The Shakespeare Theatre Company, recipient of the 2012 Regional Theatre Tony Award®, presents its Annual Dinner and Mock Trial at Sidney Harman Hall(610 F Street NW) on Monday, May 11, 2015. This marks the 20th year that Shakespeare Theatre Company has put on the Mock Trial. The evening begins with dinner at 5:30 p.m. in the Forum, followed by the Trial at 7:30 p.m. in the theatre. A special session of the Supreme Court of La Mancha will review the decisions of the Family Court to declare Don Quixote mentally incompetent and his subsequent placement under the guardianship of his niece, Antonia.
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg will preside and will be accompanied by Justice Stephen Breyer, as well as Chief Judge Merrick Garland and Judge Patricia Millett, both of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, and Judge Amy Berman Jackson of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Tom Goldstein of Goldstein & Russell P.C. andCarter Phillips of Sidley Austin LLP will argue the case. The Trial will be moderated byAbbe D. Lowell of Chadbourne & Parke LLP, chair of the STC Bard Association and STC Board of Trustees member.
Michael Kahn, Artistic Director of Shakespeare Theatre Company says of Mock Trial, “As I’ve often said, Shakespeare doesn’t tell us what to think, he tells us what to think about. This is what Mock Trial does so stunningly, it uses these classic stories as lenses to look at seemingly old issues and bring them to our modern, and legal, world.”
Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Mock Trial is sponsored by the Bard Association, STC’s affinity group for Washington’s legal community.
Since 1994, the Shakespeare Theatre Company has hosted a Mock Trial based on a play from STC’s mainstage season. The fictional court case poses a legal question, or questions, and the audience must act as the jury to decide the fate of the characters. The Trial aims to examine the links between classic works and contemporary legal theory in a way that is both thought-provoking and entertaining. Past Mock Trials have explored whether Malvolio (Twelfth Night) was entitled to damages for wrongful imprisonment; Iago (Othello) was guilty of the murders of Desdemona and Othello; Hamlet (Hamlet) was insane when he murdered Polonius; and if Sir John Falstaff (Henry IV) should have been compensated for his services to Prince Hal and reinstated as a member of the royal court. Last year’s Mock Trial concentrated on the characters in William Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure and argued whether the Duke of Vienna should be held responsible for abuses of power perpetuated by his appointed representative, and debated issues of illegal secret surveillance, false imprisonment, negligent appointment of an unfit deputy, and disrespect of commitment to religious vows.
This season’s Mock Trial focuses on the characters in Dale Wasserman’s Man of La Mancha and asks the question: Did the Family Court commit reversible errors of law and fact in determining that Don Quixote was mentally incompetent, and should the Family Court have appointed Sancho Panza, Don Quixote’s loyal friend, as his guardian, rather than his niece Antonia?
SCENARIO
As word spread of Alonso Quixana’s (self-named and known to the world as Don Quixote) exhibited signs of mental illness or incompetence, his niece Antonia petitioned the Family Court to appoint her to be his guardian to protect his financial interests and to make medical decisions for him. In support of her petition, Antonia described Don Quixote’s hallucinations, his instigation of ill-conceived and ill-fated battles, his unwitting contribution to the brutal treatment of Aldonza, and his persistent inability to separate reality from illusion. Antonia stated that Don Quixote was unable to manage his assets, pay his medical expenses, or make financial decisions in his own best interests, and that he had been the victim of financial exploitation without even realizing others were taking advantage of him. Antonia’s fiancé, Dr. Carrasco, provided a petition of incompetency claiming to be Don Quixote’s treating physician and asserting that Don Quixote’s mental disability was permanent and that he had no ability to understand the nature of the proceedings or reasons for appointment of a guardian.
The Family Court heard extensive testimony about Don Quixote’s ill-fated escapades during his career as a knight errant, about his discussion of his “dreams,” his tendency to burst into song, and his claims of being a knight. His friends testified about Don Quixote’s idealism, courtesy, generosity, gallantry, and nobility. Sancho Panza said Don Quixote knew he was not really a knight, but simply liked to conceive of a nobler world inspired by courtesy and bravery. Don Quixote’s attorney argued that he did not need a guardian, but that if the Court disagreed, it should appoint Sancho Panza, not Antonia.
The Family Court appointed Antonia as Don Quixote’s guardian. On petition for review by the Supreme Court of La Mancha, Don Quixote has asked the Court to decide two questions:
1. Did the Family Court commit reversible errors of law and fact in determining that Don Quixote was mentally incompetent within the meaning of the laws governing appointment of guardians of property and persons?
2. Assuming Don Quixote was not fully competent to manage his affairs or make decisions about his medical treatment, should the Family Court have rejected Antonia’s petition as motivated by fraud and self-interest, and instead have appointed Sancho Panza, Don Quixote’s loyal friend, as his guardian?
