The Agenda News Spring, 2022

A Guide to Places to Go & Things to Do in
Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Northwest DC & Northern Virginia
©® 2021 Bob Joiner PO Box 7102A4 Chevy Chase, MD 20813-1024 The Agenda News is updated via Twitter @ TWITTER.COM/BOBSAGENDANEWS For more information, seE About US following the Television columN

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REGIONAL HIGHLIGHTS:

National Geographic Museum will exhibit Beyond King Tut: The Immersive Experience, June 17-February 6, 2023. The cinematic immersive exhibition takes guests on a journey to one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of all time. Visitors travel through galleries featuring a 280-degree digital screen and massive, immersive projections. They experience the country’s ancient wonders, and meet ancient Egyptian gods like Ra and Anubis. Visitors can hear National Geographic Explorers who continue to study the mysteries of the tomb "and travel with the legendary pharaoh on his quest for immortality." The exhibit was created in partnership with Paquin Entertainment Group and features innovative video projections and soundscapes.Visit www.nationalgeographic.org
The Dupont-Kalorama Museum Consortium's "Walk Weekend" will take place June 4-5. Guests are invited to take a self-guided tour through The Dupont Circle and Kalorama neighborhoods enjoying free admission, special exhibitions, self-guided tours, music, demonstrations, and hands-on activities for all ages and interests at Consortium Museums, including National Museum of American Jewish Military History, The Phillips Collection, The Woodrow Wilson House, Anderson House, Dumbarton House, and Dupont Underground. Visit https://dumbartonhouse.ticketleap.com/dkmc-walk-weekend-2022/details
The Smithsonian Arts & Industries Building The Smithsonian Folklife Festival will take place on the National Mall June 22-27 & June 30-July 4. Except when it had to be canceled due to the pandemic, the annual Festival has welcomed participants and visitors from across the U.S. and around the world to the National Mall since 1967. In addition to the events on the Mall, an online Festival Marketplace this year will feature products from Armenia, Colombia, Fiji, Kenya, Mexico, and elsewhere. A schedule of daily events on the Mall will be available by late spring at https://festival.si.edu/schedule Meanwhile, visit https://festival.si.edu/visit
Washington National Cathedral will present a July 4th Musical Celebration on July 4. Cathedral organists Thomas Sheehan and George Fergus, joined by the Washington Symphonic Brass, will perform a program of patriotic music for organ and brass, featuring both familiar favorites and fresh lesser-known music. Visit https://cathedral.org/event/july-4th-musical-celebration/ Fiesta Asia Street Fair, which had been planned for May 21, has been postponed to July 16. The festival will take place along Pennsylvania Avenue NW between 3rd & 6th Streets. The Fair celebrates Asian Heritage with a parade, multi-stage performances, Asian food, unique arts & culture and much more! Visit http://fiestaasia.org/participate/
George Washington's Mount Vernon will present Fireworks over the Potomac, Live Music on the East Lawn and much more on June 24/25. Visitors can: Tour the Mansion Listen to the Fifes & Drums of Yorktown & The National Concert Band Watch ice cream-making demonstrations Visit the Reynolds Museum See"General Washington" and more. Guests are encouraged to bring a blanket or small lawn chair to sit on the East Lawn. Visit https://www.mountvernon.org/plan-your-visit/calendar/events/independence-fireworks/ Cultural Tourism DC is presenting Passport DC thru May 31. Passport DC is "a month-long journey around the world highlighting DC's thriving international diplomatic community and its lively and varied culture." There will be 31 days of programming by 70 embassies and some of DC's very best cultural institutions. There will be embassy open houses, street festivals, performances, exhibitions, workshops, and more. Visit https://www.culturaltourismdc.org/portal/passport-dc1
Bike to Work Day 2022 took place on May 20 with nearly 100 pit stops throughout D.C., Maryland and Virginia. The first 15,000 who registered and attended each received a T-shirt. There was a pit stop at Wisconsin Place at the corner of Wisconsin & Western Avenues. Visit https://www.biketoworkmetrodc.org/register The LGBTQ+ Community will present the Annual Capital Pride Parade, sponsored by Marriott International, on June 11. The 1.5-mile parade will follow a new route from Logan Circle to Dupont Circle. Each review stand will include bleacher seating and space provided to accommodate wheelchairs. In addition, ASL will be provided at each review stand. There will be entertainment an hour before the parade begins. Visit https://www.capitalpride.org/event/parade/ The 30th Annual Barbecue Battle will take place on Pennsylvania Avenue in D.C. on June 25 & 26. In addition to BBQ, the popular event features Health & Fitness, Music & Entertainment, Family activities, Contests, Offers & Giveaways, and more. Visit https://bbqindc.com/ The annual Washington Folk Festival will take place at Glen Echo Park in Maryland, on June 4 & 5. The free, rain-or-shine event celebrates the many cultural traditions that are a part of our greater Washington community. As before, the Festival will provide a wide array of international culture along with American blues, bluegrass, old-time string bands, contemporary singer-songwriters, gospel, western swing, storytellers, craft market place and more. There will be over 85 hours of performances in multiple performance areas. Visit washingtonfolkfestival.org RETURN TO HOME PAGE

LOCAL NEWS FEATURING CHEVY CHASE & BETHESDA

Alley Cat will open a restaurant/bar in June at 5247 Wisconsin Ave. on the former site of Chadwick’s/Chatters. In addition to dining inside, the owner plans to offer food at an outside patio, and plans to offer entertainment inside once a week. The menu will feature Moroccan, French, and Jewish-inspired dishes. The exterior of the restaurant has been redesigned, with expanded skylights and new landscaping. Visit https://alleycatdc.com/?msclkid=a3b7363bc4d211ec9cef7ae6959fb0af Sushiko, the highly-regarded Japanese restaurant in The Collection in Chevy Chase, reopened for indoor and outdoor dining in April. The restaurant had offered only curb-service for most of the pandemic. Booeymonger restaurant in Friendship Heights is preparing to reopen the section where frozen desserts had been sold until a fire forced closure. The main restaurant has already reopened.
Junction Bistro, Bar & Bakery, pictured above, opened in April next door to The Hunter’s Hound. The restaurant is on the street level of what had formerly been a branch of Ralph Lauren. Junction has a veranda which diners can enjoy, depending on the weather. The company also has branches on Capitol Hill and in Alexandria; the baked goods are prepared in Alexandria. Visit https://www.junctionbakery.com/?msclkid=ad3ca4d8c4cf11eca337009c34391847
Planta, a new restaurant on Elm Street in Bethesda Row, offers food that tastes good and promotes environmental sustainability. The focus is on upscale, full service, plant-based dining options to celebrate innovative cuisine in an attractive setting without the use of any animal products. Visit https://bethesdarow.com/planta/?msclkid=39749f6ec59311ecbbfa7d3296478a46 HEALTH: APMI Wellness Center - “an advanced aesthetics and wellness practice” - is preparing to open on the street level of the Barlow Building in Chevy Chase – next to Starbucks. The center “offers patients the opportunity to rejuvenate and recover on the same day with high-end treatments and services.” A team of physicians, aestheticians, and other specialists “works cooperatively to give each client a personalized experience and the choice of more than 100 diverse services." They offer personalized training, group sessions, individual sessions, private yoga, professional stretching, and nutrition plans. Visit https://www.apmiwellness.com/contact
The former Lord & Taylor (L&T) building on Western Avenue at Jenifer Street in Friendship Heights remains vacant. There have been discussions of having the building declared “historic” - as it was one of the first businesses to open in Friendship Heights and has a distinct architectural style. The Application to the District of Columbia for Historic Landmark or Historic District Designation, including extensive histories of L&T, Friendship Heights and Tenleytown can be seen at https://planning.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/op/publication/attachments/LordTaylor%20nomination.pdf
The plans to build a mixed-use project at the site of DSW, Maggianos and formerly Nordstrom Rack on Wisconsin Avenue in Friendship Heights continue to evolve. The proposed project would have 310 apartments and street-level retail. The lower level where Nordstrom Rack used to be would be converted to parking. The project would have LEED gold certification, live greenery on the balconies and 10 electric vehicle charging stations. Fifteen percent of the building would be offered for rent to residents making 60% or less of the average median income for the area. The building would be 130 feet tall on the Wisconsin Avenue side and would vary from 80 to 120 feet elsewhere. Owners of townhouses behind the building have expressed concerns about being shadowed by a taller new building. SHOPPING: Madewell is preparing to open a jeans shop on Bethesda Avenue on Bethesda Row in the summer of this year. The large space at 4839 Bethesda Avenue was formerly the home of a branch of Nando’s Peri-Peri. Madewell will feature its signature women and men’s denim, plus tees, outerwear, jewelry, footwear and bags. TRANSPORTATION: The exit from the Friendship Heights Metro Station near the back of Mazza Gallerie has been closed. Vagrants had been occupying the space and leaving a mess, which Metro could not – or would not - handle. The closure means that residents of areas west of the station must follow a circuitous route to reach their destinations. On a pleasant note, the Metro escalators at the Tenleytown Station - on the west side of Wisconsin Ave. – are again operable after having been closed for many months.

