Join the Library of Congress Veterans History Project for the first-ever “Code Girls” reunion, which will include a processional of some of the remaining “Code Girls” and loved ones of deceased Code Girls, remarks by “New York Times” bestselling author Liza Mundy and a special presentation to these history-making women, credited with helping the United States win World War II.
In March 2018, Mundy visited the Library to discuss her book “Code Girls: The Untold Story of Women Codebreakers of World War II”. In researching for the book, Mundy utilized the Library’s Veterans History Project collections and featured women veterans from the collections in the book. That event, coupled with the book’s increasing popularity, started a national conversation about these unsung women. Loved ones of the “Code Girls” reached out to the author, formed an unofficial online community and overwhelmingly agreed that the time is now to draw attention to and preserve this important piece of American history.
The event is free, but tickets are required. To secure tickets, visit this event-ticketing sitehttps://www.eventbrite.com/e/
Art on the Vine
March 22, 2019 7:00-10:00
Tickets: $45/$55 (must be 21+)
Sommelier Tony Acampora creates a multifaceted tasting experience featuring 10 estate grown wines chosen in concert with artworks from The Art League’s faculty artists at Art on the Vine, Friday, March 22, 7:00 to 10:00 pm. Held at The Art League Gallery in the Torpedo Factory Art Center, the event’s paired works include a diamond-studded bracelet by Gretchen Raber, oil portraiture by Dannie Dawson and Tania Karpowitz, abstract acrylic work by Brian Jernigan and more. The wine menu spans four continents and includes red, white, and sparkling wines like Valpolicella Ripasso, Central Coast Chardonnay, Oregon Pinot Gris, and a Reserve Malbec.
Of the menu, Acampora says, “The wines I’ve selected for Art on the Vine are truly hard-to-find and made by artisan producers. The wines reflect the spirit of the artwork they’re paired with for the evening.”
In addition to eight tastings and a full pour of one’s choice, tickets come with a souvenir wine glass, a light buffet, and the opportunity to purchase bottles as well as a one-night-only discount of 10% on all gallery artwork and a 20% discount of artwork from The Art League’s permanent collection.
Works by Rachel Collins, Delna Dastur, Danni Dawson, Michael Heilman, Brian Jernigan, Tania Karpowitz, Joey Manlapaz, Blair Meerfeld, Gretchen Raber, and Ted Reed serve as oenological inspiration and will be on view at the event. Tasting notes with serving suggestions are furnished. Tony Acampora, the event sommelier, represents wine importer and distributor Well Crafted Wine and Beverage Co.
Ticket sales, art sales, and a portion of the wine sales all raise money to benefit The Art League and its programs.
Art on the Vine Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/art-on-the-vine-2019-tickets-52719992918
Style and Scent in the 18th Century
Thursday, March 28, 2019, 5:30-8 p.m.
Rebecca Tilles, curator of Perfume & Seduction, and Dr. Kimberly Chrisman-Campbell, independent scholar, will examine the French bathing ritual known as la toilette during the 1700s.
Please note: This is the first program in the Perfume & Seduction lecture series.
4155 Linnean Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20008
Washington Performing Arts hosts its 2019 annual Gala & Auction on March 30, 2019 at the National Building Museum (401 F St. NW). Tickets begin at $750; Young Sponsor tickets (for guests 40 and under) start at $200. Tables start at $15,000.
This year’s Gala, “Sizzle & Swing,” is a grand celebration of the art of jazz, from the classic big-band era to today’s up-to-the-minute expressions, fitting perfectly with Washington Performing Arts’ stellar spring lineup of jazz programming from Chucho Valdés and Cécile McLorin Salvant to an all-star tribute to Glenn Miller.
Gala performers include:
- Vocalists Veronica Swift (familiar to Washington Performing Arts audiences through her work with Chris Botti and Wynton Marsalis) and Stephen Scott Wormley (an alumnus of the Washington Performing Arts Children of the Gospel Choir, recently seen in the D.C. area as one of the stars of Signature Theatre’s The Scottsboro Boys);
- Mars Urban Arts Initiative Ensemble-in-Residence DuPont Brass;
- The Washington Performing Arts Children of the Gospel Choir under the direction of Michele Fowlin; and
- The Sizzle & Swing Band
Gala guests will also be treated to a special preview of a newly commissioned transcription of a big band chart by Hazel Scott, the luminary American pianist, cultural icon, and civil rights advocate. This premiere anticipates Washington Performing Arts’ commemoration of Scott’s 100th birthday in 2020.