TICKET INFORMATION
Interested in Premium Seating and Dining with the Participants before the Trial?Tickets to the Dinner and Trial ($350) are available now. To purchase tickets please call 202.547.3230 ext. 2330 or contact MockTrial@ShakespeareTheatre.
Trial-only Ticket Prices
A Price: $75
B Price: $50 (limited availability)
Student: $20 (valid student ID required when picking up tickets)
Tickets on sale for STC donors and season subscribers on March 18 at noon.
Tickets for the general public on sale March 23 at noon.
For more information please contact MockTrial@ShakespeareTheatre.
On Monday, June 15, 2015, Will on the Hill, a favorite bipartisan event of theatre and political fans alike, returns to the Shakespeare Theatre Company. Now in its thirteenth year, this year’s event features a performance of Midsummer Madness,an original play by Peter Byrne, and directed by STC Associate Artistic Director Alan Paul.The cast will include special guest performer, STC Affiliated Artist Edward Gero andSamira Wiley, known for her role in Orange is the New Black.
The annual Will on the Hill event welcomes Members of Congress from both sides of the aisle and distinguished Washington insiders onto the Shakespeare Theatre Company stage to perform a political satire infused with Shakespearean language and references. The event pays tribute to the unique dynamic of our city and provides a wonderful way to engage new audiences. Proceeds from this event support STC’s many education, artistic, and community engagement programs including in-school workshops and online learning resources that inspire new and diverse audiences and deepen the connection to classical theatre in learners of all ages. Will on the Hill will take place in Sidney Harman Hall (610 F Street NW), and begins with a VIP cocktail reception at 6:30 p.m., followed by the performance at 7:30 p.m., and a buffet dinner immediately after the performance.
This year’s cast for Will on the Hill will include guest actors Samira Wiley and Edward Gero. Wiley is a TV and film star and a graduate of the Julliard School, best known for her starring role as inmate Poussey Washington on the hit Netflix series Orange is the New Black. Gero has been a prominent figure in the Washington theatre community and STC Affiliated Artist has appeared in more than 70 roles on the STC stage, most recently as King Henry IV in Henry IV, Parts 1 and 2. He recently created the role of Justice Antonin Scalia in the world premiere of John Strand’s The Originalist.
In addition to Midsummer Madness, the evening includes a performance from students inText Alive!, a free arts integration program offered by STC to D.C. area schools, which teaches Shakespeare’s plays through performance and adaptation. This year, students from Virginia’s West Springfield High School present their disco-style take on the wrestling scene from As You Like It, which was performed earlier this spring for the Duchess of Cornwall during her visit to the Shakespeare Theatre Company.
About Midsummer Madness: Summer in Washington finds two lobbyists, one male, one female, vying for a job at the prestigious lobbying firm Stratford, Avon and Bard. Each thinks the other has the advantage due to their gender, so their interviewer puts them to the task of solving some of their clients’—and Washington’s—biggest conflicts. Things do not go as planned, however, as Shakespeare’s heroes and heroines emerge to join the fray. The battle of the sexes is far from over…
Many members of Congress will join Edward Gero and Samira Wiley on the STC stage, including Senators Chris Coons (D-DE) and Patrick Leahy (D-VT), and Representatives Joyce Beatty (D-OH),Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Gerry Connolly (D-VA), Susan Davis(D-CA), Ted Deutch (D-FL), Donna Edwards (D-MD), Janice Hahn (D-CA), Jim Himes(D-CT), Alan Lowenthal (D-CA), Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Jim McDermott (D-WA), Jim Moran (D-VA), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Jared Polis (D-CO), Charles Rangel (D-NY), Elise Stefanik (R-NY), Dina Titus (D-NV), Mike Turner (R-OH), and Ryan Zinke (R-MT).
Other illustrious cast members include The Honourable Ian Liddell-Grainger (MP for Bridgwater and West Somerset), Christina Sevilla (DA U.S. Trade Representative, Executive Office of the President); and members of the media, including Jonathan Allen(Vox), Ron Christie (CEO Christie Strategies), Steve Clemons (Washington Editor-at-Large, The Atlantic, National Journal, Quartz), Bob Cusack (Editor in Chief, The Hill), Rich Edson (Fox News), Amy Holmes (The Blaze TV), Rick Klein (ABC News’ Political Director), Latoya Peterson (Fusion), Thomas Rogan (Tom Rogan Thinks), Robert Siegel(NPR’s All Things Considered), Pamela Lynne Sorensen (Pamela’s Punch), and Kelly Jane Torrance (The Weekly Standard).
The Honorary Co-Chairs for the event are Speaker John A. Boehner (R-OH), The Honorable James E. Clyburn (D-SC), House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD) andU.S. Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid (D-NV).