ARTS & CRAFTS: nATIONAL gALLERIES

The National Gallery of Art is exhibiting Clouds, Ice, and Bounty: The Lee and Juliet Folger Fund Collection of Seventeenth-Century Dutch and Flemish Paintings in the West Building thru June 1. The exhibition features 27 paintings acquired over the past two decades, supplemented by one painting from Lee and Juliet Folger’s personal collection. The collection includes landscapes, winter scenes, genre paintings, seascapes, still lifes and portraits. Image above: Skating on the Frozen Amstel River, 1611 by Adam van Breen - Oil on panel - The Lee and Juliet Folger Fund, in honor of Arthur K. Wheelock, Jr. Visit https://www.nga.gov/exhibitions/2021/dutch-flemish-paintings.html The National Gallery of Art is exhibiting Afro-Atlantic Histories thru July 17 in the West Building. The exhibition explores the complex histories of the African Diaspora and takes an in-depth look at the historical experiences and cultural formations of Black and African people since the 17th century. More than 130 powerful works of art, including paintings, sculpture, photographs, and time-based media by artists from Africa, Europe, the Americas, and the Caribbean, bring these narratives to life. This exhibition was initially presented as Histórias Afro-Atlânticas in 2018 by the Museu de Arte de São Paulo and the Instituto Tomie Ohtake in Brazil.Visit https://www.nga.gov/exhibitions/2022/afro-atlantic-histories.html?utm_medium=email&utm_source=dc_cvb&utm_campaign=aah&utm_id=220402 The National Gallery of Art will exhibit American Silence: The Photographs of Robert Adams, May 29-October 2. For 50 years, Robert Adams (b. 1937) has made “compelling, provocative, and highly influential photographs that show us the wonder and fragility of the American landscape, its inherent beauty, and the inadequacy of our response to it.” The exhibition features some 175 works from the artist’s most important projects and includes pictures of suburban sprawl, strip malls, highways, homes, and stores, as well as rivers, skies, the prairie, and the ocean. Visit https://www.nga.gov/exhibitions/2022/american-silence-photographs-of-robert-adams.html
Image above: Albrecht Dürer, Georg Mack the Elder, Christ on the Mount of Olives, 1508 and 1580 The National Gallery of Art will exhibit The Renaissance in the North: New Prints and Perspectives, July 3-November 27. The region of northern Europe today known as Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, and the Netherlands experienced momentous social, political, and artistic transformation from 1450 through the early 1600s, a time now called the Northern Renaissance. Rare prints by Albrecht Dürer, Hendrick Goltzius, and other influential artists are shown alongside engravings, etchings, and woodcuts by other artists. Visit https://www.nga.gov/exhibitions/2022/renaissance-north-new-prints-perspectives.html The National Gallery of Art will exhibit The Woman in White: Joanna Hiffernan and James McNeill Whistler, July 3-October 10. Joanna Hiffernan, an Irish immigrant to London, played a critical role in the art and life of American expatriate artist James McNeill Whistler. During the early 1860, Joanna Hiffernan “worked closely with Whistler, primarily as a model, on innovative paintings, prints, and drawings that challenged prevailing cultural norms and established Whistler’s reputation as one of the most influential artists of the late 19th century.” Visit https://www.nga.gov/exhibitions/2022/woman-in-white.html RETURN TO HOME PAGE

ARTS & CRAFTS sMITHSONIAN GALLERIES

The Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden is exhibiting One with Eternity: Yayooi Kusama thru November 27, as a tribute to the life and practice of the contemporary artist. She studied traditional Nihonga (Japanese-style) painting in Kyoto and moved to New York City in 1958. She exhibited alongside Andy Warhol, Claes Oldenburg, Allan Kaprow and others. Kusama is recognized as "influential to the development of assemblage, environmental art, and performative practices." Image agove: Image above: Infinity Mirrored-Room My Heart is Dancing into the Universe - 2018 Jack HemsVisit https://hirshhorn.si.edu/exhibitions/one-with-eternity-yayoi-kusama-in-the-hirshhorn-collection/ The Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden will exhibit Sam Gilliam: Full Circle May 25 -September 4. The exhibition will pair a series of circular paintings (or tondos) created in 2021 with “Rail” (1977), a landmark painting in the Hirshhorn’s permanent collection. Gilliam’s first solo exhibition at the Hirshhorn, it will mark the first exhibition in his chosen hometown of Washington, D.C., since 2007. “Full Circle” is organized by Evelyn C. Hankins, the Hirshhorn’s head curator. Visit https://hirshhorn.si.edu/upcoming-exhibitions/ The Hirshhorn is presenting artwork by multimedia artist, performer, musician and writer Laurie Anderson, thru July 31, 2022. Laurie Anderson: The Weather has debuted more than 10 new artworks, plus select key works from throughout her career. Visithttps://hirshhorn.si.edu/exhibitions/laurie-anderson-the-weather/ The National Museum of African Art is exhibiting Iké Udé: Nollywood Portraits; the closing date has not been announced. Nollywood is Nigeria’s 3-billion-dollar film industry.Visit https://www.si.edu/exhibitions/ike-ude-nollywood-portraits:event-exhib-6554
A historic daguerreotype of a family The Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery will exhibit Family Ties: Daguerreotype PortraitsJuly 1, 2022 - June 11, 2023. Within a decade of its introduction in 1839, the daguerreotype—the first commercially viable form of photography—emerged as a highly popular means of documenting family relationships. The portraits in this exhibition reflect the range of familial relationships documented by the camera during the daguerreian era.
The Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery is exhibiting Watergate: Portraiture and Intrigue, exploring the 50th anniversary of the 1972 break-in at the Democratic National Committee offices at the Watergate complex, thru September 5. The exhibition displays 25 objects in various mediums spanning from fine art to pop culture, including portraits of former President Richard M. Nixon and others involved in the scandal and subsequent investigations. Kate Clarke Lemay was the curator of the exhibition. The Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery is exhibiting Hung Liu: Portraits of Promised Lands thru May 30, 2022. The exhibition is the first retrospective of portraiture by Hung Liu (1948-2021). The National Portrait Gallery is exhibiting The Outwin 2022: American Portraiture Today, thru February 26, 2023. Every three years, artists living and working in the U.S. are invited to submit one of their recent portraits to a panel of experts chosen by the museum. Their work is presented in this exhibition before traveling to other cities in the U.S. Artist Alison Elizabeth Taylor is the first-prize winner of the sixth national competition. Visit https://www.si.edu/exhibitions/outwin-2022-american-portraiture-today:event-exhib-6603 The National Portrait Gallery will exhibit Powerful Partnerships: Civil War-Era Couples, July 1-May 18, 2025. The exhibition sheds light on the stories and faces of five couples whose work and lives shaped the nation around them during tumultuous times. Featuring photography by the iconic Mathew Brady Studio, the exhibition features Nathaniel and Mary Banks, John and Jessie Frémont, Ulysses and Julia Grant, George and Ellen McClellan, and Charles and Lavinia Stratton (better known to the public as Mr. and Mrs. Tom Thumb).Visit https://www.si.edu/exhibitions/powerful-partnerships-civil-war-era-couples:event-exhib-6607 The Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum is exhibiting This Present Moment: Crafting a Better World, thru April 2, 2023. The exhibition "highlights the role that artists play in our world to spark essential conversations, stories of resilience, and methods of activism—showing us a more relational and empathetic world. The exhibition acknowledges often-overlooked histories and contributions of women, people of color, and other marginalized communities." Visit https://americanart.si.edu/exhibitions/this-present-moment
The Smithsonian Arthur M. Sackler Gallery is exhibiting Underdogs and Antiheroes: Japaese Prints from the Moskowitz Collection, thru January 29, 2023. The exhibition "focuses on the stories and urban legends of individuals living on the fringes of society in early modern Japan. Key subjects in theater, literature, and visual arts reveal antiheroes and underdogs whose virtues are often embodied by their rejection of societal norms, making them misfits and moral exemplars at the same time." Visit https://www.si.edu/exhibitions/underdogs-and-antiheroes-japanese-prints-moskowitz-collection:event-exhib-6602 The Sackler Gallery is exhibiting Revealing Krishna: Journey to Cambodia's Sacred Mountain, thru September 18. The mountain is in the floodplains of southern Cambodia. The exhibition "showcases a monumental sculpture of the Hindu god Krishna lifting Mount Govardhan to protect his people from a torrential storm sent by an angry god. Visit https://www.si.edu/exhibitions/revealing-krishna-journey-cambodias-sacred-mountain:event-exhib-6594
Detail of a Pair of lions with erotes as riders, early 1st century BCE-mid 1st century CE The Arthur M. Sackler Gallery will exhibit Ancient Yemen: Incense, Art, and Trade, for an indefinite period beginning June 25. Fine alabaster statues and metalworks display the masterful skills of artists from ancient Yemen, who blended local ideas and Greek and Roman inspirations into new creations, underscoring the region’s remarkable artistic and cultural cosmopolitanism. Visit https://www.si.edu/exhibitions/ancient-yemen-incense-art-and-trade:event-exhib-6610 The Freer Gallery of Art is exhibiting Falcons: The Art of the Hunt, thru July 17, 2022. A selection of paintings and objects from ancient Egypt to China will offer a glimpse into the world of falcons. Image above: A Mounted man hunting birds with a falcon; Mughal dynasty, early 18th century; Color and gold on paper; Gift of Charles Lang Freer Visit https://www.si.edu/exhibitions/falcons-art-hunt:event-exhib-6526 The Freer Gallery of Art is exhibiting Mind Over Matter: Zen in Medieval Japan, thru July 24, highlighting Monastic Zen painting ca. 1200–1600. The paintings in monochrome ink have influenced artists and enthusiasts for centuries, and many of the most accomplished artists of this era were Zen monks credited by later generations as the creators of a unique and remarkable legacy of ink painting. Visit https://www.si.edu/exhibitions/mind-over-matter-zen-medieval-japan:event-exhib-6565

