State Arts of the
2017 Spring ArtS And entertAinment guide
washingtoncitypaper.com february 10, 2017 spring arts guide
washingtoncitypaper.com September 16, 2011 1
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February 23–May 14
One of the most anticipated exhibitions [of 2017] —The Washington Post
Join Now! kusama.si.edu
Hirshhorn members see it first. Reserve your Free Timed Pass online.
hirshhorn.si.edu | @hirshhorn spring arts guide february 10, 2017 washingtoncitypaper.com
Yayoi Kusama, Detail of All the Eternal Love I Have for the Pumpkins, 2016. Collection of the artist. Courtesy of Ota Fine Arts, Tokyo / Singapore and Victoria Miro, London. © Yayoi Kusama
#InfiniteKusama
MUSIC
5 MUSEUMS and GallErIES 19 DanCE and PErforManCE 33 CoMEDy 35 BookS and TalkS 37 fIlM 38 ThEaTEr 39 CovEr IllUSTraTIon By johanna GooDMan washingtoncitypaper.com September 16, 2011 1
washingtoncitypaper.com February 10, 2017 3
4 February 10, 2017 washingtoncitypaper.com
2.10 Friday
All Good Presents: BoomBox 9:30 Club. 8 p.m. $20. Alter BridGe Fillmore Silver Spring. 8 p.m. $27.50.
seGo, kit whitAcre & the chArdonnAy Boys, my french roomAte Black Cat Backstage. 7:30 p.m. $10–$12.
Valerie June at Sixth & I Historic Synagogue, March 9
vAlentine’s dAy soul JAm feAt. the stylistics DAR Constitution Hall. 7 p.m. $47–$99. will downinG Birchmere. 7:30 p.m. $75.
Aztec sun Rock & Roll Hotel. 9 p.m. $12.
2.13 Monday
Billy Price BAnd & the niGhthAwks Bethesda Blues & Jazz. 8 p.m. $35.
July tAlk, monA, little Junior DC9. 8:30 p.m. $13–$15.
the dustBowl revivAl The Hamilton. 8 p.m. $15–$20.
mArion meAdows Blues Alley. 8 p.m.; 10 p.m. $30–$35.
eric PAslAy Barns at Wolf Trap. 8 p.m. $26–$38.
mellow diAmond, ron shAlom & Austin vAuGhn, nAGuAl Rhizome DC. 8 p.m. $10.
eric roBerson Birchmere. 7:30 p.m. $45. euGenie Jones Twins Jazz. 9 p.m.; 11 p.m. $27.
ninet tAyeB, lurAy Black Cat Backstage. 7:30 p.m. $12.
JAzzmeiA horn Kennedy Center Terrace Gallery. 7 p.m.; 9 p.m. $35.
PArquet courts 9:30 Club. 7 p.m. $25.
Joe mArcinek BAnd Gypsy Sally’s. 8:30 p.m. $12–$14.
the sPinners Bethesda Blues & Jazz. 8 p.m. $75–$110.
Joi Blues Alley. 8 p.m.; 10 p.m. $30–$35.
2.14 tueSday
JoshuA Bell Kennedy Center Concert Hall. 8 p.m. $50–$125.
ABBy schAfer Twins Jazz. 8 p.m.; 10 p.m. $22. Anthony sAntos Echostage. 7 p.m. $48–$60.
sAvoy U Street Music Hall. 10 p.m. $15.
BeBel GilBreto State Theatre. 8:30 p.m. $35–$38.
shArAm SoundCheck. 10 p.m. $15. tchAmi Echostage. 9 p.m. $25–$30.
cherish the lAdies Barns at Wolf Trap. 8 p.m. $25–$30.
the whisPers Howard Theatre. 8 p.m.; 10:30 p.m. $60–$85.
common kinGs Rock & Roll Hotel. 7 p.m. $20–$25.
2.11 Saturday
JAzmine sullivAn Fillmore Silver Spring. 8 p.m. $35.
AlexAndriA symPhony orchestrA Performs mozArt’s symPhony no. 4 Schlesinger Center. 8 p.m. $5–$80.
kenny lAttimore The Hamilton. 8 p.m. $30 –$65.
Alyson cAmBridGe Barns at Wolf Trap. 8 p.m. $25–$35.
lAurA mvulA Sixth & I Historic Synagogue. 8 p.m. $29.50–$33.50.
Book of love U Street Music Hall. 7 p.m. $25–$50.
mAysA Howard Theatre. 8 p.m. $45–$90. new orchestrA of wAshinGton AMP by Strathmore. 8 p.m. $30–$40.
the cAdillAc three Fillmore Silver Spring. 8 p.m. $18.
nso PoPs: vAlentine’s dAy with PAtti lABelle Kennedy Center Concert Hall. 8 p.m. $39–$129.
chris smither AMP by Strathmore. 8 p.m. $30–$40.
the sPinners Bethesda Blues & Jazz. 8 p.m. $75–$110.
colin currie Sixth & I Historic Synagogue. 8 p.m. $30.
nAtionAl symPhony orchestrA: An eve-
euGenie Jones Twins Jazz. 9 p.m.; 11 p.m. $27.
ninG with JoshuA Bell Kennedy Center Con-
iGor levit University of the District of Columbia Auditorium. 2 p.m. $47.
cert Hall. 8 p.m. $59–$125.
chArlie wilson with fAntAsiA And Johnny Gill Verizon Center. 7 p.m. $48–$525.
love sonGs: the BeAtles feAt. veronneAu The Hamilton. 8 p.m. $25–$75.
sAmmy dee Flash. 8 p.m. $8.
leo lion Twins Jazz. 8 p.m.; 10 p.m. $22.
the werks Gypsy Sally’s. 9 p.m. $15–$17.
mArion meAdows Blues Alley. 8 p.m.; 10 p.m. $30–$35.
the wood Brothers 9:30 Club. 7 p.m. $25.
nuex, veve mArley Galaxy Hut. 9 p.m. $5.
mArion meAdows Blues Alley. 8 p.m.; 10 p.m. $30–$35.
2.12 Sunday
2.15 WedneSday
the BAylor ProJect Blues Alley. 8 p.m.; 10 p.m. $25. the BlAck lABel tour feAt. trollPhAce, trAmPA, & skism SoundCheck. 10 p.m. $15–$20. cherish the lAdies Barns at Wolf Trap. 8 p.m. $25–$30.
washingtoncitypaper.com September 16,10, 2011 1 5 washingtoncitypaper.com February 2017
Maren MorriS
For years, “I like everything except for rap and country” was a default answer for millions when asked about their music preferences. But while rap has become an indelible component of pop music, most people still see country music as “other:” a genre of pick-ups and cowboy hats composed and consumed by fly-over state residents. That narrative has started to fall apart, thanks to the rise of artists like Sturgill Simpson, Kacey Musgraves, and Chris Stapleton. Of this new class of country artists, the biggest star might be Maren Morris, a 26year-old singer-songwriter with Texas roots and Nashville bona fides. After releasing three albums by the age of 21 and spending a few years as a behind-the-scenes songwriter, Morris broke through with last year’s Hero. The album bounds from Hank and Cash tributes like “My Church” to synth-kissed pop like “80s Mercedes” and is difficult to dismiss as country, pop or otherwise. Feb. 16 at 9:30 Club. $20. —Chris Kelly
kent miller GrouP Twins Jazz. 8 p.m.; 10 p.m. $22.
mAry wilson Blues Alley. 8 p.m.; 10 p.m. $55–$70.
mAyhem, inquisition, BlAck Anvil Howard Theatre. 8 p.m. $20.
meAt wAve, chill PArents Comet Ping Pong. 10 p.m. $12.
the rAdio dePt., GermAns Black Cat. 7:30 p.m. $15–$18.
nAtionAl PhilhArmonic: BriAn GAnz PlAys choPin Music Center at Strathmore. 8 p.m. $34–$88.
2.16 thurSday
Grum SoundCheck. 10 p.m. $20. kodie shAne, sAucy lonGwe, cymiA Black Cat Backstage. 7:30 p.m. $15. kwAme, iron rydem Bossa Bistro. 9:30 p.m. $10. mAren moris 9:30 Club. 7 p.m. $20. mAry wilson Blues Alley. 8 p.m.; 10 p.m. $55–$70. mAx GrAhAm U Street Music Hall. 10 p.m. $15. ms. lAuryn hill Warner Theatre. 8 p.m. $63–$318. nAmes, the red fetish DC9. 8:30 p.m. $8. nAtionAl symPhony orchestrA Performs mendelssohn, strAuss, JAnácek, And dvorák Kennedy Center Concert Hall. 7 p.m. $15–$89. solAs Barns at Wolf Trap. 8 p.m. $25–$28. vusi mAhlAselA The Hamilton. 7:30 p.m. $15–$40.
the delArcos, sPidercAke Galaxy Hut. 9 p.m. $5. Joe vetter quArtet Twins Jazz. 8 p.m.; 10 p.m. $22. lemuriA, cAyetAnA, mikey erG Black Cat. 7:30 p.m. $15. mAry wilson Blues Alley. 8 p.m.; 10 p.m. $55–$70.
Arlo Guthrie Birchmere. 7:30 p.m. $65.
dArkest hour, rinGworm, rotten sound Black Cat. 8 p.m. $20.
cAshmere cAts 9:30 Club. 8 p.m. $22.
6 February 10, 2017 washingtoncitypaper.com 2 September 16, 2011 washingtoncitypaper.com
BAltimore symPhony orchestrA: dvořák’s cello concerto Music Center at Strathmore. 3 p.m. $35–$99.
2.20 Monday
Bso off the cuff: dvořák’s cello concerto Music Center at Strathmore. 8:15 p.m. $35–$99.
The Distance Is So Big, the 2013 album by Lemuria, was all sweetness and grit and transcendence; the next one couldn’t come soon enough. In the meantime the trio—Buffalo-formed, now partially D.C.-based, thoroughly special—is touring its 2007 debut full-length Get Better in its entirety after re-releasing it this past fall. It’s an album that gets me in lots of nostalgic places—for Superchunk, Velocity Girl, The Weakerthans, and the like—but which also bakes more feeling and intelligence than you’d expect into its very ’90s mold. From opening track “Pants,” it’s clear that drummer and main lyricist Alex Kern has a talent for extending a metaphor over several lines (“You never missed a word I tried to fit/ inside a chorus, inside a verse, all my intros, and the bridge”) and that guitarist and vocalist Sheena Ozzella has a way (chatty, pleading) with his words. More importantly—and this is basically the difference between chintzy and not chintzy in pop-punk—she knows when to sing a small sentiment (“I spend more time missing you than kissing you”) like it’s a big one without overselling it. There are few bands with which I’d rather sweat the small stuff. Feb. 19 at Black Cat. $15. —Jonathan L. Fischer
2.19 Sunday
2.17 Friday
BiG GiGAntic Echostage. 9 p.m. $34.20–$49.60.
LeMuria
sinkAne, hot 8 BrAss BAnd Black Cat. 8 p.m. $16–$18.
xxyyxx U Street Music Hall. 9 p.m. $20.
the BAnd BAnd Gypsy Sally’s. 8 p.m. $20–$22.
North Carolina soul singer Lee Fields both looks and sounds like James Brown—hence his nickname, “Little JB”—but he doesn’t let his similarity to the Godfather of Soul hold him back. Fields has been on the scene since 1969, touring for over 40 years with acts like Kool & The Gang and O.V. Wright. These days, he performs with The Expressions as his backup band, and, with the recent trend in soul revival, Fields finds himself playing for new and younger audiences. Although his music often sounds familiar, it’s never nostalgic or unoriginal. Now in his ’60s, Fields’ newer songs sound just as fresh today as I imagine his 1970s hits did decades ago. Feb. 18 at Rock & Roll Hotel. $25. —Elena Goukassian
nAtionAl symPhony orchestrA Performs mendelssohn, strAuss, JAnácek, And dvorák Kennedy Center Concert Hall. 8 p.m. $15–$89.
whiskey myers Fillmore Silver Spring. 8 p.m. $13.
Al JArreAu duo Howard Theatre. 8 p.m. $65–$99.50.
Lee FieLdS & the expreSSionS
new orleAns susPects And BonerAmA The Hamilton. 8 p.m. $22.50–$32.50.
Aizuri quArtet Kennedy Center Theater Lab. 7:30 p.m. $45.
kendrA foster Blues Alley. 8 p.m.; 10 p.m. $40. mAceo PArker Birchmere. 7:30 p.m. $39.50.
2.21 tueSday
chocolAte PumA SoundCheck. 10 p.m. $20.
BlAck Joe lewis & the honeyBeArs 9:30 Club. 7 p.m. $25.
dylAn connor, hudA Asfour, kAmyAr ArsAni, Jon cAmP Rhizome DC. 8 p.m. $10.
A BooGie wit dA hoodie Fillmore Silver Spring. 8 p.m. $26.50.
hot cluB of BAltimore Twins Jazz. 9 p.m.; 11 p.m. $27.
deAth By unGA BunGA DC9. 9 p.m. $10–$12.
mAry wilson Blues Alley. 8 p.m.; 10 p.m. $55–$70. mickey AvAlon U Street Music Hall. 7 p.m. $20. musiq soulchild DAR Constitution Hall. 8 p.m. $52–$99. nAtionAl symPhony orchestrA Performs mendelssohn, strAuss, JAnácek, And dvorák Kennedy Center Concert Hall. 8 p.m. $15–$89. reGinA cArter Kennedy Center Family Theater. 7 p.m.; 9 p.m. $50–$65. seán BArnA Rock & Roll Hotel. 9 p.m. $15. solAs Barns at Wolf Trap. 8 p.m. $25–$28.
2.18 Saturday
1964: BeAtles triBute Barns at Wolf Trap. 8 p.m. $38–$42. Arlo Guthrie Birchmere. 7:30 p.m. $65. BAd JAzz with sAlArymen And weed tree Rhizome DC. 8 p.m. $10. BArclAy crenshAw U Street Music Hall. 10 p.m. $10–$15. BuikA Howard Theatre. 8 p.m. $65–$110. hot cluB of BAltimore Twins Jazz. 9 p.m.; 11 p.m. $27. JAzz is Phish Gypsy Sally’s. 9 p.m. $15–$20. lee fields & the exPressions Rock & Roll Hotel. 8 p.m. $25.
todd BAuchsPies Blues Alley. 8 p.m.; 10 p.m. $37.
2.22 WedneSday
Andre JAckson Blues Alley. 8 p.m.; 10 p.m. $37. Blurred feAt. Prince fox SoundCheck. 10 p.m. $15. GAnG of thieves Gypsy Sally’s. 8:30 p.m. $8. Joey Antico Mansion at Strathmore. 7:30 p.m. $17. mAson BAtes’s kc JukeBox: music & instruments of victor GAmA Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater. 8 p.m. $19–$29. nso PoPs: snArky PuPPy Kennedy Center Concert Hall. 8 p.m. $25–$75. river whyless DC9. 9 p.m. $15.
2.23 thurSday
AnGie stone Bethesda Blues & Jazz. 7 p.m.; 10 p.m. $70–$85. cosmonAuts & the molochs DC9. 8:30 p.m. $10–$12. cosmo’s midniGht U Street Music Hall. 10:30 p.m. $10. eisley Jammin Java. 7:30 p.m. $18–$30. elePhAnte SoundCheck. 10 p.m. $20. GeorGe clinton & PArliAment funkAdelic Howard Theatre. 8 p.m. $42–$191. kim wAters Blues Alley. 8 p.m.; 10 p.m. $55–$70.
leo kottke & keller williAms Lincoln Theatre. 8 p.m. $35.
leesAh stiles Gypsy Sally’s. 7:30 p.m. Free.
liquid strAnGer & mAnic focus 9:30 Club. 10 p.m. $20.
Pissed JeAns, hAnd GrenAde JoB Black Cat Backstage. 7:30 p.m. $15.
locAsh Fillmore Silver Spring. 8 p.m. $22.50.
sun-dried viBes Gypsy Sally’s. 8 p.m. $8–$10.
lisA hAnniGAn U Street Music Hall. 7 p.m. $25.
aLB’S rock the StackS
Brian Wilson at Lincoln Theatre, May 3-4
ALB represents Annie Lou Bayly Berman, a beloved Washingtonian and member of the board of directors of the D.C. Public Library Foundation Board of Directors who died of cancer last year. ALB: Rock the Stacks is both a benefit concert and album in tribute to Berman’s love of local music, the library, and her passion to see the two connected. The concert will feature a wealth of D.C. talent across the spectrum including Benjy Ferree, The Fort Knox Five, and a new duo collaboration between Sitali Siyolwe and Juju House. The highlight will be the ALB All-Stars D.C. supergroup including Ben Gilligan (French Toast), Betsy Wright (Ex Hex), Joe Herrrera (Bohemian Caverns Jazz Orchestra), Matt Rippetoe (The Harry Bells), Artemis “Ardamus” Thompson, Renell “RNL” McEwan, Jerry Busher (Fugazi), and Amy Farina (The Evens, Warmers). In a time when it’s more important than ever for a community to stand together, D.C. will show everyone how it’s done. Feb. 24 at Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library. $75. —Justin Weber
DeaD Man Walking
tedeschi-trucks BAnd Warner Theatre. 8 p.m. $63–$88. the-dreAm 9:30 Club. 7 p.m. $30–$150.
2.24 Friday
JAzz At lincoln center orchestrA with wynton mArsAlis Music Center at Strathmore. 4 p.m. $65–$175. kim wAters Blues Alley. 8 p.m.; 10 p.m. $55–$70.
cAmeo Howard Theatre. 8 p.m. $40–$80.
leoPold And his fiction, wAnted mAn, kid Brother Black Cat Backstage. 7:30 p.m. $12.
flow triBe The Hamilton. 8 p.m. $15–$25.
the lox Fillmore Silver Spring. 8 p.m. $30.
JAson morAn And theAster GAtes Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater. 8 p.m. $25–$59.
the rosslyn mt. Boys Bethesda Blues & Jazz. 8 p.m. $25.
JAzz At lincoln center orchestrA with wynton mArsAlis Music Center at Strathmore. 8 p.m. $65–$175. kim wAters Blues Alley. 8 p.m.; 10 p.m. $55–$70. lolo, oceAn PArk stAndoff DC9. 7 p.m. $12. nso PoPs: ledisi Kennedy Center Concert Hall. 8 p.m. $29–$99. sAeed younAn & cAmelPhAt SoundCheck. 10 p.m. $15.
triBAl seeds 9:30 Club. 7 p.m. $20. the wAshinGton chorus: new music for A new AGe National Presbyterian Church. 5 p.m. $25–$35.
2.27 Monday
AriAnA GrAnde Verizon Center. 5:59 p.m. $29.95–$199.95.
smithJAckson Gypsy Sally’s. 8 p.m. Free.
cuA symPhony orchestrA Performs mozArt clArinet concerto Catholic University of America. 7:30 p.m. Free.
tedeschi-trucks BAnd Warner Theatre. 8 p.m. $63–$88.
duAne euBAnks quintet Blues Alley. 8 p.m.; 10 p.m. $37.
tim whAlen quintet Twins Jazz. 9 p.m.; 11 p.m. $27.
the internet Fillmore Silver Spring. 8 p.m. $25.
todd snider Birchmere. 7:30 p.m. $25.
nikki lAne with Brent coBB, JonAthAn tyler U Street Music Hall. 7 p.m. $20.
2.25 Saturday
Bone thuGs-n-hArmony Fillmore Silver Spring. 9 p.m. $33. kAP G & Jr donAto U Street Music Hall. 7 p.m. $20. kim wAters Blues Alley. 8 p.m.; 10 p.m. $55–$70. nso PoPs: ledisi Kennedy Center Concert Hall. 8 p.m. $29–$99. red liGht distrAction, cAt JAck Black Cat Backstage. 9 p.m. $10. sAAJtAk, us, todAy, heArt of the Ghost And dAvid shAPiro Rhizome DC. 8 p.m. tedeschi-trucks BAnd Warner Theatre. 8 p.m. $63–$88. tim whAlen quintet Twins Jazz. 9 p.m.; 11 p.m. $27. wAshinGton nAtionAl oPerA: deAd mAn wAlkinG Kennedy Center Opera House. 7 p.m. $45–$300.
2.26 Sunday
munA, lo moon DC9. 9 p.m. $10–$12.
st. PetersBurG PhilhArmonic orchestrA Kennedy Center Concert Hall. 8 p.m. $40–$110. wAshinGton nAtionAl oPerA: deAd mAn wAlkinG Kennedy Center Opera House. 7 p.m. $45–$300.
2.28 tueSday
dionne wArwick Bethesda Blues & Jazz. 8 p.m. $125–$160. dorothy, the GeorGiA flood Rock & Roll Hotel. 8 a.m. $13–$15. eArl cArter & PhilliP “doc” mArtin Blues Alley. 8 p.m.; 10 p.m. $44.50. williAm mAtheny & the strAnGe constellAtions DC9. 8:30 p.m. $10.
3.1 WedneSday
BAllAké sissoko & vincent seGAl Barns at Wolf Trap. 8 p.m. $25–$27. dionne wArwick Bethesda Blues & Jazz. 8 p.m. $125–$160.
dAvid duchovny Birchmere. 7:30 p.m. $35.
the enGlish BeAt 9:30 Club. 7 p.m. $25.
the GiBson Brothers AMP by Strathmore. 8 p.m. $25–$35.
roBert ellis duo Gypsy Sally’s. 8 p.m. $10–$13.
ro JAmes Howard Theatre. 8 p.m. $23–$51.
It’s hard to be a modern day opera composer and harder still to write a new opera that sticks, much less more than one. Jake Heggie was behind 2010’s enthralling Moby-Dick, one of the Washington National Opera’s best productions in recent years. But his opera that’s become known as a modern classic is Dead Man Walking, a Louisiana nun’s account of being spiritual advisor to a convicted murderer on death row. Heggie’s opera, written with Terrence McNally, the Broadway veteran librettist, debuted less than two decades ago (and just seven years after Sister Helen Prejean’s book on which it and the Tim Robbins movie of the same name were based) and has since become part of the contemporary opera repertory. Heggie has been blessed with a refined ear, but also the marketing savviness of knowing what regular middlebrow audiences—not just regular opera audiences—will like. And adaptation of familiar American pop culture seems to do the trick—his newest project is an opera version of It’s a Wonderful Life. Feb. 25–March 11 at The Kennedy Center. $45– $300. —Mike Paarlberg
the WaShington choruS: neW MuSic For a neW age
Larger-than-life choral director Julian Wachner has grown larger than Washington and is moving on, as Bad Brains and so many D.C. artists before him, to New York. His already successful conducting career has started to become overshadowed by a successful composing career, making him in demand beyond the confines of the institution he has long led, The Washington Chorus. He’s been splitting his directorship duties with Manhattan’s Trinity Wall Street since 2010, and even for someone as high energy as Wachner, he couldn’t hold down both; it was remarkable that he did for so long. So for his last season as its leader, TWC will send him off with a program of his own original works, which you can expect Wachner to lead with his usual infectious, over-the-top panache. Feb. 26 at National Presbyterian Church. $25–$35. —Mike Paarlberg
SoundS oF the city FeStivaL
DC Music Download is celebrating five years of blogging about local music, which is a pretty impressive feat these days. To celebrate, they’re throwing a four-day festival that’s more than just celebration: It’s part appreciation and part getting down to work, too. To celebrate, check out Tropicalia on Friday, March 3, with MC Ace Cosgrove and up-and-coming hiphop artist Ciscero; and Black Cat on Saturday, March 4, with Den-Mate, Nag Champa, Fellow Creatures, and Stronger Sex. Fans can show appreciation by buying straight from your favorite locals at Saturday’s local record label expo at Songbyrd Music House. Bookending the weekend are two networking events and panels, first at the Wonder Bread Factory on Thursday and then at the American Art Museum on Sunday. Stephanie Williams has built DC Music Download into a vital local music resource and it seems like this festival will be equally important. March 2-5 at various venues. $12 per event. —Justin Weber washingtoncitypaper.com February 10, 2017 7 washingtoncitypaper.com September 16, 2011 3
Save FerriS, BaBy BaBy, The FuSS Black Cat. 7:30 p.m. $20.
