Weekend Buzz: June 12, 2025
Celebrate Juneteenth!
Juneteenth Celebration
Join the Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation for a free Juneteenth Celebration from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 19, at 106 Tinner Hill Rd.
This year's celebration focuses on Freedom, Community, and Unity and features an afternoon of music, history, storytelling, games, and food.
Concerts in the Park return on Juneteenth. Celebrate the history, freedom, and joy of Juneteenth in the City at the Concerts in the Park Series, co-sponsored by the Village Preservation and Improvement Society (VPIS). The concert series returns to Cherry Hill Park on Thursday, June 19, at 7:00 p.m. and will feature a resonating performance of 'Lift Every Voice and Sing' followed by the Tinner Hill Music Concert on Thursday, June 26; an evening of blues, funk, and jazz.
How to Celebrate Juneteenth in the District
Here's a great Washington.org piece on how to celebrate Juneteenth in D.C.
Celebrate Pride Month!
Falls Church Forward Re-Schedules Crosswalk Rainbow Painting to June 14
Don't worry! Despite all the recent rainy weather, Falls Church Forward (FCF) will still be leading the City's efforts to paint rainbow crosswalks to celebrate Pride Month this June.
"Mother Nature just isn't cooperating so we've again rescheduled the Eden Center crosswalk painting project to Saturday, June 14, 7:00 a.m. - weather permitting," FCF announced. "And we'll also help refresh the rainbow crosswalks at the City Hall campus on Sunday, June 15, 8:00 a.m. in celebration of Pride Month."
"Reply if you'd like to join us in either/both of these fun, hands on projects," FCF said. "For the Eden Center crosswalk project, since we'll be working right next to Wilson/Saigon Blvd., we ask that only adults join us, please."
If you're interested in helping celebrate Pride Month with rainbow crosswalk painting, contact: fallschurchforward@gmail.com.
Celebrate Father's Day!
Father’s Day Brunch at Ireland's Four Provinces
Ireland's Four Provinces, 105 West Broad St., Father's Day, Sunday, June 15.
Father's Day is Coming... The Pub's here to help you!
Celebrate HIS Way, with 4P’S Gift Certificates, and a Father’s Day Brunch Buffet!
Featuring ALL Dad’s faves, 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Sunday, June 15.
• Plus, Father’s Day Weekend Dining Specials:
•Friday, Saturday (5:00 p.m.) & Sunday (4:00 p.m.): 8 oz. Filet of Beef | 10 oz. Hand-cut Ribeye Surf & Turf: 4 oz. Lobster Tail & 6 oz. Grilled Flank Steak Lamb Chops | BBQ Ribs & Shrimp, Fresh Filet of Rockfish. Chocolate Decadence Cake...
Call today for details/reservations: (703) 534 8999.
For more info go here.
Father's Day at Cafe Kindred
450 N. Washington St., Falls Church
Trust us, he doesn't want to barbeque...
Treat the dads in your life, and join us this Father's Day, June 15, and leave the cooking to us.
We'll have burger specials, chili dogs, and beer on tap for his perfect day.
Your friends at Cafe Kindred.
For more info go here.
Local Dining
Try Out Falls Church's Newest Cafe!
Little Falls Cafe
106 Little Falls St., Falls Church
Have you tried the Little City's newest cafe?
"A romantic vintage creperie in the heart of Falls Church City," Little Falls Cafe, has just opened with a charming Alpine building refurbishment at 106 Little Falls Street.
"Crepes are set to be part of the landscape along Little Falls Street with the opening of a business just off of West Broad Street," reported DC News Now. "The café will serve crepes as well as coffee and other beverages."
Open 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. every day but Monday when it's closed.
Summer Concert Series
2025 Concerts in the Park Series
Falls Church Recreation and Parks
Cherry Hill Park, 312 Park Ave., Falls Church.
The Summer Concerts in the Park Series hosted by the Falls Church Village Preservation and Improvement Society (VPIS) and the Recreation and Parks Department returns for its 33rd year!
Concerts in the Park are Thursdays in June and July this year! Guests are encouraged to bring a blanket or folding chairs and a picnic dinner to the concerts.
Concerts start at 7:00 p.m. and range from 60 to 90 minutes-long. Advanced registration not required.
Summer Concert Line-up
- June 19: Falls Church Concert Band (Instrumental) - Celebrate Juneteenth with us including a performance of "Lift Every Voice and Sing."
- June 26: Bushmaster ft. Gary Brown (Blues) - The Tinner Hill Music Concert
- July 3: Dede & the Do-Right’s (Vintage Country and Rock & Roll)
- July 10: Richard Walton Group (Jazz, Rock, Latin, Fusion)
- July 17: Kiti Gartner and the Drifting Valentines (Rockabilly, Country, Americana)
- July 24: The Bob Gibson Big Band (Vintage to Modern Jazz)
- July 31: Big Tow (Rock and Blues)
Columbia Pike Blues Festival
Courtesy Arlington Arts:
Now in its 28th year, the Columbia Pike Blues Festival is a high-energy summer celebration that brings music, community, and culture to the heart of Arlington’s most vibrant corridor. Presented by the Columbia Pike Partnership in partnership with Arlington Arts, the festival showcases the best of the DMV’s musical talent while honoring the rich diversity and spirit of Columbia Pike.