The Gala kicks off at 6:30 pm with cocktails and the Silent Auction, sponsored by Urban Winery, with the dinner and performance program starting at 8:00 pm. Stage, television, and film actress Tamara Tunie serves as the Master of Ceremonies for the evening. The Afterparty Speakeasy with DJ Dimmy is co-sponsored by Daimler and the Washington Performing Arts Junior Board.
“Washington Performing Arts has a long legacy of presenting both emerging and leading jazz musicians and amplifying jazz as a vital American art form,” said Washington Performing Arts President and CEO Jenny Bilfield. “Whether it is through our Capital Jazz program in partnership with D.C. Public Schools, master classes with artists like Cécile McLorin Salvant, or commissions by Wynton Marsalis and now this new arrangement of a Hazel Scott chart, Washington Performing Arts remains committed to spotlighting this vibrant genre in every dimension of our programs, onstage and off.”
All proceeds raised at the Annual Gala and Auction will support Washington Performing Arts’ arts education initiatives. These include Capital Arts Partnerships and the Embassy Adoption Program (both in partnership with the DC Public Schools); In-School Artist Residencies; the Washington Performing Arts Men, Women, and Children of the Gospel Choirs; master classes and lectures; and stipends for professional development teachers and Washington Performing Arts teaching artists.
The 2019 Gala Co-Chairs are Lyn & Barry Chasen and Tom Gallagher & Barbara Myers. The Junior Board Gala Chairs are Rebecca Allen, Cassidy Grunninger, and Wesley Thomas. The Washington Performing Arts Women’s Committee Gala Chair is Denise Rollins, and the Women’s Committee Silent Auction Chair is Njambi. The Gala Committee comprises Paul Ashe, C. Wallace DeWitt, Adam Farra, Jay and Robin Hammer, Susan Hepner, Jordan Hepner and Nina Damato, Margaret Hurwitz, Angela C.Y. King, Grace Lin, Christina Co Mather and Gary Mather, Haley Morrison, Michelle Nelson, Ami Scott and Lucius Outlaw, Jan and Marike Paulsson, Kerrien Suarez, Ebony Thomas, Lindsey Woody, and The Washington Performing Arts Women’s Committee.
For more information about Washington Performing Arts and the Annual Gala and Auction, visit www.washingtonperformingarts.
Washington’s only playwrights’ collective devoted exclusively to developing and producing new plays—will host its annual fundraiser, The Joint–on Sunday, March 31, at Rhizome DC.
The Joint will take over the rooms of the Rhizome art space, familiar to some as the setting of the 2017 environmental hit Hello, My Name Is… by Deb Sivigny. Throughout the house, installations, intimate performances, and interactive projects will delight attendees as they rewind to remember the past and fast forward to the future.
There will be opportunities to celebrate the current generation of the Welders as they offer the in-process work by the last two playwrights in the second round of Welders leadership. At the end of 2019, the current roster of Producing Playwrights will be turning the company over to a new group of artists: The Welders 3.0.
The soon-to-be-announced third generation of The Welders will be in attendance at The Joint along with the past and present generations. The evening will be a fun opportunity for theater fans to engage with the generative artists taking the production of their work into their own hands.
Don’t miss this spectacular art-house-party filled with connection, sneak peeks, and a celebration of three generations “passing it on.” Plus, the event will feature a fire pit, silent auction, tasty food, and punch from Drink Company, home to the 2017 Spirited Award winning “Best American Cocktail Bar” Columbia Room.
Tickets are available at: https://thejoint2019.
Bestselling author of Me Talk Pretty One Day and other satirical gems David Sedaris returns with the acerbic humor, social commentary, and outlandish stories that transfixed a sold-out audience at his last Strathmore show. Sedaris is one of today’s most observant writers addressing the human condition, which he details hilariously in his latest book, Calypso, described as beach reading for people who detest beaches and required reading for those who loathe small talk. Fans will love to hear these stories live as the Grammy-nominee and New York Times best-selling author brings heart and hilarity to the stage.
