Weekend Buzz, Feb. 5, 2025
It's Black History Month and Super Bowl weekend and there's so much to do this weekend! Here are just a few ideas.
Celebrate Black History Month
Choral Music at Glen Echo (Offsite)
Jubilee Voices: Frederick Douglass Birthday Celebration
Saturday, Feb. 8, 8:00 p.m. to midnight.
Glen Echo Park Partnership for Arts and Culture, Offsite: 2375 Elvans Rd., SE, Washington, D.C.
Join the Washington Revels Jubilee Voices for an OFFSITE performance at the Opening Ceremonies of an annual Frederick Douglass Birthday Celebration. This free celebration includes music by the Jubilee Voices, a puppet show by Ebony Sonshine, and a Jazz performance by the Finn Murphy Quartet.
Admission is free. Phone: (301) 587-3835. For info, email: info@revelsdc.org.
A Civil Rights Legal Panel
The Constitution and Loving v. Virginia
Thursday, Feb. 6, 7:00 p.m. at Stacy C. Sherwood Community Center, 3740 Blenheim Blvd., Fairfax.
Co-presented by the City of Fairfax and Center for the Arts at George Mason University.
In support of Virginia Opera’s world premiere production of "Loving v. Virginia," this legal panel discusses the origins, challenges, and significance of the 1967 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that struck down state laws banning inter-racial marriage. Panel participants will include Mary Bauer, Executive Director of ACLU-VA, as well as other constitutional scholars, active attorneys and/or judges, and experts in the area. There will be a brief Q & A session following the discussion.
This event is offered in conjunction with the Center for the Arts at George Mason University’s May 3-4 performances of the world premiere opera — composed by Damien Peter, with libretto by Jessica Murphy Moo, and directed by Denise Graves. "Loving v. Virginia" is based on the true story of Mildred and Richard Loving, a married couple from Central Point, Virginia, who were criminally charged for their interracial marriage and forced to leave the state to avoid prison sentences, then took their case to the U.S. Supreme Court and won this landmark victory for civil rights in the United States. This complimentary event is an open-to-the-public presentation.
Black Dance
The Kennedy Center Opera House
2700 F. St. NW.
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
Feb. 4 - 9
For its annual Kennedy Center engagement, the beloved company presents brand new works, contemporary favorites, and the signature Ailey classic Revelations.
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s 2024–2025 season celebrates the life and legacy of Artistic Director Emerita Judith Jamison.
More than 25 million people in 71 countries have seen Revelations, making it the most widely viewed modern dance work in the world.
It takes a special work to remain as timeless as when it was created in 1960 — and it takes a special company to perform it with unparalleled artistry. Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater has always been a treasured part of the Kennedy Center experience since we opened our doors in 1971. The company is a powerful incubator of pure talent, and you’ll watch as Ailey’s newest dancers showcase their skills amidst the virtuosity of the most tenured artists. Audiences will experience mixed repertory programs of brand new works and contemporary favorites. Plus, each performance ends with the soul-stirring Ailey masterpiece Revelations.
For ticket info go here.
Black Country Music
McLean Community Center
1234 Ingleside Ave., McLean
The Black Opry Revue
Saturday, Feb. 8, 7 p.m. $30/$25 students and seniors/$20 MCC district residents.
Country music has been made by and loved by Black people since its conception. Country, blues, folk and Americana music overlap or are woven together by a proper revue of Black country artists. In true Opry style, this concert will feature a variety of Black country music artists from around the country.
Featured artists: Acisse Jay, Sug Daniels, Mel Washington and Justin Golden.
For ticket information go here.
Black Jazz Music
Kennedy Center: The REACH
STUDIO K CLUB
REDWOOD
Fri. Feb. 7, 7:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.
Pianist, composer, producer, and Washington, D.C. native Sequoia “REDWOOD” Snyder blends contemporary jazz vibes and Black music genres with individuality and style. At only 24, she’s performed with esteemed musicians such as Rodney Whitaker, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Kenny Barron, Cory Henry, and even popular R&B band The Internet. REDWOOD’s mentor Jason Moran says of his protégé, “when I can’t do a gig, I always recommend Sequoia.”