Everyday Everybody at 6:30 p.m.
Everyday Everybody is a DC-based band blending funk, soul, jazz, and afrobeats into a sound that’s as vibrant as their live shows. Since 2012, they’ve earned recognition as Best Local Original Band (Washington City Paper) and Best Funk Group (Wammies), with features in The Washington Post and NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert Tour. Known for electrifying performances, they’ve shared stages with The Wailers, Burning Spear, Cory Henry, Durand Jones & The Indications, The Suffers, and Cedric Burnside, and have headlined venues like the Black Cat and The Hamilton, with featured appearances at DC JazzFest, the Kennedy Center, and the 9:30 Club.
Sol Roots at 5:00 p.m.
The Sol Roots band performs a mix of New Orleans influenced funk, deep blues, heartfelt soul, and energetic rock. Known for his ferocious guitar skills and soulful vocals, Sol has toured around the world with many musical legends.
Sol has spent most of his life touring, recording, producing, and learning directly from roots and blues pioneers such as Beverly “Guitar” Watkins, Albert White, Robert Lee Coleman, Cool John Ferguson, Lee Gates, and more.
The Sol Roots band has shared the stage with acts such as Jon Cleary, Soulive, Dumpstaphunk, Popa Chubby, Sonny Landreth, Eric Lindell, Roosevelt Collier, Cory Henry, Walter “Wolfman” Washington, Shemekia Copeland, Jackie Greene and many more. Guided by a deep admiration for his musical mentors and a passion for universal music, Sol emerges with a distinctive, powerful voice, accompanied by a talented band of musicians. Sol Roots is an official Home Grown Music Network artist and a “Next Generation” Music Maker Foundation artist.
Anthony "Swamp Dog" Clark at 3:30 p.m.
Anthony "Swamp Dog" Clark is a world class musician who has performed, and recorded with some of the best local and national blues acts. Anthony started out playing the drums at age five, and by the time he was twelve, started listening to the blues greats. Musicians like Little Walter, Big Walter Horton, Paul Butterfield, and Sonny Boy Williamson, just to name a few.
Little Red & the Renegades at 2:10 p.m.
Squeeze Box Rock & Roll, Zydeco, Blues, and New Orleans R&B — high energy grooves from the DMV’s one and only Little Red & the Renegades. Accordion, steel pan, a dynamic rhythm section, and great songs . . . who could ask for anything more? Little Red, on the Azalea City Recordings label based in Takoma Park, has appeared with Dr. John, Buckwheat Zydeco, Nathan Williams & the Zydeco Cha-Chas, T-Bone Burnett, Chubby Carrier, Queen Ida, Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Brave Combo, and Rosie Ledet. Band members are Little Red (Tom Corradino), Accordion, Piano, Guitar; Carol Arthur, Zydecaribbean Steel Pans, Piano; Antoine Sanfuentes, Drums; Dave Petersen, Bass; Harry Rado, Guitar. Little Red represented D.C. at Austin’s famed South by SouthWest festival, and were the Kennedy Center’s New Years Eve band!
The band has played up and down the east coast, from Pennsylvania to Tennessee. His CD “LIVE” has been featured on many college, and Internet radio stations. The music is a blistering mix of contemporary blues with a funk edge. Today you can see Anthony “Swamp Dog” Clark at various festivals and clubs opening for the likes of Deanna Boggart, Shemekia Copeland, and Mr. Sip.
Rick Franklin at 1:00 p.m.
A Virginia native, Rick Franklin was born in Alexandria, Virginia in 1952 to a military family. The family traveled the U.S. and England until 1968 when the family returned to Virginia and his father retired from military service. Since 1981, the Arlington resident has been playing acoustic guitar and singing the Blues at community events, local festivals, international festivals, as well as various clubs, cafes and other venues. Rick’s musical style of blues is known as the “Piedmont” style identified with such legendary players as Blind Blake, Blind Boy Fuller and William Moore along with players and friends like “Bowling Green” John Cephas, John Jackson, and Archie Edwards.
Activities and Shopping
The 2025 Columbia Pike Blues Festival brings an exciting mix of local flavor, crafts, and family fun! Foodies can savor bites from Sabores, Mpanadas, Sloppy Mama’s BBQ, and much, much more. Cool off with King of Pops or Frosty Softy, and enjoy beer, wine, and seltzers available for purchase. Kids can enjoy face painting, a coloring table, and the ever-popular moonbounce, while families can explore creative stations like the Arlington Art Truck. Don’t forget to grab your official Columbia Pike Blues Festival T-shirt!
Arlington Art Truck:
Exposing Life Cycles with Zofie King, 1:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Visit the Arlington Art Truck at Blues Fest!
