72 HOURS Dec. 26, 2023

(FREDERICK) FAMILY FEUD

Well, now that we made it through our own family dramas of the holiday season, who’s up for watching other people’s family dramas play out on “Family Feud”? Maybe it’s been a while since you watched this classic game show, but it’s always good for a laugh, hearing what answers contestants come up with. On Feb. 2, the ante will be up just a little bit more when “Family Feud” includes one of Frederick’s own. Tune in that day to cheer on the Frederick-based Whiten family, who will be contestants on the show.

WHY MEDITATE WHEN YOU CAN SPLATTER PAINT

If you havent already, set aside an hour or so, grab some friends or family, and head on over to the new Dream FREE Art in Frederick, just off of Buckeystown Pike. The experience will be like a cross between paint ball and a spa day. Choose your paint colors, cover your clothes and shoes to protect them, and head into a splatter room, where you can listen to your favorite music while splattering, spraying, shooting and otherwise getting paint onto canvas, which you can then take home. Owner Tina Harper created the space with one goal in mind: to show people how being creative can be freeing, and therefore restorative and relaxing. Once you walk through the doors, she wants you to forget everything you think you know about making art — and just have fun.

A MUSEUM BUILT FOR INSTAGRAM

The Museum of Illusions, which opened in December in Washington, D.C., is perhaps the most Instagram-worthy of all museums. Wander through rooms that create optical illusions that will leave your head spinning ... or shrunken, upside down or duplicated in kaleidoscope vision.

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NATIONWIDE

FILM WITH

FREDERICK COUNTY TIES HITS THEATERS THIS WEEK

Shout out to former Frederick County resident Phil Blattenberger for his most recent film project, “Condor’s Nest,” which releases nationwide in theaters Jan. 27. The Paramount Pictures feature-length film is a fun, ’80s-style action/ thriller set in South America during a search for Nazi war criminals. It stars Jacob Keohane, Arnold Vosloo, Michael Ironside, Jackson Rathbone, Jorge Garcia, James Urbaniak and Academy Award nominee Bruce Davison.

RECENTLY

Courtesy photo

Tune in and watch the Whiten family, based in Frederick, compete in “Family Feud” on Feb. 2.

Nepenthe Brewing Co. in Baltimore

doing labels for us.

UnCapped: Now that you mention it, they are very tattoo-esque.

Kirlin: I think it helped establish our brand. People recognize it.

UnCapped: Oh, 100%.

In this episode of the UnCapped podcast, host Chris Sands talks with Nepenthe Brewing Co. cofounder Brendan Kirlin and head brewer Dan Rowe about how they got into craft beer, how their business started as a home brew shop and the evolution of the brewery. Here is an excerpt of their talk.

UnCapped: How did Nepenthe come to be?

Brendan Kirlin: The company actually started as a home brew supply store. My business partners, Brian and Jill, started that in 2013. Then, we started working on the brewery. We knew we wanted to work off of a brewpub model. In January 2019, we opened the doors at our current location. We opened with the brewery, the restaurant and also the home brew store.

We were looking for a while for the right space. We knew we wanted to be in the city, and Hampden is a great neighborhood — a lot of good, small businesses along the main street, and we’re just off of that.

This space needed a lot of work. It was a really old building. It was actually two buildings that kind of got stitched together. The front was an old sports bar, and the back was a meatpackaging facility. Walking through it for the first time was terrifying, like a haunted house. There were meat hooks, there were walk-in ovens, there were huge butcher tables. We were like, is this really gonna work?

UnCapped: Probably a complete lack of lighting, too.

Kirlin: Yeah, it was completely dark and scary. I remember bringing people by and them being like, “This looks really scary. Are you sure you guys can do this?”

Once we got the architects involved and started conceptualizing it, we realized it had a lot of potential, and it was in the right location. It took about two years to get construction through, but we opened in 2019 … and then COVID hit the next year [laughs].

UnCapped: At least you had a full year under your belt to build a name and a fanbase to keep you going.

Kirlin: Yeah, exactly.

UnCapped: Where did the name Nepenthe come from?

Kirlin: We got the name from the poem “The Raven” by Edgar Allen Poe. It refers to an elixir that takes away your sorrows, which is kind of what beer does for you. Being a Baltimore

brewery, and “The Raven” and Edgar Allen Poe having such a significance in Baltimore, it fit.

UnCapped: One thing I think is really cool about Nepenthe is the artwork on your labels. Who does the artwork?

Kirlin: Mike Moses. He does all of my business partner Brian’s tattoos. When we were getting ready to open the brewery, we thought about Mike

Kirlin: It’s been really fun to see what he comes back with. His line drawings are phenomenal. Then when we see it in color, it just pops and looks great.

UnCapped: What size brewhouse and fermenters did you open up with?

Kirlin: We had a 10-barrel brewhouse, still the same brewhouse. The whole first year, Brian was doing a lot of the production work himself. He’d be brewing and then go upstairs and put work into the taproom, too. He had one assistant brewer in 2019, but that’s what we opened up with. A lot has changed.

When we opened, we were anticipating selling most of our beer in-house. Then we started to slowly self-distribute, but we didn’t get our canning line until right before COVID hit.

UnCapped: So you’re saying back then, when I emailed Brian, he wasn’t lying when he said he was super busy.

Kirlin: Yeah, we were all running around like crazy. We had a small team. It was a wild time.

UnCapped: When did you join, Dan?

Dan Rowe: I came on in January 2020.

UnCapped: Fun times. So, you had two months under your belt before the world went to hell.

Rowe: Long, long journey that we’ve all gone through over the last three years.

We got ahead of the ball, ordering the canning line when I started. Little did we know, two months later, our canning line would arrive just in time, just as everyone else was starting to realize they needed to order a canning line, too. It was a godsend.

This excerpt has been edited for space and clarity. Listen to the full podcast at fnppodcasts.com/uncapped.

Chris Sands

Nepenthe Brewing Co. cofounder Brendan Kirlin, right, and head brewer Dan Rowe.

Pork Is Good Stuff, according to P.I.G.S. BBQ Restaurant and Catering in Frederick. Roddy O’Connell and his wife, Lisa, opened P.I.G.S BBQ Catering in 2010, and in the last dozen years, it’s grown into a wildly popular option for various events. O’Connell said P.I.G.S. caters to an average of more than 200 weddings each year, as well as hundreds of other corporate and private events. When the business snowballed and wedding guests kept asking about where they could get some more P.I.G.S., the couple decided to start up the barbecue restaurant in 2016. P.I.G.S. initially opened its doors in a kitchen space inside of the Frederick Indoor Sports Center but later moved to its current location on Whittier Drive. The restaurant’s menu features a variety of snacks, soups, salads, sandwiches, tacos, ribs and fish, barbecue plates and platters, sides, sweets and drinks, including several local beers.

“What sets us apart is we make everything inhouse,” O’Connell said. “It’s a little different than your standard barbecue joint.”

P.I.G.S. makes it own pickles, sauces and rubs. Its dressings are made from scratch. In the summer, O’Connell, who also runs a fine-dining background,

grows green tomatoes and cucumbers for P.I.G.S. pickles — and he raises the chickens that produce the eggs for P.I.G.S. deviled eggs.

— Jack Hogan

Roddy O’Connell, left, owner of P.I.G.S. BBQ, and chef Seth Wilpon are shown with the BBQ platter. Staff photos by Ric Dugan

Marielle Kraft’s shoot-for-the-moon dreams

BY COLIN MCGUIRE Special to The News-Post

Though Marielle Kraft loved to play music from time to time, she ultimately hit a point in her life when she decided to make a lifechanging call to pick up music fulltime and leave behind her career as a school teacher. The decision has paid off so far, as she’s moved to Nashville, recorded a pair of EPs and is about to embark on a tour throughout February.