For ticket info go here.
A Frederick Douglass Museum Exhibit
Fairfax Museum and Visitor Center
10209 Main St., Fairfax. Wednesdays - Mondays, 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; Closed Tuesdays.
Frederick Douglass: Advocate for Equality
Back by Popular Demand! In this banner exhibition, viewers can learn about Douglass’s escape from slavery, his work as an abolitionist, and his tireless fight for equality for all individuals in the Jim Crow era. Douglass’s impact and his life are explored through his words, photographs, and documents from the Gilder Lehrman Collection. Self-guided family activities complement the exhibit: Come make your own exhibit panel!
Other Weekend Activities...
Local Dining
Falls Church Restaurant Week, Now through Feb. 9
Still time to enjoy! Make your reservations now for the City of Falls Church’s Second Annual Restaurant Week, Now through Feb. 9.
Here’s our overview!
Christopher Jones
New Yorker Discussion Group
Thursday, Feb. 6, 2-3:00 p.m. Mary Riley Styles Public Library, 120 N. Virginia Ave. Upper Level Conference Room. Drop in or join on Zoom.
Enjoy reading The New Yorker but wish you had someone to chat with about it? Drop into the monthly New Yorker Discussion Group to share your thoughts on what you’ve read in a variety of articles. The group meets on the first Thursday of the month from 2-3:00 p.m. on Zoom.
Article to be determined. This program will be held in person at the library and via Zoom. Please email Pete Sullivan at: psullivan@fallschurchva.gov for a Zoom invite. Phone Number: (703) 248-5088. For more info go here.
'Litany of Saints': Diana Rojas Author Talk
Saturday, Feb. 8. Mary Riley Styles Public Library, 120 N. Virginia Ave. Upper Level Conference Room, from 2-3:00 p.m.
Come listen to a talk by local writer Diana Rojas, author of the new work of fiction, Litany of Saints: A Triptych.
....Revealing the cultural dissonance experienced by immigrants, Diana Rojas’ characters grapple with their self-perception as they consider what they’re supposed to be and who they want to be. Issues of individualism versus community, loyalty to a distant homeland and a divided sense of identity pepper this intriguing debut.
Diana Rojas' debut fiction Litany of Saints: A Triptych was published by Arte Público Press in April 2024. A graduate of NYU, she has written in everything from large daily newspapers to niche newsletters. Diana grew up in Connecticut and New Jersey, has lived in five different countries and currently lives, taxed and unrepresented, in Washington, D.C.
To register go here.
Live Local Music
Clare & Don’s Beach Shack
130 N. Washington St.
The Coozies
Friday, Feb. 7, at 6:00 p.m.
A Promising Local Band
Saturday, Feb. 8, at 8:00 p.m.
For ticket info go here.
Local Theater
Nova Nightsky Theatre
Falls Church Presbyterian Church, 225 E. Broad St.
Fool for Love
Thurs. Feb 6, 7:30 p.m.; Friday, Feb. 7, 7:30 p.m.; Sat. Feb 8, 2:00 p.m.
By Sam Shepard. Directed by Chris D’Angelo. Stage Managed by Hannah Ruth Blackwell.
"Fool for Love" by Sam Shepard explores themes of love, obsession, and the complexities of human relationships. The story is set in a seedy motel room on the edge of the Mojave Desert, and revolves around two main characters, Eddie and May, who have a tumultuous and passionate relationship.
For ticket info go here.
Signature Theatre
4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington.
JOB
Through March 16.
A psychological thriller with a shocking and disturbing twist that will leave you breathless.
A young woman whose screaming breakdown at work has gone viral must receive an evaluation from a crisis therapist before she can return to her job at a well-known tech firm. During the appointment, however, secrets emerge, and filters strip away as doctor and patient edge toward an epic showdown.