Using kits developed by Arlington artist Zofie King and organic items found on site (think: leaves), create sun prints (aka cyanotypes) that turn organic waste into beautiful artwork, just as composting turns organic matter into beautiful soil and mulch, which in turn goes back into our community!
Vendors
With over 60 vendors — including community favorites like Area 2 Farms, Studio Pause, and Pop’s Praiseworthy Popcorn — there’s something for everyone to discover on the Pike!
Glen Echo Summer Concert Series
Gina DeSimone and the Moaners: Celebrating Pride!
Glen Echo, Bumper Car Pavilion, 7300 Macarthur Blvd., Glen Echo, Md., Jun 12, 7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. And, every Thursday over the summer, through August 21, from 7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. All concerts are free. All Ages. Dancers welcome. Free parking. Rain or shine.
For more than a decade, summer at Glen Echo Park has been synonymous with our weekly Summer Concert Series, where we present and support local musicians and performers who represent a diverse range of styles, influences, and cultures.
Gina DeSimone & The Moaners are a D.C.-based blues and swing foursome sure to liven up any event with an eclectic mix of music from all eras!
Since 2007, The Moaners have made their mark on the D.C. music scene with unrelentingly danceable tunes and fun-loving humor. The group's musically diverse backgrounds come together to deliver a night of enthusiastic fun, foot tappin' rhythm, and killer harmonies.
Presenter: Glen Echo Park Partnership for Arts & Culture.
RSVP preferred, not required. Limited seating available — feel free to bring folding chairs. Phone: 301-634-2222.
For more info go here.
Summer Concert Series at The Wharf DC
Rock The Dock!
The Wharf DC, 970 Wharf St. SW. Every Wednesday evening through Labor Day.
Rock The Dock 2025 Lineup:
At 7:00 p.m. on Wednesdays from Memorial Day to Labor Day, come to Transit Pier at The Wharf to enjoy free live performances by these talented local artists:
June 18: Too Much Talent Band (R&B/Go-Go)
June 25: Pebble to Pearl (Soul/R&B)
July 2: Shane Gamble & The Pawnshop Hearts (Country)
July 9: Hot Cactus (Party Hits)
July 16: Secret Society (Feel Good Music)
July 23: The HariKaraoke Band (Special Karaoke Band)
July 30: So Fetch (2000s Hits)
August 6: The JoGo Project (Go-Go/Funk)
August 13: DuPont Brass (Big Horns/Electric Soul)
August 20: Uncle Jesse (90s Pop)
August 27: Pink PaLiSh (Funk/Soul)
Event Details
- Every concert begin at 7:00 p.m.
- Learn more about different ways to Get to The Wharf.
- Limited bench seating and tables and chairs are available on a first-come first-served basis.
- This event is family-friendly — all ages are welcome. Dogs on a leash are also welcome. You must be 21+ to consume alcohol.
- Waterside bar Cantina Bambina serves up cold Pacifico and mixed drinks throughout the concerts. Outside drinks are not allowed.
- Don't forget to visit the DC Lottery tent on Transit Pier to spin the prize wheel to win cash and DC Lottery swag.
- You may bring in food from any Wharf restaurant. Stageside kiosk Union Pie offers hot and fresh pizza throughout the show. Whether you're craving a Cuban sandwich, a hot and sweet pizza, or chips and guac, our Wharf restaurants have something for everyone.
- In the event of inclement weather, event status updates will be posted on the Rock The Dock event page on The Wharf Facebook page.
For more info go here.
Local Music
Erykah Badu
Wolftrap, Filene Center, 1551 Trap Rd., Vienna, Saturday, June 14, 8:00 p.m. Gates open: 6:30 p.m.
Erykah Badu is coming to Wolf Trap! The expectation-defying R&B songstress and avant-garde fashionista burst onto the scene in 1997 with “On & On” from her Grammy-winning debut Baduizm. Since then, she’s continued to stay ahead of the curve with chart-topping singles, including “Tyrone,” “Love of My Life (An Ode to Hip Hop)” featuring Common, and additional collaborations with The Roots, Tyler, The Creator, Queen Latifah, and Robert Glasper. Don’t miss an evening with this leading lady of neo soul!
Tickets start at: $71.50 (incl. fees)
For ticket info go here.
Gipsy Kings featuring Tonino Baliardo
Tonight! ~ Warner Theatre, 513 13th St. NW. June 12, 8:00 p.m.
It has been twenty-five years since the Gipsy Kings captured the world’s imagination with their self-titled debut album — a record that became a genuine phenomenon, certified gold and platinum around the globe, introducing millions of listeners to a unique, irresistible blend of traditional flamenco styles with Western pop and Latin rhythms. Since then, the band has toured virtually non-stop, to the farthest-flung corners of the planet, and sold almost twenty million albums, all the while retaining the same line-up of virtuoso musicians.
Now the Gipsy Kings return with SAVOR FLAMENCO, their ninth studio album and first new release in six years. The project marks the first time in their storied career that the Kings have produced themselves and written all of the material.