She’ll kick that tour off in Frederick at New Spire Arts as part of the Weinberg Center’s Discovery Series on Feb. 2.

72 Hours recently caught up with her to talk about her inspiration behind her song “Portland,” her decision to pursue music as her life, what’s it like living in Nashville, and how she’ll oneday open for Taylor Swift (after Swift reads this, of course).

Let’s just start from the beginning. I was looking on your website earlier, and it seems like you’ve been doing this for quite a while, but I want to get into how you got started playing music to begin with.

Yeah, I was just a hobbyist for much of high school and college. I just really loved to play guitar with friends and cover Taylor Swift songs. I became a full-time teacher out of college and taught sixth-grade English in Southern Maryland.

Then I made the pivot to do music full-time, and I just fell in love with it. I would play on the weekends outside of school and played small shows and bar gigs and really caught the bug and was like, ‘OK, what would happen if I made the leap?’ So a few years back, I made the leap, and I’ve been pretty much on the road ever since. It’s been really fun. Do you miss teaching?

Some days, I do, yeah. It was a passion of mine for my whole life. I love working with kids. I love education. But for me right now, my main priority is music.

So you are coming to Frederick, and I wasn’t quite sure where you were located. You said you taught in Southern Maryland. Where are you based now?

I’m in Nashville now.

Coming up to Frederick, that’s quite the hall. Have you been here before?

I haven’t played in Frederick before, but I have been in the area. And it’s a part of a whole East Coast tour, so it won’t be too inconvenient to make the trip. I’m excited for my first time to play in Frederick itself.

When you lived in Maryland, did you play maybe in Baltimore? Did you get to D.C. a lot? Were you ingrained in any type of the music scene when you lived here?

I taught and lived about 30 minutes south of D.C. So I would say D.C. was my main hub when I was playing music and seeing live music. I have a lot of connections there. But specifically Frederick, no, I haven’t known anybody, so I’m excited.

Do you have a favorite D.C. venue?

That’s a good question. I’ve played many of them. I would say my favorite venue to play has been Songbyrd. But I’m playing D.C. Nine a few weeks after Frederick, and that’s a really cool spot.

I just love how many kinds of small upand-coming venues there are in D.C. for artists who are trying to grow. It’s a really cool scene.

What was it like to get ingrained in the music scene in Nashville?

There are tons of great musicians there. Was that intimidating at first?

It definitely is. But I think more

than that, it was really motivating for me to be surrounded by people who are so driven and following the same dream that I am and working so hard to achieve. It has been incredibly motivating to make me work even harder than I already was when I was living in the Northeast. They really helped me grow. I feel like I’m surrounded by people who are inspiring to me. I feel like I’ve just grown leaps and bounds in the two years that I’ve been here

I was poking around on YouTube, and I think I saw that you did a cover of a Chainsmokers song. Is that correct?

Yeah.

Just going back to the Nashville thing, a lot of people kind of get their start by playing covers in Nashville. Is that something you did when you first got there? Do you still do covers now?

No, I never have in Nashville. I really wanted to be intentional about really growing my original music, and my artists project while in Nashville. But I

started in the cover scene in Delaware. I went to the University of Delaware and I moved back to Delaware when I left teaching a few years ago, before moving to Nashville. During that time, when I was really trying to figure out how to make this career work, a lot of that was cover gigging. I feel like it really helped build a lot of my stamina and cut my teeth. I learned how to read a room and play for long periods of time, and I wouldn’t trade that time for the world, but right now, I’m just focused on my original music.

You touched on a really good point there about how you can pay the bills easily if you do a lot of covers. How did you come to that decision to take the leap to kind of say, ‘No, I’m just going to focus solely on my original stuff,’ because that’s got to be quite the leap.

It is. And it’s a pretty unpredictable life because when I was predominantly doing the cover gigs, I would pretty much know what I was taking home each month. And now, only dedicating my time to original music, it comes in waves. I’ll be on the road for two months and have a pretty good idea of what that’s gonna look like financially, and then I’ll be home for two months and not making money. It’s forced me to have a lot more organization and structure with my finances, but it’s been good. I’ve learned a lot.

How many shows do you estimate you play a year at this point?

I think last year, I did close to 100. I’m on the road about half of the year, and I love it. It’s my favorite thing. How disruptive is it for your personal life? Or is traveling something you would do anyway?

Yeah, I love it all. My personal life is kind of built around me being on the road. I’ve been able to keep friends in all the cities that I’ve visited, some of which I knew from college, some of which I’ve made along the way. And then I have my community in Nashville for the times when I’m home. I feel like I’m able to upkeep a lot more relationships than I was able to when I was just staying in one place. I really enjoy that part.

Speaking of having relationships in cities, I came across your song “Portland,” and I was watching the video for that. It’s a really pretty song. I’ve been to Portland too, and I love, love, love Portland. This is kind of a specific, niche question, but I’m just wondering what drew you to that city and what made you fall in love with it enough to write a

Tabitha Brooke Photography

Marielle Kraft

song about it?

Have you been to the Oregon or Maine Portland?

Maine.

Yeah, I’m from Rhode Island originally, so that Portland is my Portland. But I know that the most popular Portland is in Oregon.

I think the one in Maine is just a place that I always heard about growing up. I heard it was its own really cool, thriving arts community. It was on the water. It had so many local businesses and an amazing coffee scene, and I’m a big coffee drinker. I think I’ve always just idealized the city of Portland, but I never made it there. So, when the world was shutting down in early 2020, I kind of had this idea in my mind that, well, maybe everything would be OK if we just went to Portland, this place that is supposed to be an idealized version of an American town. Like, what if we just escaped there, and then we could just hide from all of the sad loneliness that we’re about to face in this pandemic? I wrote that song pretty much the week that my tours were canceled, when we were forced into quarantine, in order to have a little bit of hope. And then I made it to Portland about a year later.

Oh, wow. That’s great. Speaking of the musical side of things, is there any project you’re working on now? Any batch of songs that you might be recording soon?

I just released my second EP in the fall called “Heartspace.” That was the really big project of the last year and a half. But I have some singles that will be coming out this year, the first of which will be on Feb. 10, so about a week after the Frederick show, and I will be debuting it at the Frederick show, so I’m very excited. It’s a really fun song called “Owe My Ex.” It’s a pretty anthemic song about how we have these people in our lives that are not here anymore, but I’m better for it, so thank you for the role that you played. Is there a music video for that coming?

Not a full-blown music video, but there will be some different video visuals that are very fun. I’m excited for those to be seen.

You’ve talked a lot about playing out and traveling and being on tour. Do you have a specific artist you have played with or maybe even just shared a show with that people should know more about? Maybe who you’re listening to right now?

That’s a good question. I’ve shared the room with a lot of people, and I really respected the tour that I just went on. In November, I was supporting a band called Sub-Radio. They’re actually out of D.C. They just put on such a fun

and inclusive show, and I think that was my favorite tour I’ve ever been a part of, because it felt like we were immediately brought into their touring family. Their crowds were so welcoming to me as the opener.

On the other side of that, is there an artist, popular or not, that is sort of part of your dream tour, who would you absolutely love to open up for someday?

Well, my shoot for the moon dream, of course, is Taylor Swift. That would be the greatest moment of my life. But I think on a smaller scale, there’s a singer-songwriter named JP Saxe, and I am so inspired by his songwriting. I’ve seen him play live a few times, and I love the way that he interacts with the audience. It would be a dream to open for him as well.

Hey, being in Nashville, have you had any maybe secondary interactions with Taylor Swift or know somebody who knows somebody who knows somebody?

The Nashville community is pretty tight-knit. Yeah, there are always gonna be people who know someone who knows someone. I have not had a chance to grab coffee with Miss Swift quite yet, but perhaps in the future?

Yes. After she reads this, she’ll give you a call. The final question I have: You’re out in this first part of the year, but what does the rest of 2023 look like for you? Do you have plans beyond even the spring, maybe in the summer or the fall?