3.2 Thursday
alan Walker SoundCheck. 10 p.m. $20. BalTimore Symphony orcheSTra: mendelSSohn’S Symphony no. 4 Music Center at Strathmore. 8 p.m. $35–$99. celTic croSSingS The Hamilton. 7:30 p.m. $20.75–$58.50. ganja WhiTe nighT U Street Music Hall. 10 p.m. $15–$25. jeSca hoop Jammin Java. 7:30 p.m. $15–$25. The knockS 9:30 Club. 7 p.m. $20. livingSTon Taylor Barns at Wolf Trap. 8 p.m. $25–$27. mako U Street Music Hall. 7 p.m. $15. naTional Symphony orcheSTra perFormS BrahmS’S Second Symphony/ShoSTakovich’S FirST violin concerTo Kennedy Center Concert Hall. 7 p.m. $15–$89. STeven Siekkinen Gypsy Sally’s. 7:30 p.m. Free. The Time jumperS, vince gill Birchmere. 7:30 p.m. $59.50.
3.3 Friday
alle FarBen U Street Music Hall. 10:30 p.m. $10. cameron carpenTer Music Center at Strathmore. 8 p.m. $35–$75. darude SoundCheck. 10 p.m. $20.
sango
In support of his forthcoming full-length album, In the Comfort Of, Seattle-based DJ and Soulection producer Sango will stop by D.C. as part of a highly anticipated 2017 tour. Aside from the funky Brazilian-inspired hip-hop and R&B sounds as heard on his Da Rocinha EP series, Sango hasn’t released a full-length album since 2013’s North, so excitement to hear fresh vibes from the young producer is palpable. He has an intuitive way of seamlessly fusing his favored influences, like the textured percussion of Brazilian carioca funk highlighted by rolling trap snares and sensual R&B vocals, to cultivate a mood that is totally unique to his style. Running the gamut between hip-hop bangers, Soulection groovers, and his own dance-worthy productions, Sango’s live performances are just as varied as his influences. March 3 at U Street Music Hall. $20. —Casey Embert
The dig, communiST daughTer Black Cat Backstage. 7:30 p.m. $12–$15.
dobeT gnahoré
WaShingTon naTional opera: dead man Walking Kennedy Center Opera House. 2 p.m. $45–$300.
Singer Dobet Gnahoré grew up in an Ivory Coast artists’ village co-founded by her percussionist father. There she learned how to dance, act, paint, sew, and sing. She would later meet French guitarist Colin Laroche de Féline in that village and the two began to collaborate musically—and romantically; they eventually got married. Gnahoré has been based in France since 1999 and has released a handful of albums over the years that offer a mix of Afro-pop and Afro-folk, each sung in a number of different languages. Like one of her heroes Miriam Makeba, Gnahoré cleverly mixes socially conscious messages into her tuneful melodies. And her live show is just as visceral, replete with her frenetic dancing and her sweet, powerful vocals—all accompanied by her band’s bouncy polyrhythms. March 4 at The Barns at Wolf Trap. $25-$30. —Steve Kiviat
david BenoiT Blues Alley. 8 p.m.; 10 p.m. $52.75– $58.
naTional Symphony orcheSTra perFormS BrahmS’S Second Symphony/ShoSTakovich’S FirST violin concerTo Kennedy Center Concert Hall. 8 p.m. $15–$89.
WaShingTon naTional opera: champion Kennedy Center Opera House. 7 p.m. $45–$300.
3.7 Tuesday
agneS oBel 9:30 Club. 7 p.m. $25. all Them WiTcheS, iraTa DC9. 9 p.m. $15. mike doughTy U Street Music Hall. 7 p.m. $25. rickie lee joneS & madeleine peyroux Bethesda Blues & Jazz. 8 p.m. $75.
joe veTTer QuarTeT Twins Jazz. 8 p.m.; 10 p.m. $22. SlaveS DC9. 8 p.m. $8. Tim darcy, molly Burch Black Cat Backstage. 7:30 p.m. $12.
you BleW iT!, all geT ouT, Free ThroW Rock & Roll Hotel. 8 p.m. $13–$15.
SoundS oF The ciTy FeSTival preSenTed By dc muSic doWnload Black Cat. 8 p.m. $12.
gza Howard Theatre. 8 p.m. $25–$60.
jeFF “Tain” WaTTS Trio Blues Alley. 8 p.m.; 10 p.m. $40.
WaShingTon naTional opera: dead man Walking Kennedy Center Opera House. 7:30 p.m. $45–$300.
naTional Symphony orcheSTra perFormS BrahmS’S Second Symphony/ShoSTakovich’S FirST violin concerTo Kennedy Center Concert Hall. 8 p.m. $15–$89.
3.6 Monday
eThan FooTe Mansion at Strathmore. 7:30 p.m. $17.
Sango U Street Music Hall. 7 p.m. $20.
jauz Echostage. 9 p.m. $30.
WaShingTon concerT opera: BeeThoven’S leonore GWU Lisner Auditorium. 6 p.m. $40–$110.
3.8 Wednesday
loS loBoS The Hamilton. 8 p.m. $49.75–$55.00.
hayWyre & The opiuo Band 9:30 Club. 10 p.m. $20.
SWeeT honey in The rock Bethesda Blues & Jazz. 8 p.m. $50.
veronneau Blues Alley. 8 p.m.; 10 p.m. $37.
juicy j Fillmore Silver Spring. 9 p.m. $35.
doBeT gnahoré Barns at Wolf Trap. 8 p.m. $25–$30.
Sierra leone’S reFugee all STarS AMP by Strathmore. 8 p.m. $30–$40.
u.S. air Force Band chamBer playerS SerieS Lyceum. 7:30 p.m. Free.
jeFF anToniuk & The jazz updaTe Twins Jazz. 9 p.m.; 11 p.m. $27.
david BenoiT Blues Alley. 8 p.m.; 10 p.m. $52.75– $58.
poTTy mouTh, parTyBaBy DC9. 8:30 p.m. $12–$14.
Tommy emmanuel Birchmere. 7:30 p.m. $49.50.
ja rule Howard Theatre. 8 p.m. $26–$60.
colony houSe U Street Music Hall. 7 p.m. $15.
nelSon dougherTy Twins Jazz. 8 p.m.; 10 p.m. $22.
SloThruST, and The kidS Black Cat Backstage. 7:30 p.m. $13–$15.
hayley Fahey Gypsy Sally’s. 8 p.m. Free.
Ben Sollee Rock & Roll Hotel. 8 p.m. $17.
dua lipa Rock & Roll Hotel. 8 p.m. $17.50–$20.
Sir andráS SchiFF Music Center at Strathmore. 8 p.m. $40–$80.
eScher STring QuarTeT Barns at Wolf Trap. 8 p.m. $38.
3.4 saTurday
david BenoiT Blues Alley. 8 p.m.; 10 p.m. $52.75– $58.
Crying
Pop music comes in many forms. It’s constantly evolving, shape-shifting with whatever the current cultural milieu is. It exists in both the mainstream and the fringe, but the distance between the two is quite small. You’d be hard pressed to find a band that understands that better than Purchase, N. Y.’s Crying, who first rose to prominence with a pair chiptune-inspired emo-pop EPs. But on its first full-length album, Beyond the Fleeting Gales, the band evolves beyond its Nintendo-synth trappings into fully fledged stadium pop-rock territory, complete with huge choruses and infinite hooks all anchored by vocalist Elaiza Santos’ soothing and commanding voice. The album almost feels like a Ph.D. thesis on pop music in the ’80s, taking cues from oft-mocked bands like Foreigner, Kansas, and Journey as much as Madonna’s brilliant pop melodies. The band makes its 9:30 Club debut after spending years playing small clubs and DIY spaces, but it’s clear these are songs meant for a stadium stage. March 9 at 9:30 Club. $25. —Matt Cohen
Tommy emmanuel Birchmere. 7:30 p.m.; 7:30 p.m. $49.50. WaShingTon naTional opera: dead man Walking Kennedy Center Opera House. 7:30 p.m. $45–$300.
3.9 Thursday
Be STeadWell AMP by Strathmore. 8 p.m. $20–$30. gerald alBrighT Blues Alley. 8 p.m.; 10 p.m. $65–$70. loS campeSinoS! 9:30 Club. 7 p.m. $25. naTional Symphony perFormS WeilerSTein playS ShoSTakovich/SchuBerT’S ninTh Symphony Kennedy Center Concert Hall. 7 p.m. $15–$89. projecT Trio Mansion at Strathmore. 7:30 p.m. $30.
TaB BenoiT The Hamilton. 8 p.m. $25–$35.
TWinS jazz orcheSTra Twins Jazz. 10 p.m. $22.
TechnaSia Flash. 8 p.m. $8–$12.
valerie june Sixth & I Historic Synagogue. 8 p.m. $25–$28.
viceroy U Street Music Hall. 10 p.m. $10–$15. WaShingTon naTional opera: champion Kennedy Center Opera House. 7 p.m. $45–$300.
3.5 sunday
Booker T. joneS The Hamilton. 7:30 p.m. $35–$60.
LsdXoXo
Underground club music label Classical Trax has played an essential role in exposing D.C.’s electronic music scene to lesser-known club niches from around the world—like London’s grime scene, Brazilian baile funk, and Chicago’s footwork. For the one-year anniversary of its monthly soiree, Guestlist, Classical Trax hosts LSDXOXO for an exploration into Jer-
8 February 10, 2017 washingtoncitypaper.com 4 September 16, 2011 washingtoncitypaper.com
3.10 Friday
aliSon crockeTT Twins Jazz. 9 p.m.; 11 p.m. $27. ari heST Barns at Wolf Trap. 8 p.m. $25–$30. Bumper jackSonS AMP by Strathmore. 8 p.m. $22–$30.
JOE BONAMASSA SAT, MARCH 4TH TICKETS AVAILABLE AT:
washingtoncitypaper.com February 10, 2017 9
elenA And sAmorA PinderhuGhes Kennedy Center Terrace Gallery. 7 p.m.; 9 p.m. $20.
u.s. Air force BAnd chAmBer PlAyers series Lyceum. 7:30 p.m. Free.
e.u. Bethesda Blues & Jazz. 8 p.m. $20.
3.15 WedneSday
GerAld AlBriGht Blues Alley. 8 p.m.; 10 p.m. $65–$70. mAe, the constellAtions Rock & Roll Hotel. 8 p.m. $20–$25. nAtionAl symPhony Performs weilerstein PlAys shostAkovich/schuBert’s ninth symPhony Kennedy Center Concert Hall. 8 p.m. $15–$89.
BAnd of roses & mAdz Johnson Bethesda Blues & Jazz. 8 p.m. $35. devendrA BAnhArt And the GroGs Sixth & I Historic Synagogue. 8 p.m. $29.50–$33.50. hiPPie sABotAGe 9:30 Club. 7 p.m. $25. kodo Music Center at Strathmore. 8 p.m. $35–$75.
PAul thorn The Hamilton. 8 p.m. $24.75–$49.75.
mAyhem SoundCheck. 10 p.m. $12–$15.
rAilroAd eArth 9:30 Club. 7 p.m. $28.
nicholAs PAyton Blues Alley. 8 p.m.; 10 p.m. $40–$45.
tiësto Echostage. 9 p.m. $50. vAnessA williAms Howard Theatre. 7:30 p.m.; 10 p.m. $60–$95.
A triBe cAlled red U Street Music Hall. 10:30 p.m. $15–$20.
wAshinGton nAtionAl oPerA: chAmPion Kennedy Center Opera House. 7:30 p.m. $45–$300.
wAshinGton nAtionAl oPerA: chAmPion Kennedy Center Opera House. 7 p.m. $45–$300. wrld & smle U Street Music Hall. 7 p.m. $10–$12.
3.11 Saturday
3.16 thurSday
Alison crockett Twins Jazz. 9 p.m.; 11 p.m. $27. Be’lA donA Bethesda Blues & Jazz. 8 p.m. $20.
BrAd mehldAu Sixth & I Historic Synagogue. 8 p.m. $47.
BAltimore symPhony orchestrA: Beethoven’s emPeror Music Center at Strathmore. 8 p.m. $35–$99.
BAltimore symPhony orchestrA: celtic celeBrAtion Music Center at Strathmore. 8 p.m. $35–$99.
christie dAshiell Kennedy Center Terrace Gallery. 7 p.m.; 9 p.m. $30–$39.
Jens lekmAn U Street Music Hall. 7 p.m. $25.
GerAld AlBriGht Blues Alley. 8 p.m.; 10 p.m. $65–$70. hotel GArudA U Street Music Hall. 10 p.m. $15. howie dAy The Hamilton. 8 p.m. $18.75–$39.75. nAtionAl symPhony Performs weilerstein PlAys shostAkovich/schuBert’s ninth symPhony Kennedy Center Concert Hall. 8 p.m. $15–$89. orquestA el mAcABeo, mirAmAr Atlas Performing Arts Center. 8 p.m. $20–$32. Priests Black Cat Backstage. 8 p.m. $16. rAilroAd eArth 9:30 Club. 8 p.m. $28. strAnd of oAks, twin limB Rock & Roll Hotel. 8 p.m. $15. wAshinGton nAtionAl oPerA: deAd mAn wAlkinG Kennedy Center Opera House. 7 p.m. $45–$300.
3.12 Sunday
GerAld AlBriGht Blues Alley. 8 p.m.; 10 p.m. $65–$70. kevin sun trio Twins Jazz. 8 p.m.; 10 p.m. $22. miGos Echostage. 9 p.m. $48.80. richArd Goode University of the District of Columbia Auditorium. 4 p.m. $68. roBert rAndolPh & the fAmily BAnd Fillmore Silver Spring. 8 p.m. $25. sAm PAtch, seAn croft Black Cat Backstage. 7:30 p.m. $12. sunn o))) 9:30 Club. 7 p.m. $35. wAshinGton nAtionAl oPerA: chAmPion Kennedy Center Opera House. 2 p.m. $45–$300.
3.13 Monday
colin hAy Birchmere. 7:30 p.m. $45. Green dAy, AGAinst me! Verizon Center. 8 p.m. $35–$75. the ten tenors Music Center at Strathmore. 8 p.m. $30–$85.
3.14 tueSday
cArlos núñez AMP by Strathmore. 8 p.m. $30–$40.
sey’s jubilant style of club music. Normally characterized by a hyperactive break-beat, tons of bed squeaks, and creatively chopped vocal samples, Jersey club goes down a darker path under LSDXOXO’s guidance. On his 2016 release, Fuck Marry Kill, LSDXOXO utilizes signature elements of industrial club deconstructions while simultaneously harnessing that feverish energy of Jersey club music to create the ideal soundtrack to a sweaty night at a basement dance party. March 10 at 9:30 Club Backbar. $10. —Casey Embert
prieStS
Priests have always been an angry band. The propulsive rhythm section and kooky guitar licks are all in support of Katie Alice Greer’s vocals, which veer between pointed snarls and Siouxsie Sioux-esque croons. Their just-released debut full-length, Nothing Feels Natural, represents a sonic and thematic evolution from Bodies and Control and Money and Power, their 2014 EP. They rail against American status quo with the same punk fervor, except now there are varied instruments and the lyrics have a touch of poetry to them. The band has a lot to be angry about, and not just because of the Sexist Orange Cheeto who currently occupies The White House. If their set on Inauguration Day is any indication, Priests strive for angry, bitter catharsis. After months of staring at the news and feeling increasingly hopeless, their show now serves as a rallying cry, and they’re assuredly up for the responsibility. March 11 at Black Cat. $16. —Alan Zilberman
hernAn cAttAneo Flash. 8 p.m. $10–$15. kAtAtoniA 9:30 Club. 7 p.m. $25. nicholAs PAyton Blues Alley. 8 p.m.; 10 p.m. $40–$45. nAtionAl symPhony orchestrA Performs Bruckner’s first symPhony/mozArt’s third violin concerto Kennedy Center Concert Hall. 7 p.m. $15–$89. oAthBreAker, kinG womAn, JAye JAyle DC9. 8 p.m. $15.
3.17 Friday
BorGore Echostage. 9 p.m. $25–$35. GAlActic 9:30 Club. 8 p.m. $30. michAel thomAs quintet Twins Jazz. 9 p.m.; 11 p.m. $27. nAtionAl symPhony orchestrA Performs Bruckner’s first symPhony/mozArt’s third violin concerto Kennedy Center Concert Hall. 8 p.m. $15–$89. Peter white Blues Alley. 8 p.m.; 10 p.m. $55–$60. somi Howard Theatre. 8 p.m. $25–$45.
3.18 Saturday
cAlidore strinG quArtet Dumbarton Church. 8 p.m. $30–$35. GAlActic 9:30 Club. 8 p.m. $30. Jose JAmes U Street Music Hall. 7 p.m. $22.25. loston hArris AMP by Strathmore. 8 p.m. $35–$45. the mAGiciAn U Street Music Hall. 10:30 p.m. $20. michAel thomAs quintet Twins Jazz. 9 p.m.; 11 p.m. $27. nAtionAl PhilhArmonic: BrAhms’ requiem Music Center at Strathmore. 8 p.m. $19–$66. nAtionAl symPhony orchestrA Performs Bruckner’s first symPhony/mozArt’s third violin concerto Kennedy Center Concert Hall. 8 p.m. $15–$89. Peter white Blues Alley. 8 p.m.; 10 p.m. $55–$60. wAshinGton nAtionAl oPerA: chAmPion Kennedy Center Opera House. 7 p.m. $45–$300.
3.19 Sunday
lAdysmith BlAck mAmBAzo Birchmere. 7:30 p.m. $49.50.
cAthedrAl chorAl society with new york PolyPhony Washington National Cathedral. 4 pm. $25–$79.
reGinA sPektor DAR Constitution Hall. 8 p.m. $40–$70.
the mAGnetic fields’ 50 sonG memoir: sonGs 26-50 Lincoln Theatre. 8 p.m.
ronnette hArrison Blues Alley. 8 p.m.; 10 p.m. $37.
nAils, toxic holocAust, GAtecreePer, Genocide PAct Rock & Roll Hotel. 8 p.m. $16.
10 February 10, 2017 washingtoncitypaper.com 5 September 16, 2011 washingtoncitypaper.com
Sunno)))
In the beginning of time, there was the earth and the sun. In the beginning of the drone metal movement, there was Olympia, Washington’s Earth and Seattle’s SunnO))). Since the late ’90s, the ritualistic drone metal band SunnO)))—composed of Stephen O’Malley, Greg Anderson, and whatever collaborators they’ve partnered up with at any given time— have been pummeling audiences with their heavier-than-heavy sounds, which hit you like an air cannon of distortion. SunnO))) don’t write songs so much as they write tones, using a comical number of distortion pedals and amplifiers to create an otherworldly sound. Once the tone is right, they’ll stretch out and slow down riffs to an utter crawl, letting single chords ring out as long as they can sustain (often for minutes). Live, SunnO))) isn’t so much a spectacle as it is an experience: You don’t watch SunnO))) live, you feel them through every atom in your body. Bring industrial-strength earplugs (though it won’t necessarily do you much good). March 12 at 9:30 Club. $35. —Matt Cohen
PLEASE JOIN US AS WE WRAP UP OUR 10 th ANNIVERSARY SEASON A Heartfelt Sound...
A MajesticSound...
R a lph Vaughan Willia m s
George Fr ider ic Handel
DONA NOBIS PACEM
SOLOMON
Sunday, March 12, 2017 • 4:30 p.m. St. Luke Catholic Church, McLean, VA
Sunday, May 7, 2017 • 4:30 p.m. National Presbyterian Church, Washington, DC
Featuring Sherry Doyle, Soprano, and David Meyer, Baritone
Poems by Walt Whitman and the liturgical prayer “Dona Nobis Pacem” (Grant us Peace) are set to music by Ralph Vaughan Williams. This moving 1936 cantata cries out for reconciliation in the anxious time between the world wars and speaks to us today. This concert will also feature the James Madison High School Madrigals, under the direction of Claire Rowan.
OR DER YOUR TICK ETS TODAY!
Ce
leb
ra t i ng
Featuring Charles Humphries, Countertenor; Maggie Finnegan, Soprano; Katelyn Aungst, Soprano; and Patrick Kilbride, Tenor
In 2007, our inaugural concert featured a triumphant performance of Handel’s magnificent Solomon. As we close our 10th season, we are pleased to perform this work again with all the richness and drama the story of King Solomon provides in what promises to be another splendid performance. 10 Years
TICK ETS: $15- $50. Stu dent an d g roup di scounts avail able.
cit ychoir.org Robert Shafer, Artistic Director
Ce
leb
ra t i ng
10 Years
Robert Shafer, Artistic Director
washingtoncitypaper.com February 10, 2017 11
3.26 Sunday
Peter white Blues Alley. 8 p.m.; 10 p.m. $55–$60. rick AlBercio Twins Jazz. 8 p.m.; 10 p.m. $22. tennis 9:30 Club. 7 p.m. $20.
kevin euBAnks Blues Alley. 8 p.m.; 10 p.m. $45–$50.
vAnessA cArlton Birchmere. 7:30 p.m. $29.50.
sotê Twins Jazz. 8 p.m.; 10 p.m. $22.
3.20 Monday
trentemøller 9:30 Club. 7 p.m. $25.
3.21 tueSday
AllAh-lAs 9:30 Club. 7 p.m. $20.
chris Botti Birchmere. 7:30 p.m. $105. modern BAseBAll 9:30 Club. 6 p.m. $20.
lAurA stevenson, Adult mom Black Cat Backstage. 7:30 p.m. $15.
nouvelle vAGue Howard Theatre. 8 p.m. $30–$50.
ne-hi, mAkeuP Girl DC9. 9 p.m. $10–$12. PAtrick wAtson U Street Music Hall. 7 p.m. $25.
u.s. Air force BAnd chAmBer PlAyers series Lyceum. 7:30 p.m. Free.
