A Musical Tribute to Ava Gardner

Start: Friday, October 7, 2022 6:30PM
End: Friday, October 7, 2022 9:30PM

The Ava Gardner Museum hosts an annual festival in honor of the legendary actress, fashion icon, and humanitarian Ava Gardner, a North Carolina native who grew up just 7-miles east of Smithfield. This year’s festival, scheduled for October 7-9, kicks off Ava’s 100th Centennial Celebration and will include a multitude of exciting events, as the museum unveils new exhibits, conducts heritage tours, hosts special film and video presentations, and more.  “The opening night concert at The Clayton Center is going to be an exciting musical tribute to Ava Gardner’s life and career, and promises to be a night to remember”, stated Lynell Seabold, Museum Executive Director. Billed as “A Musical Tribute to Ava Gardner”, concert goers will experience a celebration of Ava's life through music!  Ava truly loved music from the big band sounds of her second husband, Artie Shaw, to the torch songs that Frank Sinatra was so famous for singing following their break-up.  Enjoy this musical tribute to Ava with the NC Revelers Orchestra from Raleigh and featuring guest performers, Broadway actor and singer John Arthur Greene, and opera and jazz singer Angelique Alexander. This collaboration also includes Jonathan Levin, founder of The Clayton Piano Festival, bringing us a medley of Ava's movie songs and much more. Beginning at 6:30pm, the Clayton Cultural Arts Foundation will host a cash bar prior to the concert in the lobby of The Clayton Center, and guests may also enjoy a slice of Ava's Birthday Cake and light refreshments provided by the Ava Gardner Museum. Premium reserved seats will be $45 plus fees/taxes and general seating will be $30 plus fees/taxes. Tickets are only available through The Clayton Center box office, online www.theclaytoncenter.com. The festival continues through Sunday in Smithfield, and the following is a snapshot of the schedule. Additional updates will be available on the Ava Gardner Museum website and via the Ava Gardner Facebook page.