Yeah. I’m always planning ahead for touring. We have this really big February headline tour that I’m excited about. We’re kicking it off in Frederick, which is the first date of that February tour. That’ll be fun because it’s a full band tour. Then, we’re out to the Northeast in April for another run, and then we have some festivals and stuff that we started booking for the summer. The fall ... I’m sure there will be another tour. Hopefully, we’re going to make it out to the West Coast sometime this year. I have not made it out there yet, and I’d love to get to the other Portland, so hopefully by the end of 2023, we’ll be able to do that. It’s going to be exciting.

Colin McGuire has been in and out of bands for more than 20 years and also helps produce concerts in and around Frederick. His work has appeared in Alternative Press magazine, PopMatters and 72 Hours, among other outlets. He is convinced that the difference between being in a band and being in a romantic relationship is less than minimal. Contact him at mcguire.colin@gmail.com.

The Museum of Illusions is perhaps the

BY GINA GALLUCCI-WHITE Special to The News-Post

The Museum of Illusions opened in December in Washington, D.C., playing host to a number of optical illusions that make people look smaller or taller, vanish part of the body, and other marvels. Very Instagram-worthy.

There is no need to wonder where the best angle is to get a photo. The museum has placed photo stickers on the floor so visitors know where to stand. Ghida Damirji, museum director, says “all the optical illusions are actually based on STEM concepts. It is not like one of those museums now that you go to that are immersive but are using a lot of technology. There is no technology being used here. The technology is really the human eye and the brain. What is happening is, because they are optical illusions, it is the relationship between the eye as the lens and the brain as the processor and how you are processing the images and how your eyes are talking to your brain.” Shown here, Gina Gallucci-White sits in the illusion chair while Jackson White stands by it. Parents often sit in the chair while children stand so they appear taller than the adults.

“The people that enjoy it the most are the ones that put into it,” Damirji says. “You get out of it what you put into it. You let your guard down, you go in, you interact with the exhibit. You take a photo and you laugh at yourself. If you are willing to do that, whatever you put in, you will get out. If you do that, you will come out of the experience with a bunch of fabulous photos. Really some pretty cooky optical illusions that you have gotten to be a part of.” In the Head on a Platter exhibit, shown here, Jackson White grabs some kitchen utensils while Gallucci-White yells from the dish.

Founded in Croatia in 2015, the Museum of Illusions branched out to open a space in Washington, D.C.’s CityCenterDC in December.

Damirji said when she took her kids to museums when they were younger, they could look but not touch or interact with the displays.

“This is interactive,” she says. “It is very immersive. You have to touch. You have to get into the exhibit to really understand it. There are some that are visual. There are some that are more immersive or interactive. The museum is all about taking advantage of photo opportunities.”

Shown here, Gallucci-White in an illusion looking like she is floating while the mirrors hide part of her body holding on to a ladder.

Photos by Gina Gallucci-White

Damirji hopes guests will take away a little bit of a better understanding of optical illusions and how they work. “What I like to say is we are kind of at the intersection of education and entertainment. I hope what you come out with is a really good time and a little bit wiser about how some of this stuff works.” Gallucci-White is seen inside the illusion Kaleidoscope. Be sure to use your camera’s flash to get the best image.

With multiple locations throughout the world, the Museum of Illusions in Washington, D.C., wanted to make some of its exhibits more city-centric by pulling in historical as well as local references, such as an illusion featuring President George Washington’s eyes following you as you walk past his image, a stars and striped infinity mirror room, and the inside of a Metro car, where guests appear on its ceiling, like Gallucci-White, shown here.

Dream FREE Art focuses on the freedom and therapeutic

BY GINA GALLUCCI-WHITE Special to The News-Post

In the process of creating art, people are conditioned to follow certain rules. Stay inside the lines when completing a coloring page. Follow the contours already formed on the ceramics. Paint certain items their traditional colors. But imagine a space where there are no rules when it comes to art and the paint literally falls where it may?

Enter Dream FREE Art, a new Frederick-based art studio offering splatter art sessions, rotating craft projects and a variety of classes, including wine glass painting and wreath making.

“So often in life you have to follow the rules,” said Dream FREE Art owner Tina Harper. “There are so many set parameters that we follow that you don’t even realize it. One of the most interesting things to me, since I have been open, I noticed that when people first come in, it takes them a few minutes to get out of the mindset of ‘this is how it is supposed to be done’ and really let themselves go. I really enjoy the fact that in our studio, no two pieces of art work are alike. No one’s work is the same.”

About five years ago, Harper was working a mundane job and could “literally just feel my creativity being drained out of me,” she said. As a wife and mother of seven children, art became therapeutic and kept her in balance.

“I wanted to be able to spread that theory that art is therapeutic and art can be healing and restorative throughout the world,” she said.

She quit her job and started a traveling art studio, where she would go to people’s locations and teach art classes on various mediums.

When the COVID-19 pandemic brought her business to a halt, she poured her creativity into her family.

“We used art and creativity and social media and the trends on social media to keep us going as a family through the pandemic,” she said. “I decided to evolve the business from that point, marry the two ideas together and create an art studio where you can come in, try the trendy things that you see on social media, and just use your creative expression ... to restore your mind, to calm down, to have a good time, to lay down your stress for an hour and escape the world for a little bit.”

Her mentor, Karen Kalantzis, the Maryland Women’s Business Center senior

business consultant for Frederick County, helped guide her through the process of opening Dream FREE Art. She also suggested Harper enter the Frederick County Chamber of Commerce’s annual S.H.E. Pitch Competition, a contest for female entrepreneurs in the idea and growth stages of business to win cash, non-monetary prizes and network with others. Harper was named a finalist and won the She’s Rising Award from the Maryland Women’s Business Center.

Jennifer Gerlock, the chamber’s vice president of marketing and communications, has enjoyed watching Harper’s journey from entering the contest, going through revisions, presenting on stage during the competition and now opening her business. “When she went onstage, you could just feel her

personality,” Gerlock recalled. “She did a really incredible job of communicating what her vision was and also communicating her personality. She made you want to support her. Just watching her in action has been amazing.”

Dream FREE Art opened in December.

“I was realizing that, for once in my life, I was able to dream free,” she said about choosing the business name. “I was able to express myself freely and to be creative. You lose that over time ... you start to put boundaries on yourself. I don’t want that in my life, and I don’t want that in other people’s lives. I want you to be able to dream big, dream freely.”

Another unique aspect to Dream FREE Art is Harper, along with her staff, are fluent in American Sign Language. Harper’s older sister is deaf and she has known ASL for as long as she can remember. Her sister is an artist as well, so she is thrilled to offer an opportunity and a platform to her as well as others in the deaf community.

Folks can use several brushes and techniques to get paint onto canvas. Overhand or underhand brush throws or pulling the brush bristles back with their fingers are a couple of methods. “The key is to just be free,” Harper said. “Don’t overthink it.”

Harper has welcomed children as

A splatter room at Dream FREE Art, a new space in Frederick

young as one into the studio, as well as senior citizens. “It is a very beginner-friendly studio,” she said. “Most people, when you hear the words ‘art studio,’ can get a little intimidat-

Staff photos by Katina Zentz

A classroom at Dream FREE Art.

Tina Harper, owner

therapeutic benefits of painting outside the lines

When it comes to the splattering experience, here are a couple of things to know.

• While the paint is washable and nontoxic, guests are encouraged to dress for a mess and not wear expensive or irreplaceable clothing.

• Each participant in the splatter room experience receives a poncho with a hood, eye glasses and two booties for their shoes.

• The basic package gets each participant four colors, out of about 25 to chose from, including black-light colors. More colors may be added on in the future.

• Each room has its own Bluetooth speaker, so folks can listen to their favorite music as they throw paint.