3.28 tueSday
3.27 Monday
chris Botti Birchmere. 7:30 p.m. $105.
dAvid kline BAnd Blues Alley. 8 p.m.; 10 p.m. $35.
AAron lee tAsJAn DC9. 9 p.m. $12.
BAstille EagleBank Arena. 8 p.m. $45.
3.22 WedneSday
Boulder PhilhArmonic orchestrA Kennedy Center Concert Hall. 8 p.m. $25.
Alex lAhey DC9. 9 p.m. $12–$14.
chuck ProPhet & the mission exPress The Hamilton. 8 p.m. $15–$25.
Andrew scotchie Gypsy Sally’s. 7:30 p.m. Free. BoBBy muncy Twins Jazz. 8 p.m.; 10 p.m. $22.
Jim mcmurtry & tift merritt Birchmere. 7:30 p.m. $29.50.
eldAr trio Blues Alley. 3:59 p.m.; 10 p.m. $40. foxyGen 9:30 Club. 8 p.m. $25.
JordAn smith Barns at Wolf Trap. 8 p.m. $36–$42.
nso PoPs: common Kennedy Center Concert Hall. 8 p.m. $29–$119.
roy hArGrove Blues Alley. 8 p.m.; 10 p.m. $55–$60.
3.23 thurSday
u.s. Air force BAnd chAmBer PlAyers series Lyceum. 7:30 p.m. Free.
Boo seekA Black Cat Backstage. 7:30 p.m. $12. clArence cArter Bethesda Blues & Jazz. 8 p.m. $45–$55. downlink & Arius U Street Music Hall. 10 p.m. $20. kAsey chAmBers Birchmere. 7:30 p.m. $35. kevin euBAnks Blues Alley. 8 p.m.; 10 p.m. $45–$50. the zomBies 9:30 Club. 7 p.m. $40.
3.24 Friday
the Blind Boys of AlABAmA Howard Theatre. 8 p.m. $35–$70. the JAPAnese house Rock & Roll Hotel. 8 p.m. $15. Jct trio University of the District of Columbia Auditorium. 8 p.m. $35. kevin euBAnks Blues Alley. 8 p.m.; 10 p.m. $45–$50. minus the BeAr Black Cat. 7:30 p.m. $25. nso PoPs: soPhisticAted lAdies Kennedy Center Concert Hall. 8 p.m. $24–$99. rAhsAAn PAtterson Birchmere. 7:30 p.m. $55. sofi tukker U Street Music Hall. 7 p.m. $20. sohn 9:30 Club. 8 p.m. $25. sounds of kolAchi Tropicalia. 9 p.m. $15.
Brad MehLdau
The connection between baroque classical music and jazz may seem like a topic best saved for a grad school thesis, but Brad Mehldau aims to build a bridge between the two at Sixth & I. The master jazz pianist will play his new piece “Three Pieces After Bach” along with several selections from Bach’s The Well-Tempered Clavier. Mehldau has often built on fuguelike compositions in his own music and improvisation, presenting a subject in various registers and keys and played side by side with the work of the man who made the style famous. Even those not trained in music theory will be able to appreciate how music reaches back and forth across time. March 16 at Sixth & I Historic Synagogue. $47. —Justin Weber
tenniS
During a late 2010 tour date with The Walkmen at 9:30 Club, Tennis singer Alaina Moore admitted that she always wanted to make music for middle school dances and urged her captivated audience to find a partner for a slow dance for the next song. But the breezy ethos and melodies that once guided the husband-and-wife duo have turned more brooding and weightier over the years as Tennis embarks on its fourth release, Conditionally Yours. Moore and her husband, Patrick Riley, return to D.C. days after the release to serenade their fans once more with tales of seafaring life, remedies for wounded hearts, and fears of the modern woman. March 19 at 9:30 Club. $20. —Casey Embert
tenthinG Barns at Wolf Trap. 7:30 p.m. $38.
3.25 Saturday
Avi AvitAl & omAr AvitAl Sixth & I Historic Synagogue. 8 p.m. $30. BAltimore symPhony orchestrA: strAvinsky’s PetrushkA Music Center at Strathmore. 8 p.m. $35–$99. chicAno BAtmAn, 79.5, sAdGirl Rock & Roll Hotel. 7:30 p.m. $15–$18. kevin euBAnks Blues Alley. 8 p.m.; 10 p.m. $45–$50. lArry keel exPerience Gypsy Sally’s. 8 p.m. $15–$17. nso PoPs: soPhisticAted lAdies Kennedy Center Concert Hall. 8 p.m. $24–$99. Powers & BridGit mendler U Street Music Hall. 7 p.m. $15. risinG APPAlAchiA 9:30 Club. 5:59 p.m. $20. the suBdudes Birchmere. 7:30 p.m. $35. twiddle 9:30 Club. 10 p.m. $20.
the BLind BoyS oF aLaBaMa
First forming at the Alabama Institute for the Negro Blind in 1939, the talent of the Blind Boys of Alabama have never been in question. They are a quintessential gospel group, an exemplar of the reassuring and filling power of music. Long held back by Jim Crow laws, their last two decades have been some of their most visible. They recorded the theme song for The Wire. They’ve won six Grammy awards since 2002. The Blind Boys’ 2013 record, I’ll Fly Away, was produced by Justin Vernon of Bon Iver, introducing them to an entire new generation. They are, with no exaggeration, living legends. March 24 at The Howard Theatre. $35-$70. —Justin Weber
ShiFt FeStivaL
It can be hard enough to get classical audiences to hear modern music by orchestras they already know. So a festival of out-of-town orchestras playing lesser known 20th century American composers is a risky endeavor. What is now being called the SHIFT festival was
12 February 10, 2017 washingtoncitypaper.com 6 September 16, 2011 washingtoncitypaper.com
3.29 WedneSday
Ann wilson Birchmere. 7:30 p.m. $110. hiPPo cAmPus Black Cat. 7:30 p.m. $15. JAmes mccArtney Gypsy Sally’s. 8 p.m. $18–$20. kinG GizzArd & the lizArd wizArd 9:30 Club. 7 p.m. $18. the menzinGers, Jeff rosenstock, rozwell kid Rock & Roll Hotel. 8 p.m. $20–$25. noAm Pikney Barns at Wolf Trap. 8 p.m. $22–$25. north cArolinA symPhony orchestrA Kennedy Center Concert Hall. 8 p.m. $25. roy hArGrove Blues Alley. 8 p.m.; 10 p.m. $55–$60.
3.30 thurSday
AtlAntA symPhony orchestrA Kennedy Center Concert Hall. 8 p.m. $25. BeBe rexhA U Street Music Hall. 7 p.m. $20. Glen PhilliPs Barns at Wolf Trap. 8 p.m. $22–$25. the kniGhts w/ christinA courtin The Hamilton. 8 p.m. $25. roy hArGrove Blues Alley. 8 p.m.; 10 p.m. $55–$60. unchAmBered: north cArolinA symPhony Smithsonian American Art Museum. 7:30 p.m. Free.
3.31 Friday
BAltimore symPhony orchestrA: off the cuff–rimsky-korsAkov’s scheherAzAde Music Center at Strathmore. 8 p.m. $35–$99. erin hArPe & the deltA swinGers Mansion at Strathmore. 7:30 p.m. $15. fAlu’s Bollywood orchestrA Barns at Wolf Trap. 8 p.m. $25–$35. four yeAr stronG, cAnt swim, liGht yeArs, sleeP on it Rock & Roll Hotel. 7:30 p.m. $16–$19. Princess nokiA Songbyrd Music House and Record Cafe. 7:30 p.m.; 11 p.m. $13–$15 reGinAld cyntJe Twins Jazz. 9 p.m.; 11 p.m. $27. roy hArGrove Blues Alley. 8 p.m.; 10 p.m. $55–$60. shAnG And the Brencore AllstArs BAnd Bethesda Blues & Jazz. 8 p.m. $45–$50. shiBA sAn x mk Echostage. 9 p.m. $25–$30.
S P R I N G
2 0 1 7
C O N C E R T S
NORDIC VOICES
It’s Gonna Be Alright • Saturday, February 11 at 8pm This six-voice a cappella ensemble will perform an uplifting program about love, comfort and playfulness. This performance will also include a world premier performance of “Two Lovers,” a work by American composer Shara Nova.
CALIDORE STRING QUARTET
In the Wake of Beethoven • Saturday, March 18 at 8pm Formed in California, they have received grand prizes in competitions all over the world, and you’ll hear why as they perform a program including Beethoven, Ligeti and Dvořák.
IMANI WINDS
Tradition and Innovation • Saturday, April 8 at 8pm A bridge between the old and new, the program will include Rimsky Korsakov, Paquito D’Rivera and Simon Shaheen.
POULENC TRIO
Spring Panache • Saturday, May 6 at 8pm The Poulenc Trio makes its Dumbarton debut with a program featuring Poulenc, Rossini and Francaix.
Tickets available at 202-965-2000 or www.DumbartonConcerts.org 3133 Dumbarton Street NW, Washington, DC 20007
washingtoncitypaper.com February 10, 2017 13
six orGAns of AdmittAnce DC9. 7 p.m. $12.
4.1 Saturday
JAy som And the courtneys DC9. 7 p.m. $12. the kniGhts Kennedy Center Concert Hall. 8 p.m. $25. lAmBchoP U Street Music Hall. 7 p.m. $25. nAtionAl PhilhArmonic: mozArt’s symPhonic no. 40 Music Center at Strathmore. 8 p.m. $34–$88.
originally called the Spring for Music festival, debuted at Carnegie Hall, and didn’t make much of a splash. This time they’ve sexied it up with some multimedia projections and thematic programming. See the North Carolina Symphony’s set of all Tarheel composers, the Atlanta Symphony doing Christopher Theofanidis’ Genesis-themed oratorio “Creation/ Creator,” Brooklyn’s The Knights with the San Francisco Girls Chorus, and the Boulder Philharmonic’s tribute to the National Park Service, appropriately topical for a moment when Smokey the Bear has gone rogue on Twitter. March 28–April 1 at various venues. $25. —Mike Paarlberg
sf JAzz collective Blues Alley. 8 p.m.; 10 p.m. $55–$60.
4.8 Saturday
Anne-soPhie mutter Kennedy Center Concert Hall. 3 p.m. $30–$90. AnoushkA shAnkAr Sixth & I Historic Synagogue. 7 p.m.; 9:30 p.m. $40. BiG seAn Fillmore Silver Spring. 8 p.m. $45–$155.
reGinAld cyntJe Twins Jazz. 9 p.m.; 11 p.m. $27.
cécile mclorin sAlvAnt And AAron diehl Barns at Wolf Trap. 8 p.m. $35–$45.
roy hArGrove Blues Alley. 8 p.m.; 10 p.m. $55–$60.
frAnkie vAlli & the four seAsons Warner Theatre. 8 p.m. $48–$145.
the slAckers, the scotch Bonnets Rock & Roll Hotel. 8 p.m. $20–$25.
lAdies sinG the Blues Music Center at Strathmore. 8 p.m. $35–$75. meli’sA morGAn Howard Theatre. 8 p.m. $35–$55.
4.2 Sunday
hiGh wAisted, the rememBerABles, GreenlAnd DC9. 8:30 p.m. $10.
nAtionAl symPhony orchestrA Performs Prokofiev’s PiAno concerto/shostAkovich’s fifth symPhony Kennedy Center Concert Hall. 8 p.m. $15–$89.
kehlAni Fillmore Silver Spring. 8 p.m. Sold out. nelson douGherty Twins Jazz. 8 p.m.; 10 p.m. $22.
sf JAzz collective Blues Alley. 8 p.m.; 10 p.m. $55–$60.
roy hArGrove Blues Alley. 8 p.m.; 10 p.m. $55–$60.
willie nile The Hamilton. 8 p.m. $20–$25.
thAo (of the Get down stAy down) Rock & Roll Hotel. 8 p.m. $20–$25.
4.9 Sunday
dAmAGed city fest Black Cat Backstage. 7:30 p.m. n/a.
4.3 Monday
JAin, two feet Rock & Roll Hotel. 8 p.m. $15–$18.
2017 neA JAzz mAsters triBute concert Kennedy Center Concert Hall. 8 p.m. Free.
PuBliquArtet Mansion at Strathmore. 4 p.m. $30.
BohemiAn cAverns JAzz orchestrA 7th AnniversAry Blues Alley. 8 p.m.; 10 p.m. $35.
sf JAzz collective Blues Alley. 8 p.m.; 10 p.m. $55–$60.
killswitch enGAGe & AnthrAx Fillmore Silver Spring. 7 p.m. $35.
4.10 Monday
4.4 tueSday
emily wells Black Cat Backstage. 7:30 p.m. $12–$15.
dAniil trifonov Kennedy Center Concert Hall. 8 p.m. $30–$110.
modern enGlish Rock & Roll Hotel. 8 p.m. $20.
kolArs DC9. 9 p.m. $10–$12.
xiu xiu Songbyrd Music House and Record Cafe. 4:30 p.m. $13–$15.
u.s. Air force BAnd chAmBer PlAyers series Lyceum. 7:30 p.m. Free.
4.11 tueSday
4.5 WedneSday
Amy GrAnt Birchmere. 7:30 p.m. $59.50.
keith Busey & friends Blues Alley. 8 p.m.; 10 p.m. $35.
deon cleAncutt Twins Jazz. 8 p.m.; 10 p.m. $22.
son volt 9:30 Club. 7 p.m. $25.
meklit hAdero Blues Alley. 8 p.m.; 10 p.m. $40.
u.s. Air force BAnd chAmBer PlAyers series Lyceum. 7:30 p.m. Free.
mo lowdA & the humBle, stoP liGht oBservAtions DC9. 9 p.m. $12. PArty thieves SoundCheck. 10 p.m. $15.
4.6 thurSday
BAltimore symPhony orchestrA: Berlioz’s symPhonie fAntAstique Music Center at Strathmore. 8 p.m. $35–$99. elAine eliAs The Hamilton. 7:30 p.m. $30–$60. Gino vAnnelli Bethesda Blues & Jazz. 8 p.m. $65–$135. GreGoire mAret feAt. christie dAshiell Blues Alley. 8 p.m.; 10 p.m. $40. nAtionAl symPhony orchestrA Performs Prokofiev’s PiAno concerto/shostAkovich’s fifth symPhony Kennedy Center Concert Hall. 7 p.m. $15–$89. the weeks DC9. 9 p.m. $15.
4.7 Friday
Boss hoG Rock & Roll Hotel. 8 p.m. $15–$18. frAnkie vAlli & the four seAsons Warner Theatre. 8 p.m. $48–$145. Gino vAnnelli Bethesda Blues & Jazz. 8 p.m. $65–$135. home free Music Center at Strathmore. 8 p.m. $31–$75. nAtionAl symPhony orchestrA Performs Prokofiev’s PiAno concerto/shostAkovich’s fifth symPhony Kennedy Center Concert Hall. 8 p.m. $15–$89.
princeSS nokia
“Don’t you fuck with my energy,” Princess Nokia demands on her 1992 single “Brujas,” a magical exploration of the MC’s spiritual genealogy and a mission statement for the New York-based Afro-Latina rapper. Princess Nokia went all the fuck in on her 2016 release, 1992, which features powerful storytelling about her tomboy identity, pussy power, and unapologetic self-assuredness over beats reminiscent of classic New York hip-hop. After surviving a challenging childhood in foster care with an abusive mother, Princess Nokia leveled up into a completely self-made woman. Undeniable feminist energy, brute dominance, and perpetual boundary pushing are the names of her game and it all comes to an inspiring culmination during her live performances. March 31 at Songbyrd. $15-$18. —Casey Embert
kehLani
After internet trolls caught wind of her tumultuous relationships with rapper PartyNextDoor and Cleveland Cavaliers player Kyrie Irving, Kehlani slipped into a dangerous depression that landed her in a hospital bed after an apparent suicide attempt. But rampant gossip and hostile Twitter fingers didn’t get the best of the Oakland-based R&B singer. Her latest full-length album, SweetSexySavage, is a 2000s-era R&B-inspired triumph and an optimistic effort in creating a sunlit space of happiness and positivity for the once-troubled singer. SweetSexySavage touches on classic R&B dilemmas, like infidelity, heartache, and unrequited love, but Kehlani’s undeniable growth and newfound self-love elevates her sound into a higher echelon of artistry. April 2 at The Fillmore. Sold out. —Casey Embert
14 February 10, 2017 washingtoncitypaper.com 7 September 16, 2011 washingtoncitypaper.com
4.12 WedneSday BAroness 9:30 Club. 7 p.m. $30.
Jozef nAdJ Twins Jazz. 8 p.m.; 10 p.m. $22. kAte temPest U Street Music Hall. 7 p.m. $18. red hot chili PePPers Verizon Center. 8 p.m. $52–$102. why? eskimeAux Black Cat. 7:30 p.m. $16–$18.
4.13 thurSday
cheikh ndoye & friends Blues Alley. 8 p.m.; 10 p.m. $50. diet ciG Rock & Roll Hotel. 8 p.m. $15. Pile, GnArwAhl DC9. 8 p.m. $12– $14.
4.14 Friday
Andrew mcmAhon Fillmore Silver Spring. 8:30 p.m. $35. chAz Bundick meets the mAttson 2 U Street Music Hall. 7 p.m. $20. cheikh ndoye & friends Blues Alley. 8 p.m.; 10 p.m. $50. hAwAiiAn slAck key GuitAr festivAl Barns at Wolf Trap. 8 p.m. $27–$32. mAriAn mclAuGhlin Gypsy Sally’s. 8 p.m. Free. mArquis hill BlAcktet Kennedy Center Terrace Gallery. 9 p.m. $30. tim whAlen quintet Twins Jazz. 9 p.m.; 11 p.m. $27.
Feb. 11 & 12 Jupiter Symphony Michael Rossi, guest conductor Thomas Pandolfi, pianist
April 1 & 2
Chichester Psalms Scott Tucker, guest conductor Choral Arts Society of Washington Chamber Singers
May 20
New World Symphony Emil de Cou, guest conductor Marlisa Woods, violinist
4 0 + C O F F E E VA R I E TA L S B Y T H E P O U N D DRIP
ESPRESSO
POUR OVER
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NITRO
2300 Rhode Island Avenue NE, Washington, DC 20018 202-733-2646 / zekescoffeedc.com
703-548-0885 www.alexsym.org
THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA Benjamin T. Rome School of Music
Spring 2017 Performances
Voting ends March 5
F E AT U R I N G Little Women, Lucia di Lammermoor, and orchestral works, piano pieces, chamber music, and more
For more information and to puchase tickets, visit music.cua.edu. For disability accommodations, please call 202-319-5417.
washingtoncitypaper.com
Best of 2017 out April 6 Reserve now! Call the advertising department to book your Best of D.C. ad today: 202-332-2100
washingtoncitypaper.com February 10, 2017 15
LadieS Sing the BLueS
Few things are more American than a blueswoman. Talented, inspiring black women like Bessie Smith, Mamie Smith, and Ma Rainey are an essential foundation for American musical tradition. As part of the Shades of Blue series at Strathmore, Catherine Russell, Brianna Thomas, and Charenee Wade—three of today’s most talented jazz voices—along with pianist Mark Shane and a sevenpiece band will pay tribute to the power and cleverness of these pioneers. Strathmore is also offering a pre-show lecture by Dr. Eileen M. Hayes, chair of Towson University’s Department of Music, to help fans deepen their knowledge about these remarkable and complex women. April 8 at The Music Center at Strathmore. $35-$75. —Justin Weber
xiu xiu
Since its inception in 2002, Xiu Xiu has been singer-songwriter Jamie Stewart’s laboratory for all things artsy, noisy, and experimental. The band is prolific, releasing almost an album a year for its entire run and often recontextualizes the music of others through his messy, melancholy prism. The latter approach has led to a stark version of Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car,” an album of Nina Simone covers, and a reworking of the iconic Twin Peaks soundtrack (perfectly timed for the show’s forthcoming revival on Showtime). Fifteen years in, Xiu Xiu isn’t slowing down: along with releasing the Twin Peaks album, the band recently collaborated with Mitski, Merzbow, and Danh Vo and will release its 13th album, FORGET, in February. April 10 at Songbyrd. $13-$15. —Chris Kelly
haLcyon Stage caBaret: Joey ariaS channeLS BiLLie hoLiday
If you thought David Sedaris’ Billie Holiday imitation was good, wait until you hear (and see) Joey Arias. Dressed in a black sequined gown and with Lady Day’s iconic white flowers in his hair, the New York-based performance artist not only sounds just like Holiday, but he also mimics her mannerisms. Arias has been channeling the legendary singer since the 1990s to great acclaim. To celebrate Holiday’s birthday month, Arias will appear at Georgetown’s historic Halcyon House as part of former Washington Ballet artistic director Septime Webre’s newest project series, Halcyon Stages Cabaret, which Webre describes as “sometimes bawdy, sometimes naughty and always thoughtful, intimate and intriguing.” April 29 at Halcyon House. $60. —Elena Goukassian
4.15 Saturday
Biffy clyro 9:30 Club. 10 p.m. $25. BroAdwAy sinGs: Beyoncé & Bruno mArs Sixth & I Historic Synagogue. 8 p.m. $25–$28. GAy men’s chorus of wAshinGton: God sAve the queen Barns at Wolf Trap. 4 p.m.; 8 p.m. $45. owen dAnoff AMP by Strathmore. 8 p.m. $20–$30. tiGer okoshi quintet Blues Alley. 8 p.m.; 10 p.m. $50. tim whAlen quintet Twins Jazz. 9 p.m.; 11 p.m. $27.
4.16 Sunday
wAshinGton, d.c. internAtionAl music festivAl Kennedy Center Concert Hall. 8 p.m. $30.
4.17 Monday
mAo sone quArtet Blues Alley. 8 p.m.; 10 p.m. $37. sondre lerche U Street Music Hall. 7 p.m. $20.
4.18 tueSday
The 2017 Broccoli City Festival returns to D.C. bigger and greener than ever. Once again, the eco-friendly concert will be held at Southeast’s Gateway DC and boasts the most prestigious line-up of musicians in its five year history. Taking the stage will be Rae Sremmurd, creators of the petrified viral smash “Black Beatles;” Solange, who released a number one album in September and finally made everyone forget about the elevator incident; and Lil Yachty, a splashy rapper hip-hop fans love to hate (or hate to love). Also performing at this year’s festival: 21 Savage, AlunaGeorge, Rapsody, Kevin Abstract, Nick Grant, and local star Chaz French. This year Broccoli City features an entire week of healthy, creative, and socially conscious events. The festivities include a 5K fitness run, an art and music pop-up shop, and a two-day conference featuring some of the most environmentally innovative authors, entrepreneurs, and experts in the country. May 6 at Gateway DC. $55-$395. —Sidney Thomas 16 February 10, 2017 washingtoncitypaper.com 8 September 16, 2011 washingtoncitypaper.com
tucker flythe quArtet Twins Jazz. 8 p.m.; 10 p.m. $22.