* Cast members subject to change.
A select number of performance-only tickets to this popular event are available online atwww.shakespearetheatre.org/
W Washington DC, the city’s destination for glamour and the closest hotel to the White House, announces the exclusive Washington launch party for Candace Bushnell in honor of her newest novel, Killing Monica. The evening cocktail event and book signing will stage on the hotel’s POV rooftop on Wednesday, July 1 from 7-9pm. The event, a W DC Happening, is free and open to the public with RSVP. While sipping signature cocktails and taking in the stunning views of Washington landmarks on the newly-renovated rooftop, guests can visit a Bliss Spa Beauty Bar featuring mini manicures and treatments, enjoy a Kendra Scott jewelry preview, and get glammed at a Bluemercury Lipstick Bar.
The RSVP to attend the event is http://killingmonica.eventbrite.com. Books will be available onsite for book signing on site for $27.
WHAT: A special dinner with wine and a discussion of her new book, In a French Kitchen with author Susan Herrmann Loomis, hosted by Chefs Christophe & Michelle Poteaux. The book is a collection of tales from the kitchens of home cooks throughout France capturing the delightful celebration of French life and the cooks who turn even the simplest meals into an occasion. On the eve of Bastille Day, the Chefs Poteaux will serve:
Amuse et Kir
Melon et jambon sale – Virginia made prosciutto, compressed cantaloupe, micro basil, Banyuls vinegar reduction
Poulet roti au romarin et aux citrons confits – Roasted Amish chicken infused with preserved lemon and rosemary, fingerling potatoes, haricots verts, cipoline, piquillo peppers
Salade verte, chèvre chaud – Fresh goat cheese tartine with organic green salad, Dijon and shallot vinaigrette
Tarte aux citrons, fruits rouges, crème Chantilly – Lemon tart, fresh local berries, Chantilly cream
WHEN: Monday, July 13
6:30pm Reception, Meet & Greet
7pm Dinner
WHERE: Bastille
606 N Fayette St
Alexandria, VA 22314
RSVP: Tickets are $69.00 per person, inclusive of dinner and wine, exclusive of tax or gratuity. Books will be available for purchase for $26.95. Please call (703) 519-3776 or email reservations@bastillerestaurant.com to reserve seats for this special event.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Susan Herrmann Loomis is a France-based, award-winning journalist, author and cooking school proprietor with nine books to her credit, and a professionally trained chef. Among her books are On Rue Tatin, a narrative about her life in France, with recipes which won the IACP best literary food book for 2002, Loomis contributes to many publications including Cooking Light,Metropolitan Home, France Today, and Gastronomica. She has lived in France for nearly twenty years, operates On Rue Tatin, a cultural and culinary cooking program, from her 15th century home in Louviers, France, where she lives with her two children.
From the author of the beloved New York Times bestselling book Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? and the creator and star of The Mindy Project comes a collection of essays that are as hilarious and insightful as they are deeply personal.
In Why Not Me?, Kaling shares her ongoing journey to find contentment and excitement in her adult life, whether it’s falling in love at work, seeking new friendships in lonely places, attempting to be the first person in history to lose weight without any behavior modification whatsoever, or most important, believing that you have a place in Hollywood when you’re constantly reminded that no one looks like you.
Mindy turns the anxieties, the glamour, and the celebrations of her second coming-of-age into a laugh-out-loud funny collection of essays that anyone who’s ever been at a turning point in their life or career can relate to.
WHO: Mindy Kaling
WHAT: Book signing
WHEN: 7:30 PM, Thursday, September 17th
WHERE: Sixth & I
600 I St. NW, Washington, DC
Ticketed event
| Liberty and Libations for All |
 Exercise your first amendment freedom by partying with the DC Public Library.
On Friday, September 25, the Great Hall of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library will transform into a bar, lounge, concert venue, market and gallery to celebrate the freedom to read, create and express with UNCENSORED: Opening Night.
The evening will include live music from local bands such as Delafield String Band and Baby Bry Bry & The Apologists, exclusive banned-book-inspired cocktails created and served by mixologists from bars such as Mockingbird Hill, Zaytinya, 2 Birds 1 Stone and Jack Rose, and an art exhibition showcasing works by D.C.-based artists.
Although UNCENSORED was designed to celebrate creative freedom, it also serves as a celebration of our city’s creative culture. Individual tickets cost $50/person, or you can become a host and bring three friends for $250. Purchase your tickets HERE.
Find out if you’re ready for Banned Books Week by taking Buzzfeed’s How Scandalous is Your Reading History quiz.