• All valuables are kept safe and splatter-free in a plastic bin in the room.

Frederick that encourages visitors to be creative but, above all, have fun.

ed, [thinking], ‘Oh, I am not creative.’ That is what most people normally say. I don’t want you to feel that way when you come to this studio. There is something here for everyone and ev-

eryone can participate and make something unique and beautiful.”

After flicking and flinging paint at a canvas, guests do not clean up; those brushes and splatters are left for staff

to manage. Patrons may go to the bathroom to take off their protective gear and wash off any excess paint. Each participant walks out with their painting in a box to avoid getting paint on their vehi-

cle’s interior.

“Overall, I want people to feel free,” Harper said, “and I want them to be able to feel like they were able to express themselves one way or another creativity.”

“Beneath the Forest” — through Jan. 27 at the FAC Art Center at 5 E. Second St., Frederick. Pamela Moulton’s solo show makes use of textiles and found materials to weave a narrative about connectivity and environmentalism. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. 301-662-4190, frederickartscouncil.org.

”Winter Nights, Winter Lights” — through Jan. 29 at The Mansion House Art Center & Gallery, 480 Highland Ave., City Park, Hagerstown. Valley Art Association members’ show. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Free admission. valleyartassoc. org or 301-797-2867.

“Concinnity” — through Jan. 29, NOMA Gallery, 437 N. Market St., Frederick. Paintings by Kesra Hoffman and photographs by Teke Hoffman that consider those moments that arrest our attention and call us to stop and take a breath. 301-471-7124.

Frederick County Art Association Members Exhibition — through Jan. 29, Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St., Frederick. Artworks in a variety of media, including fiber, photography, sculpture, and more from their approximately 100 members, who range from casual artist to full–time professionals. Vote for your favorite piece at the front desk; the artwork with the most votes will receive the People’s Choice Award. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. 301-698-0656 or delaplaine.org.

”Dimensions In Between” — through Jan. 29, Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St., Frederick. In this exhibition, Virginia Warwick creates work with familiar materials combined with themes inspired by the natural world to elevate nature and animals to a human level, and create a bridge connecting the two worlds. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. 301698-0656 or delaplaine.org.

”From the Pages of PAN: Art Nouveau Prints, 1895-1900” — through Jan. 29, Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, 401 Museum Drive, Hagerstown. Lithographs, etchings and woodcuts by renowned artists such as Auguste Rodin, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Paul Signac, Georges Seurat, Käthe Kollwitz, Peter Behrens and Aubrey Beardsley, among others. From the collection of the Richard H. Driehaus Museum, organized by Landau Traveling Exhibitions. Free admission. Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m. wcmfa.org.

“Crosscurrents: Works by Emma

‘Natural Selection’

Barnes, Madeleine Speicher-Willis, and Billy Friebele” — through Feb. 3, King Street Gallery at Montgomery College, 930 King St., Silver Spring. Includes a broad range of mediums, from traditional painterly processes to cast concrete to video. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. 240-567-1374, cms.montgomerycollege.edu/arts-tpss/ exhibitions.

”Natural Selection: Experiencing Change” — through Feb. 26, Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St., Frederick. Paintings by S. Manya Stoumen–Tolino. In this series, Stoumen-Tolino reflects on major forms, lines, and color experienced in the natural world that express the inherent changes constantly

occurring in all living things. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. 301-698-0656 or delaplaine.org.

”Drifting Through Deep Time” — through Feb. 26, Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St., Frederick. Photography by Keith Kozloff. A reflection on “deep time,” a term applied to how we conceive of geological timescales. Constructing a photographic narrative loosely based on the protocontinent Avalonia, his work is a reflection on human attention and humanity’s capacity to understand Earth’s life support systems. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. 301-698-0656 or

delaplaine.org.

”Diversity, Equity and Inclusion” — through Feb. 26, Blanche Ames Gallery, 4880 Elmer Derr Road, Frederick. Features nine artists from the Gaithersburg Fine Arts Association. Call 301-473-7680 for gallery hours or visit frederickuu.org.

Brad Blair: “Divergent Entities” — Feb. 4 to 26. Artist talk on Feb. 4. Blair’s curiosity of the unknown, paired with a strong imagination and an inquisitive mindset, leads him to create art what provides wonder and examination. His ceramic work in this exhibition are obscure oddities that help convey a message regarding this mysterious life we live, in a universe yet to be explored fully. Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St., Frederick. delaplaine.org. “When A Tree Falls” — Feb. 4 to 26. Selected woodturners from throughout Maryland join artistic forces with local Frederick artists for a tree-themed exhibition of handcrafted woodturnings, presented alongside paintings, carvings and prints. Art Matters Artist Talk at 2 p.m. Feb. 4. Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St., Frederick. delaplaine.org. ”Behind the Fold” — through March 5, BlackRock Center for the Arts, 12901 Town Commons Drive, Germantown. Showcasing the works of nationally known sculptor, amateur magician, and former Carnegie Melon professor, Dan Droz. Artist talk Feb. 25. Hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Sunday. 301528-2260 or blackrockcenter.org.

“Community Threads: Connectivity through Creativity” — Feb. 1 to 26, DISTRICT Arts, 15 N. Market St., Frederick. A vignette showcase that reflects the array of creativity within the Frederick County Art Association, with work by 16 members. Opening reception from 5 to 7 p.m. Feb. 11. Districtarts.com.

Cumberland Valley Artists and Photographers Exhibitions — Feb. 7 through April 23, Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, 401 Museum Drive, Hagerstown. This juried exhibition features 95 pieces of art and photography from artists who live in the Quad-State area. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 301-739-5727 or wcmfa.org.

”Scents of It All” — Feb. 8 through March 3, Gallery B, 7700 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda. Explore the artists interruption of scent, evoking emotional memory and transporting self through space and time. Noon to 5 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. 301-215-6660.

“Natural Selection: Experiencing Change,” paintings by S. Manya Stoumen–Tolino, is on view at the Delaplaine Arts Center through Feb. 26. Shown here, “Hollow Bone,” by Stoumen-Tolino.

A bold new production of ‘12 Angry Jurors’

The Carroll County Arts Council will present a bold new stage production of “12 Angry Jurors” at the Carroll Arts Center at 2 and 7 p.m. Jan. 28 and 2 p.m. Jan. 29. Based on the Emmy award-winning television movie by Reginald Rose, this powerful play finds 12 individuals battling between sympathy and empathy when a potential death penalty verdict brings into question our protected right to doubt.

Following the closing arguments of a murder trial, the 12 members of the jury must deliberate, with a guilty verdict putting the life of the accused, an innercity teen, at stake. As they try to reach a unanimous decision while sequestered in a room, one juror casts considerable doubt on elements of the case. Personal issues soon rise to the surface, and conflict threatens to derail the delicate process that will decide one boy’s fate.

Featuring a case of 13 local actors, this courtroom drama is a fast-paced reimagining of the American classic, dedicated to stories of diversity and inclusion over the past 70 years.

Each matinee performance will be followed by a post-show discussion to provide audience members with an exclusive opportunity to engage deeper with the material. Through a selection of curated questions, patrons will enjoy

analysis, facts and anecdotes from the production team and local experts. There is no additional reservation required for these discussions.

After the matinee on Jan. 28, the discussion panelists include Clyde Johnson (executive director for diversity, equity, and inclusion of Carroll Community College), Gary Honeman (chair of Carroll Citizens for Racial Equity), Marty Kuchma (pastor at St. Paul’s United Church of Christ), Erin Snell (Carroll County PFLAG) and Virginia Harrison (Carroll County Human Relations Commission).

After the matinee on Jan. 29, there will be a discussion with Carroll County Circuit Court’s Associate Judge, The Honorable Maria L. Oesterreicher.

Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for ages 25 and under and ages 60 and up.

Call 410-848-7272, or go to carrollcountyartscouncil.org. The Carroll Arts Center is at 91 W. Main St., Westminster.