4.24 Monday
Afro Blue Blues Alley. 8 p.m.; 10 p.m. $37.
4.25 tueSday
sArAh JArosz Birchmere. 7:30 p.m. $29.50. u.s. Air force BAnd chAmBer PlAyers series Lyceum. 7:30 p.m. Free. yefin BronfmAn University of the District of Columbia Auditorium. 8 p.m. $65.
4.26 WedneSday
cyrus chestnut Bethesda Blues & Jazz. 8 p.m. $45. overcoAts DC9. 9 p.m. $12. tower of Power Birchmere. 7:30 p.m. $55.
4.27 thurSday
4 GenerAtions of miles Blues Alley. 10 a.m.; 8 p.m. $50–$55.
GnAsh, sweAter BeAts, imAd royAl, wrenn, tulPA & BlAnkts Fillmore Silver Spring. 7 p.m. $20.
mAtthew loGAn vAsquez DC9. 9 p.m. $15.
u.s. Air force BAnd chAmBer PlAyers series Lyceum. 7:30 p.m. Free.
4 GenerAtions of miles Blues Alley. 10 a.m.; 8 p.m. $50–$55.
4.28 Friday
4.19 WedneSday
AdAm PAscAl & Anthony rAPP Music Center at Strathmore. 8 p.m. $30–$75.
lydiA Ainsworth DC9. 9 p.m. $12.
4.29 Saturday
cleAn BAndit 9:30 Club. 7 p.m. $25.
4.20 thurSday
Aimee mAnn Lincoln Theatre. 8 p.m. $45. BiG wild U Street Music Hall. 10 p.m. $15–$18. chronixx Fillmore Silver Spring. 9 p.m. $26. hot 8 BrAss BAnd Jammin Java. 7:30 p.m. $20–$30. nAtionAl symPhony orchestrA Performs Beethoven’s violin concerto Kennedy Center Concert Hall. 7 p.m. $15–$89. oddisee & Good comPAny 9:30 Club. 7 p.m. $25. twins JAzz orchestrA Twins Jazz. 10 p.m. $22.
4.21 Friday
declAssified: zAkir hussAin with the nAtionAl symPhony orchestrA Kennedy Center Concert Hall. 9 p.m. $39. drive-By truckers 9:30 Club. 8 p.m. $35. lizz wriGht Howard Theatre. 8 p.m. $39.50–$65. nAtionAl symPhony orchestrA Performs Beethoven’s violin concerto Kennedy Center Concert Hall. 8 p.m. $15–$89. PArAchute, kris Allen Rock & Roll Hotel. 8 p.m. $25. surfer Blood DC9. 7 p.m. $15.
BroccoLi city FeStivaL
roBert GAmBArini Blues Alley. 8 p.m.; 10 p.m. $45–$50.
4.22 Saturday
AverAGe white BAnd Birchmere. 7:30 p.m. $55. BrAnford mArsAlis quArtet Barns at Wolf Trap. 3 p.m.; 8 p.m. $66–$78. drive-By truckers 9:30 Club. 8 p.m. $35. nAtionAl PhilhArmonic: mussorGsky’s Pictures At An exhiBition Music Center at Strathmore. 3 p.m.; 8 p.m. $23–$78. nAtionAl symPhony orchestrA Performs Beethoven’s violin concerto Kennedy Center Concert Hall. 8 p.m. $15–$89. roBert GAmBArini Blues Alley. 8 p.m.; 10 p.m. $45–$50.
4.23 Sunday
the JAyhAwks Birchmere. 7:30 p.m. $39.50. melendi Fillmore Silver Spring. 8 p.m. $39.
4 GenerAtions of miles Blues Alley. 10 a.m.; 8 p.m. $50–$55. AlAn cumminG sinGs sAPPy sonGs Kennedy Center Concert Hall. 8 p.m. $29–$99. JAvier PeriAnes University of the District of Columbia Auditorium. 2 p.m. $45. Joey AriAs chAnnels Billie holidAy Halcyon House. 6:30 p.m. $60.
4.30 Sunday
4 GenerAtions of miles Blues Alley. 10 a.m.; 8 p.m. $50–$55.
5.1 Monday
steve winwood Warner Theatre. 8 p.m. $57–$265.
5.2 tueSday
Andy shAuf, JuliA JAcklin Rock & Roll Hotel. 8 p.m. $15–$17.
5.3 WedneSday
kAthy mAtteA Barns at Wolf Trap. 8 p.m. $35.
5.4 thurSday
BriAn wilson Lincoln Theatre. 8 p.m. $75–$125. dee dee BridGewAter Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater. 8 p.m. $25–$59.
5.5 Friday
nso PoPs: indiGo Girls Kennedy Center Concert Hall. 8 p.m. $24–$99.
5.6 Saturday
clAP your hAnds sAy yeAh, lAurA GiBson Rock & Roll Hotel. 8 p.m. $20. nso PoPs: indiGo Girls Kennedy Center Concert Hall. 8 p.m. $24–$99. wAshinGton nAtionAl oPerA: mAdAme Butterfly Kennedy Center Opera House. 7 p.m. $25–$300.
5.7 Sunday
BAltimore symPhony orchestrA: strAvinsky’s fireBird Music Center at Strathmore. 3 p.m. $35–$99.
city choir of wAshinGton Performs GeorGe frideric hAndel’s “solomon” National Presbyterian Church. 4:30 p.m. $15–$50. wAshinGton nAtionAl oPerA: mAdAme Butterfly Kennedy Center Opera House. 2 p.m. $25–$300.
5.8 Monday
wAshinGton nAtionAl oPerA: mAdAme Butterfly Kennedy Center Opera House. 7 p.m. $25–$300.
5.9 tueSday
wAshinGton nAtionAl oPerA: mAdAme Butterfly Kennedy Center Opera House. 7:30 p.m. $25–$300.
5.10 WedneSday
simone BAron Mansion at Strathmore. 7:30 p.m. $17. wAshinGton nAtionAl oPerA: mAdAme Butterfly Kennedy Center Opera House. 7:30 p.m. $25–$300.
(202) 450-2917. songbyrddc.com
9:30 Club 815 V St. NW. (202) 265-0930. 930.com
Galaxy Hut 2711 Wilson Blvd., Arlington. (703) 525-8646. galaxyhut.com
AMP by Strathmore 11810 Grand Park Ave., North Bethesda. (301) 581-5100. ampbystrathmore.com
Gypsy Sally’s 3401 K St. NW. (202) 333-7700. gypsysallys.com
1420 K St. NW
Atlas Performing Arts Center 1333 H St. NE. (202) 399-7993. atlasarts.org
The Hamilton 600 14th St. NW. (202) 787-1000. thehamiltondc.com
State Theatre
Barns at Wolf Trap 1635 Trap Road, Vienna. (703) 255-1900. wolftrap.org
Halcyon House 3400 Prospect St. NW. (202) 298-6007. halcyonstage.org
Bethesda Blues and Jazz 7719 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda. (240) 330-4500. bethesdabluesjazz.com
Howard Theatre 620 T St. NW. (202) 803-2899. thehowardtheatre.com
Birchmere 3701 Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria. (703) 549-7500. birchmere.com
Kennedy Center 2700 F St. NW. (202) 467-4600. kennedy-center.org
Black Cat 1811 14th St. NW. (202) 667-4490. blackcatdc.com
Lincoln Theatre 1215 U St. NW. (202) 888-0050. thelincolndc.com
Twins Jazz
Blues Alley 1073 Wisconsin Ave. NW. (202) 337-4141. bluesalley.com
Lyceum 201 S. Washington St., Alexandria. (703) 838-4994.
(202) 234-0072. twinsjazz.com
Bossa Bistro 2463 18th St NW. (202) 667-0088. bossadc.com
Mansion at Strathmore 10701 Rockville Pike, North Bethesda. (301) 581-5100. strathmore.org
murrAy PerAhiA Music Center at Strathmore. 5 p.m. $40–$80.
Catholic University of America 620 Michigan Ave. NE. (202) 319-5000. cua.edu
Music Center at Strathmore 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda. (301) 581-5100. strathmore.org
wAshinGton nAtionAl oPerA: mAdAme Butterfly Kennedy Center Opera House. 2 p.m. $25–$300.
Comet Ping Pong 5037 Connecticut Ave. NW. (202) 364-0404. cometpingpong.com
National Presbyterian Church 4101 Nebraska Ave. NW. (202) 429-2121. bachconsort.org
5.15 Monday
DAR Constitution Hall 1776 D St. NW. (202) 628-4780. dar.org
Rhizome DC 6950 Maple St. NW. rhizomedc.org
DC9 1940 9th St. NW. (202) 483-5000. dcnine.com
Rock & Roll Hotel 1353 H St. NE. (202) 388-7625. rockandrollhoteldc.com
Dumbarton Church 3133 Dumbarton St. NW (202) 333-7212. dumbartonconcerts.org
601 F St. NW.
EagleBank Arena 4500 Patriot Circle, Fairfax. (703) 993-3000. eaglebankarena.com
The Schlesinger Center at NOVA Community College, Alexandria Campus 3001 N. Beauregard St., Alexandria. (703) 845-6156. nvcc.edu/schlesingercenter
Echostage 2135 Queens Chapel Road NE. (202) 503-2330. echostage.com
Sixth & I Historic Synagogue 600 I St. NW. (202) 408-3100. sixthandi.org
513 13th St. NW.
Fillmore Silver Spring 8656 Colesville Road, Silver Spring. (301) 960-9999. fillmoresilverspring.com
Smithsonian American Art Museum 8th and F streets NW. (202) 633-7970. americanart.si.edu
Flash 645 Florida Ave. NW. (202) 827-8791. flashdc.com
Songbyrd Music House and Record Cafe 2477 18th St. NW.
5.11 thurSday
kris kristofferson Warner Theatre. 8 p.m. $55–$75. nAtionAl symPhony orchestrA Performs tchAikovsky’s the nutcrAcker suite/rimsky-korsAkov’s scheherAzAde Kennedy Center Concert Hall. 7 p.m. $15–$89. wAshinGton nAtionAl oPerA: mAdAme Butterfly Kennedy Center Opera House. 7:30 p.m. $25–$300.
5.12 Friday
nAtionAl symPhony orchestrA Performs tchAikovsky’s the nutcrAcker suite/rimsky-korsAkov’s scheherAzAde Kennedy Center Concert Hall. 8 p.m. $15–$89.
5.13 Saturday
nAtionAl symPhony orchestrA Performs tchAikovsky’s the nutcrAcker suite/rimsky-korsAkov’s scheherAzAde Kennedy Center Concert Hall. 8 p.m. $15–$89. wAshinGton nAtionAl oPerA: mAdAme Butterfly Kennedy Center Opera House. 7 p.m. $25–$300.
5.14 Sunday
mAson BAtes’s kc JukeBox: thievery corPorAtion Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater. 7 p.m.; 9:30 p.m. $29–$59. wAshinGton nAtionAl oPerA: mAdAme Butterfly Kennedy Center Opera House. 7 p.m. $25–$300.
5.16 tueSday
Buddy Guy State Theatre. 7:30 p.m. $79.
5.17 WedneSday
the cookers Bethesda Blues & Jazz. 8 p.m. $45. wAshinGton nAtionAl oPerA: mAdAme Butterfly Kennedy Center Opera House. 7:30 p.m. $25–$300.
5.18 thurSday
wAshinGton nAtionAl oPerA: mAdAme Butterfly Kennedy Center Opera House. 7:30 p.m. $25–$300. the weeknd Verizon Center. 7:30 p.m. $33–$475.
SoundCheck
(202) 789-5429. soundcheckdc.com
220 N. Washington St., Falls Church. (703) 237-0300. thestatetheatre.com Tropicalia 2001 14th St. NW. (202) 629-4535. tropicaliadc.com
1344 U St. NW.
University of the District of Columbia Auditorium 4200 Connecticut Ave. NW. (202) 274-5000. udc.edu U Street Music Hall 1115 U St. NW. (202) 588-1889. ustreetmusichall.com Verizon Center
(202) 628-3200. verizoncenter.com Warner Theatre
(202) 783-4000. warnertheatredc.com Washington National Cathedral 3101 Wisconsin Ave. NW. (202) 537-6200. nationalcathedral.org
washingtoncitypaper.com September washingtoncitypaper.com February16, 10,2011 2017917
18 February 10, 2017 washingtoncitypaper.com
Yayoi Kusama: Infinity Mirrors at Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Feb. 23–May 14
OngOing @NatGeo: tHe exHibitioN See the most liked, shared, and commented on photos from National Geographic’s popular Instagram account in this exhibit that spans all corners of the globe and features images of animals, people, and places. National Geographic Museum. Nov. 11 to Feb. 22.
1967: Civil RiGHts at 50 Learn about the increasing militancy of the civil rights movement in the late 1960s in this exhibit that chronicles intense rioting, Martin Luther King Jr.’s opposition to the Vietnam War, and the rise of the Black Panther Party. Newseum. Feb. 7 to Dec. 31. 500 YeaRs of tReasuRes fRom oxfoRd To mark the 500th anniversary of the library at Oxford’s Corpus Christi College, rare items never
seen in America are displayed at the Folger. Visitors can check out ancient works in Hebrew, French, Greek, and Latin and significant scientific discoveries, in addition to illuminating texts. Folger Shakespeare Library. Feb. 4 to April 30. blaise tobia The Philadelphia-based artist presents a series of works created using digital photography techniques and text. Hillyer Art Space. Feb. 3 to Feb. 26.
CaseY sNYdeR The local artist presents a series of mixed media pieces and assemblages that examine contemporary materialism. Hillyer Art Space. Feb. 3 to Feb. 26. CuRatoRs spotliGHt Kayleigh Bryant-Greenwell, Betsy Johnson, Katy Scarlett, and Ann Tarantino create their own unique shows within this group exhibition that promotes the work of
washingtoncitypaper.com washingtoncitypaper.comSeptember February16, 10,2011 2017119
emerging curators and artists. Arlington Arts Center Jan. 21–March 26.
show that includes prints, sculptures, and paintings. Touchstone Gallery. Feb. 3 to Feb. 26.
Della Robbia: Sculpting with coloR in RenaiSSance FloRence View delicate terracotta works and learn about the glazing techniques developed by the acclaimed 15th century Italian artist Luca della Robia in this exhibit that also includes pieces by his nephew, great nephews, and competitors. Conservationists also include their insights into how the pieces were created in this show, presented in partnership with Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts. National Gallery of Art. Feb. 5 to June 4.
February
1,000 yellow DahliaS Performance artist Estefani Mercedes presents, through video and photos, her September project in which she delivered messages from Hispanic Americans attached to yellow dahlias, the official flower of Mexico, to Donald Trump at Trump Tower. VisArts. Feb. 17 to March 19. antoine williaMS Williams explores his cultural identity through the lens of institutional inequality in this exhibit that combines mixed-media installations with paintings, drawings, and collage. VisArts. Feb. 24 to March 26.
Downing, MehRing, ReeD Founding Washington Color School painters Thomas Downing, Paul Reed, and Howard Mehring are celebrated in this exhibition that looks at their bold use of color and geometry and explains how their work differed from the rest of the members of the group. Hemphill. Feb. 4 to April 1.
boRDeR cRoSSing Albuquerque-based artist Jami Porter Lara combines age-old techniques with contemporary objects in this series of pottery vessels molded to resemble plastic water bottles. After seeing many abandoned plastic bottles and discovering pieces of ancient pottery while exploring sections of the U.S.–Mexico border, she was inspired to explore the boundaries between natural and manufactured objects. National Museum of Women in the Arts. Feb. 17–May 14.
excellence in pRintMaking Students from local universities display their best prints at this annual exhibition presented by the Washington Print Foundation. Washington Printmakers Gallery. Feb. 1 to Feb. 25. gatewayS/poRtaleS This exhibit highlights migrant populations in D.C., Baltimore, Charlotte, and Raleigh-Durham and the ways their cultures have impacted their lives in America. Whether that is through street festivals and public displays of heritage or social justice initiatives, the exhibit uses text and visual art to communicate these ideas and experiences. Anacostia Community Museum. Dec. 5, 2016 to Aug. 8, 2017.
eSteban Del Valle The RISD-trained painter looks at the ways class and privilege influence institutions in his brightly colored works. VisArts. Feb. 24 to March 26. eVeRyone loVeS the SunShine South Carolina-based artist Charles Williams presents a series of paintings and drawings influenced by racial history. Morton Fine Art. Feb. 24 to March 15. FRienDS anD FaShion: an aMeRican DiploMat in 1820S RuSSia See a series of watercolor paintings of the family of Henry Middleton, a Minister to Russia in the 1820s, presented together for the first time since Hillwood acquired it in 2004. The images chronicle Middleton’s daily life in St. Petersburg and its surrounding environments, offering viewers some insight into life abroad in the years before cameras. Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens. Feb. 18 to June 11.
in the libRaRy: pRoceSS anD paRticipation in the woRk oF chRiSto anD Jeanne-clauDe Culled from the National Gallery of Art Library’s department of image collection, this small show of photos by Harry Shunk and János Kender chronicles the creation of “Wrapped Coast” and “Valley Curtain,” two seminal pieces of environmental art by Christo and Jeanne-Claude. National Gallery of Art. Feb. 6 to April 14. luMiniFeRouS aetheR Chandi Kelley and Marissa Long present a series of photographic works in this show that explores a long-dispelled phenomenon about the way light travels through empty space. Kelley’s work aims to capture a sense of magic, while Long looks at the idea of portals and other magical transportation points. Transformer Gallery. Feb. 4 to March 11. MeMoRyScapeS: bluRRy lineS iii Steve Alderton explores the limits of what he remembers in this exhibition of blurred landscape paintings. Touchstone Gallery. Feb. 3 to Feb. 26. MetallicS: paintingS anD pRintS Artist Mary D. Ott, who studied at the Corcoran and joined Touchstone in 2001, presents a series of works that incorporate gold, silver, and copper elements. Touchstone Gallery. Feb. 3 to Feb. 26. Mike ShaFFeR: toweRS & MonuMentS Shaffer’s wood sculptures incorporate elements of Pop Art, Conceptual Art, and Minimalism. This exhibit, curated by Bobby Donovan, includes pieces Shaffer created starting in the 1970s. Katzen Arts Center at American University. Feb. 7 to March 12. new MeMbeRS Show Painter Hee Hyoun Chung presents a series of works inspired by memories of a trip to Cuenca, Spain, and Brian Truesdale’s abstract, layered pieces convey a sense of mystery. Foundry Gallery. Feb. 1 to Feb. 26. pin chieh tSeng The Taiwanese artist presents a series of brightly colored and patterned paintings. Hillyer Art Space. Feb. 3 to Feb. 26. toulouSe-lautRec illuStRateS the belle Époque The acclaimed French artist and bon vivant comes alive in this exhibition that includes more than 100 pieces that celebrate performers like Aristide Bruant, Marcelle Lender, and Cha-UKao. This exhibition marks the first time the artist’s work has been celebrated in this manner. Phillips Collection. Feb. 4 to April 30. unity Though the world might be lacking it right now, Touchstone artists aim to bring a sense of wholeness to the works featured in this group
Luminiferous Aether
A late 19th-century term for the medium by which light can be propagated is a clever title for a photographic exhibition. But Chandi Kelley and Marissa Long also use their photographs as an attempt to navigate the metaphysical spaces that contain unseeable experience. Those passages that “luminiferous aether” was coined to explain before the advancement of modern physics manifest in Kelley’s images of ethereal materializations of objects, which seem to defy placement in tangible spaces. Her photographs are like transformative and totemic documents of some invisible reality. Long’s work offers a counterpoint, with more tangential imitations of portals within recognizable environments, still lifes, and figurative compositions. Whether or not you are transformed—or transported—through viewing the artists’ complementary series, you can at least chew on your ideas of magic and science, reality and matter. Through March 11 at Transformer. Free. —Erin Devine
CurAtors spotLight
It would be impossible here to preview four unique curatorial efforts that feature two-dozen artists, but it’s safe to say that Arlington Arts Center’s biannual Curators Spotlight never falls short of provoking thought. It’s one of very few efforts among non-profits in the D.C. area to both fund and foster new curators who bring together regional and national artists in meticulously planned exhibitions of contemporary art. This year’s curators—Kayleigh Bryant-Greenwell, Betsy Johnson, Katy Scarlett, and Ann Tarantino—have chosen themes that at first glance seem relatively unambiguous, if not common to contemporary curating: the body, the labor of art-making, the internet, and water. But the diversity of selected works and the shrewd dialogue these curators ravel around them will have viewers seeing their everyday world differently. Through March 26 at the Arlington Arts Center. Free. —Erin Devine
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the hanD pRint woRkShop: twenty yeaRS oF paRtneRShip in pRint Prints from acclaimed artists William Christenberry and Renee Stout, as well as pieces by artists who formerly lived in the Soviet Union, are displayed in this show that pays tribute to Dennis O’Neil’s Hand Print Workshop. The Athenaeum. Feb. 23 to April 2. pathFinDeRS Local artist Michael Platt presents a series of digitally altered images that feature female forms floating above cities. Honfleur Gallery. Feb. 10 to April 1. pRoceSS & pRactice Artists Héctor Cataño, Eric Celarier, Alexis Gomez, Sarah Jamison, Ashley Ja’nae, Zofie Lang, Kelly Posey, Katie Pumphrey, Renee Regan, and Julie Wills, the latest cohort participating in DCAC’s Sparkplug collective, present their work in this group exhibition. Each piece explores the physical and psychological processes the artists use, forcing viewers to think more deeply. DC Arts Center. Feb. 12 to March 19. ReclaMation Ric Cunningham presents his first solo show, a series of soft female forms painted on old, uneven boards. The work encourages visitors to embrace second chances as well as the sorrow that comes from revisiting old memories. Vivid Solutions Gallery. Feb. 10 to April 9. Righting a wRong: JapaneSe aMeRicanS anD woRlD waR ii In commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the signing of Executive Order 9066, which sent Japanese Americans to internment camps across the country during World War II, curators from the American History Museum present this exhibit that explains how the constitutional rights of thousands of Americans were threatened and how those in the camps managed to survive. Members of the Japanese American community are encouraged to donate and identify artifacts that could be included in the exhibition. National Museum of American History. Feb. 17 to Feb. 19. SelFie: Me, MySelF, anD uS Artists Michael Booker, Delesslin “Roo” George-Warren, Megan Maher, Jerome Skiscim, Brendan L. Smith, Casey
THE NATIoNAL MUSEUM oF AFRICAN AMERICAN HISToRY AND CULTURE CELEBRATES
BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2017 F IL M SC R E E N I N G Wednesday, Feb. 1, 7 pm
B o o k S I GN I N G Wednesday, Feb. 8, 7–9 pm
PA N EL D I SC USSI o N Thursday, Feb. 9, 6 pm
PA N EL D I SC USSI oN Tuesday, Feb. 21, 7–9 pm
PER F oR M ANC E Sunday, Feb. 26, 3–5 pm
I’m Not Your Negro
Never Caught: The Washingtons’ Relentless Pursuit of their Runaway Slave, ona Judge
From Tarzan to Tonto: Stereotypes as obstacles toward a More Perfect Union
NMAAHC Fashion Collection: Iconic Looks
A Celebration of Black Composers and Chamber Music Performed by Pershing’s own
A discussion with author Erica Armstrong Dunbar, University of Delaware, about her new book.
