Our History

Christopher Newport University’s Ferguson Center for the Performing Arts has established itself as the best performing arts center in Southeastern Virginia and beyond. As a university-based community performing arts center, we maintain a balance between the popular and the traditional, the big Broadway hit and its off-Broadway cousin, the new artist with the legendary. Presenting this eclectic mix is part of what makes us successful.

Since opening in 2004, more than 2 million people have attended a performance. They have come from all 50 states, and 15 countries. They are young and old, and from all walks of life. More than 700 different performances have been presented during the past 19 years.

Regardless of how one measures the success of the Center, by star power or sheer variety, our programming remains consistent with our commitment to offering a broad range of performances, reaching the largest possible number of community members, all-the-while maintaining our status as the finest performing arts center in Hampton Roads.