AUDITIONS

‘Church Basement Ladies’ musical comedy

The Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre will hold auditions for its spring production of the musical comedy” Church Basement Ladies” beginning at 7 p.m. Feb. 6 at the theater in Frederick.

Those auditioning should bring a headshot and resume, as well as 16 bars of prepared music and be ready to sing and read from the script. All roles are non-union paying. A list of roles being cast can be found at wayoffbroadway. com. No appointment is necessary, and an accompanist will be provided.

Way Off Broadway’s production of “Church Basement Ladies” will run March 31 through May 20 with performances every Friday and Saturday evening, and matinees on the first, third and fifth Sunday of each month. A special matinee performance has been

added for Mother’s Day on May 14.

Rehearsals will begin shortly after auditions and be held two to three evenings a week, Sunday through Thursday. Beginning the week of March 26, rehearsals will be every evening leading up to opening night.

In the show, audiences find themselves in 1965 rural Minnesota and the ladies of the local Lutheran church fortify their flock with love, wisdom and the food they prepare in the church’s basement kitchen. In “Church Basement Ladies,” we meet the pastor, three cooks and one daughter who run the kitchen and care for the congregation. This funny musical comedy sees the four women handle a Lutefisk Dinner, a funeral, an Easter Fundraiser and a wedding.

WAREHOUSE CINEMAS NEWS AND EVENTS:

Paramount Pictures thriller ‘Condor’s

Nest’ has Frederick County ties

BY CRYSTAL SCHELLE Special to The News-Post

TUESDAYS

Any movie, including Dolby Atmos. All day. Anytime.

TAPPY HOUR

WEDNESDAYS

All Day

SPECIAL FEATURES

“Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark“ and “The Land Before Time”

PAJAMAS AND POPCORN

Sunday Januar y 29th –ALL DAY

Free popcorn for those who wear their PJs!

At the end of World War II, thousands of Nazis fled Europe to several South American countries to hide from prosecution for their war crimes.

In Phil Blattenberger’s sophomore film, “Condor’s Nest,” he shows how far one American soldier will go to enact revenge for the heinous crimes he witnessed. The action-adventure, rated R, is set to be released Jan. 27 nationally in theaters and on demand.

Blattenberger, who grew up in Hagerstown and spent some of his childhood in Frederick County, wrote and directed the film. With a master’s degree in anthropology and time spent studying historical archaeology, Blattenberger found the history interesting enough for a storyline.

“Something like 10,000 Nazis fled South America after the downfall of the Third Reich and set up shop in South America,” he said during a telephone interview from his Greensboro, North Carolina, home. “They tried to hide away and take regular jobs and disappear.”

Although Blattenberger said two movies have previously dealt with the same subject matter, 1978’s “The Boys from Brazil” and 2018’s “Operation Finale,” but his script takes a different approach.

“This was sort of a relatively untouched canvas upon which we could take a really fun actionadventure-turncoat-thriller and sort of grab a paintbrush and just start

composing a story,” he said.

“Condor’s Nest” isn’t the first time that Blattenberger has delved into war as a backdrop. His debut film, 2019’s “Point Man,” dealt with the Vietnam War and garnered him praise, accolades and awards. The film earned him a nomination for Best First-Time Filmmaker at the St. Louis International Festival. At the Sydney Indie Film Festival, he was nominated for Best Director and Best Original Screenplay and walked away with the top prize of Best Picture.

Blattenberger started writing the “Condor’s Nest” script mid2018. By 2019, the film moved into pre-production — gathering props, scouting locations and getting ready for filming.

“We spent about a year building a B-17 bomber out in a field in North

A scene from “Condor’s Nest.”

Carolina,” he said.

But then 2020 happened, shutting down production and forcing them to move filming to 2021. COVID-19 safety protocols still had to be followed during production.

“Logistically, navigating the challenges was just an immense undertaking,” Blattenberger said. “But we pulled it off safely, which is a credit to the COVID safeties supervisor and all of the competent staff.”

As for the nature of the script, Blattenberger and his crew had to find locations that gave the feel of Argentina and other South American countries. A Mount Airy location was used to film an interior scene, where Will (played by a Liam Neeson-esque Jacob Keohane) first meets Leyna (Corinne Britti). They also shot on location in North Carolina and Utah.

In “Condor’s Nest,” American war veteran Will has tracked a Nazi Col. Martin Bach (Arnold Vosloo) to a remote location in South America

Photo courtesy of Saban Films

to kill him. But Will stumbles upon a secret Nazi headquarters called the Condor’s Nest.

“Jacob was great. He had a heavy role handed to him here,” Blattenberger said. “ He had to sort of internalize a lot of rage and guilt. He’s got a lot of gravitas and was really able to bring kind of a layer of performance to something that demanded some real nuance.”

In addition to Keohane, who starred in 2021’s “Halloween Kills” and 1999’s “The Mummy,” there were several other recognizable faces” Michael Ironside (“Top Gun”) Jackson Rathbone (“Twilight”), Jorge Garcia (“LOST”), James Urbaniak (“The Office”) and Academy Award nominee Bruce Davison (“X-Men”).

“We were trying to pull more recognizable names nationally,” Blattenberger said.

One of the enormous demands on the actors was learning German. Blattenberger said they had discussed actors speaking English with German accents, which often happens in films. But he, along with the production staff, decided to have the actors say their lines in German with English subtitles because it worked better for the overall film. In one particular scene that involved a group of actors around a table discussing an archeological find, Blattenberger said having them speak with German accents would have made it feel more like a farce.

“James Urbaniak, who plays Heinrich Himmler, was, to me, the most impressive,” Blattenberger said. “He’s the one who had to lead off the scene, and everybody else was teeing off their beats and timing off of him. And he just pulled it off without a hitch.”

Blattenberger credits the actors for digging in and not only learning the lines in German but understood what they were saying and thereby

including the correct inflection of certain words.

He also credited Washington, D.C., actor Torsten Kellar, the only native German speaker in the same scene. The evening before the shoot, Kellar spent several hours with the actors in the scene, helping them to not only learn their lines correctly but to learn the timing as well. Blattenberg called Kellar “the axle of the wheel” for that scene in particular.

Crystal Schelle is a journalist whose work has been published locally, regionally and nationally.

Closes this Sunday

Washington County Museum of Fine Arts

401 Museum Drive, Hagerstown 301-739-5727

Washington County Museum of Fine Arts 401 Museum Drive, Hagerstown 301-739-5727| wcmfa.org Free

Photo courtesy of Saban Films

A scene from “Condor’s Nest.”

Local Mentions

BREAKFAST BUFFET

New Midway Vol Fire Co

Sun Jan 29, 2023

Serving: 7am to Noon Pancakes, Scrambled Eggs Sausage, Potatoes Puddin’, Hominy Sausage Gravy, Spiced Apples

Orange Juice, Coffee Adults: $10 00

Children 5-10: $5 00 Under 5: Free

CASH BINGO

January 27, 2023

New Midway Vol Fire Co

Doors Open 5:00pm Game Starts 7:00pm

Admission: $25 00 includes 20 reg games 3 Specials and $500 Jackpot

Extra Cards Avail Food and ATM Avail

For info call 301-898-7985 or 301-271-4650

JEFFERSON RURITAN CLUB

COUNTRY PORK BUTCHERING

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 4, 2023

Advance Orders until Jan 26th Call 301-473-7986 or 301-834-6165

Pick-up Orders Feb 4th from 8am to Noon at Ruritan Center 4603B Lander RD, Jefferson MD 21755

COUNTRY BREAKFAST

SAT FEB 4, 2023 7:00am to 11:00am Ruritan Center

SLIPPERY POT PIE SALE

Chicken & Country Ham $8 00 per quart Bake Table Contact

SPORTSMAN’S BINGO

Sat March 11, 2023

New Midway Vol Fire Co 10 Games for Guns 10 Games for $200 Cash Doors open: 5:00 pm