arts & crafts: Independent galleries

Artechouse, a pioneer in the field of innovative digital and experiential art in Southwest D.C., is exhibiting Pixelbloom, its fifth annual cherry blossom-inspired exhibition, thru May 30, 2022. "The main 22-minute audiovisual installation in the Immersion Gallery employs an 18-channel, 270° floor-to-wall surround projection array and a 22.5-channel spatialized audio system to breathe a new ARTECHOUSE life into cherry blossoms in peak bloom through an explosion of vibrant colors and textures, intensifying the cherry blossoms’ allure in a way that is only possible in a virtual environment."Visit https://www.dc.artechouse.com/
The Katzen Arts Center The American University College of Arts & Sciences will present the following exhibitions at the Museum in the Katzen Arts Center June 11-August 7:The Bridge that Carried Us OverVertiginous Matter: Jason HorowitzThe Quest for Tranquil Space: Paintings and PhotogramsCaribbean TransitionsHome-Land: Exploring the American MythVisit https://www.american.edu/cas/museum/upcoming.cfm
The Phillips Collection will exhibit Lou Stovall: The Museum Workshop, July 23-October 9. The exhibition will reexamine the history and legacy of the Dupont Center, an artist’s museum founded in Washington, DC, in 1969. Under the visionary collaboration of curator Walter Hopps and artist Lou Stovall, the Dupont Center advanced a new, innovative model for the museum as a place for exhibition, art-making, and community-building. Visit https://www.phillipscollection.org/event/2022-07-23-lou-stovall-museum-workshop The Phillips Collection is exhibiting Picasso: Painting the Blue Period, co-organized with the Art Gallery of Ontario thru June 12, 2022. The exhibition will be comprised of artworks from 30 international collections and will feature more than 90 paintings, sculptures, and works on paper by Picasso along with works by French and Spanish artists that he studied before and during his Blue Period. Visit www.phillipscollection.org
The Phillips Collection is exhibiting Intersections: Marta Pérez García, thru August 28. Originally from Arecibo, Puerto Rico, Peréz García was trained as a printmaker at the Tyler School of Art and Architecture at Temple University in Philadelphia, where she received an MFA. She was awarded the 2021 Vita Paper Arts Residency at Pyramid Atlantic Art Center in Hyattsville, Maryland.Visit https://www.phillipscollection.org/event/2022-03-31-intersections-marta-perez-garcia
 Arlington Arts Center Spring Exhibitions opened on April 15. SOLOS 2022 features solo exhibitions by Alexander D’Agostino, Kyrae Dawaun, Danni O’Brien, Sharon Shapiro, Marisa Stratton, and Ju Yun. AAC resident artist Stephanie Lane presents Thresholds, her first solo exhibition since joining AAC's studio residency program. Visit www.arlingtonartscenter.org The Kreeger Museum in Northwest D.C. will celebrate International Sculpture Day with Hamiltonian Artists, June 4-August 27. The Collaborative is a guest artist exhibition program developed to support Washington area artists. Visit https://www.kreegermuseum.org/exhibitions/view/currenthttps://www.kreegermuseum.org/exhibitions/view/current
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books

The National Archives
The Rotunda of the National Archives Building in DC, is open for viewing of the Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution, and Bill of Rights - with limited capacity - from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily. The Lawrence F. O'Brien Gallery featuring Rightfully Hers: American Women and the Vote and the David M. Rubenstein Gallery featuring Records of Rights are open with limited capacity from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Visit https://museum.archives.gov/exhibits
Planet Word, which is an immersive language museum located in the historic Franklin School Building on 13th Street N.W. in downtown D.C., is now open. The voice-activated museum (the world’s first!) and interactive galleries and exhibits bring words and language to life in all sorts of entertaining ways for visitors of all ages. Visit https://planetwordmuseum.org/ RETURN TO HOME PAGE

dance

A scene from "Drumfolk" - Photo by Jacob Andrew Iwinski
Arena Stage will present Step Afrika's latest production, titled Drumfolk, May 31-June 26. The production is inspired by the Stono Rebellion of 1739 and the Negro Act of 1740 in South Carolina. Enslaved Africans were not allowed to assemble or use their drums to signal a rebellion. The State took away the drums, but they could not stop the beat. The immersive production will be the first of three in a collaborative partnership between Step Afrika! and Arena Stage.Visit www.arenastage.org/drumfolk Dance Place will present performances of Dance Africa DC, hosted by Griot Mama Sylvia Soumah, in Outdoor Performances at Catholic University of America, May 31-June 4. There will be a week of dance, music, and tradition during what will be the 34th annual DanceAfrica, DC festival. Together Again: Celebrating Life, Love, Unity, and Hope! will honor the spirit of the African Diaspora with master classes, oral histories, and both virtual and in-person performances. Visit https://www.danceplace.org/performances/dance-africa-2022/