A discussion among noted scholars, authors and critics about the persistent presence of stereotypes and the barriers they pose towards a more enlightened and inclusive society.
(95 minutes, PG-13) Raoul Peck’s compelling new documentary based on literary icon James Baldwin’s final and unpublished manuscript Remember This House. Narrated by Samuel L. Jackson.
Books will be available for sale and signing courtesy of Smithsonian Enterprises.
a Live webcasts and
further Information at www.nmaahc.si.edu Connect with us on
Presented by the National Museum of the American Indian, the National Museum of African Art and NMAAHC. Rasmuson Theater, NMAI, 4th Street and Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C.
a Watch this live webcast only at nmai.si.edu/ multimedia/webcasts
Image credits, left to right: Photo by Dan Budnik; Courtesy of the author; Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of the Collection of James M. Caselli and Jonathan Mark Scharer; Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of the Black Fashion Museum founded by Lois K. Alexander-Lane; Courtesy US Army Band.
Pulitzer Prize-winning fashion writer Robin Givhan interviews haute couture designers who have contributed to NMAAHC’s collections.
The U.S. Army Band, known as Pershing’s Own, will perform chamber music works by esteemed African American classical music composers.
Unless otherwise noted, all programs are FREE and take place at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in the Oprah Winfrey Theater 1400 Constitution Ave., NW Washington, DC. Seating is limited and on a first-come, first-served basis. Reservations are strongly encouraged but not required. Reserve through WWW.ETIX.COM.
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Border Crossing at National Museum of Women in the Arts, Feb. 17–May 14
Snyder, Jerry Truong, and Fabiola Alvarez Yurcisin, past members of DC Arts Center’s Sparkplug Collective, take back the selfie and present a series of self portraits in the forms of painting, sculpture, photography, and site-specific performance. Flashpoint Gallery. Feb. 11 to March 11. to see oR Not to see Shané K. Gooding explores the killing of unarmed black men in this multimedia show that includes stills and videos and follows four different men over time. VisArts. Feb. 17 to March 19. uRbaN liNes Local artist Chalethiea Loring focuses on crafting profiles of people living in socalled bad neighborhoods in this new series of paintings. Anacostia Arts Center. Feb. 10 to Feb. 12. tHe uRbaN sCeNe: 1920–1950 See black and white prints from artists Louis Lozowick, Reginald Marsh, Mabel Dwight, Gerald Geerlings, and Victoria Hutson Huntley, all of which chronicle life in mid-20th century American cities, in this new exhibition curated by Charles Ritchie. As cities became more modern over the decades, the artists depicted the changes they saw and the new buildings that rose during the period. National Gallery of Art. Feb. 26 to Aug. 6. YaYoi kusama: iNfiNitY miRRoRs The acclaimed Japanese artist, known for her spectacular mirror rooms, quirky sculptures, and large paintings, celebrates her 65-year career with a massive exhibition at the Hirshhorn. In her first North American exhibition in more than two decades, visitors will be immersed in Kusama’s whimsical art that began with polka dot “Happenings” on the streets of New York and continued with All the Eternal Love I Have For the Pumpkins, her most recent Infinity Room. Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. Feb. 23 to May 14. You CaN GRow it! Learn about the art of horticulture in this new exhibit that encourages visitors to get their hands dirty and figure out the causes of common garden problems. From easy plants that busy people can care for to skills that need a little more development, there’s something in this exhibition for everyone. United States Botanic Garden. Feb. 18 to Oct. 15.
March
48tH aNNual lauRel aRt Guild JuRied exHibitioN Artists from the Washington area present paintings, collages, sculptures, and photos at this long-running juried show. Montpelier Arts Center. March 10 to April 2. adveRtisiNG waR Before the advent of modern technology, the only way for citizens to find out about wars was through printed media. This small exhibition of war posters from World War I explains how these images conveyed news from the war front, documented the increased role of women, and showcased America’s allies and enemies. National Museum of American History. March 17 to Jan. 31. aRCHiteCtuRe of aN asYlum Learn how St. Elizabeths Hospital transformed from a cuttingedge treatment center for psychiatric patients to a contemporary facility that will include a sports arena and government offices in this new exhibit that includes architectural drawings from the Library of Congress, models, and equipment used at the hospital. National Building Museum. March 25 to Jan. 10, 2018. CHRomatiC sCale: pRiNts bY pollY apfelbaum The American printmaker showcases a series of brightly colored, abstract works in this exhibition that looks at the performative aspects of her work as well as her woodblock technique. National Museum of Women in the Arts. March 10 to July 2. east of tHe mississippi: NiNeteeNtH-CeNtuRY ameRiCaN laNdsCape pHotoGRapHY Discover what America looked like in the 1800s in this photo exhibition, the first to focus exclusively on areas east of the Mississippi River. Including images of Niagara Falls and the White Mountains, this show chronicles seminal events like the Civil War and the rise of cultural movements like environmentalism. National Gallery of Art. March 12 to July 16.
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Architecture of an Asylum at National Building Museum, March 25–Jan. 10
Process and ParticiPation in the Works of christo and Jeanne-claude
Christo and Jeanne-Claude are one of the most romantic couples in the history of art. Born on the same day—Christo in Bulgaria, Jeanne-Claude in Morocco—they met in Paris in 1958. After a complicated courtship that would rival any soap opera, their shared passion as collaborators solidified a bond that lasted five decades, during which they famously wrapped buildings, structures, and landscapes around the world. Documentation is essential to any form of temporary art, and the National Gallery of Art recently acquired the couple’s only archive of 2,300 photographs. They document their early public projects and are now on view for the first time. Rarely does a Museum Library exhibit get much notice from visitors, so taking the time in an intimate setting to view the art couple, in love and at work in their early days, will make an inspiring Valentine’s Day alternative. Through April 14 at the National Gallery of Art, East Building. Free. —Erin Devine
EclEctic Photographer Alex Keto presents a series of images he photographs and later augments in this exhibition. Washington Printmakers Gallery. March 1 to March 25.
doctors and nurses used on the battlefield and the ways these practices were impacted by an evolving industrial society. National Museum of American History. March 31 to Jan. 31, 2018.
EmErging Visions: intEractions Fairfax County high school students create and present display-worthy works created in response to the work of Shih Chieh Huang, which was displayed at GRACE last fall. Greater Reston Arts Center. March 17 to April 1.
rE-locations In this exhibition of representational paintings, Morgan Craig, Joey Manlapaz, and Trevor Young explore their connection to specific places and capture the meaning of different locations. Brentwood Arts Exchange. March 27 to May 27.
gamEs & Politics Learn about the art behind video games in this interactive exhibition that looks at the motivation of creators and the ways players interact with them. Goethe-Institut Washington. March 15 to March 29.
rE-Vision: looking anEW at thE art of thE krEEgEr musEum and thE dEsign of PhiliP Johnson Marking the 50th anniversary of the museum’s opening, this exhibit looks at the building’s unique look, designed by acclaimed architect Philip Johnson, and the art contained within its walls. Architects Michael E. Hickok and Yolanda Cole use their professional knowledge to curate this exhibit and explain the building’s significance. Kreeger Museum. March 10 to July 29.
gEorgE condo: thE Way i think, 1966–2016 The Phillips Collection celebrates the career of New Hampshire-born artist George Condo with this exhibition of paintings and drawings that combine humor and historical references. Phillips Collection. March 11 to June 25. glass giant Color field painter Jason Gubbiotti presents a series of brightly colored canvases that explore shape and balance in this exhibition of new work, his second at Civilian. Civilian Art Projects. March 11 to April 15. in thE toWEr: thEastEr gatEs Chicagobased artist Theaster Gates showcases a selection of pieces created specifically for the National Gallery in the newly renovated East Building Tower 3 galleries. Among the materials he uses are a floor from a high school gym and old copies of Ebony magazine. National Gallery of Art. March 5 to Sept. 4. insPiring BEauty: 50 yEars of EBony fashion fair See clothes gathered from five decades of this acclaimed fashion event that aimed to bring global fashion trends to predominantly AfricanAmerican audiences in this exhibition, presented at GW in collaboration with the Chicago History Museum. The George Washington University Museum and Textile Museum. March 18 to July 24. JunE schWarcz: inVEntion and Variation The late artist, considered one of the best and most innovative users of enamel in the 20th century, is celebrated in this exhibit that includes more than 50 pieces, some of which have never been seen by the public. Renwick Gallery. March 10–Aug. 27. modErn mEdicinE and thE grEat War In this exhibit, presented to mark the 100th anniversary of the United States’ entrance into World War I, visitors learn about the new medical procedures
thE WoodnEr collEctions: mastEr draWings from sEVEn cEnturiEs See intricate drawings by Leonardo da Vinci, Albrecht Dürer, Raphael, Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, Edgar Degas, and Pablo Picasso in this exhibition donated by 20th century art connoisseur Ian Woodner and his family. National Gallery of Art. March 12 to July 16.
April
artist soldiErs The National Air and Space Museum and The National Museum of American History present a selection of works from World War I, both by professional artists recruited by the Army and by soldiers who recorded the things they saw. Presented to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the United States’ entrance into World War I, this exhibit highlights the need for artistic expression diring times of crisis. National Air and Space Museum. April 7 to Dec. 31. BarBara talBott Talbott, who worked professionally in advertising and graphic design, returns to her roots with this exhibition that incorporates the training she received at MICA. Montpelier Arts Center. April 8 to April 30. EPhEmEra Artists from around the world present works that are purposely meant to decompose over time or that capture the fleeting nature of certain things in this group exhibit. Target Gallery at Torpedo Factory. April 1 to May 14. thE facE of BattlE: amEricans at War, 9/11 to noW This exhibit chronicles American participation in 21st century wars through photographs, site-specific drawings, paintings, and sculptures.
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orchids: a MoMent
The corpse flower is so 2016: Now there’s a new blockbuster botanical exhibit in town. If you thought the Hirshhorn’s previous offering of Ragnar Kjartansson’s Woman in E was the epitome of living art, get ready for hundreds of varieties of live orchids (to be continually rotated throughout the exhibit for freshness). The United States Botanical Gardens has traditionally hosted their annual orchid exhibition at the Gardens or the Natural History Museum, but this time they’re housed in modular shelving around the curves of the Hirshhorn, like a gigantic living cabinet of curiosities. Time-lapse videos in the exhibit will demonstrate how orchids burst into bloom, providing a much needed glimpse of warmth and renewal in the doldrums of winter. Through May 14 at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. Free. —Stephanie Rudig
Border crossing
With the promise of a wall being built on the U.S.-Mexico border, Albuquerque-based artist Jami Porter Lara’s work is more potent and timely than ever. While exploring a part of the border, Porter Lara discovered ancient pieces of pottery as well as discarded two liter bottles that were presumably left by border crossers. Since this discovery, she’s fired clay found near her home into ceramic vessels using traditional pottery methods, adding a permanence to objects that are typically thought of as junk. Her forms wink at the ubiquity and mass production of plastic bottles, with some mutating into stubbornly unusable shapes. Switching up the materials demanding that the objects become vessels of storytelling. Feb. 17–May 14 at the National Museum of Women in the Arts. $10. —Stephanie Rudig
THRU SEPT 3, 2017 AVAM.ORG
AMERICAN VISIONARY ART MUSEUM 800 KEY HWY, BALTIMORE, MD Wendy Brackman, Brackman’s Botanical Bonanza! Hand painted paper plates, mixed media. Photo: Jill Ribich
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In the Library: Process and Participation in the Work of Christo and Jeanne-Claude at National Gallery of Art, to April 14
YAYoi kusAmA: infinitY mirrors
Legendary Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama has never been one to accept boundaries. That’s evident in the variety of her works, ranging from depictions of radical nude “Happenings” in the 1960s to paintings with a dizzying array of repeated brushstrokes to bedotted outdoor sculptures. She’s described literally being unable to keep a painting within a canvas, often extending beyond the edges to paint directly on the floor. Her bewildering patterns are easy to get absorbed into, hypnotizing the viewer like Magic Eye images and seemingly going on forever. So it’s fitting that while Kusama’s show at the Hirshhorn will feature a variety of art from her storied career, her six “Infinity Rooms” will be the main draw. In these enveloping rooms, lights, dots, and sculptural elements appear endlessly reflected in multiple mirrors, sometimes giving one the effect of floating in the middle of an eternal galaxy. The rooms are small and best viewed with fewer people cluttering the effect, so timed tickets will be made available Feb. 13. If you can’t get in, never fear—you’ll undoubtedly be able to live vicariously through the infinite scroll of your Instagram feed. Feb. 23–May 14 at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. Free. —Stephanie Rudig
eAst of the mississippi: nineteenth-CenturY AmeriCAn LAndsCApe photogrAphY
Eight different artists present pieces that focus on the experiences of soldiers who have served at home and abroad. National Portrait Gallery. April 7 to Jan. 28, 2018. fRÉdÉRiC bazille aNd tHe biRtH of impRessioNism Though not as well known as his contemporaries Claude Monet and Auguste Renoir, Frédéric Bazille remains a significant figure in the Impressionism movement. This exhibit explains his significant role by displaying his work along side pieces by his contemporaries and predecessors. National Gallery of Art. April 9 to July 9. tHe GReat dismal swamp Acclaimed multimedia artist Radcliffe Bailey makes his D.C.-area debut with this exhibition that addresses his family’s Virginia heritage and the state’s role in the Underground Railroad. Greater Reston Arts Center. April 21 to July 8. iN tHe libRaRY: CompaNioN pieCes In contemporary art movements like performance art and Minimalism, a poster was sometimes the only tangible object that represented the art. Several of these posters from the National Gallery of Art Library are displayed and explain the connection between the work and the accompanying physical document. National Gallery of Art. April 24 to Aug. 25. iNveNtiNG utamaRo: a JapaNese masteRpieCe RedisCoveRed For the first time in more than a century, three seminal paintings by 18th
century Japanese painter Kitagawa Utamaro are presented together. “Snow at Fukagawa,” recently rediscovered at Hakone, Japan’s Okada Museum of Art, is displayed along with “Cherry Blossoms at Yoshiwara,” on loan from Hartford, Conn.’s Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, and “Moon at Shinagawa,” which museum founder Charles Lang Freer purchased in 1903. Arthur M. Sackler Gallery. April 8 to July 9. Natalie CHeuNG aNd Nate lewis Cheung presents a series of colorful, altered photographs, while Lewis displays paper sculptures inspired by the human form. Morton Fine Art. April 7 to April 26. substRates Artists present paintings and drawings on unconventional surfaces like cardboard, ceramic, and fabric in this group show. Montpelier Arts Center. April 2 to May 28.
May
david bRosCH The printmaker, who developed his skills in classes at Montpelier and now teaches there, presents a series of intaglio and linocut prints. Montpelier Arts Center. May 6 to May 28. dowN tHese meaN stReets: CommuNitY aNd plaCe iN uRbaN pHotoGRapHY Works by Frank Espada, Camilo José Vergara, Anthony Hernandez, Ruben Ochoa, and Manuel Acevedo chronicle cities around the U.S. following World War II in this expansive photo exhibit. All the art-
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For somewhat obvious reasons—including the inherent drama of America’s westward expansion and the striking nature of the landforms of the West—a disproportionate share of the attention given to American photography of the 19th century has historically focused on the chroniclers of the West, from Timothy O’Sullivan and Alexander Gardner to Carleton Watkins and Edward Curtis. Now comes a counterpoint: the National Gallery of Art exhibit, East of the Mississippi: Nineteenth-Century American Landscape Photography. It features 175 works—daguerreotypes, stereographs, albumen prints, cyanotypes—that collectively capture “a cultural landscape fundamentally altered by industrialization, the Civil War, and tourism.” The black-and-white and sepia-hued photographs on view, often rawer and humbler, will pose a challenge to the dominant 19th century visual portrayals of the eastern United States—the color-drenched luminist masterpieces of the Hudson River Valley. March 12–July 16 at the National Gallery of Art. Free. —Louis Jacobson
inspiring BeAutY: 50 YeArs of the eBonY fAshion fAir
Eunice Johnson (along with her husband John) founded Ebony magazine and became a pioneering force in fashion. With Ebony, they convinced designers like Valentino to use black models and market their clothing to black women. Johnson started the Ebony Fashion Fair as a one-off runway show to raise money for a New Orleans hospital in 1958, and it quickly morphed into an annual cross-country tour that garnered more than $55 million for charitable causes over its 50-year run. Johnson also created Fashion Fair cosmetics, a line of prestige products that black consumers could purchase at top department stores. The show features hundreds of items from Johnson’s collection, including photos and videos from the fairs and many breathtaking garments from the likes of Karl Lagerfeld, Missoni, and Vivienne Westwood. But most prominent are the pieces from designers of color—Patrick Kelly and Stephen Burrows, among others—that Johnson worked hard to promote. March 18–July 24 at George Washington University Museum and Textile Museum. $8. —Stephanie Rudig
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ists feel intense connections to these places and capture scenes and more abstract images. Smithsonian American Art Museum. May 12–Aug. 6.
viCtoR ekpuk The Nigerian-American artist uses visual symbols from world cultures in his large and unique works. Morton Fine Art. May 12 to May 31.
patteRN aNd RepetitioN Reni Gower and Stephen Boocks present works full of precise pattern work and bright colors in this dual exhibition. The Athenaeum. May 18 to June 25.
waNdeRlust Nina Muys, a former president of Washington Printmakers Gallery, presents a series of prints inspired by travel. Washington Printmakers Gallery. May 3 to May 27.
ArChiteCture of An AsYLum: st. eLizABeths 1852-2017
St. Elizabeths Hospital in Southeast D.C. was built in 1852 as a federally funded psychiatric facility tasked with taking care of mentally ill veterans and local residents. Before the Department of Homeland Security completely transforms the now largely abandoned campus into its new headquarters, the National Building Museum invites us to learn about the history of the infamous asylum where the poet Ezra Pound was a patient for 12 years, and where Carl Jung did research on race and the subconscious. The exhibition will include architectural drawings and blueprints of what was supposed to be one of the most humane mental hospitals in the country, a project that quickly turned into a tragic dystopia. March 25–Jan. 10, 2018 at the National Building Museum. $10. —Elena Goukassian
the fACe of BAttLe: AmeriCAns At WAr, 9/11 to noW
The United States has been at war essentially without pause for the past decade and a half, but since a relatively small force of men and women are assigned to combat zones—in contrast to all-out conflicts like World War II and draftdriven wars like Vietnam—the post-9/11 combat landscape has not been an overwhelming shaper of the broader art and culture. The National Portrait Gallery’s The Face of Battle: Americans at War, 9/11 to Now seeks to bring contemporary war art to the fore, focusing on the “psychological impact and consequences of modern warfare on those who serve.” The exhibit includes more than 50 works by six featured artists—Ashley Gilbertson, Louie Palu, Stacy Pearsall, Emily Prince, Vincent Valdez, and probably the bestknown, the late photographer Tim Hetherington, killed in 2011 while on assignment in war-torn Libya. April 7–May 7, 2018 at the National Portrait Gallery. Free. —Louis Jacobson
doWn these meAn streets
The D.C. area has been treated to several smart street photography exhibits in recent years, but the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s upcoming Down These Mean Streets: Community and Place in Urban Photography is the first to focus specifically on the Latino “street” in the United States, including neighborhoods in New York City, Los Angeles, and other locales. The photographs, taken over a period of decades, include works by Frank Espada, Camilo José Vergara, Anthony Hernandez, Ruben Ochoa, and Manuel Acevedo. Of these, Vergara’s work may be the most familiar from several successful, sprawling shows at the National Building Museum that captured his portrayals of run-down neighborhoods in urban areas, often through time-lapse series that show the inexorable advance of physical deterioration. May 12–Aug. 6 at the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Free. —Louis Jacobson
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Anacostia Community Museum 1901 Fort Place SE. (202) 633-4820. anacostia.si.edu. Arlington Arts Center 3550 Wilson Blvd., Arlington. (703) 248-6800. arlingtonartscenter.org Arthur M. Sackler Gallery 1050 Independence Ave. SW. (202) 633-4880. asia.si.edu The Athenaeum 201 Prince St., Alexandria. (703) 548-0035. nvfaa.org Brentwood Arts Exchange 3901 Rhode Island Ave., Brentwood. (301) 277-2863. arts.pgparks.com Civilian Art Projects 4718 14th St. NW. civilianartprojects.com DC Arts Center 2438 18th St. NW. (202) 462-7833. dcartscenter.org Flashpoint Gallery 916 G St. NW. (202) 315-1305. culturaldc.org Folger Shakespeare Library 201 E. Capitol St. SE. (202) 544-7077. folger.edu The George Washington University Museum and Textile Museum 701 21st St. NW. (202) 994-5200. museum.gwu.edu Goethe-Institut Washington 1990 K St. NW #03. (202) 847-4700. goethe.de/washington Greater Reston Arts Center 12001 Market St., Ste. 103, Reston. (703) 471-9242. restonarts.org Hemphill 1515 14th St. NW. (202) 234-5601. hemphillfinearts.com Hillwood Estate, Museum, and Gardens 4155 Linnean Ave. NW. (202) 686-5807. hillwoodmuseum.org Hillyer Art Space 9 Hillyer Court NW. (202) 338-0325. hillyerartspace.org Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden 7th Street and Independence Avenue SW. (202) 633-4674. hirshhorn.si.edu Honfleur Gallery 1241 Good Hope Road SE. (202) 365-8392. honfleurgallery.com Katzen Arts Center at American University 4400 Massachusetts Ave. NW. (202) 885-2787. american.edu/cas/katzen Kreeger Museum 2401 Foxhall Road NW. (202) 337-3050. kreegermuseum.org Montpelier Arts Center 9652 Muirkirk Road, Laurel.
