ARTS by George!

Saturday, September 27, 2025

Register now for the 20th ARTS by George! benefit. 

This annual benefit event supports student scholarships for George Mason University’s College of Visual and Performing Arts, Mason Community Arts AcademyGreen Machine Ensembles, and the Great Performances at Mason season at the Center for the Arts

ARTS by George! has raised more than $4.6 million since it began in 2006.

The evening begins at 5 p.m. with showcases by talented Mason Arts students throughout our studio and performance spaces complimented by a buffet dinner and culminates with the exciting headliner performance at 8:30 p.m. by Darren Criss in the Center for the Arts Concert Hall.

Tickets to the benefit include:

  • exclusive premiere orchestra seats to the Darren Criss concert, followed by 
  • a dessert reception onstage with Criss.
     

20th ARTS by George! Headlining Performance: An Evening with Darren Criss

Tony, Emmy, and Golden Globe winner Darren Criss to headline at this Fall's ARTS by George! Photo: Tony Moux, Onekind

Since bursting onto the pop-culture landscape over a decade ago in Fox TV's his show Glee, Tony, Emmy, and Golden Globe winner Darren Criss has embodied the kind of kaleidoscopic artistry that's entirely uninhibited by form or genre. For this concert, Criss will be performing well known songs featured throughout his wildly eclectic career as both a songwriter and performer, including those from Glee, StarKid Productions, and the Broadway shows in which he's starred. Criss is currently starring in and received the 2025 Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical for the critically acclaimed Broadway hit Maybe Happy Ending directed by Michael Arden. Playing at the Belasco Theater, the show opened to unanimous rave reviews including the The New York Times Critic's Pick and won the 2025 Tony Award for Best Musical.

Tickets and information

  • Individual Tickets (George Mason Alumni) - $350 ($275 benefit)
  • Individual Tickets (Non-Alumni) - $450 ($275 benefit)

Tickets include one (1) event ticket, including student showcase, buffet, exclusive orchestra performance seats, onstage reception, and free garage parking.

Tickets to the 8:30 p.m. concert of An Evening with Darren Criss go on sale August 1, 2025 at 10 a.m. ET. Please note, premiere orchestra seats for the performance are reserved for guests of ARTS by George!

Please email us with any questions or call us at 703-993-1593.

Benefits of Sponsorship

Photos from past ARTS by George! events


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Guests dining at ARTS by George!
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Dewberry School of Music performance at ARTS by George!
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Performance by School of Theater students at ARTS by George!
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Raise-the-paddle inside the CFA at ARTS by George!
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Mason Community Arts Academy student showcase at ARTS by George!
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Green Machine entertain guests with their lively set at ARTS by George!
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School of Dance students perform at ARTS by George!
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Film and Video Studies showcase at ARTS by George!

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20th Annual ARTS by George! Sponsors
as of 6/8/2025

Presenting Sponsor


Executive Producer


Carolyn Peterson and the Peterson Family Foundation

Robert K. Purks

Producer


John and Annie Bolger
Carney Foundation
Rick Davis and Julie Thompson
Didlake
Nancy Jean-Louis
Jim McKay Chevrolet/Kathleen McKay, Owner
Marthe Lattinville-Pace

Patron


Helen and Bill Ackerman
Leroy R. Barnes, Jr. 
Linda Beckman 
Gerard and Dianne Blais & Mack and Paulette Miller 
Jerry Bridges and Sally Turner 
Pat and Pat Carroll & Rob and Ida Portland 
Dr. Bernadette Dunham and Dr. Raymond Petryshyn 
Dr. Kimberly K. Eby and Dr. José M. Cortina
George Mason Athletics
George Mason University Foundation, Inc. 
Joyce Goche-Grimes 
Molly Grimsley 
Arthur and Linda Hamerschlag 
Linda and Harlan Harber 
Barbara and Kevin Hutto
John and Nina Toups Charitable Fund 
Mary Sanders Jones 
Shirley Joyce and John Nash 
Marthe Lattinville-Pace 
Tom and Pam Maskey
Lynette Matz
Val S. McWhorter
Don and Sonja Palomaki & Bob and Pat Warakomsky 
Pure Barre Fairfax
Mayor Catherine S. Read
Joyce Remington
Richard Averill Foundation
Roberta Roumel 
Thomas Sabal and Daniel Tucciarone 
Dr. Victoria N. Salmon and Mr. John J. Salmon
Donn Smith and Jay Speer
Marilyn Smith
Peter N. Stearns and Donna L. Kidd
Soil Consultants Engineering
Annabelle and David Stone 
Mary and Ed Zigo

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