Chamber Dance Project will present Grace, Grandeur & Gatsby, June 16-19 at at The Greenberg Theatre at 4200 Wisconsin Avenue, NW at Van Ness Street. The program will feature 10 dancers, 6 musicians, and 2 world premieres. Visit https://chamberdance.org/june-2022-performances-2/ Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company plans to perform two new dances as its National Portrait Gallery Residency comes to a close. “El Muro/The Wall” is in response to portraits from the museum’s triennial exhibition titled “The Outwin 2022: American Portraiture Today. (See the ARTS & CRAFTS: SMITHSONIAN GALLERIES column of this edition for information about the exhibition.) In October, the company will perform a work that takes its inspiration from the museum’s upcoming exhibition titled “One Life: Maya Lin.” Finally, in May 2023, Burgess will conclude his residency with a work in response to the resurgence of anti-Asian violence. Visit https://dtsbdc.org/ New York City Ballet will perform Balanchine’s take on William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream in the Kennedy Center Opera House on June 7-12. The program will also feature new works by Sidra Bell, Jamar Roberts, and Justin Peck. Visit https://www.kennedy-center.org/whats-on/explore-by-genre/ballet/2021-2022/new-york-city-ballet/ RETURN TO HOME PAGE

FAMILY

Imagination Stage in Bethesda, MD will present Mr. Popper's Penguins, based on the novel by Richard and Florence Atwater and directed by Nathaniel P. Claridad, June 22-August 7. The musical play is about Mr. Popper, a painter of modest means who dreams of taking an Antarctic adventure. Soon he has a female companion and 20 baby penguins! To support the family, Mr. Popper and his wife create a must-see traveling vaudeville act full of song and dance. The production, featuring expert puppetry, is considered best for ages 3 - 10.Visit https://imaginationstage.org/on-our-stages/mr-popper-s-penguins/ The Kennedy Center will present Show Way the Musical, May 13-29. The musical was adapted from the book by Jacqueline Woodson and directed by Schele Williams with music by Tyrone L. Robinson. It's the story of a girl who was sold to a big plantation at seven years old with only some fabric and needles of her own. "She began to stitch a Show Way, a quilt with secret meanings to show enslaved people the way to freedom. As each generation passes, the Show Way shines a light on the past and paves a road to the future, stitching together possibility and promise." The production is most enjoyed by 7+Visit https://www.kennedy-center.org/
The Puppet Co. at Glen Echo Park will present Little Red Riding Hood and the 3 Little Pigs, June 2-July 3. “We all think we know the Big Bad Wolf from the classic fairytales, but what if it’s the same Wolf in both stories? What if there’s been a big mistake? What if the Wolf isn’t so big or so bad?” The show is recommended ages 4+. Visit www.thepuppetco.org/shows Adventure Theatre ATMTC at Glen Echo Park in MD is presenting POOP! THE MUSICAL, directed by Jeff Liu, thru May 30, 2022. It’s the tale of a young Asian American boy who faces ridicule and bullying by his classmates, until his “best friend – a stuffed toy rabbit – takes him on a “magical” journey through space and time. Visit https://adventuretheatre-mtc.org/in-person-productions-2021-2022-season/ Adventure Theatre ATMTC at Glen Echo Park in MD will present Fantastagirl and the Math Monster, directed by Jenny McConnell Fredrick, with Book & Lyrics by Tori Boutin and Music & Lyrics by Madeline Belknap, June 19-August 21. Fantastagirl is “a second-grade superhero who uses words to save the day when she comes face to face with her worst nightmare: the Math Monster!" Visit https://adventuretheatre-mtc.org/shows/professional-shows-update/ Fiesta Asia Street Fair, which had been planned for May 21, has been postponed to July 16. The festival will take place along Pennsylvania Avenue NW between 3rd & 6th Streets. The Fair celebrates Asian Heritage with a parade, multi-stage performances, Asian food, unique arts & culture and much more! Visit http://fiestaasia.org/participate/
The Smithsonian Arts & Industries Building The Smithsonian Folklife Festival will take place on the National Mall June 22-27 & June 30-July 4. Except when it had to be canceled due to the pandemic, the annual Festival has welcomed participants and visitors from across the U.S. and around the world to the National Mall since 1967. In addition to the events on the Mall, an online Festival Marketplace this year will feature products from Armenia, Colombia, Fiji, Kenya, Mexico, and elsewhere. A schedule of daily events on the Mall will be available by late spring at https://festival.si.edu/schedule Meanwhile, visit https://festival.si.edu/visit The National Theatre will present Blippi The Musical on June 25. Blippi is a unique character created by Stevin John. In the live show, children learn about the world around them while singing and dancing. Visit https://www.broadwayatthenational.com/show/blippi-the-musical/ The annual Washington Folk Festival will take place at Glen Echo Park in Maryland, on June 4 & 5. The free, rain-or-shine event celebrates the many cultural traditions that are a part of our greater Washington community. As before, the Festival will provide a wide array of international culture along with American blues, bluegrass, old-time string bands, contemporary singer-songwriters, gospel, western swing, storytellers, craft market place and more. There will be over 85 hours of performances in multiple performance areas. Visit washingtonfolkfestival.org Cultural Tourism DC, which is a nonprofit organization that delivers memorable experiences and learning opportunities in the areas of heritage, international exchange, and humanities, is presenting Passport DC thru May 31. Passport DC is "a month-long journey around the world highlighting DC's thriving international diplomatic community and its lively and varied culture." There will be 31 days of programming by 70 embassies and some of DC's very best cultural institutions. There will be embassy open houses, street festivals, performances, exhibitions, workshops, and more. Visit https://www.culturaltourismdc.org/portal/passport-dc1 The 30th Annual Barbecue Battle will take place on Pennsylvania Avenue in D.C. on June 25 & 26. In addition to BBQ, the popular event features Health & Fitness, Music & Entertainment, Family activities, Contests, Offers & Giveaways, and more. Visit https://bbqindc.com/ The Georgetown Walking Tour: Off the Beaten Path will take place on June 26. “Join Dwane Starlin to explore the hidden gems, secret spots, and delightful hideaways of Georgetown away from the hustle and bustle of M and Wisconsin.” Visit https://dumbartonhouse.org/events/georgetown-walking-tour-off-the-beaten-path/

Film

A scene from I'm Your Man Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince™ Wolf Trap will present Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince™ in Concert in the Filene Center on July 22 & 23. Based on the sixth installment of J.K. Rowling’s classic saga, the film tells the tale of Harry’s obsession with a mysterious potions book. The full feature film will be projected in HD onto screens in-house and on the lawn and accompanied by the music of a live symphony orchestra. To see highlights of the summer season at Wolf Trap, visit https://www.wolftrap.org/calendar.aspx?venue=filene+centerwww.wolftrap.org/
 Wolf Trap will present the National Symphony Orchestra, led by Emil de Cou, performing John Williams's score for Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back in the Filene Center on July 29. The Oscar®-nominated score from the film will be performed live as the full feature film is projected in HD onto screens in-house.To see highlights of the summer season at Wolf Trap, visit https://www.wolftrap.org/calendar.aspx?venue=filene+centerwww.wolftrap.org/ *Presentation licensed by Disney Concerts Presented in association with 20th Century Fox, Lucasfilm Ltd. and Warner/Chappell Music. © 1980 & TM LUCASFILM LTD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © DISNEY. To see highlights of the summer season at Wolf Trap, visit https://www.wolftrap.org/calendar.aspx?venue=filene+centerwww.wolftrap.org/ National Geographic Museum will exhibit Beyond King Tut: The Immersive Experience, June 17-February 6, 2023. The cinematic immersive exhibition takes guests on a journey to one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of all time. Visitors travel through galleries featuring a 280-degree digital screen and massive, immersive projections. They experience the country’s ancient wonders, and meet ancient Egyptian gods like Ra and Anubis. Visitors can hear National Geographic Explorers who continue to study the mysteries of the tomb "and travel with the legendary pharaoh on his quest for immortality." The exhibit was created in partnership with Paquin Entertainment Group and features innovative video projections and soundscapes.Visit www.nationalgeographic.org Wolf Trap will present a Sing-A-Long Sound of Music in the Filene Center on July 16. The classic Julie Andrews film will be screened, complete with on-screen lyrics so everyone can sing along to “My Favorite Things,” “Do-Re-Mi,” “Maria,” and more! A preshow costume contest will invite audience members in costume on stage to show off their outfits. To see highlights of the summer season at Wolf Trap, visit https://www.wolftrap.org/calendar.aspx?venue=filene+centerwww.wolftrap.org/

gardens - homes

A view of the new exhibit at USGB The United States Botanic Garden (USBG) is displaying a new exhibit about agriculture titled Cultivate: Growing Food in a Changing World - thru December, 2023. Saharah Moon Chapotin, USBG executive director, commented that "We hope this exhibit inspires visitors to become more engaged in agriculture and food and builds a better understanding of how the future of agriculture is interconnected with our planet’s sustainability.” Also, a new gift store is located in the Conservatory’s West Gallery, The store is open on weekends, and will expand to more days later in the spring.Visit www.USBG.gov


Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens (Pictured above) is exhibiting The Luxury of Clay: Porcelain Past and Present, thru June 26, featuring the finest examples of vases, teapots, figurines, dishes, and more collected by Marjorie Merriweather Post. Over 125 objects are displayed and trace the remarkable development of porcelain, from its origins in 9th-century China to its discovery in Europe in the early 18th century, leading to contemporary artistic interpretations. Visit https://hillwoodmuseum.org/exhibitions/luxury-clay-porcelain-past-and-present Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens will exhibit Grace of Monaco: Princess in Dior June 11-January 8, 2023. Grace Kelly (1929-1982) was a leading American actor who earned an Academy Award and became a style icon for her understated glamour. Her relationship with Dior began in 1954. Leaving Hollywood to marry Prince Rainier III of Monaco in 1956, she was thenceforth Princess Grace of Monaco. The exhibition will explore the longstanding collaboration between her and Marc Bohan, artistic director at Christian Dior, through clothing, accessories, photos, and more on special loan from the Palace of Monaco. The exhibition, which features 86 pieces from Kelly’s collection, originated at the Musée Dior in Granville, France, and offers insights into Bohan’s muse in the 1960s and 1970s. Visit https://hillwoodmuseum.org/exhibitions/grace-monaco-princess-dior
The Heurich House Museum near Dupont Circle in D.C. reopened for tours in March. The Heurich mansion was built in 1892-4 for German-American immigrant Christian Heurich (1842-1945), whose brewery was the largest in DC and a household name. It is the city's best-preserved example of Richardsonian Romanesque residential architecture and one of the most landmarked interiors in DC. Visit http://heurichhouse.org

Tudor Place in Georgetown will have the 30th Annual Spring Garden Party on May 25 in celebration of the Georgetown estate's ongoing commitment to historic preservation, conservation and dynamic educational programming for all ages. This year, Tudor Place will honor Dr. Sachiko Kuno, who is a committed scientist, philanthropist, entrepreneur and visionary. Surrounded by 5 ½ acres in the heart of Washington’s historic Georgetown neighborhood, Tudor Place is a site where visitors can be rejuvenated amid beauty and botanical wonder. Visit https://tudorplace.org/support/spring-garden-party/ RETURN TO HOME PAGE

MUSEUMS: Smithsonian

The Smithsonian National Postal Museum is exhibiting "Baseball: America's Home Run" thru January 5, 2025. The exhibition features historic objects loaned from renowned private collections, showcasing a treasure trove of historically significant game-worn uniforms, jackets, hats, game-used bats and memorabilia from America’s pastime. Visit https://postalmuseum.si.edu/baseball
The National Museum of the American Indian is exhibiting Preston Singletarh: Raven and the Box of Delights thru January 29, 2023. Singletary (Tlingit American) tells the story of Raven, the creator of the world and giver of the stars, moon. Image above: Preston Singletary - Cast lead crystal, kiln-cast glass; steel base. Courtesy of the artist.) Visit https://americanindian.si.edu/ The National Air & Space Museum on the National Mall was closed for six months of renovation starting March 28, 2022. Visit www.nasm.si.edu/exhibitions/ The National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) is exhibiting Genome: Unlocking Life's Code until Summer of this year. The exhibition shows how our expanding knowledge of genomes informs everything from personalized medicine to how we think about our human ancestors.” Visit http://naturalhistory.si.edu/genome
The Smithsonian National Museum of American History will open a new exhibit titled Dave's Dream on May 27. “Dave’s Dream” is a modified 1969 Ford LTD known as a “lowrider” and named for David Jaramillo of Chimayo, New Mexico, who began customizing this car in the 1970s. Lowriding is a family and community activity with parades, trophies, and other events celebrating cars and paying homage to their power and beauty. Visit https://americanhistory.si.edu/exhibitions/daves-dream The Smithsonian National Museum of American History is featuring women inventors, who represent all segments of American society, but whose stories are often overlooked or undervalued. Visit https://americanhistory.si.edu/exhibitions/picturing-women-inventors?utm_source=siedu&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=exhibitions The Smithsonian National Museum of American History is displaying an exhibition titled Discovery and Revelation: Religion, Science, and Making Sense of Things. The focus is on the interaction of religious ideas and communities with the scientific and technological advances that have shaped every generation from the Puritans to the digital age. The exhibition provides a view of Americans as "a spiritually seeking, scientifically experimenting, and endlessly curious people." Visit https://americanhistory.si.edu/exhibitions/discovery-and-revelation
The Smithsonian Arts & Industries Building reopened in November with an exhibition titled Futures, which will remain on view thru July 6, 2022. The exhibition celebrates the Smithsonian's 175th anniversary. Visit https://aib.si.edu/ The National Museum of African American History and Culture is exhibiting Make Good the Promises: Reconstruction and Its Legacies, thru August 21, 2022. The exhibition explores the Reconstruction era through an African American lens, as may be seen thru 175 objects, 200 photographs, 15 audio, video, and interactive programs, and a companion book. Visit https://www.si.edu/exhibitions/make-good-promises-reconstruction-and-its-legacies:event-exhib-6538 PLEASE NOTE: A complete list of Smithsonian museum days and hours of operation is available at si.edu/visit/hours RETURN TO HOME PAGE INDEPENDENT MUSEUMS:
National Geographic Museum will exhibit Beyond King Tut: The Immersive Experience, June 17-February 6, 2023. The cinematic immersive exhibition takes guests on a journey to one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of all time. Visitors travel through galleries featuring a 280-degree digital screen and massive, immersive projections. They experience the country’s ancient wonders, and meet ancient Egyptian gods like Ra and Anubis. Visitors can hear from National Geographic Explorers who continue to study the mysteries of his tomb "and travel with the legendary pharaoh on his quest for immortality." The exhibit was created in partnership with Paquin Entertainment Group.Visit www.nationalgeographic.org
Dumbarton Oaks Research Library & Museum opened an installation titled A Beautiful Dichotomy on April 12. The installation features a selection of Peruvian Pre-Columbian ceramics from a Washington DC private collection. The collection is a promised gift to Dumbarton Oaks that "will not only enhance the museum holdings but will belatedly fulfill Robert Bliss’s desire to acquire the finest examples of ceramics from Peru." Visit https://www.doaks.org/visit/museum/exhibitions/a-beautiful-dichotomy
 Dumbarton House in Georgetown is displaying :Power in Preservation - A celebration of the role that women have played in the field of preservation.History's Keepers - The role of the National Society of The Colonial Dames of America (NSCDA) in inspiring a spirit of patriotism. The XChange - highlights the role of women in creating and preserving Dumbarton House. Visit https://dumbartonhouse.org/category/collections/
 The International Spy Museum is open with new safety measures in place. Advance ticket purchase is recommended. Visit https://www.spymuseum.org/
The National Building Museum is displaying a major new exhibition, Notre-Dame de Paris: The Augmented Exhibition, thru September 26, 2022. The exhibition’s North American debut at the Museum takes place on the third anniversary of the 2019 fire that ravaged the UNESCO World Heritage site. To navigate the exhibition, each visitor will use a HistoPad™, an augmented reality touch-screen tablet developed by Histovery. The hand-held device creates immersive and interactive reconstructions, visually transporting visitors back in time. Vinyl replicas of the cathedral’s flooring, stained-glass transfers on the Museum’s historic windows, audio of Notre Dame’s organs and tolling bells, as well as a projection of the cathedral’s famed rose window complete the multi-sensory experience.Visit https://www.nbm.org The National Building Museum and the Folger Shakespeare Library, in association with the University of South Carolina, will partner to present a Summer Block Party at the Museum called The Playhouse, July 1- September 6. The Playhouse will be installed in the Museum’s Great Hall. During the day, experiences related to theater will be presented at The Playhouse. At night, The Playhouse will be transformed into a stage to present Folger Theatre’s production of William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night’s Dream, directed by Victor Malana Maog. Visitors will enter via the Block Party an immersive installation based on Joanna Robson’s A Knavish Lad, a double-concertina artists’ book from the Folger collection that visually narrates every scene from A Midsummer Night’s Dream. For more about the National Building Museum, visit https://www.nbm.org The George Washington Museum & Textile Museum is presenting two new exhibitions thru August 27: At the Water's Edge: D.C. and the Potomac features historical maps, prints and documents and explores the complicated relationship between the capital city and the Potomac River, including its “Eastern Branch,” the Anacostia. The Language of Maps features printed maps for navigation, military strategy, urban planning and more. Drawing from the Albert H. Small Washingtoniana Collection, this exhibition brings together maps from the 17th to the 20th centuries, each with its own symbolic language and story. Visit http://museum.gwu.edu/

