Virginia Tech Students

"For Flex AVE to come — and not only for them to come, but to [...] reach out for predominantly Black crews on the campus — meant the world to us."
–Xavier Freeman, Virginia Tech student
STUDENT TICKETS
Student tickets for Moss Arts Center performances are only $10! This offer is available for any college or university student with a school ID, as well as youth ages 18 and under.
For Broadway productions, a limited number of tickets are available to Virginia Tech students at $10 — so act fast; these go quickly!
FREE RUSH TICKETS
Free, last-minute rush tickets are available for Virginia Tech students who sign up for text notifications. To sign up, text "arts" to 833-966-1838.
Free rush seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last, and availability varies by performance. To retrieve your rush ticket, bring your valid Virginia Tech ID to the box office at the time indicated in the text.
Student Engagement Is at the Heart of Our Programming
The Moss Arts Center brings artists from around the world to your campus door, with performances, exhibitions, and experiences designed to enhance not only your Virginia Tech experience, but the ways you see the world. We offer special opportunities to engage with professional artists and explore the creative process, including:
- workshops and master classes with visiting artists
- lectures and Q&As
- gallery tours and artist talks
- hands-on experiences
- community celebrations
- and much more
We also value student voices and feature student talent on our stages and in our galleries.
How a Campus Job Illuminated a New Career Path

CJ Jessie arrived at Virginia Tech as a student with a love for film, but was soon captivated by the stage.
While studying film and cinematography, a passion for theatre led her to the Moss Arts Center, where she joined its production team as a student employee eager to learn. What started as an opportunity to gain hands-on skills ignited a new creative pursuit that reshaped her career path.
“At the very least, it was giving me legitimate professional experiences,” Jessie said of her beginnings at the Moss. “I was given the opportunity to exist with working people and learn different techniques and different ways of building things and thinking about things.”
"It was really cool to be able to learn theory as a student and then come apply it ... the same day or the next day."
— CJ Jessie, Moss Arts Center senior lighting technician
As her responsibilities grew, she found her place on the lighting team.
“I was both drawn to and always ready to fill the needs when lighting was happening,” she said. “I just sort of fell in love with lighting while working on my degree in film, and then I realized right around graduation time that I prefer lighting and I want to do that instead. I did finish my film degree and then decided that I was going to learn everything I can about lighting.”
After graduating from Virginia Tech’s College of Architecture, Arts, and Design in 2018, she was offered a full-time job at Moss that would allow her to focus on lighting design. She took it and hit the ground running.
Doing lighting work for professional shows, Jessie explains, is similar to computer programming — a technician choreographs the lighting sequence, inputting those sequences into a computer to be executed at exact times during a performance. There are many different approaches to this process, so the more professionals Jessie engages with, the more techniques she learns.
“I was actually lighting programming many of the shows that were that were coming into the building right out of graduation,” Jessie said. “I was working even more closely with professionals and picking up tips and tricks from them right out of school. It was great to dive right in. And the great thing about what we do is that we get so many different artists here, and I could pick their brain on what works for them and ask them about their careers.”
Since becoming a full-time Moss staff member, Jessie has been promoted to senior lighting technician and is currently completing a Master of Fine Arts degree in theatre with a concentration in lighting design at Virginia Tech. Her Moss experiences have also helped her explore possible future career directions.
"This job helped me figure out what parts of theatre entertainment I like better, and who in the industry I prefer working with and what types of shows I love."
— CJ Jessie, Moss Arts Center senior lighting technician
“I really like expression — just forms of emotional expression and theatrical design. If I ever choose to move on from my position, I think I would probably start working with either dance troupes or music groups. Whenever we have those shows, I am excited and gravitate and put all of my energy into them,” she said. “Music groups, they're usually just like, ‘Can you match our vibe?’ I get more creative freedom as the programmer for music groups, and I have found that I have a passion for creating and trying to just build an atmosphere that goes with the music group and fits with their sound.”
From a film student stepping into the theatre world to a seasoned lighting technician, Jessie’s Moss Arts Center journey has not only provided a foundation for her technical skills but also helped her connect with what inspires her as she continues to grow in her career.
More Student Opportunities
Space to Study and Gather
We provide space that is welcoming and accessible for students. Take a study break in our lobbies and discover that we are so much more than a building with cool windows!
Student Jobs
Did you know that more than 100 student workers, including graduate assistants, help support the Moss Arts Center? Most students work for our patron services (ushers, gallery attendants, and box office attendants) and production teams, while positions are sometimes available in marketing and administration.
Don't Miss Out
We have a newsletter just for Virginia Tech students! Be sure to subscribe and select "Opportunities for Virginia Tech students" to stay in the know about upcoming events.