can I subscribe to just the two opera performances? Will I still get a discount on two operas?

• The Center for the Arts offers a subscriber discount of 15% off when you create a custom package of any three or more performances across all Great Performances at Mason and Family Series performances. You must have three performances in your package to unlock the 15% off subscription discount.
• For Center for the Arts 2025–26 subscribers, who include Cinderella and/or Intelligence as part of a curated package of three or more eligible performances, Virginia Opera will extend a special 25% off discount to experience Aida in either Norfolk or Richmond. Center for the Arts subscribers will receive the offer code to redeem this discount through Virginia Opera beginning August 4.
• Individual tickets to Cinderella and Intelligence will go on sale on August 1 at 10 a.m.

Why can’t I keep my same seats for the opera?

• As fixed series subscriptions are not being offered for this season, the Center for the Arts Ticket Office will not be tracking seat assignments for the individual events. The Center for the Arts recommends taking advantage of the two-week Friends Priority Period, a donor benefit, to select seats before tickets go on sale to the general public. Otherwise, the Center for the Arts recommends purchasing tickets as soon as the choose-your-own series subscriptions or individual tickets go on sale to the general public.

Who do I contact to purchase Virginia Opera tickets for the Richmond or Norfolk venues?

• Please visit VAOpera.org to purchase tickets to performances of Aida in either Norfolk or Richmond.
• Virginia Opera Box Office: (866) 673-7282
  Email: info@vaopera.org

Who do I contact to provide feedback about this change?

• We understand this change may be disappointing. If you would like to share your feedback with the Center for the Arts and the Virginia Opera, please email: cfatix@gmu.edu.