music in d.c.

MUSIC IN DC: The Kennedy Center The National Memorial Day Choral Festival will take place in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall May 27-30. The festival is a musical tribute saluting America's military & fallen heroes. Visit https://memorialdaychoralfestival.org/ The Kennedy Center will present the musical Love: A Joni Mitchell Songbook with Renée Fleming, Lalah Hathaway, Aoife O’Donovan, and Moses Sumney in the Concert Hall on May 25 & 26. The special evening will be led by Vince Mendoza—who won Grammys for his arrangement of “Both Sides Now,” and "Woodstock” from Travelogue. Visit https://www.kennedy-center.org/ Pianist and composer Herbie Hancock will perform in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall on June 10. A 2013 Kennedy Center Honoree, Herbie Hancock “has transcended limitations and genres while maintaining his unmistakable voice. With a celebrated career spanning six decades and 14 Grammy Awards, he continues to amaze audiences across the globe. ”Visit https://www.kennedy-center.org/whats-on/explore-by-genre/hip-hop/2021-2022/herbie-hancock/ The Washington Chorus will perform a concert titled Justice & Peace in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall on June 12. Visit https://www.kennedy-center.org/whats-on/explore-by-genre/jazz/2021-2022/wash-chorus-justice-and-peace/
MUSIC IN DC: SELECT VENUES: The Phillips Collection has returned to live concerts in the Music Room, but with very limited in-person seating capacity, in line with DC government guidance. All of the concerts will be on Sundays. To see the full schedule, visit www.phillipscollection.org/music
Washington National Cathedral will present a July 4th Musical Celebration on July 4. Cathedral organists Thomas Sheehan and George Fergus, joined by the Washington Symphonic Brass, will perform a program of patriotic music for organ and brass, featuring both familiar favorites and fresh lesser-known music. Visit https://cathedral.org/event/july-4th-musical-celebration/ Congressional Chorus will perform a concert titled Mixtape at Church of the Epiphany in downtown D.C. on June 3 & 4. The annual cabaret will offer a musical tour of the past four decades. Visit www.congressionalchorus.org/performances Choralis, with Maestro Robert Shafer and the City Choir of Washington, will perform Brahms’s Ein Deutsch’s Requiem at Washington National Cathedral on June 26. The concert will celebrate Robert Shafer’s distinguished career. Visit choralis.org and/or citychoir.org
The National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden The National Gallery of Art outdoor Sculpture Garden presents musical performances ranging from jazz to Afro-Cuban and bluegrass every Friday through July 22. Registration is free and opens at noon one week before each concert. Visit https://www.nga.gov/calendar/jazz.html Washington Men's Camerata will perform Westward, Ho! - music by German Masters and their American Disciples - at First Congregational United Church of Christ - Live! at 10th & G N.W. on June 4. The cross-cultural program between Germany and the U.S. will feature music of Wagner, Liszt, Rheinberger, Foote, Chadwick, Fine, Barber and others. Visit https://camerata.com/concerts/ The Apollo Orchestra, featuring violin virtuoso, Cho-Liang Lin and Organist, Julie Viderick Evans, will perform at Chevy Chase Presbyterian Church on June 19. The program will include works by Laurin, Mozart, Cho-Liang Lin, Sarasate & Beethoven. Visit http://www.apolloorchestra.com/ Return to Home Page

MUSIC IN VIRGINIA

Wolf Trap will present Gil Shaham, violin, with the National Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Ruth Reinhardt, playing music by Tchaikovsky in the Filene Center on August 5. To see highlights of the summer season at Wolf Trap, visit https://www.wolftrap.org/calendar.aspx?venue=filene+centerwww.wolftrap.org/

MUSIC IN MARYLAND

The Music Center at Strathmore The National Philharmonic will perform Ludwig van Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis on June 5 at The Music Center at Strathmore. Music Director Piotr Gajewski will lead the Orchestra and Chorale, as well as a quartet of soloists that includes soprano Esther Heideman, mezzo-soprano Claudia Chapa, tenor Norman Shankle, and bass-baritone Kerry Wilkerson. The National Philharmonic’s full 2022-2023 season schedule can be found at nationalphilharmonic.org/season-2223 Visit https://nationalphilharmonic.org/ The Music Center at Strathmore will present An Evening With PAUL ANKA in which he sings Sinatra: His Songs, My Songs, My Way on June 21. "The pop heartthrob’s unmatched songwriting gave him the chance to work with other greats of his time—like Frank Sinatra—further establishing him as an icon of popular music." Visit https://www.strathmore.org/what-s-on/in-the-music-center/paul-anka

opera

Washington National Opera and San Francisco Opera will perform Bizet's Carmen, directed by Francesca Zambello and conducted by Evan Rogister, in the Kennedy Center Opera House, May 14-28. It's the classic tale of a bold, uninhibited, and strong-willed woman who lives life on her own terms. The production includes superstars Isabel Leonard and Michael Fabiano. The production will be in French with Projected English Titles. Visit https://www.kennedy-center.org/wno/ Wolf Trap will present Weber's Der Freischütz (The Marksman) in The Barns on June 18, 24 & 26. The first great German romantic opera, Der Freischütz is a mix of folklore, romance, and the ageless struggle between good and evil. To see highlights of the summer season at Wolf Trap, visit https://www.wolftrap.org/calendar.aspx?venue=filene+centerwww.wolftrap.org/
 Wolf Trap Opera and the National Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Roberto Kalb, will perform Verdi's La Traviata in the Filene Center on July 15. Verdi’s masterful opera “about forbidden love and the sacrifice of a beautiful courtesan for the young aristocrat she loves plays out against the hypocritical world of upper-class, opulent Parisian society.” To see highlights of the summer season at Wolf Trap, visit https://www.wolftrap.org/calendar.aspx?venue=filene+centerwww.wolftrap.org/ Opera Lafayette, conducted by Ryan Brown, will perform André Grétry's Silvain in the Kennedy Center Terrace Theater on June 2 & 3. Silvain, (1770), was both a favorite of French Queen Marie-Antoinette and was the first opera performed in New Orleans in 1796. The production will star bass-baritone Victor Sicard as Silvain; soprano Camille Ortiz as Helene; soprano Teresa Castillo as Lucette, soprano Samantha Louis Jean as Paulette; Jehú Otero as Bazile, and bass-baritone Nathan Berg as the Dolmon pere. Visit https://www.kennedy-center.org/whats-on/explore-by-genre/opera/2021-2022/andre-gretry-silvain/
Victorian Lyric Opera Company will present John Philip Sousa's El Capitan, directed by Catherine Huntress-Reeve at The F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre in Rockville, Maryland Civic Center at select times, June 10-19. The setting is Spanish-occupied Peru, where a power struggle is in progress involving fearsome military commander El Capitan. Meanwhile, a princess, who is mute, embarks on a harrowing journey through time in order to regain a voice for herself and her people. The opera features some of the March King's most delightful music, including the world-famous "El Capitan" march. Visit https://www.vloc.org/el-capitan.html WETA Television Channel 26 will present a Metropolitan Opera Performances at 1 p.m. on 90.9 FM Radio on Saturday May 28: Philip Glass's Akhnaten Visit http://wetaclassical.org

