The Hylton Performing Arts Center is nearly nine stories of a stunning mix of copper, glass and masonry, and is proof positive that the arts are alive on George Mason University's Prince William Campus.
 The doors will open on Friday, May 21, and the 85,000-square foot center will provide a first-class setting to fulfill the social, artistic, economic and cultural needs of the surrounding communities. The new facility will be home to more than 10 local and regional arts groups including the Manassas Ballet, Fairfax Symphony Orchestra, Little Theatre of Prince William and the Youth Orchestra of Prince William. Performers from around the world will also be welcomed to the center's stage in the 1,140-seat Merchant Hall. In its first year, more than 100 performances will take place in the new venue. The new facility will also allow Mason-sponsored groups such as the Potomac Arts Academy and Theater of the First Amendment to expand their programs into the Prince William community. Even individuals in the local community are donating their time to help make the center a success. More than 1,000 volunteers will be waiting in the wings to help with performances and the many private, civic, corporate and social events that will be held in the center's rentable space. The 2010 Hylton Season is all lined up and provides a great mix of entertainment for the whole family and for every type of musical tastes.