An Off-Broadway sensation and New York Times Critic’s Pick, this intense play skewers the insidiousness of the internet, the meaning of work and the menace behind the social media smile.
“Engrossing, disturbing and frequently funny. It might even scare you off social media for a day or two.” – The New Yorker
For more info go here.
Tyson's Corner, 1st Stage
1524 Spring Hill Rd.
The Lake Effect
Feb. 6 - Feb. 23 (Now extended!) Tyson's Corner, 1st Stage, (703) 854-1856.
Directed by Alex Levy. Written by Rajiv Joseph.
A drama of family secrets by Pulitzer Prize finalist Rajiv Joseph. During a fierce Cleveland mid-winter storm, estranged siblings are reunited by their father's sudden death. In the midst of closing his failing Indian restaurant, they must confront the painful memories and secrets that drove them apart. With witty dialogue, richly drawn characters, and a deep understanding of the complexities of human relationships, The Lake Effect is a must-see.
For more info go here.
The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts:
Broadway Center Stage
2700 F. St. NW.
Schmigadoon!
Eisenhower Theater, Through Feb. 9.
Based on the hit Apple TV series! Introducing Schmigadoon!, the world-premiere musical of the Emmy Award–winning hit show. New York doctors Josh and Melissa go backpacking in a last-ditch attempt to save their failing relationship, but instead get lost in the woods and end up trapped in Schmigadoon, a magical town that’s a classic Golden Age musical come to life!
For ticket info go here.
The Arlington Players
Thomas Jefferson Community Theatre, 125 S. Old Glebe Rd., Arlington.
The Play That Goes Wrong
Feb. 7, 7:30 p.m.; Feb. 9, 7:30 p.m.; Feb. 9, 3:00 p.m.
Directed by Maureen Dawson.
From Mischief, Broadway masters of comedy, comes the smash hit farce. Welcome to opening night of the Cornley University Drama Society’s newest production, The Murder at Haversham Manor, where things are quickly going from bad to utterly disastrous. This 1920s whodunit has everything you never wanted in a show — an unconscious leading lady, a corpse that can’t play dead, and actors who trip over everything (including their lines). Nevertheless, the accident-prone thespians battle against all odds to make it through to their final curtain call, with hilarious consequences! Part Monty Python, part Sherlock Holmes, this Olivier Award–winning comedy is a global phenomenon that’s guaranteed to leave you aching with laughter!
For ticket info go here.
Theatre on the Run, Dominion Stage
3700 S. Four Mile Run Drive, Arlington.
The City of Conversation
Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, at 8:00 p.m., through Feb. 15.
By Anthony Giardina. Directed by Jessie Roberts.
In 1979, Washington D.C. was a place where people actually talked to each other... where adversaries fought it out on the Senate floor and then smoothed it out over drinks and hors d'oeuvres. But it was all about to change.
In this play spanning 30 years and six presidential administrations, Hester Ferris throws Georgetown dinner parties that can change the course of Washington’s politics. But when her beloved son suddenly turns up with an ambitious Reaganite girlfriend and a shocking new conservative world view, Hester must choose between preserving her family and defending the causes she's spent her whole life fighting for.
From the prolific pen of novelist, essayist, and playwright Anthony Giardina comes a play about politics in family, and families in politics. A searing new drama, The City of Conversation delves into the ever-changing tapestry of U.S. Government and the people who shape it off the senate floor.
Use the online coupon code "HESTER5" and save $5 off the general admission door rate.
For ticket info go here.
The Little Theatre, Alexandria
600 Wolfe St., Alexandria
Roald Dahl's "Matilda"
Feb. 8 - March 1
Matilda Wormwood is an exceptionally gifted child with an extraordinary love of books, an incredibly vivid imagination, and just plain rotten luck isn the parental department. Along with her friends and her teach, Miss Honey, Matilda stands up for justice against the headmistress (appropriately dubbed “The Trunchbull”) and other adults who “can’t be bothered with the affairs of “wretched, filthy children.”
