At the Center for the Arts, early August is one of the best parts of summer: We get to celebrate the kickoff of single ticket sales (August 4) and celebrate National Book Lovers Day (August 8).
If you’re still on the hunt for some titles to stuff into your beach bag this summer, we’ve got some season-related suggestions:
Blood Memory by Martha Graham: “People have asked me why I chose to be a dancer,” writes Martha Graham. “I did not choose. I was chosen to be a dancer, and with that, you live all your life.” In this memoir, published after the choreographer’s death in 1991, Graham lays out her artistic vision, recounts her extraordinary and influential life, and dishes about the famous people in her orbit, including Aaron Copland, Mikhail Baryshnikov, and Dame Margot Fonteyn. It’s the perfect way to learn about Graham and her company, whose centennial will be celebrated on April 3 at the Center for the Arts as part of the Great Performances at Mason series.
The Best Strangers in the World by Ari Shapiro: In his New York Times bestseller, Shapiro, former NPR host for All Things Considered, and singer in Pink Martini All-Stars discusses his work from as a journalist and expounds on the importance of connection and listening. You can come listen to Shapiro on December 10 when he and Pink Martini will bring down the house with a festive holiday performance.
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson: If classic fiction is more your speed, try this 19th-century tale, now considered a masterpiece of the gothic horror genre. Then compare the page version to the Aquila Theatre’s stage version: On January 23, the acclaimed company will bring Stevenson’s timeless, chilling story to life.
The Wow in the World books by Mindy Thomas: Kids can get in on some summer reading action and stave off summer brain drain with these awe-inspiring books by podcast host and author Mindy Thomas, which feature science-based activities, fun facts, jokes, quizzes, and more. And once your family has worked their way through the series, they can enjoy Thomas in-person at the Center for the Arts on November 15, where she’ll lead a weird and wild trivia game with her cohost Carly Q. Ciarrocchi as part of the Family Series.
The Magic School Bus: Lost in the Solar System by Joanna Cole and Bruce Degen: The wacky adventures of Mrs. Frizzle and her curious class of students have been entertaining and educating kids since the Magic School Bus series kicked off in the 1980s. Relive the out-of-this world fun of the original book before you come see the TheaterWorksUSA production, which will take audiences on an amusing theatrical ride as part of the Family Series.
Happy reading! And make sure to check out our website for more information about these and all of our 2026-27 performances.