“The Arts, Identity and Societal Inclusivity” Pop-up exhibit and conversations organized by the Arts for Global Development, Inc aims at facilitating an open, safe and creative environment to talk about identity, diversity as well as those issues that communities tackle on a day to-day basis especially in the context of voluntary and involuntary mobility of millions of people who are scattered across the globe.
The arts provoke thoughts and encourage people to embark upon issues that are sometimes hard to come to terms with. Contemporary artists often examine their identities by using themselves or aspects of themselves as a starting point to tell a story or address a larger issue like “acceptance or belonging”. During this event, one such contemporary designer and a multidisciplinary researcher Neba will showcase her fashion-art pieces that introduce unique and spiritual methods and folk pieces from her ancestry and upbringing.
Along with Neba’s one day/pop up exhibition called “Feast”, the Sandy Spring Museum Director, Allison Weiss and Cameron Okeke from Urban Institute will be sharing their experiences of how they’ve used the arts, from communicating the stories of displaced people to building creative and safe places in broken communities around the US.
“We certainly live in interesting times where social tension is rising in this ongoing “us and them” discourse. With this event we aim tobring our community together and use creativity as a means to broaden our perspectives. We do hope the works and discussions will inspire and encourage everyone in taking actions that support inclusion, ” said Nil Navaie, the founder and president of Arts for Global Development, Inc.
“The Arts, Identity and Societal Inclusivity” Pop-up exhibit and conversations event will be held at the Fridge Arts Gallery (516 8th Street SE, Washington DC) on April 4th from 5:30 – 8 pm.
The event is free, however RSVPs are recommended via http://www.art4development.net/.
WHAT: The world premiere of the new series ‘Guess I’m a Ghost’ at DC Webfest as part of their American Web Series Watch Party block.
Guess I’m a Ghost is a comedy web series in eight episodes that explores coming to terms with your past mistakes, making amends, and how we both perform ourselves and find out about death through social media. Tonally, the series is a mix between High Maintenance and The Good Place. Using both naturalistic and absurd comedy, the show looks to see how we grieve over imperfect people we think we knew, but maybe didn’t at all. Diane…wasn’t the best friend. She liked to bend the truth and look out for number one. After embarrassing herself at a party, she’s killed in a ride-share accident when climbing into the front seat to charge her phone. Then, because of a mistake in the afterlife, she’s sent back to earth and forced to haunt those she could’ve treated a little better, and might owe her an apology themselves. The series features an original score by Leslie Hong of Haybaby, and will be released in full online on April 29th, following a screening in Los Angeles on April 27th.
WHEN: Saturday, April 13th at 6:00pm
WHERE: MakeOffices Glover Park – 2201 Wisconsin Ave. Suite #200 Washington DC 20007
HOW: Festival programming passes start at $45
Known as the king of the rant, DMV native Lewis Black uses his trademark style of comedic yelling and animated finger-pointing to skewer anything and anyone that gets under his skin. His comedic brilliance lies in his ability to make people laugh at the absurdities of life, with topics that include current events, social media, politics, and anything else that exposes the hypocrisy and madness he sees in the world. “Back in Black,” Black’s regular segment on The Daily Show, is one of the most popular and longest-running segments on the show for both the Jon Stewart era, and now The Daily Show with Trevor Noah. After completing studies in drama, Black’s career began as a playwright-in-residence in New York City’s West Bank Café Downstairs Theater Bar. He also emceed every show, honing his stand-up skills enough to take his show on the road.
Comedian Lewis Black has been added to Strathmore 2018-2019 Season, performing in the Music Center on Sunday, April 14, 2019 at 8 p.m. Known as the king of the rant, Black uses his trademark style of comedic yelling and animated finger-pointing to skewer anything and anyone that gets under his skin. His comedic brilliance lies in his ability to make people laugh at the absurdities of life, with topics that include current events, social media, politics, and anything else that exposes the hypocrisy and madness he sees in the world. For more information call (301) 581-5100 or visitwww.strathmore.org.
