Welcome to the
Rebecca J. Graves Center for the Performing Arts

2025 Upcoming Shows

Stephanie Nakasian

January 25, 2025

7:30 PM

Stephanie presents Great American Songbook – The New Standards from the 60s and 70’s includes Beatles, Linda Ronstadt, James Taylor, Carpenters and many more done in a swinging and improvisational style With Karl Kimmel, bass Dwayne Peters, drums and Jeff Massanari, guitar

Stephanie Nakasian is an exciting, well-seasoned vocalist and master of innovative jazz improvisation, completely authentic with a fresh and vibrant sound all her own.

Known as one of the world’s leading jazz vocalists, Stephanie will take you on a fantasy musical voyage that transcends the Great Ladies of Song in genre, tribute and originality. Capturing the heart of audiences with her extensive repertoire, reaching from Jazz to Classic Rock, Pop and Cabaret, Stephanie creates an atmosphere of romance and excitement that will transport you to another place and time.

A prolific recording artist with 15 celebrated albums, including her acclaimed “Show me the Way” and special tribute to Billie Holiday “Billie Remembered” which was featured on NPR’s “Fresh Air” with Terry Gross, Stephanie continues to perform live and is dedicated to inspiring “next generation” artists through her writings, guest speaker appearances and participatory vocal training courses and improv workshops.

Concert appearances as a featured artist include performances with Urbie Green, Pat Metheny, Bobby McFerrin, Milt Hinton, Clark Terry, J.R. Monterose, Joe Temperly, Scott Hamilton, Harry Allen, Sheila Jordan, Bob Dorough, Valery Ponomarev and (with Jon Hendricks) Philly Joe Jones, Roy Haynes, and Annie Ross to name a few.

Victor Haskins

February 1, 2025

7:30 PM

Victor Haskins is a boundary-pushing multi-instrumentalist and composer known for his innovative approach to both music and multimedia art. Growing up in a military family exposed him to diverse cultures, fostering a deep appreciation for global influences that permeate his creative endeavors.

All About Jazz refers to Haskins as a “visionary performer, composer, and…an incorrigible explorer.” This is evidenced by his projects, Victor Haskins & Skein and ImproviStory, which have been featured at such varied venues as the Festival of New Trumpet Music (NYC), Richmond Jazz Festival, Christopher Newport University Trumpet Festival, Virginia Commonwealth University, and Sweet Briar College.

As an educator, Haskins has shared his passion for music and creativity through masterclasses, workshops, and teaching positions at renowned institutions such as the Kennedy Center, William & Mary, and the Izmir International Jazz Camp.

Victor has received grant support and commissions for his recording, performing, and multimedia work from such cultural institutions as the Virginia Commission for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, Richmond CultureWorks, and 1708 Gallery.

Beer Run Comedy Show

February 22, 2025

7:30 PM

Beer Run Comedy delivers top-notch stand-up performances that will leave you in stitches. With a passion for comedy and a dedication to their craft, these talented comedians have established themselves as fixtures in the Washington DC/Maryland/Virginia (DMV) comedy scene.

Each with their own unique style and perspective, the comedians of Beer Run bring a diverse range of humor to the stage, guaranteeing a night filled with uproarious laughter and unforgettable moments.

Whether they’re performing at renowned comedy clubs, festivals, or your favorite brewery, winery or cider house, Beer Run Comedy is sure to bring the joy and entertainment that will keep you coming back for more.

Get ready for a comedy experience like no other with Beer Run Comedy!

Zydeco Jed

April 5, 2025

7:30 PM

Zydeco Jed is an East Coast roots band, based in the great state of Maryland (DC area) playing fun-loving Americana we call grateful Delta, blending
rock & funk, Cajun & zydeco, blues & country, and more through original material and kind covers.

Once in a while, a group of musicians gets together to play music, and something special happens. Zydeco Jed is a band in which rock and roll meets jazz, blues, Cajun, funk, zydeco, country and some good old-fashioned Grateful Dead.

We love all kinds of music, and most of us have played with a Grateful Dead tribute band. In fact, many of us played together in local bands such as the Next Step and On the Bus, the top Grateful Dead tribute bands in the region going back 20 years.

Everyone in Zydeco Jed traces his early musical experiences to roots rock and roll, and each has a connection with much of the same music that inspired Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir, Phil Lesh and the family of the Grateful Dead. But over the years, each of us were also exposed to many other styles that influenced our playing.

It’s this current blend of musical influences that inspires us to write original material and pay tribute to so many styles of music, with a decided nod to The Grateful Dead, The Neville Brothers, Bob Dylan, The Meters, Elvis Presley, Clifton Chenier, Willie Dixon, Allen Toussaint, Dr. John, and so many other great musicians.

Zydeco Jed is… Tom Ericsson, Mike Lessin, Chris Marsh, Nick Newlin, Brent Hartley and Tom Bollinger.

Wes Iseli – Magic Show

May 3,2025

7:30 PM

Wes Iseli has been performing magic since he was 7 years old. He started his own business called Party Magic after graduating from high school. Wes now performs on average 400 shows per year with his family at his side. He has his own reality TV show in syndication across the country called Wes Iseli’s Magiclife and he and his wife Natalie host Wes Iseli’s Magiclife Podcast that is ranked among the top 1% of podcasts with listeners in 53 different countries.

Wes Iseli keeps himself in the public eye by performing such effects such as accurately predicting the headline of a national newspaper one month in advance or by his amazing escape effects. As in the case of letting the audience tie him up completely with 100 feet of rope during his live show.

For 10 years Wes performed a 24 hour magic show to raise money for The Children’s Miracle Network.

Wes has lectured for magicians helping them to realize their potential and get started in the business while teaching them to be as professional as possible. He also taught them some of his favorite tricks as well as let them in on some office secrets. Recently Wes Iseli was hired as a USDA certified animal trainer and magic consultant for the Carbonaro Effect on Tru TV.

Santi DeBriano

May 17, 2025

7:30 PM

Santi DeBriano is acclaimed as one of the most interesting and original voices on the international jazz scene today. As a soloist, he has performed at many of the world’s most renowned festivals and concert halls, often presenting his own compositions with his bands.

“The depth of his performances and his energy [are] an inspiration for his colleagues and his audiences” Jabali Billy Hart

“In my estimation he is a living jazz master.” Mike Longo

His jazz group, Flash of the Spirit, is a sextet of virtuoso musicians who perform regularly on the New York jazz scene. The band moves easily through modern jazz, latin jazz and the avant garde jazz idioms. The group’s recording, Flash of the Spirit, on Truth and Revolution Recordings, was in the top 10 on the Jazz Weekly charts for 14 weeks in 2021, among the top 3 for 4 weeks.

He has realised concerts and albums such diverse jazz masters as Kenny Clarke, Mal Waldron, Archie Shepp, Kirk Lightsey, Chico Freeman, Arthur Blythe, David Murray, Attila Zoller, Lee Konitz, Oliver Lake, Baikida Carrol, Cecil Taylor, Sam Rivers, Hank Jones, Elvin Jones, Randy Weston, Roy Hanes and many others.

Thank you to all of our PAL Sponsors

The Barbara & George Lawton Jazz Series