News
Arts related news, with a focus on Washington and Baltimore area theatre...
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Two of Arena Stage's premieres -- 33 Variations and Next to Normal -- received a combined sixteen Tony Award Nominations. Next to Normal appeared at Arena just a few months ago and received eleven nominations. While 33 Variations, made its world premiere at Arena in September 2007 and garnered five Tony nods. This confirms what we all knew -- world class theatre can be found in DC!
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Keegan Theatre has begun selling tickets for its annual Ireland trip. The $20 raffle tickets offer a chance to win a trip to Ireland for two. The trip is timed to coincide with Keegan's 2009 Ireland Tour, which is happening in the fall. The winning ticket will receive round-trip airfare for two to Ireland, one week accommodations for two, dinner with the Keegan 2009 Ireland Tour cast and the crew and a pair of tickets to attend the 2009 Touring production (in the touring city of your choice). You can purchase your raffle tickets at the Keegan box office before or after any performance, by calling the box office at 703-892-0202 (ext. 2) or by
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. The drawing will be held in July during the run of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest at Church Street Theater. By the way, you don't have to be present to win. |
Shakespeare Theatre Company has announced it is moving its annual free event from Carter Baron Amphitheatre to its new space at Sidney Harman Hall. STC feels the move will help avoid inclement weather delays and cancellations, as well as facilitate the artistic and technical qualities of the performances due to Harman Hall's state-of-the-art technology.
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Synetic will be producing Antony and Cleopatra (from January 28th through February 28th, 2010) as the next show in its “Silent Shakespeare” repertoire. The performances will run at STC's Lansburgh Theatre in sync with STC's "Leadership Repertory" of Richard II and Henry V in February. Synetic artistic director, Paata Tsikurishvili will direct with his wife Irina handling choreography. Ms. Tsikurishvili will also appear in the title role of Cleopatra with Synetic company member Ben Cunis as Antony. Konstantine Lortkipandze, Synetic's resident composer will create an original score for the play.
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The District of Columbia Arts Center (DCAC) is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a gala benefit on May 29th. Happening at the Halcyon House in Georgetown, the evening will focus on past, present and future with art work, performances, live band, cocktails and food. The setting at the Halcyon House, offers garden views of the Potomac River and is home to the underground studio of sculpture John Dreyfuss.
The evening will begin with cocktails and snacks in the gardens and ballroom of the mansion and then will move into the studio for dancing and desserts. Throughout the evening a variety of artists will be presenting their works through performances, art exhibits, video projections and a sound installation. Tickets can be purchased in advance (discount offered) or at the door ( door tickets are $125). |
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 Richard Wright, a former postal employee and author of such acclaimed works as Native Son and Black Boy was honored with a 61-cent postage stamp. The first-class stamp was designed by Carl T. Herrman and uses art work supplied by Kadir Nelson, who based the image on a 1945 photo of Wright. The stamp was released in Chicago, which was Wright's home. Author and poet, Richard Wright was also letter carrier from 1927-1930 and became a French citizen before his death in 1960. His forward thinking writing was ahead of his time and influenced figures in the Black revolution movement. While he sought to destroy one-dimensional, white attitudes about blacks, he also addressed politics, emerging third world nations and violence. His stamp is part of the Postal Service's Literary Arts stamp series. For more on his stamp see Black Voices. The American Century Theatre is currently staging Wright's play Native Son at Gunston Arts Center.
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On Friday, May 15th Washington Area Bicyclist Association and Commuter Connections are hosting Bike To Work Day 2009. The annual event challenges area commuters to try bicycling as an alternative to solo driving. The annual celebration features 26 pit stops throughout the region which will feature raffle prizes, food, drink and more. Commuter convoy's will be offered to help those who are unfamiliar with navigating the area's routes. And everything comes together at downtown's Freedom Plaza with a rally to kick off the work day.
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The global economic meltdown and the global flu pandemic did not curtail Washington Shakespeare Company from raising $253,000 with its annual Will on the Hill event. The funds raised will go towards the company's education and outreach initiatives. The yearly event held on May 4th brings national politicians and media stars together to perform an original work that borrows liberally from the Bard's canon. This year's play was titled A Midsession Night's Dream and was written by Peter Byrne and directed by David Muse. The play follows a young Senate page as he falls asleep during a filibuster and dreams of meeting William Shakespeare. Together, the two travel through Washington using Shakespearean verse to resolve partisan conflicts. |
Signature Theatre received the 2009 Regional Theater Tony Award by the Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing. Given to the Arlington company for it's 20 years of "bold productions of challenging new and established works" the award comes with a $25,000 prize from VISA, USA. The award will go on the shelf with the theatre's 69 Helen Hayes honors. |
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No, it wasn't for Madonna tickets or Jonas Brothers t-shirts, it was to see Dame Helen Mirren in next season's National Theatre of London production of Phédre, which is being presented by the Shakespeare Theatre Company. The single tickets went on sale to the general public on Friday, May 1st and were sold out in less than five hours. STC's website was so busy that the theatre's staff were asked to limit their web use. |
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Studio Theatre has embarked on a technology improvement fundraising campaign titled "Upgrading Connections." The theatre is in the process of upgrading it's ticketing system and subscription management capabilities to utilize "Tessitura." This is the software which the Metropolitan Opera began building back in 1996 after it was unable to find a customer service system which met its needs. The Met's the Board of Trustees authorized a $5,000,000 capital expenditure to build a new technology system that would meet the opera's desire for a major customer service initiative. |
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In honor of Shakespeare's birthday, there is yet another mystery brewing in the "did he really write it all" debate. A British psychotherapist and researcher, Dr John Casson, says he has discovered some of Shakespeare's first works, including the Bard's first published poem, his first comedy, as well as his first two tragedies. To write his recent book, Enter Pursued by a Bear, Dr. Casson spent three years studying the writings, along with letters and other documents connected with Shakespeare and those around him. While, Dr. Casson says he has linked Shakespeare and Sir Henry Neville, an aristocrat some say is the actual author of the Bard's cannon -- he believes Shakespeare actually authored his own work. The UK's Telegraph newspaper has more on the story.
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In conjunction with the area's Lincoln celebrations, Ford's is offering character led walking tours through Washington. Investigation: Detective McDevitt is written by Richard Hellesen and revisits the sites and clues that separate fact from fiction in a first-hand look at the Lincoln assassination and the series of events that unfolded throughout April 14th and 15th of 1865.
Meanwhile, Jennifer Nelson's A Free Black Woman: Elizabeth Keckly takes walkers into the life of an African American woman who was a confidante to Mrs. Lincoln. As the tour progresses patrons hear interweaving stories of Keckly's friendship with the Lincoln family and her efforts to help former slaves find their way in the capital.
Each of these character re-enactment tours lasts approximately 90 minutes, while covering 1.5 miles around downtown Washington. |
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