For ticket info go here.
Constellation Theatre Company
1835 14th Street NW, Washington D.C.
CONSTELLATIONS
Feb. 6 - March 25
By Nick Payne. Directed by Nikki Mirza.
In a swirling multiverse, star-crossed lovers travel through a myriad of experiences – from barbecue to ballroom dancing, bar-hopping to beekeeping. Through the magic of quantum physics and time travel, this vivid love story illuminates destiny, adversity, and hope within infinite possibilities.
For more info go here.
Gala Hispanic Theatre
3333 14th St. NW.
FUENTEOVEJUNA
Feb. 6 - March 2
By Lope de Vega (Spain). Version by Juan Mayorga. Directed by José Luis Arellano.
U.S. premiere! In Spanish with English subtitles.
Performances: Thursdays – Saturdays 8 p.m., Sundays 2:00 p.m. |
Fuenteovejuna, perhaps Lope de Vega's most performed work, addresses the people's right to rebel against the abuse of power. Written in 1613 and based on real events, it tells the story of the commander of the town of Fuente Ovejuna, Fernán Gómez de Guzmán, subjectss the citizens to suffer under the rigors of an arrogant, corrupt, and ruthless government. But when they find that power really resides in the citizens, they unite, take up arms, and confront authority with the battle cry of “What is Fuenteovejuna? “The whole town, together!”
SPECIAL EVENT, Feb 9! Talk-back with Antonio Carreño-Rodríguez, PhD, Associate Professor of Spanish at George Mason University, director José Luis Arellano, Poetry and Verse Consultant David Peralto, and cast members.
Student Matinees: For more information, click here.
Noche de GALA and Press Night: Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025 at 8:00 p.m.
Tickets: $48 Thursdays and Sundays, $50 Fridays and Saturdays; $35 Seniors (65+), Military, and Groups (10+); $25 25 and Under; Noche de GALA: $55 (per person). To purchase tickets online for groups (10+), use code 10Plus.
For more info go here.
Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
641 D St. NW.
GUAC
Through Feb. 16.
Directed by Michael Cotey. Written & Performed by Manuel Oliver. Co-written by James Clements.
If grief is just another form of love, what you do with it next is what counts. This winter, meet the Olivers in GUAC !
Fearless, funny, and pulling zero punches, GUAC is a tour-de-force theatrical experience about a father turned activist, Manuel Oliver. Seven years after losing his son Joaquin “Guac” Oliver in the Parkland shooting, Oliver harnesses the unbreakable power of a father’s love into an equally passionate force for change. A story about the many firsts and lasts that define us, GUAC is a joyful celebration of a life cut short and an activist rallying call for a better future.
Evening performances. Discounts for a charitable contribution. Go here for more information.
Keegan Theatre
1742 Church St. NW.
Hand to God
Tony-Nominated Comedy, Feb. 1 - March 2
Playwright: Robert Askins. Director: Josh Sticklin.
After the death of his father, meek Jason finds an outlet for his anxiety at the Christian Puppet Ministry, in the devoutly religious, relatively quiet small town of Cypress, Texas. Jason’s complicated relationships with the town pastor, the school bully, the girl next door, and — most especially — his mother are thrown into upheaval when Jason’s puppet, Tyrone, takes on a shocking personality all its own. HAND TO GOD is an irreverent comedy that explores the startlingly fragile nature of faith, morality, and the ties that bind us.
For ticket info go here.
Dance Lessons
Glen Echo
7300 MacArthur Blvd., Maryland.
Capital Blues Dance
Thursday, Feb. 6, 8:15-9:00 p.m. Lesson; 9-11:30 p.m. Dance.
Capital Blues! On Thursday nights dancers converge upon the Back Room at Glen Echo Park for the best in DJ’ed Blues dances in the Washington, D.C. area. Admission is $10 per person at the door via cash or credit. Enjoy a 45-minute lesson followed by 2.5 hours of dancing with fantastic DJs! Phone: (703) 596-5724. Email: info@capitalblues.org.
