Connecting Artists and Audiences
Each season, as part of George Mason University’s College of Visual and Performing Arts, the Mason Artist-in-Residence program invites artists with distinctive voices to the Hylton Center to make our venue their home.
Artists participate in a variety of activities designed to engage and inspire diverse audiences both at the venue and in the community. Learn more about the Mason Artist-in-Residence program.
2026–27 Mason Artists-in-Residence
Hylton Family Series Performance
Barefoot Puppet Theatre: Galapagos George
Saturday, Oct. 24 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Creative Team:
Performed, written, and devised by Heidi Rugg
Puppets by Heidi Rugg
Staging/Scenery: Heidi and Sam Rugg
Music by Eric Weinberg
Photo credits: Warren Johnson
Meet George—a giant Galápagos tortoise with a big story to tell! Follow his journey among blue-footed birds, sea lions, and other island creatures in this charming true tale inspired by the last tortoise found on Pinta Island. Based in Richmond, Virginia, Barefoot Puppet Theatre brings an “uplifting eco-fable,” as praised by The Smithsonian, that gently explores caring for our planet. Winner of the UNIMA Citation of Excellence, the highest American honor in puppetry arts, this performance invites families to fall in love with George—and the world he calls home. As a Mason Artist-in-Residence, Barefoot Puppet Theatre will work with the community through classes and workshops in conjunction with its performance.
Recommended for ages 5–10.
Supported by the Virginia Commission for the Arts
American Roots Series Performance
Che Apalache
Saturday, Apr.17 at 5 p.m.
Grammy Award-nominated Che Apalache is a four-man string band based in Buenos Aires with members from Argentina, Mexico, and the United States. Combining Latin American and bluegrass styles, called “Latingrass,” Che Apalache has curated an enticing blend of instrumental prowess with tight vocal harmonies, evoking images from Appalachia to the Andes. As a Mason Artist-in-Residence, Che Apalache will work with the community through classes and workshops in conjunction with its performance.
2025–26 Mason Artists-in-Residence
Last season in fall 2025, the Grammy Award-winning trio Time for Three (TF3) shared their genre-defying blend of classical music, Americana, and singer-songwriter styles with a variety of communities. Consisting of Charles Yang (violin, vocals), Nicolas “Nick” Kendall (violin, vocals), and Ranaan Meyer (double bass, vocals), the trio conducted conversations, workshops, and masterclasses with George Mason University's Arts Management program, Dewberry School of Music, and Mason Community Arts Academy. Likewise, they interacted with the broader community through an Artist-in-Conversation at CENTERFUSE in Historic Manassas and a lecture-demonstration at Prince William County Public Library’s Central Library. TF3 also presented an engaging field trip performance for students from Prince William County, City of Manassas, and City of Manassas Park. The residency culminated in the pièce de résistance: working with the Gar-Field Senior High School Chamber Orchestra leading up to Time for Three’s Hylton Center performance, in which the students joined them onstage as part of the artists’ program finale Joy in Merchant Hall.
In February 2026, the Hylton Center welcomed Soles of Duende, a multicultural all-female trio that weaves tap, flamenco, and kathak into a vibrant percussive dance experience rooted in rhythm and collaboration. Throughout the week of their residency, Soles of Duende engaged with the community in multiple ways. The artists guest lectured for George Mason University dance students, led workshops for community participants, and worked closely with a group of local dancers representing all three dance styles. The residency culminated in a special moment in Merchant Hall when the community dancers joined Soles of Duende on stage for the finale of their Hylton performance, creating a joyful celebration of artistry and connection.