“Music has always been a passion,” says lead guitarist Tonino Baliardo. “Even after all this time, after all these years of touring and working. It's given us so much. We have matured, we have developed in music, and it's been so good for us.”
Important Event Info: All balcony seats require climbing stairs. There are no elevators in the Theatre. Only bags 12x6x12 and under allowed in. No Backpacks.
For more info go here.
Local Theater
Disney's Aladdin
Last Weekend! ~ Creative Cauldron, 127 E. Broad St. Through June 15.
Thursdays, Fridays at 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; Sundays at 2:00 p.m.
Tickets: Tier One: $50. Tier Two: $40. Students: $25.
Duel Language Edition / Edición de Lenguaje Dual
Our story begins centuries ago, when the royalty of Agrabah spoke one language, and the citizens another. Communication is impossible without translation... which is controlled by the evil vizier, Jafar. When the rebellious princess Jazmin, and a delinquent street rat Aladdin, meet in the marketplace and fall in love, they transcend the barriers between them, and with a little magic, help create a better future for themselves and for Agrabah. This touching musical adventure, featuring the Academy Award-winning score from Disney's animated classic, will thrill both English and Spanish-speaking audiences alike.
Music by Alan Menken
Lyrics by Howard Ashman & Tim Rice
Spanish Lyrics by Walterio Pezqueira
Directed by Matt Conner
Music Direction by Bharati Soman
Choreographed by Stefan Sittig
Enjoy a meal at the neighboring Ireland's Four Provinces, where you'll get 10% off your food order and Creative Cauldron will receive an additional 10% donation!
Sponsored by June and Mike Beyer & Walsh Colucci Lubely and Walsh
Opening Night catered by Harvey's
Floral Arrangements by Catherine Lee Florals
For more info go here.
The Taming of the Shrew
Nova Nightsky Theatre, 225 E. Broad St.
By William Shakespeare. Adapted and Directed by Sarah Baczewski.
In this modern adaptation of Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew, the Minola family — Baptista, Katherine, and Bianca — are always in the spotlight, starring in their own hit show, Keeping Up with the Minolas. The strong-willed and outspoken Katherine, labeled a "shrew" by society, has become cynical and jaded by the limelight, especially as her younger sister Bianca’s charm and beauty earn her all the attention. However, as the ratings begin to fall, the fame-hungry Petruchio enters the scene, determined to "tame" Katherine in unconventional ways to win her hand, all while navigating the superficial world of reality television. Their battle of wits and wills reveals deeper themes of love, power, and identity, as they both wrestle with authenticity in a world obsessed with appearances. Meanwhile, Bianca, the seemingly perfect younger sister, hides her true manipulative nature, flipping the script on the “shrew” label. The story explores the dynamics of gender, marriage, and self-discovery, using humor and wit to critique the performative nature of reality TV and societal expectations.
For more info go here.
Shooting Star
Providence Players of Fairfax, The James Lee Community Center Theater, 2855 Annandale Road, Falls Church. Thursday, June 12, 7:30 p.m.; Friday, June 13 and Saturday, June 14, 7:30 p.m.
By Steven Dietz. Directed by John Coscia.
In this bittersweet romantic comedy, college lovers, Elena Carson and Reed McAllister, are snowed in overnight at a middle-America airport. They have not seen each other for years and are moved by this unexpected reunion. Elena has stayed true to her hippie-ish, counter-culture path, while Reed has gone predictably corporate and conservative. As the night gives way to laughter, banter, remembrance and alcohol, Elena and Reed revisit a past that holds more surprises than they imagined — and a present that neither of them could have predicted. Filled with laughter and ache, Shooting Star explores the middle days of our lives, and how we get there.
For more info go here.
The Untitled Unauthorized Hunter S. Thompson Musical
Signature Theater, Arlington, 4200 Campbell Ave. Through July 13.
Directed by Christopher Ashley. Choreography and Musical Staging by Jon Rua.
Let’s get wild in this exciting new musical about the infamous author from the mind of Joe Iconis (Be More Chill) and directed by Tony Award-winner Christopher Ashley (Come from Away).
A collision of politics, counterculture and rock and roll in human form, Hunter S. Thompson is impossible to pin down. Careening from the 1940s to 2005, Thompson invents Gonzo journalism, attempts to take down a corrupt president, and quests for equality for his fellow weirdos, outsiders and freaks. However, this anti-hero’s drug-fueled tornado leaves a trail of destruction as he grapples with his legacy in a world that has left him behind.
Funny and unique, as anarchic and irreverent as the writer himself, this explosive rock musical will spark a revolution for the rebel inside us all.
“Funny, freaky, informal, fiercely independent… an emotional passing of the torch to the future activists of the world, a celebration of and a primal call to the freaks and misfits.” – San Diego Magazine‘s review of the original sold out production at La Jolla Playhouse
Discussion Nights: June 17 at 7:30 p.m. and July 9 at 7:30 p.m. Go behind the scenes with an exclusive post-show discussion following select Tuesday and Wednesday performances.
Recommended Age: 18+
Effects Warnings: This show will use strobe lights, gunshot and explosion sounds, and theatrical haze.