Buffet Dinner: 6:00 pm Games Start: 7:30 pm

Guns Include: Ruger American 22 LR, Savage Axis w/Scope 243, Winchester SPX 12ga , Stevens Model 320 Thumbhole 20ga , Heritage Roughrider Mdl 22 Revolver, Charles Daly Walnut/Blued O/U 410, Iver Johnson Pump Shotgun 12ga , Hi Point MKS 380 Cal, Taurus GX 4 9MM Pistol Weatherby Vanguard II 300 Win Mag

Beer and Wine Coolers on Sale: No outside alcohol $40/Person Includes Buffet Dinner Only 250 Tickets Sold (Advanced Tickets Only) Call 301-898-7985 or 301-271-4650

Benefits: New Midway Vol Fire Co

Thursday Jan. 26

CLASSES

Civil War Treasures of the Boonsborough Museum of History — 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Homewood Suites, 1650 Pullman Lane, Hagerstown. The Hagerstown Civil War Round Table will be featuring a talk by Stephen Recker titled “Civil War Treasures of the Boonsborough Museum of History.” Recker serves as collections manager at the Boonsborough Museum of History and is conducting an inventory of the vast and unique collection of the late Doug Bast. In his talk he will discuss some of the amazing Civil War-related items that he has uncovered.  $5 for non-members. Payable at the talk.. 240-625-4216. hagerstowncwrt1956@gmail. com. sites.google.com/view/hagerstowncwrt/ home.

ETCETERA

Pour House Trivia — 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Champion Billiards Sports Bar, 5205 Buckeystown Pike, Frederick. Come on out with the team and play some Pour House Trivia. 7 p.m. start. Extended Happy Hour from 4 to 8 p.m.  301-846-0089. frederickchampions.com/weekly-specials/.

HEALTH

Mindfulness in Middletown — 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at MIddletown Branch Library, 101 Prospect St., Middletown. Mindfulness has been shown to reduce stress while helping us to feel more aware of ourselves and connected to the world around us. Join Ray Manyoky from the Frederick Meditation Center who will provide instruction and then lead us in a mindfulness practice. This will be followed by a Q&A session. Group meets every Thursday in January, except Jan. 12.  301-600-7560. lgrackin@frederickcountymd. gov. fcpl.org/calendar.

Friday Jan. 27

ETCETERA

Party Like it’s 1899 — 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, 401 Museum Drive, Hagerstown. Celebrate the final weekend of PAN. Period-appropriate songs, evoking the cafés and salons of Paris and Berlin will be performed by Shepherd University’s Robert Tudor accompanied by Dr. Eric A. Rumbley, and an absinthe tasting — the anise-flavored drink that perfumed the streets of fin-de-siècle Paris. Creative dress encouraged. Ticket includes light hors

d’oeuvres. Pre-register is required.  $35; $25 members. 301-739-5727. cschelle@ wcmfa.org. wcmfa.org/concerts-lectures-2/.

Murder Mystery Party — 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Dutch’s Daughter Restaurant, 581 Himes Ave., Frederick. An evening of murder, mystery and mayhem. Come dressed in your cocktail attire tonight. This is a comedy mystery game set in the present day at a Hollywood Mansion. Watch out. You might die laughing. Admission includes threecourse dinner with entree options, taxes and gratuity. A cash bar will be available. $85. 410-549-2722. murdermysterycompany@gmail.com. ddmysteries.eventbrite.com.

FAMILY

Christmas at the Roundhouse — noon to 4 p.m. at Hagerstown Roundhouse Museum, 296 S. Burhans Blvd., Hagerstown. See the trains of Christmas on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Jan. 29.

$6 for adults, $1 for children 4 through 16 Free for children 3 and under. 240-674-1882. davem301@yahoo.com. roundhouse.org.

FILM

January Documentary Series: “The Conductor” (2021, NR) — 7:30 p.m. at Carroll Arts Center, 91 W. Main St., Westminster. Also at 1 p.m. This film takes audiences into the heart of classical music, and into the soul of one of its top artists, the internationally renowned conductor Marin Alsop. With unprecedented access, the director and film crew accompan Alsop to concerts around the world from Mozart’s Magic Flute in São Paulo, to Mahler’s 1st Symphony in Lucerne, to Bernstein’s Mass in Baltimore, and her opening concert in Vienna.

$7 adults, $6 ages 25 and under and ages 60 and up. 410-848-7272. carrollcountyartscouncil.org.

MUSIC

FAC After Hours: See What Sticks Performance Art Workshop — 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at FAC Art Center, 5 E. Second St., Frederick. Performance artists, musicians, poets, actors — meet Frederick’s newest performance workshop and open stage. 301-662-4190. wiegand@ frederickartscouncil.org. frederickartscouncil.org/news-events/ calendar-grid.

Robert Burns Night with Music by Cormorant’s Fancy — 7:30 p.m. at United Lutheran Seminary Chapel, 147 Seminary

Ridge, Gettysburg, Pa. Celebrate the birthday of poet Robert Burns with an evening of music and poetry read in authentic style and period costume by Jeff Greenawalt, with Cormorant’s Fancy providing the finest in Scottish music tradition. See website for weather-related updates. musicgettysburg.org.

THEATER

Lerner & Loewe’s “Camelot” — 6 p.m. at Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre, 5 Willowdale Drive, Frederick . An idealistic young King Arthur hopes to create a kingdom built on honor and dignity, embodied by his Knights of The Round Table. His ideals, however, are tested when his lovely queen, Guinevere, falls in love with the young Knight, Lancelot, and the fate of the kingdom hangs in the balance. The legendary love triangle of King Arthur, Guinevere and Sir Lancelot leaps from the pages of T.H. White’s novel in Lerner and Loewe’s award-winning, soaring musical. See website for prices; doors open at 6 p.m. for dinner, shows at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; doors open at 12:30 p.m. for buffet, shows 2:15 p.m. Sundays through Feb. 15. 301-662-6600. wayoffbroadway.com.

Saturday Jan. 28

John E Marlow Guitar Series presents Colin Davin — 7 p.m. at Cultural Arts Center Montgomery College , 7995 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring. Colin Davin’s global career knows no bounds, from Afghanistan to the David Letterman show. He is also the newly appointed director of the guitar studio and associate professor of guitar at Shenandoah Conservatory. $17.50-$55. 301-799-4028. info@ marlowguitar.org. marlowguitar.org/mgs.

CLASSES

BANG Fitness Class — 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Walkersville Library, 2 S. Glade Road, Walkersville. Freedom Bang is a prechoreographed fusion of boxing, HIIT, hip hop, world dance, optional weighted gloves and just a touch of attitude. Offering a wide range of intensity options to help you customize your workout. 18 and older. 301-600-8200. awadding@ frederickcountymd.gov. www.fcpl.org.

Wags for Hope Orientation — 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at William Talley Recreation Center, 121 N. Bentz St., Frederick. Local pet therapy organization that provides therapy services

to local nursing homes, Frederick Memorial hospital, elementary schools and libraries with the R.E.A.D. program. Learn how you and your pet can become a team and make a difference in the lives of others. Orientation for people only, no pets. RSVP required due to limited space via email: info@ wagsforhope.org. bonniej409@comcast.net. wagsforhope.org.

Zumba Saturdays at the Library — 10:15 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Urbana Regional Library, 9020 Amelung St., Frederick. Ready to exercise! Ready to dance! Ready to shake off the pounds? Come on in for Zumba at the Library on Saturday mornings! 18 and older. 301-600-7004. marchange-desir@ frederickcountymd.gov. frederick.librarycalendar.com/event/zumbasaturdays-library-8.

FAMILY

Christmas at the Roundhouse — noon to 4 p.m. at Hagerstown Roundhouse Museum, 296 S. Burhans Blvd., Hagerstown. See the trains of Christmas on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Jan. 29.