Tickets to this show will go on sale to the general public Friday, October 26,2018 at 10 a.m.
Born in Washington, D.C. in 1948, Black was raised in Silver Spring, MD. Colicky as a baby, he was destined to be angry and easily irritated. His mother, a teacher, and his father, a mechanical engineer, instilled the importance of education and the necessity to question authority—lessons that influenced Black throughout his life. He fell in love with the theatre at age 12, which led to pursuing a career in drama. Degrees followed from the University of North Carolina and Yale Drama School, with a stint in Colorado owning a theatre with a group of friends in the interim. During his tenure at UNC, Black ventured into stand-up, which was a steady presence as he pursued his career in theatre.
Black eventually settled in New York and became the playwright-in-residence at the West Bank Café’s Downstairs Theatre Bar. He oversaw the development of more than 1,000 plays, including works by West Wing creator Aaron Sorkin and American Beautywriter Alan Ball, as well as his own original works. In addition to overseeing the works on stage, Black emceed every show. As the West Bank grew, so did Black’s stand-up skills. He left the West Bank in the late 1980s to pursue stand-up full time.
In 1996, Black was tapped to create a weekly segment for Comedy Central’s The Daily Show. The segment, a three-minute rant about whatever was bothering him at the moment, evolved into Back in Black, becoming one of the most popular and longest-running segments on the show for both the Jon Stewart era, and now The Daily Show with Trevor Noah. Black has also taped four specials for the Comedy Central Presents series, co-created Last Laugh with Lewis Black, and presided over Lewis Black’s The Root of All Evil.
His first CD, The White Album, was released in 2000 to critical acclaim. Black followed with eight more albums—six under the Comedy Central Records label. He has received five Grammy nominations and two wins for his work; he won Best Comedy Album in 2007 for The Carnegie Hall Performance and again in 2011 for Stark Raving Black.
In 2009 Black filmed his first feature-length concert film, Stark Raving Black, at the Fillmore Theatre in Detroit. In 2011, he produced his second full-length concert, In God We Rust. In August 2013, Black recorded his ninth stand-up special, Old Yeller: Live At The Borgata.
Black has appeared on Larry King Live, Piers Morgan Tonight, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, The Late Show with David Letterman, Late Night with Conan O’ Brian, and The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson. Black has also had numerous appearances on CNN and MSNBC and has occasionally done the weather with Al Roker.
Black has also written three New York Times best-selling books and penned more than 40 plays, many of which have been produced around the country.
In 2006, he had a break-out year as an actor, co-starring with Robin Williams in Barry Levinson’s Man of the Year (Universal Pictures). He also appeared as “the fake dean of a fake college” in Steve Pink’s Accepted (Universal Pictures), and as the harried airport manager in Paul Feig’s Unaccompanied Minors (Warner Bros.). He lent his voice to Jimmy in Bob Saget’s parody, Farce of the Penguins (Thinkfilm).
In 2015, Black notably voiced the character “Anger” in the Academy Award winning animated film from Pixar, Inside Out, about an 11-year-old-girl who is wrestling with the emotions inside her head.
As a longtime mentor with the 52nd Street Project, Black was roasted in Charred Black 2007, which drew the largest fundraising numbers in the Project’s history. He’s a member of their advisory board, is co-chair of their capital campaign, and in 2000, the Ron Black Memorial Scholarship Fund was created in memory of his late brother. Black is also committed to raising funds for the Rusty Magee Clinic for Families and Health. He’s a strong supporter of both the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and Autism Speaks, and was honored by The Brady Center for his commitment to ending gun violence. In 2012, he was honored by the ACLU of Georgia with their National Civil Liberties Award. At the Williamstown Theatre Festival, he established the William Foeller Fellowship, having taught and performed at the festival for more than a decade. Black also supports our military personnel and has performed in three tours with the USO.
Black resides in both Manhattan and Chapel Hill, NC. Still loyal to his alma mater, he’s worked with UNC students to create the Carolina Comedy Festival, a yearly festival that highlights performances and provides workshops and lectures for budding comics, writers, and performers.