(301) 377-7800. arts.pgparks.com Morton Fine Art 1781 Florida Ave. NW. (202) 628-2787. mortonfineart.com National Air and Space Museum 600 Independence Ave. SW. (202) 633-2214. airandspace.si.edu. National Building Museum 401 F St. NW. (202) 272-2448. nbm.org National Gallery of Art 4th Street and Constitution Avenue NW. (202) 737-4215. nga.gov National Geographic Museum 1145 17th St. NW. (202) 857-7588. nationalgeographic.org National Museum of American History 14th Street and Constitution Avenue NW (202) 633-1000. americanhistory.si.edu National Museum of Women in the Arts 1250 New York Ave. NW. (202) 783-5000. nmwa.org National Portrait Gallery 8th and F streets NW. (202) 633-8300. npg.si.edu Newseum 555 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. (888) 639-7386. newseum.org Phillips Collection 1600 21st St. NW. (202) 387-2151. phillipscollection.org Renwick Gallery 1661 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. (202) 633-7970. renwick.americanart.si.edu Smithsonian American Art Museum 8th and F streets NW. (202) 633-7970. americanart.si.edu Studio Gallery 2108 R St. NW. (202) 232-8734. studiogallerydc.com Torpedo Factory Art Center 105 N. Union Street, Alexandria. (703) 838-4565. torpedofactory.org. Touchstone Gallery 901 New York Ave. NW. (202) 347-2787. touchstonegallery.com Transformer Gallery 1404 P St. NW. (202) 483-1102. transformerdc.org U.S. Botanic Garden 100 Maryland Ave. SW. (202) 225-8333. usbg.gov. VisArts 155 Gibbs St., Rockville. (301) 315-8200. visartsatrockville.org Vivid Solutions Gallery and Anacostia Arts Center 1231 Good Hope Road SE. (202) 365-8392. vividsolutionsdc.com Washington Printmakers Gallery 1641 Wisconsin Ave. NW. (202) 669-1497. washingtonprintmakers.com
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Coming up at
SPRING
2017
JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER PRESENTS
STEP AFRIKA! STEP XPLOSION
LADIES SING THE BLUES
Sun, Feb 12, Matinee
JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER ORCHESTRA WITH WYNTON MARSALIS
ALL RISE
Featuring Catherine Russell, Brianna Thomas & Charenée Wade Sat, April 8
AN EVENING WITH
DAVID SEDARIS
Fri & Sun, Feb 24 & 26
Epic and inspirational jazz symphony crisscrosses genres in 12 movements.
Thu, April 13
DRUMLINE LIVE
Fri, April 28
ADAM & ANTHONY LIVE Celebrate the 20th anniversary of Rent with original cast members.
Mon, March 6
THE TEN TENORS
BACKSTAGE WITH THE CREATORS OF SERIAL
THE POWER OF TEN Mon, March 13
Binge Worthy Journalism with Sarah Koenig and Julie Snyder Thu, May 11
KODO
DADAN 2017 Wed, March 15
WHOOPI GOLDBERG
Masters of Japan’s traditional taiko drum
Sat, May 27
REDISCOVERING MERCY AN EVENING WITH
ANNE LAMOTT Wed, April 5
HOME FREE Fri, April 7
clockwise from top: David Sedaris by Anne Fishbein, Step Afrika!, Sarah Koenig by Meredith Heuer, Whoopi Golberg, Wynton Marsalis by Joe Martinez, DRUMLine Live, Kodo, Music Center by Jim Saah
STRATHMORE.ORG | 301.581.5100 | 32 February 10, 2017 washingtoncitypaper.com
On the Red Line
blAck ice Jane Franklin Dance interprets the climate change crisis through movement in this piece that explores what happens to fish and birds as the world continues to get hotter. Theatre on the Run. March 31, 7:30 p.m. $25–$26.50. buscAnDo lA meloDiA Dissonance Dance Theatre combines classical ballet and Afro-modern dance with Latin jazz music in this lively dance concert. Jack Guidone Theater. March 19, 7 p.m. $15–$25. coyAbA DAnce TheATer 20Th AnniversAry Coyaba, known for its pieces that honor West African music and dance traditions, celebrates two decades of work with a weekend of celebratory anniversary shows. Dance Place. March 11, 7 p.m.; March 12, 7 p.m. $15–$45. DAniel burkholDer & DAnceworks PerFormAnce comPAny In Stories from a Life, the performers consider the stories we tell ourselves about ourselves and our history. Choreographer Burkholder uses the life story of his grandmother, Sophia Saren, for inspiration. Dance Place. March 25, 8 p.m.; March 26, 7 p.m. $15–$30.
February
Alvin Ailey AmericAn DAnce TheATer The acclaimed and innovative African-American dance company returns to the Kennedy Center for its annual engagement. Among the featured pieces are Hope Boykin’s “r-Evolution, Dream” and Kyle Abraham’s “Untitled America,” as well as Ailey favorite “Revelations.”. Kennedy Center Opera House. Feb. 10, 7:30 p.m.; Feb. 11, 1:30 p.m.; Feb. 11, 7:30 p.m.; Feb. 12, 1:30 p.m. $39–$125. ATlAs inTersecTions FesTivAl Dancers, musicians, and actors come together to present work for audiences of all ages at this annual festival that celebrates the D.C. arts community. Among this year’s acts are aerial performers, a movement piece narrated by God, and a puppet show about a Puerto Rican frog. Atlas Performing Arts Center. Feb. 24–March 5. $10–$30.
.d0t:: a rotoplastic ballet
Pointless Theatre presents an original play about the distant future using the aesthetics of the past. The play tells the story of the last human alive in a world full of robots through toy theater. A 200-year-old style of puppetry, toy theater tells stories via paperboard figures moving through a miniature opera-stage-like set, which in this case will draw on the paintings of Italian futurist Fortunato Depero. Featuring original electronic music and drawing from a century’s worth of theories about AI, .d0t:: a rotoplastic ballet promises to both delight audiences and make them see their smartphones in a completely different light. April 6 - May 6 at Flashpoint. $15–$30. —Elena Goukassian
iT’s our Time African dance and drum ensemble Soul in Motion celebrates its 33rd anniversary with this performance that, this year, features the premiere of Rosangela Silvestre’s “Temple Memories.” Joe’s Movement Emporium. Feb. 25, 8 p.m.; Feb. 26, 4 p.m. $10–$25.
ron k. brown/eviDence Brown drew inspiration from his collaboration with Cuba’s Malpaso Dance Company when creating Walking Out of the Dark, a rumination on love, loss, and our ability to support the ones we love during times of loss. Dance Place. Feb. 25, 8 p.m.; Feb. 26, 4 p.m. $15–$30. sTeP AFrikA! sTeP XPlosion Celebrate Black History Month with the popular local African dance ensemble that incorporates songs and storytelling into its energetic movement shows. Music Center at Strathmore. Feb. 12, 4 p.m. $35–$75.
March
AlADDin Washington Ballet turns the classic tale of the Arabian pauper-turned-prince into a beautifully costumed ballet that tells the same story through movement and music. THEARC. March 18, 1 p.m.; March 18, 5 p.m.; March 19, 1 p.m.; March 19, 5 p.m. $30–$50.
Giselle The Washington Ballet performs this classic and highly romantic ballet about love, betrayal, and forgiveness in a new staging by artistic director Julie Kent. Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater. March 1, 8 p.m.; March 2, 8 p.m.; March 3, 8 p.m.; March 4, 2 p.m.; March 4, 8 p.m.; March 5, 2 p.m.; March 5, 8 p.m. $33–$130. kylián, Peck, ForsyThe The Washington Ballet performs three innovative contemporary ballets by acclaimed choreographers in this evening of dance. Among the pieces is the company premiere of Justin Peck’s “In Creases,” performed to Philip Glass’ “Four Movements for Two Pianos.” Sidney Harman Hall. March 29, 7:30 p.m.; March 30, 7:30 p.m.; March 31, 7:30 p.m. $25–$118. The liTTle mermAiD Hamburg Ballet returns to the Kennedy Center with a dark spin on Hans Christian Andersen’s fable about the limits one will go to for love. Director and choreographer John Neumeier incorporates elements of Andersen’s biography into this production, set to music by contemporary Russian composer Lera Auerbach. Kennedy Center Opera House. March 28, 7:30 p.m.; March 29, 7:30 p.m.; March 30, 7:30 p.m.; March 31, 7:30 p.m. $29–$125.
FooTworks Percussive DAnce ensemble In Hot Strings and Flying Feet, the acclaimed company uses music to establish connections between cultures and generations. Over the course of four decades, Footworks has performed around the world and regularly works with students in schools. Dance Place. Feb. 18, 8 p.m.; Feb. 19, 4 p.m. $15–$30.
les bAlleTs TrockADero De monTe cArlo The all-male ensemble that performs en pointe and in drag performs a series of excerpts from popular ballets, including Swan Lake, Le Corsaire, and Don Quixote, in a humorous performance that still expresses a profound appreciation for the work it mimics. Kennedy Center Opera House. Feb. 21, 7:30 p.m.; Feb. 22, 7:30 p.m. $29–$99.
el squAD in concerT The acclaimed Japanese street dance squad appears at Joy of Motion’s Jack Guidone Theatre and presents its celebrated light dance, which combines elements of dance, music, and light technology. Jack Guidone Theater. March 26, 7 p.m. $20–$25.
The miGrATion ProjecT (Push/Pull) Jane Franklin Dance explores the idea of immigration in this movement and visual art project conceived with Rosemary Feit Covey. Looking at the ways people and animals change locations, this production starts at Theatre on the Run before taking to the streets and concluding at a different location. Theatre on the Run. March 31, 7:30 p.m. $20–$26.50.
Walking With ’trane
monchichi Company Wang Ramirez presents this lively hip-hop and contemporary piece that looks at the ways we identify ourselves and understand opposing cultures. Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center. March 8, 8 p.m. $10–$25.
The spirited music of jazz saxophonist and composer John Coltrane, a defining figure in jazz’s 20th century cultural and artistic dominance, often serves as inspiration to a wide range of artists. The North Carolina native is even receiving the big screen treatment later this year, with the wide release of John Scheinfeld’s acclaimed film Chasing Trane: The John Coltrane Documentary. With the D.C. premiere of Walking with ’Trane, choreographer Jawole Willa Jo Zollar, the founder and artistic director of the all-female contemporary dance company Urban Bush Women, culls inspiration from the life of Coltrane—his highly chronicled spiritual journey and the seminal work that it led to: 1965’s epic A Love Supreme. The program features accompaniment by jazz pianist George Caldwell, whose fluid playing partners well with the highly interpretive movements of the UBW dancers. The multidisciplinary work is an ideal marriage of jazz and contemporary dance and honors the impact of one of the genre’s most beloved leaders. April 7-8 at The Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater. $25-$79. —Jerome Langston
The selDoms The company, which is known for its ability to connect dance with real life issues, turns its attention to tense moments from the 1960s and the presidency of Lyndon Johnson in Power Goes. Dance Place. March 4, 8 p.m.; March 5, 7 p.m. $15–$30. ubunTu: For The whole oF humAniTy DC Contemporary Dance Theatre/El Teatro de Danza Contemporanea celebrates diversity in this production that highlights young choreographers Chandini Darby, JP Flores, Hannah Conn, and Sydnee Carro. Jack Guidone Theater. March 4, 8 p.m. $25.
april
The 7 FinGers oF The hAnD The Montrealbased movement company combines acrobatic feats, dance, and theatrics to explore a family kitchen where memories are made and stories
washingtoncitypaper.com washingtoncitypaper.comSeptember February16, 10,2011 2017133
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34 February 10, 2017 washingtoncitypaper.com
are told in its latest piece, Cuisine & Confessions. George Mason University Center for the Arts. April 8, 2 p.m.; April 8, 8 p.m.; April 9, 4 p.m. $30–$50. bAlAnchine, rATmAnsky, ThArP See innovative choreography from three different but equally significant choreographers in this showcase that includes George Balanchine’s bright and beautiful “Allegro Brillante,” Twyla Tharp’s funky “Nine Sinatra Songs,” and the company premiere of Alexei Ratmansky’s lush “Seven Sonatas.” Warner Theatre. April 26, 7:30 p.m.; April 27, 7:30 p.m.; April 28, 7:30 p.m.; April 29, 1:30 p.m.; April 29, 7:30 p.m.; April 30, 1:30 p.m.; April 30, 6:30 p.m. $37–$110. bAlleT Across AmericA Misty Copeland, principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre, and Justin Peck, soloist and choreographer with the New York City Ballet, curate two different programs of dance featuring companies from throughout the nation. Kennedy Center Opera House. April 17, 7:30 p.m.; April 19, 7:30 p.m.; April 20, 7:30 p.m.; April 21, 7:30 p.m.; April 22, 1:30 p.m.; April 22, 7:30 p.m.; April 23, 1:30 p.m. $29–$99. blAck GrAce The popular New Zealand-based company incorporates Samoan and Maori traditions into its pieces set to music by Bach and indigenous artists. George Mason University Center for the Arts. April 14, 8 p.m. $29–$48. Demo by DAmiAn woeTzel: sonG & DAnce Woetzel brings together ballerina Tiler Peck, tap dancer Michelle Dorrance, Broadway musicians, and choreographers in this evening that explores how song and dance intersect on the stage and in the wider world. Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater. April 3, 8 p.m. $25–$59. “FlinT,” “AnoTher siDe oF you,” “AkwAnTuo: The journey” In “Flint,” LaTefia Bradley uses movement to explain and express her concerns about the water crisis in Flint, Michigan. Allen Chunhui Xing looks at the ways individuals conform to societal expectations in “Another Side of You.” Mustapha Braimah tells the story of people navigating the visa process in “Akwantuo: The Journey,” which combines traditional African, contemporary and Ghanaian dance styles. Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center. April 6, 7:30 p.m.; April 8, 2 p.m.; April 8, 7 p.m. Free.
mArThA GrAhAm DAnce comPAny The oldest modern dance company in America performs a piece set to Middle Eastern music and two pieces by the company’s founder, “Clytemnestra Act 2,” and “Maple Leaf Rag.” George Mason University Center for the Arts. April 28, 8 p.m. $29–$48. rennie hArris PuremovemenT The leading hip-hop choreographer pays tribute to the power of House music in Lifted. Dance Place. April 22, 8 p.m.; April 23, 7 p.m. $15–$30. rosie herrerA DAnce TheATre Herrera draws on her life story for inspiration for the two pieces she presents at Dance Place. In “Cookie’s Kid,” she tells the story of her childhood and her parents and in “Dining Alone,” she explores themes of isolation and aging. Dance Place. April 8, 8 p.m.; April 9, 7 p.m. $15–$30. wAlkinG wiTh ‘TrAne Acclaimed all-female dance company Urban Bush Women explore the music and legacy of jazz artist John Coltrane in this new work that also incorporates multimedia elements in its staging. Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater. April 7, 8 p.m.; April 8, 8 p.m. $25–$79.
May
DreAmscAPe 2017 Rasta Thomas once again directs this annual gala that features performances from CityDance students and acclaimed professionals. The full lineup of performers will be announced at a later date. Lincoln Theatre. May 6, 8 p.m. $25–$38. GATekeePers Meghan Abadoo presents this dance theater piece that explores the way racial identity and structural inequity intersect. Joe’s Movement Emporium. May 5, 7 p.m. Free. music oF our Time The National Chamber Ensemble performs music from movies and theater, including Alexander Goldstein’s “Trio On The Roof,” while Bowen McCauley Dance presents the world premiere of A. Shor’s “Dreamers” in this varied evening that combines dance and classical music. Rosslyn Spectrum Theater. May 13, 7:30 p.m. $17–$33.
Atlas Performing Arts Center 1333 H St. NE. (202) 399-7993. atlasarts.org
Kennedy Center 2700 F St. NW. (202) 467-4600. kennedy-center.org
Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center Stadium Drive and Route 193, College Park. (301) 405-2787. theclarice.umd.edu
Music Center at Strathmore 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda. (301) 581-5100. strathmore.org
Dance Place 3225 8th St. NE. 202) 269-1600. danceplace.org
Rosslyn Spectrum Theater 1611 N. Kent St., Arlington (703) 276-6701. arlingtonarts.org
George Mason University Center for the Arts 4373 Mason Pond Drive, Fairfax. (888) 945-2468. cfa.gmu.edu
Sidney Harman Hall 610 F St. NW. (202) 547-1122. shakespearetheatre.org
Jack Guidone Theater 5207 Wisconsin Ave. NW (202) 362-3042. joyofmotion.org
THEARC 1901 Mississippi Ave. SE. (202) 889-5901. thearcdc.com
Joe’s Movement Emporium 3309 Bunker Hill Road, Mount Rainier. (301) 699-1819. joesmovement.org
Theatre on the Run 3700 S. Four Mile Run Drive, Arlington. (703) 228-1850.
Lincoln Theatre 1215 U St. NW. (202) 888-0050. thelincolndc.com
Warner Theatre 513 13th St. NW. (202) 783-4000. warnertheatredc.com
2 September 16, 2011 washingtoncitypaper.com
Jak kniGhT The emerging standup performer has earned acclaim at the Montreal Just For Laughs Festival and opened for Joel McHale and Dave Chappelle. DC Improv. March 3, 7:30 p.m.; March 3, 9:45 p.m.; March 4, 7:30 p.m.; March 4, 9:45 p.m. $17. JiM Jefferies The popular Australian comedian is known for his material about gun control, alcoholism, and religion. DAR Constitution Hall. March 10, 8 p.m. $37.50–$47.50. PaTTon osWalT The popular comedian and Northern Virginia native’s film roles include Ratatouille, 22 Jump Street, and Young Adult. Warner Theatre. March 3, 8 p.m.; March 3, 10:30 p.m. $43.50– $57.50.
February
Dick GreGory & Paul Mooney Paul Mooney is best known for his work as a writer for legendary comedian Richard Pryor, as well as his appearances on Comedy Central’s Chappelle’s Show. His honest comedy tackles issues of race and social issues. Dick Gregory is an activist, writer, comedian, and actor. His career dates back to the 1960’s, but he still delivers powerful, and often comedic, performances about race and justice to this day.. Howard Theatre. Feb. 11, 8 p.m. $49.50–$89.50.
JaMes aDoMian The comedian is frequently seen on programs like @Midnight, The Meltdown with Jonah and Kumail, Maron, and Comedy Bang Bang. He spent much of this year playing Bernie Sanders in a series of faux presidential debates around the country. Arlington Cinema & Drafthouse. Feb. 11, 7 p.m.; Feb. 11, 10 p.m. $20.
series Black Dynamite. DAR Constitution Hall. Feb. 11, 8 p.m. $59–$75.
Mike ePPs anD ToMMy DaviDson Epps, seen in popular comedies like Next Friday, Friday After Next, and The Hangover, performs with Davidson, best known for his work on In Living Color and more recently heard as a voice actor on the animated
unDerGrounD coMeDy Amateur and professional comedians perform at this weekly stand-up night at the popular Dupont Circle bar. The Big Hunt. Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. $10.
saM Jay The Boston-born comedian has performed at the Laugh Your Asheville Off Comedy Festival and hosts the Viceland series Flop House. Drafthouse Comedy. Feb. 16, 7 p.m.; Feb. 17, 8 p.m.; Feb. 17, 10 p.m.; Feb. 18 ,7 p.m.; Feb. 18, 9 p.m. $20.
March
ali WonG The comedian, whose acclaimed stand-up special, Baby Cobra, aired on Netflix, also appears on the ABC series American Housewife. Warner Theatre. March 10, 7 p.m.; March 10, 9:30 p.m.; March 11, 7 p.m.; March 11, 9:30 p.m. $37.50– $65. BeTh sTellinG The emerging stand-up comedian, heard on You Made It Weird and The Adam Corolla Show, performs. Drafthouse Comedy. March 10, 8 p.m.; March 10, 10 p.m.; March 11, 7 p.m.; March 11, 9 p.m. $25. carly aquilino Aquilino is best known for her appearances on MTV’s Girl Code and is also heard regularly on Sirius XM. Arlington Cinema & Drafthouse. March 17 7:30 p.m.; March 17, 10 p.m.; March 18, 7 p.m.; March 18, 10 p.m. $20.
Patton oswalt
DaMien leMon Regularly seen on MTV2’s Guy Code and VH1’s Big Morning Buzz Live, the New York-based comedian has also opened for Aretha Franklin and Dick Gregory. Drafthouse Comedy. March 16, 7 p.m.; March 17, 8 p.m.; March 17, 10 p.m.; March 18, 7 p.m.; March 18, 9 p.m. $20.
you’re funny BuT you Don’T look JeWish Italian-, Indian-, Vietnamese-, and African-American comedians share stories about their shared religious heritage and the misconceptions many people have about Jews. Sixth & I Historic Synagogue. March 23, 8 p.m. $15–$18.
aPril
lisa laMPanelli The foul-mouthed comic earned the title of “Comedy’s Lovable Queen of Mean” and recently received a Grammy nomination for Best Comedy Album. Lincoln Theatre. April 8, 8 p.m. Ms. PaT The popular comedian, heard on WTF with Marc Maron and Last Comic Standing, performs. DC Improv. April 6, 7:30 p.m.; April 7, 7:30 p.m.; April 7, 9:45 p.m.; April 8, 7:30 p.m.; April 8, 9:45 p.m.; April 9, 7:30 p.m. $17–$20. naTasha leGGero The star and creator of Another Period has also served as a judge on Last Comic Standing and appears on screen in He’s Just Not That Into You. Arlington Cinema & Drafthouse. April 7, 7:30 p.m.; April 7, 10 p.m.; April 8, 7 p.m.; April 8, 10 p.m. $25.
May
Marc Maron The popular podcast host and stand-up comedian brings his “Too Real” tour to the Warner Theatre. Warner Theatre. May 13, 8 p.m. $28. ToM PaPa The host of Come to Papa on SiriusXM is regularly seen on TV shows, including Fox’s Boom. DC Improv. May 11 7:30 p.m.; May 12, 7:30 p.m.; May 12, 9:45 p.m.; May 13, 7:30 p.m.; May 13, 9:45 p.m. $20.
As the old saying goes, “Tragedy plus time equals comedy.” It’s a formula Patton Oswalt understands—he named his 2014 special Tragedy Plus Comedy Equals Time—especially after a particularly tragic 2016. In April, his wife, crime writer Michelle McNamara, died unexpectedly in her sleep. Since then, he has spoken candidly about his grief on late night shows and on stage. “It’s just going to be a long, long time before I can be the kind of person that she made me again,” he said when he accepted the Emmy for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special for Talking for Clapping (coincidentally released the day after McNamara passed). As he returns to the stage in 2017, here’s hoping enough time has passed for tragedy to turn into comedy—for his sake, not ours. March 3 at Warner Theatre. $37.50 - $57.50. —Chris Kelly
Marc Maron
For a guy whose success grew out of a life filled with anger, paranoia, narcissism, and jealousy, Marc Maron has plenty to be happy about these days. His game-changing podcast WTF with Marc Maron is nearing the 800-episode mark, he ended his eponymous sitcom after four seasons on IFC, and he performed at the legendary Carnegie Hall last November. For three tumultuous decades, Maron has mined his comedic art from an internal pit of negativity … so what happens when the pit is full of plaudits? It’s a question he seems to be asking himself, increasingly wondering “what’s next” in his WTF monologues and interviews. He’s even suggested that he might be done with stand-up (for a while at least), so take this chance to see Maron while you still can. May 13 at Warner Theatre. $28. —Chris Kelly
Arlington Cinema & Drafthouse 2903 Columbia Pike, Arlington. (703) 486-2345.arlingtondrafthouse.com The Big Hunt 1345 Connecticut Ave. NW (202) 785-2333. thebighunt.net DAR Constitution Hall 1776 D St. NW. (202) 628-1776. dar.org DC Improv 1140 Connecticut Ave. NW. (202) 296-7008. dcimprov.com Drafthouse Comedy 1100 13th St. NW.