Content Warnings: Contains adult language, depictions of drug use and violence, and discussions of traumatic subjects.
Running Time: Running time is approximately 2 hours, 35 minutes, with one 15-minute intermission.
For ticket info go here.
August Wilson’s
The Piano Lesson
Extended! ~ 1st STAGE, 1524 Spring Hill Road, Tysons, June 13, 7:30 p.m.; June 14, 7:30 p.m.; June 14, 7:30 p.m.; June 15, 2:00 p.m. Meet the Cast: June 14.
Directed by Danielle A. Drakes.
Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, this haunting, luminous play is fourth in Wilson’s famous American Century Cycle. Set in 1930s Pittsburgh, Berniece and her brother, Boy Willie, navigate the complexities of their past and the weight of their future, all centered around an heirloom piano with a story of its own.
“Like other Wilson plays, it seems to sing even when it is talking.” –The New York Times
For ticket info go here.
Lubber Run Amphitheater – Free Concert Series
You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown
Final Weekend! ~ The Arlington Players, Lubber Run Ampitheater, 200 N. Columbus St., Arlington. All performances are FREE and open to the public! June 12, 8:00 p.m.; June 13, 8:00 p.m.; June 14, 8:00 p.m.; June 15, 2:00 p.m.
The Peanuts gang comes to life with heart, charm, and wit in "You're a Good Man Charlie Brown." The whole gang is here: bossy Lucy is hopelessly in love with piano prodigy Schroeder who doesn’t give her the time of day, perfectionist Sally is still mocking blanket-toting Linus, and Snoopy is in the doghouse... This revue of songs and vignettes, based on the beloved Charles Schulz comic strip, is guaranteed to please audiences of all ages!
Based on The Comic Strip Peanuts by Charles M. Schulz. Book, Music and Lyrics by Clark Gesner. Additional Dialogue by Michael Mayer. Additional Music and Lyrics by Andrew Lippa.
Presented with generous support from the Lubber Run Amphitheater Foundation and Arlington Arts.
Original Direction for this version of You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown by Michael Mayer. Originally Produced in New York by Arthur Whitelaw and Gene Persson.
You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown is presented through special arrangement with Concord Theatricals.
For more info go here.
The Play That Goes Wrong
Just opened! ~ The Little Theatre of Alexandria, 600 Wolfe Street, Alexandria.
For more info go here.
A Lovely Day to Kill Your Spouse
Dominion Stage, Gunston Theatre Two, 2700 S. Lang St., Arlington. Friday, June 13, 8:00 p.m.; Saturday, June 14, 8:00 p.m. Opens June 13, through June 21.
By Lindsey Brown.
The open water, a small rowboat, and a marriage on the brink. Just how far would you trust your spouse? Or their family?
For ticket info go here.
BOTIQUÍN DE BOLEROS COLUMBIA HEIGHTS – Columbia Heights Bolero Bar
Just Opened! ~ GALA Hispanic Theatre, 3333 14th Street, NW. June 11-29. Performances: Wednesdays – Saturdays, 8:00 p.m., Sundays, 2:00 p.m. | Funciones: Miércoles a sábados 8:00 p.m., domingos 2:00 p.m.
By | De Rubén León (Venezuela)
Adapted and Version by | Adaptada y versionada por Gustavo Ott
Directed and Choreographed by | Dirigida y Coreografiada por Valeria Cossu
WORLD PREMIERE ADAPTATION | ESTRENO MUNDIAL DE LA ADAPTACIÓN
In Spanish with English surtitles | En español con sobretítulos en inglés
This musical mosaic regales us with the stories, anecdotes, and memories of patrons who attend the reopening of the “Columbia Heights Bolero Bar.” The feelings and passions of the performers are influenced by the audience who, despite their role as spectators, become part of the show with their own stories of broken hearts. A cabaret-style immersive musical featuring famous boleros, a beloved genre shared across the region from Mexico to the Caribbean to South America.
Un mosaico musical, donde resalta el bolero como género del despecho, determina los cuentos, anécdotas y recuerdos de los clientes que asisten a la reinauguración del Botiquín de Boleros de Columbia Heights. Durante el evento, los sentimientos y pasiones de los actores no le serán indiferentes al público que bien conoce, pese a su rol de espectador, serán partícipes de la teatralidad del despechado. Un cabaret musical con famosos boleros, el género más querido -y sufrido- en toda la región, desde México, el Caribe y Suramérica.
Press Night (Noche de prensa): Friday, June 13, 2025 at 8 pm | Viernes, 13 de junio de 2025, a las 8 pm. There will be karaoke and an artist cocktail reception.
Tickets: 4 on-stage seats at $70 each and 4 close-to-stage seats at $60 each for all performances. Regular tickets are $48 Wednesdays, 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.
Boletos: 4 asientos en el escenario por $70 cada uno y 4 asientos muy cerca del escenario a $60 cada uno para todas las funciones. Los boletos regulares cuentan $48 para miércoles, jueves y domingos, $50 para viernes y sábados; $35 adultos mayores, militares y grupos (10+); $25 personas de 25 años o menos; Noche de GALA: $55 (por persona). Para adquirir boletos online para grupos (10+), usa el código 10Plus.