$6 for adults, $1 for children 4 through 16 Free for children 3 and under. 240-674-1882. davem301@yahoo.com. roundhouse.org.

MUSIC

“Saturday Night Fever: Tribute to The New York Bee Gees” — 7 p.m. at The Maryland Theatre, 21 S. Potomac St., Hagerstown. The most extravagant Bee Gees show a fan can experience. The band offers all of the classic ‘70s disco hits from “Stayin’ Alive” to “Night Fever” while embracing their early works such as “To Love Somebody,” “I’ve Go To Get A Message To You” and “Massachusetts.” See website for ticket prices. Free.

mdtheatre.org.

THEATER

Lerner & Loewe’s “Camelot” — 6 p.m. at Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre, 5 Willowdale Drive, Frederick . An idealistic young King Arthur hopes to create a kingdom built on honor and dignity, embodied by his Knights of The Round Table. His ideals, however, are tested when his lovely queen, Guinevere, falls in love with the young Knight, Lancelot, and the fate of the kingdom hangs in the balance. The legendary love triangle of King Arthur, Guinevere and Sir Lancelot leaps from the pages of T.H. White’s novel in Lerner and Loewe’s award-winning, soaring musical. See website for prices; doors open at 6 p.m. for dinner, shows at 8 p.m. Fridays and

Saturdays; doors open at 12:30 p.m. for buffet, shows 2:15 p.m. Sundays through Feb. 15.

301-662-6600. wayoffbroadway.com.

“12 Angry Jurors” — 7 p.m. at Carroll County Arts Council, 91 W. Main St., Westminster. Also 2 p.m. on Jan. 28 and 29. This bold, new production of the classic American play is a fast-paced reimagining dedicated to stories of diversity and inclusion over the past 70 years. A 19-year-old boy is on trial for murder and 12 individuals find themselves battling between sympathy and empathy. In what appears to be an open and shut case, one man brings into question our protected right to doubt.

$10-$15. 410-848-7272. carrollcountyartscouncil.org.

Sunday Jan. 29

CLASSES

Coffee 101 — 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. at Ann Wadding, 2 South Glade Road, Walkersville. Join local coffee shop owner Serina Roy of Dublin Roasters to learn everything you wanted to know about coffee but were afraid to ask.  301-600-8200. awadding@ frederickcountymd.gov. fcpl.org.

ETCETERA

Sunday Speaker: “Thoughts and Prayers “ by Lee Anne Post — 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Brunswick Library, 915 N. Maple Ave., Brunswick. Brunswick Library’s Sunday Speakers Series will host the co-authors of the timely and compelling novel “Thoughts and Prayers.” Lee Anne Post is the pen name for award-winning co-authors Catherine Baldau, Tara Bell, Ginny Fite and K.P. Robbins. This talented team, who has individually published nine novels, collaborated to create this thought-provoking, fictionalized account of an American high school shooting incident. Because of the subject matter, this program is suggested for adults and older teens. 301-600-7250. AKretz@FrederickCountyMD.gov. fcpl.org.

Into the Silent Land: The unsolved murder of Tracey Kirkpatrick — 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Walkersville Public Library, 2 S. Glade Road, Walkersville. Paul Puglisi, producer/director of Into the Silent Land, remembers when he first heard the name Tracey Kirkpatrick. In 1989, he was a kid living in Frederick, where she was murdered. Decades later, he was stunned to learn that her killer was never found and wanted to bring attention back to her case. He started conducting extensive research in 2018 and has since filmed in-depth interviews with lead investigators who have worked on Tracey’s case, her family and friends, first responders who were there at the crime scene, journalists who have covered her story from the beginning, former and current local politicians, forensic experts, classmates

and neighbors. Puglisi will speak about his research and experiences while making this documentary. 301-600-8200. fcpl.org.

RECREATION

Football Sunday — 1 p.m. at Champion Billiards Sports Bar, 5205 Buckeystown Pike, Frederick. Every game every Sunday. NFL Sunday ticket. 38 flat screen TVs. 7 big screen projectors. Game day food and drink specials.  301-846-0089. frederickchampions.com/weekly-specials/.

Monday Jan. 30

CLASSES

StartUp U: Business Model Canvas — 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at FITCI at ROOT, 118 N. Market St., Frederick. In this interactive class, you will learn the principles of the Business Model Canvas to understand, design and differentiate your business model, whether you run a startup or an established business. $15. 301-694-2999. april@fitci.org. fitci.org/events.html.

FAC After Hours & Yogamour: Restorative Yoga with Soundbath — 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at FAC Art Center, 5 E. Second St., Frederick. Take a break and join a gentle flow yoga on the main level while enjoying art work that adorn the walls of this historic space. This is a practice available to all levels which includes beginners. Some yoga mats available. $15. 301-662-4190. wiegand@frederickartscouncil.org. yogamour.org/public-yoga-classes.

Tuesday Jan. 31

CLASSES

Scottish Country Dance Class — 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Clover Hill Civic Association Building, 8122 Glendale Drive, Frederick . The Frederick Scottish Country Dancers invite you to learn traditional Scottish ballroom dancing. You don’t need to bring a partner with you, but you do need comfortable, softsoled shoes. 202-320-9898. heatherwurzer@gmail.com. facebook.com/FrederickSCD.

FILM

FAC After Hours: Art Center Bijou — 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at FAC Art Center, 5 E. Second St., Frederick. A weekly film screening curated in collaboration with documentary filmmaker Leah Michaels and FAC Associate SJ Wiegand. Each month presents films that fall under one general theme in order to cultivate discussion about film as a mode of artistic expression. 301-662-4190. wiegand@ frederickartscouncil.org. frederickartscouncil.org/news-events/ calendar-grid.

Wednesday Feb. 1

ETCETERA

Virtual Tour: The 18th Century Stone Farm House — 12 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. at Seton Shrine, 339 S. Seton Ave., Emmitsburg. Where It All Started: Sisters in the Stone Farm House. To celebrate the World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life, take a virtual tour into the home of Mother Seton where she established the first order of sisters in America. 3014476606. carolyn.ferguson@setonshrine. org. setonshrine.org/virtual-tours.

MUSIC

FAC After Hours: Joe Keyes Improv Jazz — 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at FAC Art Center, 5 East 2nd Street, Frederick. Equal parts frontman, poet and conductor, Joe Keyes leads his nine-piece Late Bloomer Band through a fresh concoction of funk, R&B, soul, rock, and jazz while drawing on the musical auras of Miles Davis, Gil Scott-Heron, Sun Ra, and early Parliament-Funkadelic. Keyes captivates audiences with his deep, commanding vocals, punctuated by tales of love, family, and addiction from his six decades on earth. The band’s vibe and sound – honed over years of theatrical, improvisational shows –journeys from gentle grooves to tight funk and epic crescendos. 301-662-4190. wiegand@ frederickartscouncil.org. frederickartscouncil.org/news-events/ calendar-grid.

Thursday Feb. 2

CLASSES

The Environment: From Accidental Permanence vs Collateral Abundance | Rotary Club of Southern Frederick — 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Bar-T Mountainside, 2914 Roderick Road, Frederick. Join the Rotary Club of Southern Frederick (Urbana) in welcoming Ben Friton, an expert in the cultivation and implementation of agroecosystems. Friton will explain how various technological advances have given us an unprecedented look into how thriving ecosystems function compared to how our human systems have been developed. Seats are limited. RSVP. 215-534-9302. joeunangst@gmail.com. southernfrederickcounty.rotary-clubs.org.

ETCETERA

Virtual Tour: The 18th Century Stone Farm House — 12 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. at Seton Shrine, 339 S. Seton Ave., Emmitsburg. Where It All Started: Sisters in the Stone Farm House. To celebrate the World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life, take a virtual tour into the home of Mother Seton where she established the first order of sisters in America. 3014476606. carolyn.ferguson@setonshrine.org. setonshrine.org/virtual-tours.