(202) 750-6411. drafthousecomedy.com Howard Theatre 620 T St. NW. (202) 803-2899. thehowardtheatre.com Lincoln Theatre 1215 U St. NW. (202) 888-0050. thelincolndc.com Sixth & I Historic Synagogue 600 I St. NW. (202) 408-3100. sixthandi.org Warner Theatre 513 13th St. NW. (202) 783-4000. warnertheatredc.com
washingtoncitypaper.com washingtoncitypaper.comSeptember February16, 10,2011 2017135
Kendrea and Quincy live in Baltimore’s Union Square neighborhood.
Š2017 Live Baltimore Home Center, Inc. Live Baltimore is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Just ask Kendrea and Quincy, who work in D.C. but reside in Baltimore. With friendly neighbors and frequent social gatherings, making a short commute meant finding a true community. What will you discover more of in Baltimore? Find out at LiveBaltimore.com.
Find your home in Baltimore City. LiveBaltimore.com 3617-LBT-001 February 10, 2017 washingtoncitypaper.com Wash-City_SpringArts_MECH.indd 1
1/18/17 11:14 AM
chris hayes The host of All In on MSNBC discusses his new book, A Colony in a Nation, with Slate correspondent Jamelle Bouie. Sixth & I Historic Synagogue. March 21, 7:30 p.m. $16–$42. noah isenberg The culture and media professor at New York’s Eugene Lang College explores the history of one of cinema’s most beloved films in We’ll Always Have Casablanca: The Life, Legend, and Afterlife of Hollywood’s Most Beloved Movie. Politics & Prose. March 17, 7 p.m. Free. Joi-Marie McKenzie The lifestyle and entertainment writer discusses her new book, The Engagement Game: Why I Said “I Don’t” to Marriage and “I Do” to Me. Busboys and Poets 14th & V. March 28, 6:30 p.m. Free.
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the genDer issue National Geographic magazine editor Susan Goldberg joins photographers Stephanie Sinclair and Pete Muller to discuss the different ways societies view gender roles around the world. National Geographic Grosvenor Auditorium. April 25, 7:30 p.m. $25.
February
DaviD France France, an investigative reporter and author, reads from How to Survive a Plague, his new book about the AIDS crisis that was inspired by his documentary of the same name. Kramerbooks & Afterwords Cafe. Feb. 13, 6:30 p.m. Free. Megan Marshall The Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer combines extensive research and personal memories in Elizabeth Bishop: A Miracle for Breakfast, her biography of the acclaimed poet she studied with at Harvard in the 1970s. Politics & Prose. Feb. 24, 7 p.m. Free.
seeMa reza Seema Reza reads from When the World Breaks Open, a collection of essays and poetry. One More Page Books. Feb. 22, 7 p.m. Free.
ic reading of the novel performed by Saunders and local actors. St. Paul’s Church. Feb. 20, 7 p.m. $28–$40.
nathaniel rich anD Kate Walbert Rich, the author of Odds Against Tomorrow, and Walbert, author of The Sunken Cathedral, discuss their books, both of which deal with humanity on the edge of peril and the ways we cope with those feelings. Folger Elizabethan Theatre. Feb. 21, 7:30 p.m. $15.
robert l. WilKins The U.S. Circuit Court judge discusses his new book, Long Road to Hard Truth, which chronicles the century-long struggle to create the National Museum of African-American History and Culture. Woodridge Library. Feb. 18, 1 p.m. Free.
george saunDers The popular short story author reads from his first novel, Lincoln in the Bardo, a supernatural take on a historical tale set in the cemetery where Abraham Lincoln buried his 11-year-old son. The event includes a dramat-
Noah IseNberg
On the one hand, Casablanca never goes out of style. Romance and self-sacrifice are universal themes, while the film’s purely filmic pleasures show no signs of losing their luster. Three quarters of a century later, we are still talking about it. Then again, this film, made by and about political refugees, has particular resonance today. That’s the argument made by Noah Isenberg, whose new book We’ll Always Have Casablanca details the origins, production, and aftermath of what many consider to be the greatest film of all time through a politically modern lens. In Rick (Humphrey Bogart), Isenberg sees a metaphor for America itself at the onset of World War II. He’s jaded and wary of getting embroiled in a foreign conflict. Over the course of the film, he re-joins the fight. With the eye of an historian, Isenberg demonstrates the parallels to offscreen events (the actual town of Casablanca hosted a battle just a month before the film was released). But he also nerds out on the many attempted spin-offs, sequels, and adaptations the film inspires, most of which were never made. It’s a compulsively readable account of a film that finds new ways to engage, enthrall, and impress, even after 75 years. March 17 at Politics and Prose. Free. —Noah Gittell
JohN Waters
Septime Webre’s new Halcyon Stage series at the historic Georgetown mansion welcomes everyone’s favorite Baltimore resident John Waters, who will read from his latest book Make Trouble, a tongue-in-cheek advice manual for artists, recent graduates, and “anyone seeking happiness and success on their own terms.” The book is based on Waters’ viral graduation speech at the Rhode Island School of Design in 2015—the one where he offered up advice like: “Today may be the end of your juvenile delinquency, but it should also be the first day of your new adult disobedience,” “Not being around assholes should be the goal of every graduate here today,” and “Go out in the world and fuck it up beautifully.” April 28 at The Halcyon House. $30. —Elena Goukassian
MarCh
JaMi attenberg The author of the popular novels The Middlesteins and Saint Mazie reads from her new novel, All Grown Up. Politics & Prose. March 14, 7 p.m. Free.
annabelle gurWitch The comedic actress discusses her latest book, Wherever You Go, There They Are: Stories About My Family You Might Relate To. Busboys and Poets 14th & V. April 26, 6:30 p.m. Free. Dr. Willie ParKer The author, one of the few abortion providers in the deep South, explains why he supports a woman’s choice to do what she wants with her body in his new book, Life’s Work. Politics & Prose. April 19, 7 p.m. Free. elizabeth strout The author of Olive Kitteridge and My Name Is Lucy Barton discusses why she thinks fiction is an essential part of life at this event presented as part of the “Arlington Reads” campaign. Arlington Central Library. April 20, 7 p.m. Free. John Waters The eccentric film director and Baltimore native reads from his new book, Make Trouble, a volume of advice for young adults and graduates. Halcyon House. April 28, 7 p.m. $28–$30.
angela Flournoy, Margo JeFFerson, anD Marcus guillory The authors of The Turner House, Negroland, and Red Now and Laters discuss their perceptions of class in black communities and how their experiences with class influence their work. Folger Elizabethan Theatre. March 6, 7:30 p.m. $15.
May
Arlington Central Library 1015 N. Quincy St., Arlington. (703) 228-5990. library.arlingtonva.us
(202) 857-7700. nationalgeographic.com
viet thanh nguyen The Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Sympathizer discusses his career and his Vietnamese heritage with readers at this event, presented as part of the “Arlington Reads” initiative. Arlington Central Library. May 3, 7 p.m. Free.
Folger Elizabethan Theatre 201 East Capitol St. SE. (202) 544-4600. folger.edu
Newseum 555 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. (202) 292-6100. newseum.org One More Page Books 2200 N. Westmoreland St., #101, Arlington. (703) 300-9746. onemorepagebooks.com
Halcyon House 3400 Prospect St. NW. (202) 298-6007. halcyonstage.org
Politics & Prose 5015 Connecticut Ave. NW. (202) 364-1919. politics-prose.com
Kramerbooks & Afterwords Cafe 1517 Connecticut Ave. NW. (202) 387-1400. kramers.com
Sixth & I Historic Synagogue 600 I St. NW. (202) 408-3100. sixthandi.org
National Geographic Grosvenor Auditorium 1600 M St. NW.
Woodridge Library 1801 Hamlin St. NE. (202) 541-6226. dclibrary.org/woodridge
Busboys and Poets 14th & V 2021 14th St. NW. (202) 387-7638. busboysandpoets.com
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February
AnAcostiA DeltA: Home to tHe WorlD’s GreAt “UnknoWn” GUitArists This new documentary focuses on the work of Danny Gatton, a late D.C. musician famous in the Blues guitar community. AMP by Strathmore. Feb. 25, $25–$55. Dc inDepenDent Film FestivAl The city’s oldest film festival returns this year with several short film programs focused on everything from animation to documentaries, as well as a variety of feature-length films from around the world, including Pigheaded, a documentary about cartoonist Skip WIlliamson. Naval Heritage Center at the United States Navy Memorial. Feb. 15 to Feb. 20, various times. $7–$16. Dc sHorts Wins See winning films from the last decade of this popular festival at this screening, which includes shorts from all over the world. Mir acle Theatre. Feb. 10, 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. $15–$25. el pUeblo: seArcHinG For contemporAry lAtin AmericA The films in this series, curated by film scholar Federico Windhausen, explore the varied geographies and concepts of community in different regions of Latin America. National Gallery of Art East Building Auditorium. Feb. 18 to Feb. 25, various times. Free. oscAr-nominAteD Film sHoWcAse For the 13th year in a row, the National Archives shows the films nominated for Best Documentary Feature, Best Live Action Short Film, Best Animated Short Film, and Best Documentary Short Subject. National Archives McGowan Theater. Feb. 22 to Feb. 26, various times. Free. reseeinG irAn: 21st AnnUAl irAniAn Film FestivAl This year’s festival presents a variety of new Iranian films and also pays tribute to the late filmmaker Abbas Kiarostami. AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center. Feb. 4 to March 1, various times. Free.
MarCH
AnAcostiA DeltA: Home of tHe WorlD’s GreAt “UnknoWn” GUitArists
cApitAl irisH Film FestivAl See a selection of documentaries, comedies, and dramas at this annual festival that pays tribute to Irish artists. Among this year’s selections are Bobby Sands: 66 Days, a doc about a fatal hunger strike that changed the Northern Ireland conflict, and The Young Offenders, a comedy about two friends who are chased by police while looking for a missing
package of cocaine. AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center. March 2 to March 5, various times. Prices vary. Dc environmentAl Film FestivAl As the planet continues to warm and environments deteriorate, the messages of the films in this festival are more vital than ever. Among the featured films are a documentary about a farmer aiming to change the beef industry and a breathtaking look at the Galapagos Islands. National Geographic Museum. March 14 to March 26, various times. Prices vary. tHe WAtermelon WomAn A black director attempts to make a documentary about 1930s actress Fae Richards and ends up learning more about herself, her friends, and her city than she expected. The 20th anniversary of this seminal queer film is presented by Reel Affirmations, the District’s monthly LGBT film screening series and festival. Human Rights Campaign. March 24, 7 p.m. $12.
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FilmFest Dc Check out a variety of films from around the world at this annual festival that returns for its 31st iteration. The film schedule and guest appearances will be announced at a later date. Various venues. April 20 to April 30, various times. Prices vary. GentriFicAtion (k)not Filmed in and around the Station North area of Baltimore, Gentrification (k)NOT explores the meaning of the term gentrification and how it functions as an element of a system that displaces people from their communities. Anacostia Community Museum. April 29, 11 a.m. Free.
May
WAsHinGton JeWisH Film FestivAl See films that tell the stories of Jewish people all around the world at this large film festival, now in its 27th year. A full list of screenings will be announced at a later date. Washington D.C. Jewish Community Center. May 17 to May 28, various times. Prices vary.
The late Danny Gatton is one of those musicians who isn’t well known among many music fans, but ask blues guitarists who inspires them and his name is bound to come up. Gatton grew up in Anacostia and would become known as “The Humbler” for his ability to outplay just about anybody. He played every style, and his proficiency at each allowed him to combine elements of country, jazz, rockabilly, and blues into his own unique style. AMP by Strathmore will screen a preview of a new documentary, Anacostia Delta: Home of the World’s Great “Unknown” Guitarists, and give fans a chance to meet the filmmakers and hear some Anacostia Delta blues live. Feb. 25 at AMP by Strathmore. $25-$35. —Justin Weber
certifieD copy
The plot of Abbas Kiarostami’s 2011 French-Iranian masterpiece, which recently came in at No. 46 on the BBC’s 100 Greatest Films of the 21st Century, hinges on what appears to be a first-time meeting between an erudite English author (opera singer William Shimell, in his first film role) and a beautiful, emotionally fragile antiques dealer (Juliette Binoche). Over the course of an afternoon, as they meander through the Italian countryside engaging in a series of discussions about love, connection, and authenticity, the nature of their relationship—perhaps of love itself— shifts dramatically before our eyes. A poem and a puzzle, Certified Copy—playing as part of AFI’s program, “Reseeing Iran: 21st Annual Iranian Film Festival”—is a mystery that reveals itself to the audience and then folds back inward. Binoche and Shimell give powerhouse performances as a couple fighting middleaged malaise and the ravages of human relationships, and Kiarostami, ever faithful to the viewer’s patience, allows the characters to come to life slowly, hiding and revealing themselves to us all at once. Feb. 25 and Feb. 27 at the AFI Silver Theatre. $13. —Noah Gittell
38 February 10, 2017 washingtoncitypaper.com
AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center 8633 Colesville Road, Silver Spring. (301) 495-6700. afi.com/silver Anacostia Community Museum 1901 Fort Place SE. (202) 633-4820. anacostia.si.edu. AMP by Strathmore 11810 Grand Park Ave., North Bethesda. (301) 581-5100. ampbystrathmore.com Human Rights Campaign 1640 Rhode Island Ave. NW. (202) 628-4160. hrc.org
National Gallery of Art 4th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW. (202) 737-4215. nga.gov National Geographic Grosvenor Auditorium 1600 M St. NW. (202) 857-7588. nationalgeographic.com Naval Heritage Center at the
Miracle Theatre 535 8th St. SE. (202) 400-3210. themiracletheatre.com National Archives McGowan Auditorium 7th Street and Constitution Avenue NW. (866) 272-6272. archives.gov/museum
United States Navy Memorial 701 Pennsylvania Ave. NW (202) 380-0710. navymemorial.org Washington D.C. Jewish Community Center 1529 16th St. NW. (202) 518-9400. dcjcc.org
washingtoncitypaper.com September 16, 2011 1
February
The Gin Game Roz White and Doug Brown star in the Pulitzer Prize-winning drama that takes place over a game of gin rummy. As the action rises, their interactions become more intense and more details about their relationship are revealed. MetroStage. Feb. 2 to March 12. $55–$60.
Mrs. Miller Does Her Thing at Signature Theatre, Feb.28– March 26
The Gospel aT Colonus Jennifer L. Nelson directs this musical that reconfigures Sophocles’ story about Oedipus’ final days and sets it in a black Pentecostal church. A finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, this production features searing gospel songs like “How Shall I See You Through My Tears?” and “Lift Him Up.” Gunston Arts Center. Feb. 23 to March 26. $30–$35. h2o In this Jane Martin drama, a jaded Hollywood actor seeks redemption in a production of Hamlet. When he meets a conservative Christian woman to cast as Ophelia, his priorities change and he’s forced to question his past decisions in order to move forward. Rep Stage at Howard Community College. Feb. 15 to March 5. $15–$40. The hard problem Studio Theatre returns to the work of Tom Stoppard with this drama about a psychology researcher who tries to define consciousness and get wrapped up in trying to understand her past. Matt Torney directs this production starring Nancy Robinette, Tessa Klein, and Joy Jones. Jan. 11 to Feb. 19. $20–$96. The how and The why By the writer of hit TV shows In Treatment and The Affair, this exhilarating and keenly perceptive play about science, family, and survival of the fittest grapples with the choices faced by women of every generation. Emotion and evolution collide on the eve of a prestigious conference when an up-and-coming evolutionary biologist, whose theories might just change the way we regard sex itself, wrestles for the truth with an established leader in the field. Theater J. Feb. 15 to March 12. $17–$47. i wanna FuCkinG Tear you aparT Morgan Gould dissects the inner workings of friendships in this comedy. When a new friend comes between two pals’ pattern of self-loathing and TV binging, they’re forced to confront the self-destructive patterns that defined their relationship. Studio Theatre. Feb. 1 to Feb. 19. $20–$55. inTelliGenCe Taking inspiration from true events, this drama about a covert operative and her diplomat husband combines political thrills with D.C. drama. As the protagonist searches for nuclear weapons in Iraq, her cover is compromised and she must navigate a media storm on her own. Arena Stage. Feb. 24 to April 9. $40–$90. kinG Charles iii David Muse directs Mike Bartlett’s fictitious imagining of the reign of Queen Elizabeth II’s successor as his famous relatives look on. This modern history is told in Shakespearean blank verse and stars Robert Joy and Jeanne Paulsen. Sidney Harman Hall. Feb. 7 to March 12. $42–$118.
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lasT oF The red hoT lovers Walnut Street Theatre, the oldest theater company in the nation, presents a touring production of this lively Neil Simon comedy about coming to terms with the sexual revolution of the 1960s. In it, an overworked man tries to plan trysts with three prospective mates but can’t seem to figure out what makes him happy. George Mason University Center for the Arts. Feb. 12. $26–$44. mrs. miller does her ThinG Based on the true story of Elva Miller, James Lapine’s new comedy follows the hapless title character who can’t sing but nevertheless becomes a New York City sensation. Debra Monk stars as Mrs. Miller and puts her spin on pop songs like “Downtown,” “Monday Monday,” and “A Hard Day’s Night.” Signature Theatre. Feb. 28 to March 26. $40–$85. no solemn silenCe: a GilberT & sullivan review Hear songs from H.M.S. Pinafore, Pirates of Penzance, and The Mikado in this musical revue starring students from Mason’s School of Theatre that includes songs well-known and under appreciated. George Mason University Center for the Arts. Feb. 17 to Feb. 18. $10–$20.
IntellIgence
Jacqueline E. Lawton’s Intelligence, a world premiere garnering a lot of buzz, arrives amid the turmoil of a new fascist Republican administration, one that is already creating waves with its alternative view of facts. The political thriller, which is a fictionalized account of a covert operative who has her cover blown during the post-9/11 race to find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, is the third production in Arena Stage’s Power Plays initiative. “Writing this play has forced me to process the betrayal I felt when the Bush administration told a series of lies that led to the war in Iraq,” Lawton said in an interview. Directed by D.C. native Daniella Topol, the play stars Tony Award nominee Hannah Yelland as Valerie Plame and Lawrence Redmond as her husband, Joseph Wilson. And though the infamous CIA leak of 2003 is clearly the inspiration for the story, the play was not created with any involvement from Plame or Redmond. Intelligence is not so much their story, as it is engaging drama perfectly suited for these truth-denying times. Feb. 24–April 9 at Arena Stage. $40-$110. —Jerome Langston
Mrs. MIller Does Her tHIng
Playwrights seem to be obsessed with terrible singers. The story of notoriously terrible 1940s opera vocalist Florence Foster Jenkins has inspired five stage plays, two feature films, and a documentary. Even A Chorus Line includes a song about a performer who can’t carry a tune. The latest entry in this canon is Mrs. Miller Does Her Thing, a new comedy from acclaimed author James Lapine based on the life of another real-life terrible singer, Elva Miller. Set in 1960s New York, where Miller became a downtown sensation, the production stars Debra Monk, who’ll do her best to sound bad while covering “Downtown,” “Monday, Monday,” and “A Hard Day’s Night.” Tempted as you may be to steer clear of the unpleasant sound, make like Mrs. Miller and revel in your love of the arts without worrying about the execution. Feb. 28–March 26 at Signature Theatre. $40–$85. —Caroline Jones
ragtIMe
Despite taking place more than a century ago, Ragtime—Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty’s musical adaptation of the E.L. Doctorow novel—feels eerily relevant these days. In part because it incisively examines the interactions between white, African-American, and immigrant communities outside New York City and, in many ways, we’re still figuring out how to live together harmoniously. Its songs also wouldn’t be out of place at any progressive march. In the show’s final song, Coalhouse Walker Jr., a jazz musician, implores his audience to raise their voices in protest. “Say to those who blame us for the way we chose to fight/ that sometimes there are battles that are more than black or white/ And I could not put down my sword when justice was my right/ Make them hear you,” he sings in a powerful baritone. It’s essential listening for our times, and Ford’s has assembled an impressive cast, including Kevin McAllister, Tracy Lynn Olivera, and Nova Y. Payton, to deliver its message. March 10–May 20 at Ford’s Theatre. $18–$71. —Caroline Jones September10, 16,2017 2011washingtoncitypaper.com washingtoncitypaper.com 402February
peTer and The sTarCaTCher Learn about the events that led up to the story of Peter Pan in this prequel that finds an unnamed orphan boy fighting to outwit a charming and villainous pirate. This Tony Award-winning play, inspired by a Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson novel, comes to life at Constellation Theatre under the direction of Kathryn Chase Bryer. Constellation Theatre at Source. Feb. 9 to March 12. $20–$45. The river A man and a woman spend a night together at a fishing cabin and try to capture the magic of love in this mysterious drama. Rebecca Holderness directs this play by Jez Butterworth. Spooky Action Theater. Feb. 2 to Feb. 26. $20–$40. The seleCT Elevator Repair Service, the theater company behind previous stage adaptations of novels like The Great Gatsby and The Sound and the Fury, turns its attention to the Lost Generation and Ernest Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises. The narrator tells a story of love and loss as the action travels from Paris to Barcelona to Pamplona. Lansburgh Theatre. Feb. 18 to April 2. $44–$118. sweeney Todd: The demon barber oF FleeT sTreeT Local favorite E. Faye Butler stars as Mrs. Lovett in this murderous musical about a villainous barber who collaborates with the neighborhood pie maker to bake his victims into pastries. Stephen Sondheim’s dark and twisted tale is directed by Jason Loewith and choreographed by Tommy Rapley. Olney Theatre Center. Feb. 1 to March 5. $45–$80. Taj express: The bollywood musiCal revue Inspired by one of Bollywood’s most popular films, this live performance full of pop music incorporates film clips, dance sequences, and bright costumes. George Mason University Center for the Arts. Feb. 18 to Feb. 19. $30–$50. The TaminG oF The shrew Synetic brings back its popular wordless production of Shakespeare’s classic comedy about the division of the sexes and unrequited love. Associate Artistic Director Irina Tsikurishvili stars in this Hollywood-set production. Synetic Theater at Crystal City. Feb. 15 to March 19. $20–$60. Trevor A woman and her beloved chimpanzee, who used to appear in commercials, struggle to stay together in this comedy from playwright Nick Jones. Alex Levy directs this story inspired by true events that looks at the lies we tell and lengths we go to to protect the things we love. 1st Stage. Feb. 2 to Feb. 26. $15–$30. The Trojan women The Riot Grrrls of Taffety Punk Theatre Company present their take on Euripedes’ ancient play about women dealing with the aftermath of war. Described as one of the first pieces of anti-war activism, this stirring drama is directed by Kelsey Mesa. Taffety Punk at Capitol Hill Arts Workshop. Feb. 15 to March 4. $15. The very lasT days oF The FirsT Colored CirCus Restoration Stage founder Courtney Baker-Oliver directs and provides the music and lyrics for this new musical written by his co-founder, Steven A. Butler Jr. set at the 1927 Charles County
Fair. Focused around the themes of love, loss, and redemption, this new musical combines emotion with the whimsical aspects of the circus. Anacostia Playhouse. Feb. 15 to March 5. $45–$55. waTCh on The rhine As the United States prepares to enter World War II, an American woman flees to the D.C. suburbs with her German husband and their children as he works to fight against fascism. Upon their arrival, however, they meet a visitor with ulterior motives who might threaten their safety. Academy Award nominee Marsha Mason stars in this drama, presented as part of Arena’s Lillian Hellman Festival. Arena Stage. Feb. 3 to March 5. $40–$90. yo También hablo de la rosa (i Too speak oF The rose) Two teenagers skip school and end up derailing a train, leading to a long discussion of if and how they should be punished in this contemporary drama. GALA Artistic Producing Director Hugo Medrano directs this landmark work by
Ragtime at Ford’s Theatre, March 10-May 20
a raIsIn In tHe sun
There are certain works for the American stage that require no special time or societal context to justify a new production. Such is the case for Lorraine Hansberry’s classic, A Raisin in the Sun. Along with the varied works of August Wilson, Hansberry’s iconic tale of the Younger family’s pursuit of the American dream in the face of stark racism is one of the few plays by an African-American playwright to have a solid place in the American canon. Arena Stage’s new production stars popular D.C. actress Dawn Ursula, who was previously seen in Arena’s Love in Afghanistan. The two-time Helen Hayes Award winner plays Ruth Younger, one of the stand-out roles in the Tony-winning play, which had a second Broadway revival starring Denzel Washington in 2014. Tazewell Thompson, the longtime Arena stage associate director and playwright, directs this D.C. production of Raisin. Regardless of Thompson’s artistic choices, Lorraine Hansberry’s masterpiece is always a safe bet. March 31–May 7 at Arena Stage. $40-$110. —Jerome Langston
tHree sIsters
Mexican playwright Emilio Carbadillo, performed in Spanish with English surtitles. GALA Hispanic Theatre. Feb. 2 to Feb. 26. $22–$95.