IN THE LOBBY
During the run of Columbia Heights Bolero Bar, enjoy the exhibit The Divine Orishas by Cuban artist Reina María Valdés in the GALA lobby. The artist brings to life the iconography and mythology of Afro-Cuban culture with strength and vigor through colored paper and pastel crayons as mediums. The exhibition includes six Yoruba Orichas (spirits) framed in the unique flora and fauna of the island and its waters.
Valdes’ work evokes the rites celebrations and symbolism of the Regla d Ochá through vibrant images of Eleguá, guardian of the road; Babalú Ayé, healer of the sick; Yemayá, queen of the sea; Changó, fury of the heavens; Ochún, goddess of freshwater and gold; and Obatalá, eye and father of the universe.
For ticket info go here.
The Berlin Diaries
Theater J, 1529 Sixteenth Street, NW. Thursday, June 12, 7:30 p.m.; Friday, June 13, 12:00 p.m.; Saturday, June 14, 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.; Sunday, June 15, 2:00 p.m. Through June 29.
By Andrea Stolowitz. Directed by Elizabeth Dinkova.
Oregon Book Award-winning playwright Andrea Stolowitz opens the pages of her great-grandfather’s journal to discover a previously unknown genealogy in The Berlin Diaries. How do you find home when a family history is scattered like the torn pages of a journal entry released to the wind? Two performers become generations of characters in an attempt to stitch together clues and restore memories formerly lost to time.
How do people become verschollen, lost, like library books, leaving only the dusty outline – a life reduced to negative space? Stolowitz searches for clues that propel her forward and backward in time, pursuing a family history formerly lost to war. In a breathtaking journey around the world, what will remain lost and what will be found at the intersection of national history and private lives?
For more info go here.
Mosaic Theater: Andy Warhol in Iran
Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H St. NE. Through June 29. Thursday, June 12, 7:30 p.m.; Friday, June 13, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, June 14, 3:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, June 15, 3:00 p.m.
“Riveting, brilliantly imagined!” - WTTW Chicago
“Highly watchable! Funny!” – Chicago Reader
“Complex and compelling!” – Chicago Tribune
By Brent Askari. Directed by Serge Seiden.
It’s 1976, and less than 3 years before her exile, the Empress Farah beckons Andy Warhol to begin pop-art portraits of the royals in Tehran. When a fascinating University student takes Warhol hostage to publicize his group’s demands, a life or death struggle ensues over revolution, responsibility and the arts.
Based on a true story, Andy Warhol in Iran hums with intelligence and humor. Award-winning playwright Brent Askari affirms the power of art to transcend boundaries and connect across cultures and time. Serge Seiden returns to direct after popular productions of Hooded and Eureka Day.
For ticket info go here.
Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Tickets Limited! ~ Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington. Through June 22. Thursday June 12, 8:00 p.m., (Masks Required). Friday, June 13, 8:00 p.m.; Sunday, June 15, 7:00 p.m.
In Signature’s remarkably intimate ARK Theatre, this radical rock musical explodes with glam, grit, glitter and heart.
With killer heels and a fabulous wig, Hedwig tours the country, trailing the ex-lover who stole her songs and made it big. Tonight, Hedwig will tell her story on her own terms, in an unforgettable show about growing up in Communist East Germany, the botched sex change operation that allowed her to come to the United States, and life beyond the binary.
Hilarious and heartbreaking, with an electrifying score, this queer anthem cult classic celebrates surviving against all odds.
“The most exciting rock score written for the theatre since, oh, ever!” – Time Magazine
Directed by Ethan Heard. Text by John Cameron Mitchell. Music and Lyrics by Stephen Trask.
This show contains adult language and descriptions of trauma.
For ticket info go here.
Falsettos
Tickets Limited! ~ The Keegan Theatre, 1742 Church St. NW. Thursday, June 12, 8:00 p.m.
Celebrating World Pride with the Tony Award-Winning Musical
Music and Lyrics by William Finn. Book by William Finn and James Lapine. Director and Choreographer: Kurt Boehm. Music Director: Elisa Rosman.
Hilarious, heartbreaking, and utterly unique, Falsettos is a contemporary musical about family, relationships, bar mitvahs, baseball and AIDS. When Marvin leaves his wife Trina and son Jason to be with his lover Whizzer, tempers flare, problems escalate and everyone learns to grow up.
For more info go here.
Twelfth Night
By William Shakespeare
Selling out fast! Folger Shakespeare Library, 201 E. Capitol St. SE, Through June 22. Thursday, June 12, 7:30 p.m.; Friday, June 13, 8:00 p.m.; Saturday, June 14, 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.; Sunday, June 15, 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Directed by Mei Ann Teo.