theatre in dc

Photo from Six by Joan Marcus Broadway at The National will present the new musical titled SIX by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss July 5-September 4. The musical depicts the SIX wives of Henry VIII as they “take the mic to remix five hundred years of historical heartbreak into an exuberant celebration of 21st-century girl power! The female cast is backed by an all-female band, “The Ladies in Waiting.” SIX is co-directed by Lucy Moss and Jamie Armitage, featuring choreography by Carrie-Anne Ingrouille. Visit https://www.thenationaldc.com/
“Photo of Cornelius Smith Jr. by Tony Powell.” Arena Stage will present the world-premiere musical American Prophet in the Kreeger Theater July 15-August 28. The musical, starring Cornelius Smith Jr., is “powered by the speeches and writings of Frederick Douglass, coupled with new melodies and an original script by Grammy Award-winning songwriter Marcus Hummon and Randolph-Wright. "Douglass rises as a fierce abolitionist, distinguished orator and one of history’s first freedom fighters." Visit www.arenastage.org/americanprophet
A scene from "Drumfolk" @ Arena Stage Photo by Jacob Andrew Iwinski Arena Stage will present Step Afrika's latest production, titled Drumfolk, May 31-June 26. The production is inspired by the Stono Rebellion of 1739 and the Negro Act of 1740 in South Carolina. Enslaved Africans were not allowed to assemble or use their drums to signal a rebellion. The State took away the drums, but they could not stop the beat. The immersive production will be the first of three in a collaborative partnership between Step Afrika! and Arena Stage. Visit www.arenastage.org/drumfolk The Kennedy Center will present Show Way the Musical, May 13-29. The musical was adapted from the book by Jacqueline Woodson and directed by Schele Williams with music by Tyrone L. Robinson. It's the story of a girl who was sold to a big plantation at seven years old with only some fabric and needles of her own. "She began to stitch a Show Way, a quilt with secret meanings to show enslaved people the way to freedom. As each generation passes, the Show Way shines a light on the past and paves a road to the future, stitching together possibility and promise." The production is most enjoyed by 7+Visit https://www.kennedy-center.org/ The Kennedy Center will present the Old Vic London Production of A Monster Calls in the Eisenhower Theater May 25-June 12. Based on Patrick Ness’s novel and a new adaptation by visionary director Sally Cookson, the play is about a troubled thirteen-year-old boy who is awakened near midnight by something at his window. A monster has come to tell the boy tales from when it walked before. And when it’s finished, the boy must tell his own story and face his deepest fears. The play is recommended for age 10 and up.Visit https://www.kennedy-center.org/ The Kennedy Center will present the Tony Award-winning musical Jersey Boys in the Eisenhower Theater June 14-26. It's the inside story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons and how they went from the streets of New Jersey to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Visit https://www.kennedy-center.org/whats-on/explore-by-genre/theater/2021-2022/jersey-boys/ The Kennedy Center will present Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird in the Opera House, June 21-July 10. Academy Award-winner Aaron Sorkin adapted Harper Lee's Pulitzer Prize-winning materwork for the stage. Emmy Award®-winning actor Richard Thomas will play the role of Atticus Finch in this retelling of the classic tale. Visit https://www.kennedy-center.org/whats-on/explore-by-genre/theater/2021-2022/to-kill-a-mockingbird/
Keegan Theatre will present the regional premiere of Lee Hall's play titled Shakespeare in Love, as adapted from a screenplay by Marc Norman & Tom Stoppard, June 18-July 16. It's the story of young Will Shakespeare, who overcame writer’s block when he found his muse – Viola." Despite "mistaken identity, ruthless scheming, and backstage theatrics, Will’s love for Viola quickly blossoms and inspires him to write his greatest masterpiece." Visit https://keegantheatre.com/portfolio/shakespeare-in-love/
Theater J will present FIRES IN THE MIRROR: Crown Heights, Brooklyn, and Other Identities, June 9-July 3. The groundbreaking documentaty play was conceived, written, and originally performed by Anna Deavere Smith and co-directed by Adam Immerwahr and January LaVoy. The setting is August 1991, when “simmering tensions in the racially polarized neighborhood of Crown Heights erupt into riots after a Black child was killed by a car in the Chabad-Lubavitcher Rebbe’s motorcade and a white Jewish scholar was slain in retaliation.” “The play uses verbatim testimony from individuals throughout the diverse community, creating a nuanced portrait of a shared but divided geography.” Visit https://theaterj.org/2021-2022-season/fires-in-the-mirror-21-22/
Studio Theatre is presenting Kimberly Belflower's play titled John Proctor Is the Villain, directed by Marti Lyons, in the Mead Theatre, thru June 5. The setting is Helen County High in rural Georgia, where "a generation is in mid-transformation, running on pop music, optimism, and fury—writing their own coming of age story." Visit https://www.studiotheatre.org/plays/play-detail/2021-2022-john-proctor-is-the-villain Studio Theatre will present Katori Hall's play titled The Hot Wing King, directed by Steve H. Broadnax III, June 22-July 31. The play won the 2021 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. The setting is in Memphis in August when it's time to crown the new Hot Wing King. Visit https://www.studiotheatre.org/plays/play-detail/2021-2022-the-hot-wing-king
Shakespeare Theatre Company is presenting Thornton Wilder's Pulitzer Prize-winning play Our Town, directed by Alan Paul, in Sidney Harman Hall thru June 11. "Guided by an amiable stage manager, the theatre becomes turn-of-the-century Grover’s Corners, where the occurrences of everyday life reveal universal truths about community and love, life, and death.“ The production "will celebrate the artists who call the DMV-area home."Visit https://www.shakespearetheatre.org/events/our-town-21-22/ Shakespeare Theatre Company will present Potted Potter – The Unauthorized Harry Experience - a Parody by Dan and Jeff - in Sidney Harman Hall, June 29-July 17. Written by Daniel Clarkson and Jefferson Turner, who are two-time Olivier Award-nominated actors, the parody is considered “perfect for ages six to Dumbledore (who is very old indeed).” Playing to sold out houses all over the world, the parody takes on the ultimate challenge of condensing all seven Harry Potter books into seventy hilarious minutes. Visit https://www.shakespearetheatre.org/events/potted-potter-22/ Shakespeare Theatre Company will present Lolita Chakrabarti's play Red Velvet, directed by Jade King Carroll, in the Michael R. Klein Theatre, June 16-July 17. The setting is London’s Theatre Royal in 1833, when history is made as Ira Aldridge becomes the first Black actor to take the stage as Shakespeare’s Othello. At that time, a bill promoting the abolition of slavery was sending “shockwaves through Parliament,” and onlookers wondered how London would react to Aldridge’s groundbreaking performance? Visit https://www.shakespearetheatre.org/events/red-velvet-21-22/ Woolly Mammoth Theatre is presenting Paola Lázaro's play titled There's Always the Hudson, directed by Jess McLeod, thru June 5. It's about two old friends who made a pact long ago to exact revenge on anyone who has ever abused them. The play has been described as "unflinching look at confronting trauma, and how the bonds with our chosen family can carry us through." Visit https://www.woollymammoth.net/ Washington Stage Guild will present the D.C. area premiere of D.W. Gregory's play titled Memories of a Forgotten Man, May 5-29. Directed by Kasi Campbell the play stars Steven Carpenter, Lynette Rathnam, Chris Stinson and Laura Giannarelli. Based on a true story, it's about a Soviet journalist with the gift of total recall, a psychologist who seeks to rehabilitate herself and a government censor with his own secrets to hide. Their fates become entwined as victims and collaborators under Stalin's campaign to erase his political enemies. Visit www.stageguild.org/ The British Players of Washington, D.C. will present "The Mystery of Edwin Drood," based on Charles Dickens’s final, unfinished novel, at Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School at The Nolan Center at select times, June 10-23. The hilarious whodunit with music, directed by Laura Andruski, invites the audience to solve the mystery by choosing the identity of the murderer. The tale is presented as a show-within-a show, as the Music Hall Royale – a delightfully loony Victorian theatre company – presents Dickens’ brooding mystery. Visit www.britishplayers.org The National Building Museum and the Folger Shakespeare Library, in association with the University of South Carolina, will partner to present a Summer Block Party at the Museum called The Playhouse, July 1- September 6. The Playhouse will be installed in the Museum’s Great Hall. During the day, experiences related to theater will be presented at The Playhouse. At night, The Playhouse will be transformed into a stage to present Folger Theatre’s production of William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night’s Dream, directed by Victor Malana Maog. Visitors will enter the Block Party via an immersive installation based on Joanna Robson’s A Knavish Lad, a double-concertina artists’ book from the Folger collection that visually narrates every scene from A Midsummer Night’s Dream. For more about the National Building Museum, visithttps://www.nbm.org RETURN TO HOME PAGE