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Just in time for this fall’s political cycle, piano-playing political satirist Mark Russell returns to Ford’s Theatre (511 Tenth Street NW) for one night only, Monday, October 19, 2015, at 7:00 p.m. With material ripped from today’s headlines, Russell’s unique brand of comedy earned him the Mark Twain Award for political comedy and made him a popular favorite on PBS.
Tickets for An Evening with Mark Russell range $20 to $64, and are available to Ford’s Theatre Members and groups (15 or more) on August 3, at 10:00 a.m. Tickets go on sale to the general public on August 17, at 10:00 a.m. Tickets may be purchased in person at the Ford’s Theatre Box Office (511 Tenth Street NW, Washington, DC), through Ticketmaster at (800) 982-2787 or online at www.fords.org/event/evening-mark-russell(fees apply). Groups of 15 or more may reserve tickets online at www.fords.org/groups.
41st Annual Washington Antiquarian Book Fair Returns
March 4-5, 2016
On-Demand Poetry,
Rare Books, Demonstrations, Casual Appraisals, and More
Book lovers rejoice: the Washington Antiquarian Book Fair returns to our nation’s capital! Celebrating its 41st year, the Fair returns thisMarch 4-5, 2016 featuring new and longtime favorite exhibitors and collections. Over the course of two days, the fair will offer a chance for book lovers to celebrate and discover rare books and manuscripts, and connect with fellow enthusiasts for this rare opportunity to share conversations, discoveries, and experiences with the larger community.
Our exhibitors will have specially curated collections to showcase. Some highlights from these collections include:
- Manual of Parliamentary Practice, Thomas Jefferson, First Edition, 1801;
- Seventy Cantos, inscribed by T.S. Eliot, 1950; and
- The Treasury of Ornamental Art: Illustrations of Objects of Art and Vertu, Lithographers to the Queen, 1856.
New to the Fair this year is Typewriter Rodeo, who will bring custom, on-demand poetry written on vintage typewriters. In five minutes or less, this Austin, Texas-based travelling quartet will write ticket holders an original and personal poem as a keepsake.
What: 41st Annual Washington Antiquarian Book Fair
When: March 4, 2016; 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm
March 5, 2016; 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Where: Holiday Inn Rosslyn at Key Bridge
1900 North Fort Myer Drive; Arlington, VA 22209
Website: Additional information can be found at wabf.com.
Social Media: Twitter: @theWABF
Facebook: Facebook.com/thewabf
Hashtag: #WABF16
Event
Information: Tickets available for purchase at WABF.com. $14 for Friday and Saturday, $8 for Saturday only. $5 for students and librarians with valid identification. Members of the public who have questions should call 202-363-4999 or email bcampbell@wabf.com.
Les Dames d’Escoffier is delighted to announce “CELEBRATING FOOD! Cooking-Careers- Communications.” On Saturday, March 5, from 8:30 a.m. until 5:45 p.m. at the Universities at Shady Grove, Rockville, Maryland, the DC Chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier International will present its tenth Salute to Women in Gastronomy. The $130 fee covers an extraordinary, fun, and educational day-long symposium offering 16 sessions, over 50 speakers, hands-on cooking classes, and a culinary Expo with products, samples, cookbooks, as well as breakfast, lunch, and finale of “Tantalizing Teas and Teacakes.”
Ellie Krieger will serve as keynote speaker with the theme Finding the “Sweet Spot”, Where Delicious and Healthy Meet: Small Changes to Get You There in Cooking and in Life”. Krieger is well known as the host of Food Network’s hit show “Healthy Appetite,” and is a James Beard Foundation and IACP award winner, a New York Times bestselling cookbook author, and a weekly columnist for The Washington Post. Other culinary luminaries will lead seminars, including award winning authors, Joan Nathan and Amy Riolo, food writer David Hagedorn, and Osteria Morini pastry chef Alex Levin, and Cathal Armstrong, Chef/Owner Restaurant Eve, to name a few.
Attendees will learn about tricks of the trade, translating chefs’ recipes, BBQ history, Video storytelling, and the magic of International Spice Blends. Find out about Mastering the 5th Taste through Soy Sauce, uncommon spices and in-depth views on local-sustainable food sourcing. Finally, attendees can participate in hands-on classes in yogurt, sushi, Philippine appetizers, and phyllo dough.
Celebrating Food! is sponsored by the Washington DC Chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier International.
For more information and to register go to www.lesdamesdc.org For further information, please email info@celebratingfood.org or call (202) 973-2168. Find us on Facebook at Celebrating Food! by DC Les Dames or Twitter @LesDamesDC.
Les Dames d’Escoffier Washington, DC. Chapter is a non-profit 501(c)(3) invitational organization of women leaders in the food, beverage, hospitality, and related industries who use their talents and influence for community outreach and through grants, mentoring, scholarships, and educational programs, to help support women to succeed in these industries.