March
anTiGonón, un ConTinGenTe épiCo Havana’s Teatro el Público combines Cuban history and the story of Sophocles’ Antigone in this drama that incorporates archival film clips and questions what the nation will look like moving forward. Performed in Spanish with English supertitles. Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater. March 21 to March 22. $15–$39. baCk To meThuselah: as Far as arT Can reaCh Washington Stage Guild wraps up its multi-year presentation of George Bernard Shaw’s masterpiece with this final piece, an early foray into science fiction that blends satire with speculation about the future. Washington Stage Guild at Undercroft Theatre. March 23 to April 16. $50–$60.
baTTleField Director Peter Brooks expands on his acclaimed production of The Mahabharata in this new play that follows the family as the world whirls in chaos. A king must try and calm his citizens and convey a sense of inner peace while the family struggles to stay together. Kennedy Center Family Theater. March 29 to April 2. $35. beaCh week Set in 2002, this original play by City Paper contributor Diana Metzger follows a group of high school seniors on their annual sojourn to the shore where they spend time trying to figure out what they want to do with their lives and how to approach adulthood. Members of Round House’s Teen Performance Company direct and perform this comedy, the 15th annual Sarah Metzger Memorial Play. Round House Theatre Bethesda. March 17 to March 19. $26. blood knoT Joy Zinoman directs Athol Fugard’s searing drama about the conflict between a lightskinned man and his darker-skinned brother who
It’s not often that U.S. audiences get a chance to see a classic Russian drama performed in its original language by Russian actors. St. Petersburg’s famed Maly Drama Theatre will provide us with just this opportunity when they stop by the Kennedy Center to perform Anton Chekhov’s Three Sisters. (Don’t worry; it’ll also have English supertitles.) If you’re planning on attending Studio Theatre’s own English-language production of Three Sisters earlier in the spring, this will be a perfect opportunity to compare the nuances of the tragic family drama—and perhaps even learn something new about the Russian psyche along the way. April 26–30 at The Kennedy Center. $19–$49. —Elena Goukassian
tHe Man WHo
Spooky Action Theater’s spring production is a play inspired by Oliver Sacks’ 1985 The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat, a book chronicling various neurological oddities and disorders, most famously face-blindness. Peter Brook’s 1993 The Man Who is more of a performance piece than an actual play, staging vignettes of some of Sacks’ case studies sans the medical jargon so that they become emotional experiences rather than scientific ones. There’s a man who believes he’s living inside of a dream, another suffering from Tourette syndrome, and a third that doesn’t recognize he has a left side to his face. Spooky Action is known for its bizarre, borderline absurdist, always-profound productions; this one certainly fits the bill. May 11–June 4 at Spooky Action Theater. $20–$40. —Elena Goukassian washingtoncitypaper.com September washingtoncitypaper.com February16, 10,2011 2017341
Three Sisters at Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater, April 26-30
navigate the horrors of Apartheid and emotional tension in a divided South Africa. Mosaic Theater presents this play as part of its “South Africa: Then & Now” series. Atlas Performing Arts Center. March 29 to April 30. $20–$60.
the forces that keep lovers apart in this musical that includes favorite songs like “Try to Remember” and “Soon It’s Gonna Rain.” George Mason University Center for the Arts. March 2 to March 5. $10–$20.
CoolaTully Irish arts organization Solas Nua presents the American premiere of Fiona Doyle’s drama about Irish history. As a town tries to succeed once more on the hurling field, its residents must decide whether to stay or move on. Source Theatre. March 9 to March 26. $38.
FiCkle: a FanCy FrenCh FarCe Playwright Meg Miroshnik turns a classic French farce about a kidnapped prince, an adored peasant, and the servant caught in the middle of it into a new comic romp. Artistic Associate Eleanor Holdridge directs this play as part of Olney’s Classic and Contemporary series. Olney Theatre Center. March 1 to April 2. $35–$70.
dry land Ruby Rae Spiegel’s new drama focuses on abortion and how friendships can help women survive tough situations. Taking place in a high school locker room, this production is directed by Amber McGinnis and performed in Repertory with What Every Girl Should Know. Forum Theatre at Silver Spring Black Box Theatre. March 16 to April 15. $18–$38. The FanTasTiCks This classic tale about young love comes back to the stage at Mason’s School of Theater. A boy, a girl, and their parents sing about
GoGol’s nose and oTher sTranGe Tales From The CiTy The short stories of Nikolai Gogol are turned into plays in this physical performance piece presented in Mason’s TheatreSpace. George Mason University Center for the Arts. March 30 to April 9. $15–$25. midwesTern GoThiC Royce Vavrek and Josh Schmidt present this new musical about a woman who wants more than anything to escape her dull
42 February 10, 2017 washingtoncitypaper.com 4 September 16, 2011 washingtoncitypaper.com
surroundings. As she fantasizes about her goals, her thoughts take a perverse turn, resulting in a shocking resolution. Signature Theatre. March 14 to April 30. $40–$94. mnemoniC Colin Hovde directs a revised version of this drama that explores the nature of memory and the ways in which people around the world are connected in unexpected ways. Theater Alliance’s production incorporates topics from the 21st century to highlight the timelessness of the play’s themes. Anacostia Playhouse. March 16 to April 9. $30–$40. needles and opium Robert Lepage and his Ex Machina performance company revive their 1991 production that imagines a 1949 Atlantic Ocean crossing, when Jean Cocteau visited the United States and Miles Davis went to Paris. Incorporating visual effects, acrobatics, and music, this immersive experience stars Oliver Normand and Wellesley Robertson III. Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater. March 16 to March 18. $29–$69.
niGhT aT The wax museum Students forced to retake a class in summer school learn all about history when the wax figures they visit come to life. Encore Stage & Studio presents this wacky comedy from playwright Craig Sodaro. Thomas Jefferson Theater. March 10 to March 19. $10–$15. no sisTers While Chekhov’s Three Sisters plays in one theater, Aaron Posner directs his new adaptation of the Russian drama that follows the rest of the characters while the title characters opine their fates. This world-premiere work is presented as part of Studio R&D, the theater’s new works initiative. Studio Theatre. March 16 to April 23. $20–$55. parade The tragic, true story of a Jewish man who is wrongly accused of murder and lynched in the early 20th century is the centerpiece of this musical from popular composer Jason Robert Brown. At Keegan, directors Susan Marie Rhea and Christina A. Coakley lead a cast featuring Michael Innocenti, Eleanor J. Todd, and Cass-
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THE FATHER
WRITTEN BY FLORIAN ZELLER TRANSLATED BY CHRISTOPHER HAMPTON DIRECTED BY DAVID MUSE
“As sharp and surprising a play as you’ll see all year.” — THE TIMES (LONDON)
HOODED, OR BEING BLACK FOR DUMMIES
I WANNA FUCKING TEAR YOU APART WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY MORGAN GOULD WORLD PREMIERE
An ode to the complications of friendship and its many fucked-up forms. BEGINS MARCH 16
NO SISTERS WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY AARON POSNER WORLD PREMIERE IN ASSOCIATION WITH NEW NEIGHBORHOOD
“Chekhov for the 21st Century.” —THE NEW YORK TIMES ( OF STUPID FUCKING BIRD )
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WIG OUT! IN AN UPDATED VERSION BY TARELL ALVIN McCRANEY DIRECTED BY KENT GASH
From the acclaimed playwright behind Moonlight.
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washingtoncitypaper.com February 10, 2017 43
The Hard Problem at Studio Theatre, to Feb. 19
ie Cope. Keegan Theatre at Church Street Theater. March 11 to April 8. $45–$55. peTrol sTaTion Kuwaiti writer Sulayman Al Bassam sets his one-man show in an abandoned gas station and turns it into a place of reflection where he shares the aspirations and worries residents of the region experience on a daily basis. Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater. March 24 to March 27. $15–$39. pike sT. Nilaja Sun stars in this one-woman show about a Puerto Rican family settling into their new life on New York’s Lower East Side. Ron Russell directs this warm show about the many people who work together to make the world work. Woolly Mammoth Theatre. March 27 to April 23. $20–$54. raGTime This stirring musical, written by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty and inspired by E.L. Doctorow novel, tells the story of three different New York families at the turn of the 20th century. Featuring memorable songs like “Your Daddy’s Eyes,” “Wheels of a Dream,” and “Make Them Hear You,” this production stars Tracy Lynn Olivera, Nova Y. Payton, and Jonathan Atkinson. Ford’s Theatre. March 10 to May 20. $18–$71. a raisin in The sun Lorraine Hansbury’s landmark play about a family that strives to create a life beyond its Chicago apartment receives a new treatment from director Tazewell Thompson. A sudden influx of income makes their dream seem possible but when it turns out their goals are different, each member must figure out how to make things work. Arena Stage. March 31 to April 30. $40–$90. Taha Palestinian performance artist Amer Hlehel tells the story of acclaimed poet Taha Muhammad
Ali, whose work dug into the experiences of refugees, in this one-man show. The Kennedy Center presents the world premiere of the English language version of this show. Kennedy Center Terrace Gallery. March 15 to March 16. $15. Three sisTers The title characters in this Chekhov play fight against the restrictions of their small town and lament their missed opportunities as they deal with annoying relatives and unworthy mates. Jackson Gay directs this production, presented in collaboration with New Neighborhood. Studio Theatre. March 8 to April 23. $20–$85. well Playwright Lisa Kron examines her relationship with her mother in this so-called “solo show with people in it” and tries to explain how her mother was able to help others but couldn’t help herself. The Tony-nominated play is directed at 1st Stage by Michael Bloom. 1st Stage. March 23 to April 23. $15–$30. whaT every Girl should know Set in a New York reformatory in the 1910s, this drama follows four teenage girls as they negotiate the events and traumas that landed them in such a dire spot. Jenna Duncan directs the D.C. premiere of Monica Byrne’s drama about the strength of human spirit and the power of imagination. Performed in repertory with Dry Land. Forum Theatre at Silver Spring Black Box Theatre. March 16 to April 15. $18–$38. where Can i Find someone like you, ali? Raeda Taha pays tribute to her late father, Egyptian romantic poet Ali Mahmoud Taha, in this one-woman show in which she considers what it means to be an orphan and elevates the women in her family to heroic status. Performed in Arabic
44 February 10, 2017 washingtoncitypaper.com 5 September 16, 2011 washingtoncitypaper.com
with English supertitles. Kennedy Center Terrace Gallery. March 23 to March 24. $15.
april
ChiCaGo Snap on your buckled shoes and enjoy this acclaimed musical about the celebrity that comes after committing a scandalous murder. Featuring songs like “All That Jazz” and “Nowadays,” this Kander and Ebb classic always delivers. Kennedy Center Opera House. April 4 to April 16. $49–$129. dorian’s CloseT Joseph Ritsch directs this world premiere musical based on the life of legendary female impersonator Dorian Corey, widely introduced to the public in Jennie Livingston’s Paris Is Burning. From her early days on the drag circuit to her death and the discovery of a mummified human in her closet, this production explores themes of love, acceptance, and identity. Rep Stage at Howard Community College. April 26 to May 14. $15–$40. doubT: a parable Set at a New York Catholic school in the 1960s, this Tony-winning play follows a charismatic priest and the nun who leads the school and suspects him of mistreating a shy African-American student. Chelsea Mayo and Stephanie Mumford star in this production of John Patrick Shanley’s searing drama. Quotidian Theatre Company at The Writer’s Center. April 7 to May 7. $15–$30. Fun home Based on the graphic memoir by Alison Bechdel, this Tony-winning musical follows Bechdel as she chronicles her coming out and the subsequent death of her father. Featuring three different actresses playing Bechdel over time, this
production includes the songs “Ring of Keys” and “Changing My Major.” National Theatre. April 18 to May 13. $48–$98. a human beinG died ThaT niGhT A black psychologist interrogates one of the Apartheid era’s most aggressive torturers and murderers in this intense drama based on true events. Presented as part of Mosaic Theater’s “South Africa: Then & Now” series. Atlas Performing Arts Center. April 6 to April 30. $9–$50. The laTe weddinG This drama directed by Kate Bryer draws inspiration from the fantastical work of author Italo Calvino and explores themes of love and longing. It also combines elements of science fiction and romance. The Hub Theatre at John Swayze Theatre. April 14 to May 7. $22–$32. maCbeTh Liesl Tommy, the director behind acclaimed productions of Danai Gurira’s Eclipsed and Brandon Jacobs-Jenkins’ Appropriate, leads this production of Shakespeare’s classic tale of murder, magic, and ambition. Sidney Harman Hall. April 25 to May 28. $44–$118. The maGiC play An acclaimed magician maintains total control over his audiences and his love life but when a new companion challenges him to confront his fears, his entire career might be upended. Halena Kays directs this new play from writer Andrew Hinderaker. Olney Theatre Center. April 12 to May 7. $35–$70. or, Local favorite Holly Twyford stars as Aphra Behn in this play inspired by Restoration comedy. As she struggles to save the King of England and deliver her play in the same night, a madcap series of foibles unfolds. Round House Theatre Bethesda. April 12 to May 7. $36–$65.
washingtoncitypaper.com February 10, 2017 45
King Charles III at Sidney Harman Hall, to March 12
1st Stage 1524 Spring Hill Road, McLean. (703) 854-1856. 1ststagetysons.org Anacostia Playhouse 2020 Shannon Place SE. (202) 290-2328. anacostiaplayhouse.com Arena Stage 1101 6th St. SW. (202) 488-3300. arenastage.org Atlas Performing Arts Center 1333 H St. NE. (202) 399-7993. atlasarts.org
smarT people Four intellectuals look for love and try to understand themselves in this witty drama from playwright Lydia R. Diamond. Through the characters, the play explores issues of identity, prejudice, and cultural bias. Arena Stage. April 14 to May 21. $40–$90. Three sisTers St. Petersburg’s acclaimed Maly Drama Theatre presents this dark new production of Chekhov’s drama about three siblings’ desire to stay true to their goals even as their circumstances force them to leave their Moscow home for life in a small village. Performed in Russian with English supertitles. Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater. April 26 to April 30. $19–$49.
ed by Joe Calarco. Signature Theatre. May 9 to July 2. $40–$99. The man who Inspired by the late Oliver Sachs’ The Man Who Mistook his Wife for a Hat, this play incorporates research and improvisation techniques. Originally performed in French, Peter Brook’s play closes the Spooky Action season. Spooky Action Theater. May 11 to June 4. $20–$40. masTer Class Young opera students train with an aging Maria Callas in Terrence McNally’s drama
a voiCe To be heard: a CelebraTion oF laTino and hispaniC lGbT youTh Christopher Janson and Tony Koehler direct this evening of poems and stories from Hispanic LGBTQ youth. Source Theatre. April 10. $15.
about the sacrifices artists make for their craft
May
11. $55–$60.
The arabian niGhTs Ten years after first presenting this drama based on The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night, Constellation Theatre revives it. Director Allison Arkell Stockman tells stories of love, desire, and sacrifice in this elaborate production. Constellation Theatre at Source. May 4 to June 4. $20–$45. The FaTher In this internationally acclaimed drama, an elderly man starts to lose track of his life and experiences strange events, from disappearing furniture to unknown people in his home. Local favorite Ted van Griethuysen stars in Florian Zeller’s drama, translated by Christopher Hampton. Studio Theatre. May 10 to June 18. $20–$85.
and the demands of performing at a high level. Local favorite Ilona Dulaski stars in this production directed by Nick Olcott. MetroStage. May 4 to June ouTside mullinGar John Patrick Shanley’s latest play gets its D.C. premiere at the Keegan under the direction of Mark A. Rhea. Told from the perspective of two farmers, it’s a rumination on love and the nature of relationships. Keegan Theatre at Church Street Theater. May 6 to May 28. $35–$45. Timon oF aThens The generous and wealthy Timon experiences a downturn of fortune and must figure out a way to survive in this biting Shakespearean satire. Robert Richmond, last seen at the Folger directing Julius Caesar, leads this pro-
The hunChbaCk oF noTre dame The story of the deformed bellringer Quasimodo and the enchanting dancer Esmerelda who captures his heart comes alive in a wordless production helmed by Founding Artistic Director Paata Tsikurishvili. The city runs wild when Quasimodo’s adoptive father pursues Esmerelda but Quasimodo’s inclination to protect the woman he cares for remains. Synetic Theater at Crystal City. May 10 to June 11. $20–$60.
duction starring Helen Hayes Award-winner Ian
jesus ChrisT supersTar Signature presents this classic Andrew Lloyd Webber musical that chronicles the last week of Christ’s life. Featuring songs like “I Don’t Know How to Love Him” and “Everything’s Alright,” this production is direct-
the first time since the play premiered, Olney and
Merrill Peakes. Folger Elizabethan Theatre. May 9 to June 11. $35–$75. TopdoG/underdoG Jessica Frances Dukes and Dawn Ursula star in this Pulitzer-winning drama about two brothers who end up fighting each other for the upper hand in the game of life. For director Timothy Douglas have decided to cast two women in traditionally male roles. Olney Theatre Center. May 17 to June 11. $35–$70.
46 February 10, 2017 washingtoncitypaper.com 6 September 16, 2011 washingtoncitypaper.com
Constellation Theatre at Source 1835 14th St. NW. (202) 204-7741. constellationtheatre.org The Hub Theatre at John Swayze Theatre 9431 Silver King Court, Fairfax (800) 494-8497. thehubtheatre.org Folger Elizabethan Theatre 201 E. Capitol St. SE. (202) 544-7077. folger.edu
Quotidian Theatre Company at The Writer’s Center 4508 Walsh St., Bethesda. (301) 816-1023. quotidiantheatre.org Rep Stage at Howard Community College 10901 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia. (443) 518-1500. repstage.org Round House Theatre 4545 East-West Highway, Bethesda. (240) 644-1100. roundhousetheatre.org Sidney Harman Hall 610 F St. NW. (202) 547-1122. shakespearetheatre.org Signature Theatre 4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington. (703) 820-9771. sigtheatre.org
Ford’s Theatre 511 10th St. NW. (202) 347-4833. fords.org
Spooky Action Theater
Forum Theatre at Silver Spring Black Box Theatre 8641 Colesville Road, Silver Spring. (301) 588-8279. forum-theatre.org
(202) 248-0301. spookyaction.org
GALA Hispanic Theatre 3333 14th St. NW. (202) 234-7174. galatheatre.org
(202) 332-3300. studiotheatre.org
George Mason University Center for the Arts 4373 Mason Pond Drive, Fairfax. (888) 945-2468. cfa.gmu.edu
1800 South Bell St., Arlington.
Gunston Arts Center, Theatre Two 2700 South Lang St., Arlington. (703) 418-4808. wscavantbard.org
Hill Arts Workshop
1810 16th St. NW. Studio Theatre 1501 14th St. NW. Synetic Theater at Crystal City (866) 811-4111. synetictheater.org Taffety Punk at Capitol 545 7th St. SE.
Keegan Theatre at Church Street Theater 1742 Church St. NW. (202) 265-3767. keegantheatre.com
(202) 261-6612. taffetypunk.com
Kennedy Center 2700 F St. NW. (202) 467-4600. kennedy-center.org
(202) 777-3210. theaterj.org
Lansburgh Theatre 450 7th St. NW. (202) 547-1122. shakespearetheatre.org MetroStage 1201 N. Royal St., Alexandria. (703) 548-9044. metrostage.org National Theatre 1321 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. (202) 628-6161. nationaltheatre.org Olney Theatre Center 2001 Olney-Sandy Spring Road, Olney. (301) 924-3400. olneytheatre.org
Theater J 1529 16th St. NW. Thomas Jefferson Theater 125 S. Old Glebe Road, Arlington. (703) 548-1154. encorestageva.org Washington Stage Guild at Undercroft Theatre 900 Massachusetts Ave. NW. (240) 582-0050. stageguild.org Woolly Mammoth Theatre 641 D St. NW. (202) 393-3939. woollymammoth.net
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CHOPINIANA AND CARMEN
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THE SLEEPING BEAUTY
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