Pour House Trivia — 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Champion Billiards Sports Bar, 5205 Buckeystown Pike, Frederick. Come on out with the team and play some Pour House Trivia. 7 p.m. start. Extended Happy Hour from 4 to 8 p.m.  301-846-0089.

frederickchampions.com/weekly-specials/.

MUSIC

Tivoli Discovery Series: Marielle Kraft — 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at New Spire Arts, 15 W. Patrick St., Frederick. The Nashville-based indie pop singer-songwriter, originally from Rhode Island, displays craftsmanship beyond her years, evident through her use of salient detail, raw emotion, and poignant word choice to describe moments “exactly as they feel.”Her October 23rd single, “Portland,” breathtakingly captures the moment we find ourselves in, and speaks volumes of the young artist’s songwriting abilities. Marielle Kraft has shared stages with names as big as Jon McLaughlin, Ava Max, and Betty Who. Her “winning personality,” “genuine connection,” and “gift for story telling” on stage have fueled the ever-growing crowds at each of her shows, with no signs of slowing down.

10. 301-600-2868. bhiller@cityoffrederickmd. gov.

weinbergcenter.org/shows/marielle-kraft.

Friday Feb. 3

ETCETERA

Global Game Jam — 6 p.m. at Cowork Frederick, 120 E. Patrick St., Frederick. A game jam is similar to a hackathon where people come together for a short period of time to create games around a central theme revealed at the start of the jam. Participants (“Jammers”) gather on Friday late afternoon, watch a short video keynote with advice from leading game developers, then a theme (secret up until that point) is announced. Jammers worldwide are then challenged to make games based on that theme, completed by Sunday afternoon. 240-772-1295. ainsley@ coworkfrederickfoundation.org. coworkfrederickfoundation.org/globalgame-jam-2023.

FILM

Foreign Film Festival: “Drive My Car” (Japan, 2021, NR) — 7:30 p.m. at Carroll Arts Center, 91 W. Main St., Westminster. Also at 1 p.m. Two years after his wife’s unexpected death, Yusuke Kafuku (Hidetoshi Nishijima), a renowned stage actor and director, receives an offer to direct a production of “Uncle Vanya” at a theater festival in Hiroshima. There, he meets Misaki Watari (Toko Miura), a taciturn young woman assigned to chauffeur him in his beloved red Saab 900. Forced to confront painful truths raised from his past, Yusuke begins — with the help of his driver — to face the haunting mysteries his wife left behind. Winner of Best International Film at the 2022 Academy Awards.

$7 adults, $6 ages 25 and under and ages 60

and up. 410-848-7272. carrollcountyartscouncil.org.

MUSIC

The Doo Wop Project — 8 p.m. at Weinberg Center for the Arts, 20 W. Patrick St., Frederick. Featuring stars of Broadway’s smash hits “Jersey Boys” and “Motown: The Musical,” The Doo Wop Project traces the evolution of Doo Wop from the classic sound of five guys singing tight harmonies on a street corner to the biggest hits on the radio today. Audiences go on a journey with music from groups like the Crests, The Belmonts, and Flamingos through their influences on the sounds of Smokey Robinson, The Temptations, and The Four Seasons, all the way to “DooWopified” versions of modern musicians like Jason Mraz and Garth Brooks. $30-$37.50. 301-600-2828. bhiller@ cityoffrederick.com. weinbergcenter.org/shows/ the-doo-wop-project/.

Maddog’s Icy Inferno — 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. at Cafe 611, 611 N. Market St., Frederick. Four fiery DJs and an assortment of local visual artists come together to bring you a magical music and art experience filled with joy and whimsy. House/electronic music all night long. Immersive art exhibits at every turn. 21 and older.

$10 at the door. 503-467-1410.

maddogdanceparty@gmail.com. downtownfrederick.org/event-pro/maddogsicy-inferno/.

PERFORMER

MET Comedy Night: The Comedy Pigs ‘22-’23 — 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Maryland Ensemble Theatre, 31 W. Patrick St., Frederick. The Comedy Pigs return for their 30th anniversary season! Catch them every first Friday and Saturday through June 2023. Ages 18 and older. $15. 301-694-4744. zcallis@ marylandensemble.org.

THEATER

“Grease” — 6 p.m. at Washington County Playhouse Dinner Theatre, 44 N. Potomac St., Hagerstown. Here is Rydell High’s senior class of 1959: duck-tailed, hot-rodding “Burger Palace Boys” and their gum-snapping, hip-shaking “Pink Ladies” in bobby sox and pedal pushers, evoking the look and sound of the 1950s in this rollicking musical. Dinner precedes show. Cash bar available. $63 adults, $57 active military and first responders, includes dinner and show. 301739-7469. washingtoncountyplayhouse.com.

Lerner & Loewe’s “Camelot” — 6 p.m. at Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre, 5

Willowdale Drive, Frederick . An idealistic young King Arthur hopes to create a kingdom built on honor and dignity, embodied by his Knights of The Round Table. His ideals, however, are tested when his lovely queen, Guinevere, falls in love with the young Knight, Lancelot, and the fate of the kingdom hangs in the balance. The legendary love triangle of King Arthur, Guinevere and Sir Lancelot leaps from the pages of T.H. White’s novel in Lerner and Loewe’s award-winning, soaring musical. See website for prices; doors open at 6 p.m. for dinner, shows at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; doors open at 12:30 p.m. for buffet, shows 2:15 p.m. Sundays through Feb. 15. 301-662-6600. wayoffbroadway.com.

Comedy Night: Pigs Sketch Show — 8:30 p.m. at Maryland Ensemble Theatre, 31 W. Patrick St., Frederick. Celebrating their 30th season. Join the improv troupe for hilarious shows filled with a series of fun short-form improv games. No two shows are ever the same. $15. 301-694-4744. marylandensemble.org.

Saturday Feb. 4

CLASSES

Zumba Saturdays at the Library — 10:15

a.m. to 11 a.m. at Urbana Regional Library, 9020 Amelung St., Frederick. Ready to exercise! Ready to dance! Ready to shake off the pounds? Come on in for Zumba at the Library on Saturday mornings! 18 and older. 301-600-7004. marchange-desir@ frederickcountymd.gov. frederick.librarycalendar.com/event/zumbasaturdays-library-8.

Sierra Club Catoctin Group Meeting — 11 a.m. to noon at Common Market Community Room, 927 W. Seventh St., Frederick. Sierra Club Catoctin Group members, friends and the public are invited to attend our upcoming monthly meetings. The January speaker is Karen Russell of the Climate Change Working Group who will talk about animal corridors and biodiversity. 301-318-7995. Pwsccg@yahoo.com. sierraclub.org/maryland/catoctin-group.

Needle Point Felting with Natalie Love — 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Fox Haven Farm, Retreat & Learning Center, 3630 Poffenberger Road, Jefferson. Needle felting is a tensionreducing, simple and gratifying fiber craft. Natalie Love will provide a pattern and hands-on instructions and tips on how to make cute and whimsical toadstools. $42. 240-490-5484. alecks@foxhavenfarm. org. foxhavenfarm.org/events/ needle-point-felting-with-natalie-love.

The Doo Wop Project

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3 | 8:00 PM

Lafayette Gilchrist plays Herbie Nichols & Lafayette Gilchrist SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18 | 8:00 PM Skerryvore

THURSDAY, MARCH 2 | 7:30 PM

Teelin Irish Dance Company Celtic Journey

SATURDAY, MARCH 11 | 7:00 PM

Classic Albums Live Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon SUNDAY, MARCH 12 | 7:30 PM Loudon Wainwright III & Tom Rush with Matt Nakoa FRIDAY, MARCH 17 | 8:00 PM