Theatre in virginia

Synetic Theater in Arlington, Virginia will present A Midsummer Night's Dream June 30-July 24 in the celebrated wordless adaptation by Paata and Irina Tsikurishvili. “This playful adaptation of Shakespeare’s timeless comedy feature’s Synetic’s trademark wordless storytelling. This fantastical, darkly playful game of love, mistaken identity, and the supernatural was honored with nine Helen Hayes Award Nominations when it was first produced in 2010. Visit https://synetictheater.secure.force.com/ticket/#/events/a0S5Y00000dIlmyUAC Synetic Theater will present Greatest Hits – Wordless Shakespeare Edition, directed by Irina Tsikurishvili, July 7-31. In the unique presentation, six actors take the audience through two decades of innovative storytelling in less than 90 minutes - all without saying a word. "It's a roller coaster ride of action, comedy, drama, romance, and revenge all told through Synetic’s iconic blend of movement, dance, and pantomime." Visit https://synetictheater.org/event_pages/best-of-the-bard/ Signature Theatre in Arlington is presenting the upstairs department, directed by Holly Twyford, thru June 12. It's about a young man "who wakes up from a serious illness with the power to communicate with the dead (or so he believes)." Visit https://www.sigtheatre.org/events/202122/the-upstairs-department/ Signature Theatre’s schedule for Summer 2022 will feature:June 10: Signature Theatre Under the Stars at Lubber Run Amphitheater in Arlington, VA will feature Mark G. Meadows and his band The Movement, with vocalist Kanysha Williams. They will perform iconic songs, plus some of Mark’s original music.
June 24: Signature Theatre & Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, Filene Center, led by Artistic Director Matthew Gardiner, with music direction by Jon Kalbfleisch, will present Broadway in the Park. Two of Broadway’s Tony-Award winning leading ladies, Kelli O’Hara (The King and I) and Adrienne Warren (Tina: The Tina Turner Musical), with favorite Signature Theatre artists, will perform songs from West Side Story, The Wiz, Gypsy, Funny Girl and more.
June 30-July 2: The We Shall Someday Concert, with book by Harrison David Rivers, music & additional lyrics by Ted Shen, and direction by Kelli Foster Warder, will be performed in Signature’s ARK Theatre. The timely new musical chronicles three generations of a Southern Black family as they trace the effects of racism, activism and legacy from the Civil Rights Movement to the present.
July 5 – 17: Hotter Than July: Stevie Wonder in Signature’s ARK Theatre was inspired by Stevie’s 1980 platinum album Hotter than July. The sizzling cabaret “sets the ARK ablaze with songs from the album along with some of Stevie’s other hits. August 16-October 9: the color purple - the musical adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of human fortitude, redemption and love. Directed by Timothy Douglas
Nina Bennett

Theatre in Maryland

The Little Theatre of Alexandria will present Craig Lucas's Prelude to a Kiss, directed by Maggie Mumford, June 4-25. The romantic comedy is about a couple "who fall in love despite the woman’s pessimistic outlook on life. Shortly after their wedding, a supernatural event tests the strength of their love and commitment to each other." Visit https://thelittletheatre.com/ Avant Bard Theatre will present Suddenly Last Summer by Tennessee Williams, May 25-June 18 at Gunston Arts Center Theatre 2. It's the story of an elderly socialite in New Orleans who mourns the mysterious death of her poet son at an island resort. She hires a doctor to silence the only witness to the tragic event–but the truth is revealed. The production includes a prologue of “Talk to Me Like the Rain and Let Me Listen” by Tennessee Williams featuring Jonathan Del Palmer as man and Miss Kitty as Woman. Visit https://avantbard.org/project/suddenly-last-summer/ Wolf Trap will present Beautiful - The Carole King Musical - in the Filene Center on June 21. The musical tells the Award-winning true story of King’s rise to stardom. The show features songs by Gerry Goffin/Carole King and Barry Mann/Cynthia Weil including “I Feel The Earth Move,” “One Fine Day,” “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman,” “You’ve Got A Friend,” and the title song, “Beautiful.”To see highlights of the summer season at Wolf Trap, visit https://www.wolftrap.org/calendar.aspx?venue=filene+centerwww.wolftrap.org/ RETURN TO HOME PAGE
Keith Powell Unexpected Stage Company will present Sophisticated New Ones by Keith Powell, directed by Dawn Thomas Reidy, June 15-July 3 in the Fireside Room, at the River Road Unitarian Universalist Congregation building on River Road in Bethesda. The play is set in Philadelphia and “explores the intersection of identity, belonging, and antique furniture, as a family grapples with living within a country they no longer recognize. Set in 2007 during Barack Obama’s political rise, the play asks the question: What do we lose in the face of progress?” Unexpected Stage Company is a professional regional theater company founded by Christopher Goodrich and Rachel Stroud-Goodrich in 2010. The company "seeks to unite people, place, and storytelling in order to explore interconnection." The production will be offered virtually as well as live. Visit www.unexpectedstage.org Rockville Musical Theatre will present Once Upon a Mattress, July 1-17. The musical comedy, with music by Mary Rodgers and lyrics by Marshall Barer, opened off-Broadway in 1959, and then moved to Broadway. The play was written as a humorous adaptation of the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale of 1835 titled "The Princess and the Pea." Visit https://www.r-m-t.org/current-season Round House Theatre in Bethesda will present the regional premiere of Jocelyn Bioh’s romantic comedy titled Nollywood Dreams, directed by Raymond O. Caldwell, June 8-July 3. Set in the ‘90s in Lagos, Nigeria, it’s about a young girl with big dreams who spends every spare minute imagining her big break. “When she lands an audition with the hottest director in Nigeria’s booming film industry, she finds herself at odds with his former leading lady—and relishing the charms of Nollywood's biggest dreamboat.” Visit https://www.roundhousetheatre.org/On-Stage/Explore/Nollywood-Dreams RETURN TO HOME PAGE

public television WETA channel 26

Visit www.weta.org Each month, The Agenda News suggests Public TV Programs that will be broadcast - mostly in the evening - on WETA, WETA UK & WETA WORLD Channel 26. Programs suggested for May are:
May 25 @ 9:00 NOVA: ICE AGE FOOTPRINTS — Thousands of prehistoric footprints in New Mexico’s White Sands National Park capture moments when Ice Age humans crossed paths with enormous ground sloths and mammoths. What can this evidence reveal about the peopling of the Americas?
May 27 @ 9:00 GREAT PERFORMANCES: KEEPING COMPANY WITH SONDHEIM — An inside look at the reimagined gender-swapped production. The program includes new interviews with Tony- and Grammy-winning cast members Katrina Lenk, Patti LuPone and others. Picture below: Katrina Lenk as Bobbie - Photo by Matthew Murphy
May 29 @ 8:00 NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT 2022 — In this WETA co-production, tune in to the annual broadcast of America’s national night of remembrance. The event honors the military service of our men and women in uniform, their families and those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.


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