Named for the twelfth night after Christmas, the end of the Christmas season, Twelfth Night plays with love and power. The Countess Olivia, a woman with her own household, attracts Duke (or Count) Orsino. Two other would-be suitors are her pretentious steward, Malvolio, and Sir Andrew Aguecheek.
Onto this scene arrive the twins Viola and Sebastian; caught in a shipwreck, each thinks the other has drowned. Viola disguises herself as a male page and enters Orsino’s service. Orsino sends her as his envoy to Olivia — only to have Olivia fall in love with the messenger. The play complicates, then wonderfully untangles, these relationships.
Tickets: $20 – $84. Duration: 2 hours and 15 minutes, including a 15-minute intermission. This production of Twelfth Night includes mature content including sexual innuendo, stylized intimacy, adult language, and simulated alcohol and tobacco use. The production utilizes haze and strobing lights.
For ticket info go here.
Senior Class
A World Premiere Musical! Olney Theater Center, 2001 Olney-Sandy Spring Road, Olney, MD. Through June 22. Thursday, June 12, 7:30 p.m.; Friday, June 13, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, June 14, 1:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, June 15, 1:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
When budget cuts to the arts program mean their high school theatre can’t pay for My Fair Lady, Colin and G.B., two Broadway-obsessed students, decide to stage their own original musical version of Shaw’s Pygmalion. The search for an actress to play Eliza Doolittle leads them to a Harlem-born-and-bred subway dancer who just might be perfect — but artistic egos and high school hierarchies threaten to undermine the production before the big opening night. As the quickly-assembled coalition of theatre kids, dance crew veterans, and the occasional jock, struggles to mount their production of My Leading Lady: A New Pygmalion... with a Preface and Sequel, the class and gender divides of Shaw’s original reemerge in surprising ways. Can the senior class musical be saved? (And will Colin score his much-wished-for “Jimmy” Award to launch his meteoric rise to stardom as the first-ever J-EGOT?) Amy Anders Corcoran (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical) directs this World Premiere musical-lovers’ musical full of dancing and comedy, dedicated to the timeless belief that the show must go on!
Tickets: $41 - $101. Duration: Approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes with a 15-minute intermission.
For more info go here.
We Are Gathered
Arena Stage, 1101 Sixth Street SW. Through June 25. Thursday, June 12, 8:00 p.m.; Friday, June 13, 8:00 p.m.; Saturday, June 14, 8:00 p.m.; Sunday, June 15, 2:00 p.m.
A new QUEER LOVE STORY from the Oscar-winning screenwriter of Moonlight
W. Tre and Free met in a dark park searching for fun not expecting to find love, light, and each other. Now a milestone anniversary has got them wondering if they have met Mr. Right or a long one-night stand with a lovely Mr. Maybe? With a little support and a lot of confusion from family, friends, and a stranger in the dark, the question remains: will W. Tre and Free find their way together or will they let fear, and a secret lead them asunder?
Amplifying the celebration of Oscar winner Tarell Alvin McCraney’s newest play is the Love Takes Center Stage immersive experience that will offer couples a once-in-a-lifetime chance to exchange their own marriage vows under the spotlight — right on stage during select performances
Frankenstein
Extended! ~ Shakespeare Theatre Company, Klein Theatre, 450 7th Street NW. Through June 29.
Written and directed by Emily Burns. Based on the novel by Mary Shelley.
Emily Burns (adaptor of STC’s Macbeth and Much Ado About Nothing), reimagines Mary Shelley’s gothic science fiction masterpiece as a chilling exploration of the horror within humanity and what it means to create a new life.
This visceral and provocative production reveals the inner lives of Elizabeth and Victor Frankenstein in bold new ways. Burns’s Frankenstein rides the edge of cinematic thriller and intense drama, redefining the legend we know, the name we fear, and the monstrous act at the heart of the story.
Runtime: Approximately two hours and 20 minutes, with one 15-minute intermission.
Local Visual Arts
2025 All Member Show (A-L)
Falls Church Arts
Gallery of Falls Church Arts, 700-B W Broad St., Falls Church. Through July 6.
The 2025, all-media, All Member Show has two sessions, with artists whose last names begin with A-L in the first session and those whose last names begin with M-Z in the second session. A-L Artists Show Dates: June 7-July 6.
Vote for People’s Choice at the gallery until June 20.
For more info go here.
See our recent article on the show here.
THE INVISIBLE SKATE THEORY:
The theory that we can be, or already are, connected through skateboarding in a way we cannot see.
Mason Exhibitions Arlington, 3601 Fairfax Dr., Arlington. Through August 16.
Curated by Gato.
Skateboarding has always existed on the fringe of cities, of systems, and tradition. The Invisible Skate Theory explores the community built in these edges, creating new spaces and paying homage to those that paved the way. Where they’ve long been left out yet continue to pay it forward.
Rooted in the DMV’s growing skate scene and expanded through digital platforms like Instagram, this exhibition centers the often-unseen networks of connection, care, and co-creation that hold today’s skateboarding culture together.
