Move to Martinsville Announces First Music in the Box Season

The music scene is ramping up in Uptown Martinsville. Recently, the TheatreWorks Community Players and the Move to Martinsville group announced “Music in the Box” a partnership that will bring regionally acclaimed musicians to the Players’ Black Box Theater space in UpTown Martinsville. Now, the two entities are ready to announce the first season lineup.

Saturday, March 5  -- Danny Brooks &Lil Debi

Friday, April 8  -- T.C. Carter Band 

Saturday, April 23   -- Violet Bell featuring Lizzy Ross and Omar Ruiz-Lopez

Friday, May 6 -- Juliana MacDowell

The T.C. Carter Band performance on April 8 will be a fundraiser to support the band’s trip to Memphis for a National Blues Competition. The Violet Bell performance on April 23 will also be the Music in the Box’s Opening Celebration and fundraiser and will be preceded by a VIP reception.

For each show, the doors will open at 7 PM and the show will begin at 7:30 PM. A limited number of advance tickets will be available at TWCP.net. The remaining tickets can be purchased at the door. Using the TheatreWorks’ Black Box space, Music in the Box provides a small-venue, listening-room style show. Only 100 tickets are available per show. Current Covid restrictions for indoor events will be in place.

All the shows take place in TheatreWorks’ Black Box venue. These artists will utilize the TheatreWorks’ space in between the company’s theatrical productions while the theatre space would normally be dormant. Not only will this arrangement give the building a use during downtime; it also has another practical benefit.

“In this space, the shows will be more upfront and personal, and more about the music than anything else,” says Move to Martinsville Coordinator, Dean Johnston.

The music is a crucial element to Johnston and all involved. Kathy Deacon Executive Director, Uptown Partnership explains:

"There is ample evidence that music and other cultural amenities add to the vibrancy of a community and strengthen the sense of belonging and connection that our community members feel with each other,” says Deacon.

For Johnston, music means increasing the selling power of the area. “Our community’s future is in large part, contingent on showing folks this is a great place to work, play, and grow,” says Johnston. “Music in the Box is just a small part of that; it will bring professional touring music back to Uptown.”

To see who will be coming to Martinsville to perform in the Music in the Box or to pre-order season tickets, go to movetomartinsvilleva.com or find Move to Martinsville on Facebook.