Friday Night Contra Dance & Occasional Squares
Friday, Feb. 7, Lesson: 7:30-8:00 p.m. Social Dance: 8-11:00 p.m.
Contra dance with occasional squares in the Spanish Ballroom at Glen Echo Park, Glen Echo, 7300 MacArthur Blvd. Sponsored by Friday Night Dancers. No experience needed! Come alone or with friends! All ages. All genders. All body types.
Music by a supergroup featuring Megan Wobus (fiddle), Charley Beller (guitar, banjo, percussion), Ken Kolodner (hammered dulcimer, fiddle), and Rachel Eddy (banjo, guitar, mandolin, fiddle). Dances will be called by Jordan Kammeyer!
For information email: info@fridaynightdancers.org
Swing! With Craig Gildner & The Ivy City 6
Join us for a swing dance in the Spanish Ballroom with Craig Gildner & the Ivy City 6! Featuring Leigh Pilzer and the music of: Count Basie, Lester Young, Al Cohn, & Coleman Hawkins. A beginner lesson will be led by Amanda & Skylar, with DJing by Kyle Seymour. Admission: $25. Spanish Ballroom, Glen Echo. 7300 MacArthur Blvd. Lesson included with price of admission!
For more info go here.
Live Local Music
Crescendo Studios
8101a Route 29, Falls Church
Think Different: Tribute Jam
Friday, Feb. 07, 7:00 p.m.
"Check it out! I want you to listen real close..." In 1999, Substantial signed to Nujabes' Hydeout Productions label in Japan. Shortly after, they recorded over 30 songs, releasing classics like Think Different, Eclipse, and Hikari, including City Lights and Blessing It with Pase Rock and Substantial's debut album, To This Union A Sun Was Born.
On February 7, 2025, which is Nujabes' 51st birthday and exactly twenty-five years after they first met in person, Substantial invites you to a celebration of Hip Hop, Nujabes' music, and their many collaborations featuring performances by Substantial and his band, The Sun's Hues (Stephanie Gayle, Jonathan Smalls, AJ Rios and Lizzie Blue), beat sets by AJ Rios and Lizzie Blue, live art by Shani Shih, a DJ set by DMV Legend, DJ RBI, live Breakers and hosted by MC/Educator, Javier Starks.
Earlybird tickets and general admission include free parking. VIP Passes include early access, a meet-and-greet with Substantial, a signed event poster, and stickers. Additional merchandise from the artists and local vendors will be available on-site as well as refreshments.
For more info go here.
Settle Down Easy Brewing Co.
2822 Fallfax Dr., Falls Church.
Honey Funk
Saturday, Feb. 8, 7-10:30 p.m.
For more info go here.
Fairfax Academy's Musical Theatre and Actors Studio
Fairfax H.S., 3501 Lion Run, Fairfax.
Once Upon a One More Time
Friday, Feb. 7, 7:00 p.m.; Saturday, Feb. 8, 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
Fairfax Academy’s Musical Theatre and Actors Studio will become one of the first schools in the entire nation to produce Once Upon a One More Time! Powered by the chart-topping hits of the undisputed Princess of Pops, Once Upon a One More Time turns our favorite fairytales upside down with a clever twist! When a fairy godmother goes rogue and plops copies of The Feminine Mystique in the laps of classic heroines, the damsels go on a quest to rewrite their stories and rede3fine “happily ever after.” Once Upon a One More Time by Jon Hartmere weaves 23 of Brittney Spears’s smash singles into a fun and brilliant book, culminating in a show that will appeal to groups and audiences of all ages.
For more info go here.
Superbowl LIX Party
Dogwood Tavern
132 W. Broad St.
At Dogwood Tavern in downtown Falls Church City, Celebrate Superbowl LIX, Sunday, Feb. 9, with good friends, family, and a variety of chicken-wing specials!
Go here to order in advance!
Which one will you be rooting for:
Or,
? ? ? ?
By Christopher Jones
Member discussion