Note: This event is now sold out. The performances will also be streamed on the ASC YouTube channel and by community partner Avondale Brewing, where guests can sit outside and watch the performances.
Drive in and enjoy new performances from your favorite Birmingham arts organizations Thursday, July 30, and Friday, July 31, on the University of Alabama at Birmingham campus.
Birmingham Arts Drive-in is a free way to experience the best of Birmingham’s performing arts while both the audience and the artists practice social distancing. See performances from the UAB’s Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center, Alabama Ballet, Alabama Symphony Orchestra, Opera Birmingham and Red Mountain Theatre Company.
WBRC’s Jeh Jeh Pruitt will emcee the event. The performances will be debuted live on a big screen in the parking lot on University Boulevard at 16th Street South, across from the UAB Campus Recreation Center and adjacent to the Hill Student Center.
A reservation is required for this free event; reserve a spot at AlysStephens.org to guarantee your space. Performance audio will be transmitted on 90.6 FM from the UAB campus. Stop by your favorite restaurant for curbside food to enjoy during the event. The show will start at 8:30 p.m. Ticketholders should arrive between 7 and 7:45 p.m. Patrons must remain in their cars.
The Birmingham Arts Drive-in performances will include:
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Let’s all go to the drive-in: See performances presented by Alabama Ballet, UAB’s Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center, Alabama Symphony Orchestra, Opera Birmingham and Red Mountain Theatre Company. |
- From Alabama Ballet, Act 2 pas de deux from George Balanchine’s “The Nutcracker,” featuring choreography by Balanchine and performers Carolina Marques and Frederick Lee Rocas; and the Contemporary pas de deux from “Shoo-Pah!” featuring choreography by Roger Van Fleteren and performers Madison Ryan and Andres Castillo. Each pair of dancers consists of couples who live together.
- From the Alys Stephens Center, Birmingham’s favorite jazz guitarist Eric Essix will perform his original songs “Foot Soldiers,” Gravitate” and “Creole Strut” with his band, James “PJ” Spraggins, drums; Sean Michael Ray, bass; and Joseph Stallworth, keyboards.
- From the Alabama Symphony Orchestra, Mozart’s “Eine kleine Nachtmusik” (Serenade, K.525), featuring Carlos Izcaray, conductor; Daniel Szasz, Pei-Ju Wu, Serghei Tanas and Sodam Lim, violin; Zakaria Enikeev and Rene Reder, viola; Warren Samples, cello; and Alexander Horton, double bass.
- From Opera Birmingham, Kathleen Farrar Buccleugh, soprano, and Christy Vest, piano, will perform “O mio babbino caro” from Puccini’s “Gianni Schicchi”; “Chacun le sait” from Donizetti’s “The Daughter of the Regiment”; and “You’ll Never Walk Alone” from Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Carousel.”
- From Red Mountain Theatre Company, Kristen Campbell and Kurt Jenkins will perform “The Sun is Gonna Shine Again” from “Bright Star” by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell; Alie B. Gorrie will perform “On My Way” from “Violet” by Jeanine Tesori and libretto by Brian Crawley, based on the short story “The Ugliest Pilgrim” by Doris Betts; and Brandon McCall will perform “Wait for It” from “Hamilton.”
UAB is committed to serving our community in many ways, says UAB Senior Vice President and Provost Pam Benoit, Ph.D.
“We are pleased to host this drive-in arts event on UAB’s campus because we recognize the importance the arts play in our community,” Benoit said.
Vehicles will be parked in order of arrival and to provide safe distancing. Space is limited. Attendants will be on-site to direct entry and exit. At 7:45 p.m., all remaining spaces will be released to a waiting list, first-come, first-served. Vehicles will not be admitted after 8:15 p.m.
Alcoholic beverages are prohibited. UAB police will be on-site. Restrooms will be available on-site, and facilities will be cleaned throughout the event. Every effort will be made to minimize individual contact during this event. If you feel ill or have a fever, please stay home.