It tells the story of how skaters without industry access have made their own maps finding each other through meetups, zines, pop-up events, and social media. It highlights pivotal moments like the 2024 arrival of Bolivia’s all-female skate collective, Imilla Skate, to Washington, D.C. brought by the Smithsonian Folklife Festival. That cross-cultural exchange continues to ripple across communities and coasts.
This exhibition also looks at the imbalance that persists: women are skating, but they are still underrepresented in leadership, industry, and visibility — especially outside of major hubs like NYC and LA. In the DMV, that gap is being closed not by big brands, but by organizers, artists, and everyday skaters doing the work on their own terms.
The Invisible Skate Theory poses the question of how this connection can expand further through the shared moments in this exhibition. While celebrating the behind-the-scenes labor, friendships, and the powerful force of finding a place to belong. It’s about movement, across cities and communities, and what happens when those movements align.
For more info go here.
Olivia Tripp Morrow: (Un)tethered
Opens Friday! ~ Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington, 3550 Wilson Blvd., Arlington. Art After House, Friday, June 13, 6 - 9 p.m. Runs June 13 - Sept. 7.
MoCA Arlington is proud to present (Un)tethered, a solo exhibition by multidisciplinary Resident Artist Olivia Tripp Morrow, on view from June 14 to September 7, 2025.
In (Un)tethered, Morrow draws upon her personal experience of caring for her mother during a short battle with cancer, and the void that remained after her death. The exhibition is Morrow’s meditation on the fragmentary nature of memory, and the enduring connections that bind us to loved ones who have passed on.
Through embroidery, fiber-based installations, and sculptural works, Morrow creates an environment in which vibrant colors, soft forms, and airy, lightweight materials abound, evoking a sense of peacefulness and serenity. Images of flowers, windows, and bodies at rest are prominently featured throughout the exhibition, at once recalling the celebration of life, marking absence, and mourning the dead.
The act of embroidery itself is significant for Morrow: it was a skill her mother taught her while she was recovering from major spine surgery in 2020, and which the artist revisited after her mother’s passing in December 2023. Additionally, many of the materials used to create the works in (Un)tethered were inherited from the artist’s mother after she passed, offering a means for a posthumous artistic collaboration.
In (Un)tethered, Olivia Tripp Morrow transforms grief into a tactile, shared experience, inviting viewers to reflect on their own relationships, and the legacies that keep us tethered to loved ones after they have passed on.
Olivia Tripp Morrow holds a BFA in Sculpture from Syracuse University. She has exhibited her work in group exhibitions nationally and internationally, and in solo exhibitions in Virginia, Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Syracuse, NY. She lives and works in Northern Virginia.
For more info go here.
Photography
Star Power: Photographs from Hollywood’s Golden Age by George Hurrell
Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, 8th and G St. NW. Through January 4, 2026.
During the 1930s and early 1940s, George Hurrell (1904–1992) reigned as Hollywood’s preeminent portrait photographer. Hired by the Publicity Department at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) when he was only twenty-five, Hurrell advanced rapidly to become the studio’s principal portraitist. With a keen eye for artful posing, innovative lighting effects, and skillful retouching, he produced timeless portraits that burnished the luster of many of the “Golden Age’s” greatest stars. “They were truly glamorous people,” he recalled, “and that was the image I wanted to portray.”
In 1933, Hurrell left MGM to open a photography studio on Sunset Boulevard. There, he created some of his most iconic portraits of MGM stars as well as memorable images of leading actors from the other major studios. After closing his Sunset studio in 1938, Hurrell worked briefly for Warner Bros. and Columbia Pictures before serving with a military film production unit during World War II.
Following the war, candid photographs, made with portable, small-format cameras, rose to replace the meticulously crafted, large-format studio portraits that epitomized Hurrell’s style. For George Hurrell, Hollywood’s “Golden Age” had come to an end. “When we stopped using those 8 x 10 cameras,” he declared, “the glamour was gone.”
For more info go here.
Legendary: An Exhibition of Women Artists
Stacy C. Sherwood Community Center, 3740 Blenheim Blvd., Fairfax. Exhibition and Sale through August 30. Women's Workshop Roundtable, Saturday June 21, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
In the United States, 51 percent of living visual artists are women, yet only 13.7 percent are represented in galleries. On average, women artists earn 81 cents for every dollar made by their male contemporaries.[1]
Legendary: An Exhibition of Women Artists addresses these inequities and aims to rectify them by creating a safe space for women artists to meet, exhibit and engage with the public. The exhibition will feature the artwork of several prominent women artists from the Washington metropolitan area.
For more info go here.
Ends June 15! ~ Don't miss Rare Bird's "In the Absence of Nurture... Nature" exhibit by Pamela Huffman:
Christopher Jones
Register for a Local Arts Course at Artworks Fine Art Studios
Christopher JonesExplore History!
New Traveling Exhibit
WWII : Voices of Service
Just Opened! ~ Fairfax Museum and Visitor Center, 10209 Main St, Fairfax. Open Wednesdays through Mondays, 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
This traveling banner exhibit from the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History explores major events of the war through the photographs, letters, and oral histories of everyday Americans. From the attack on Pearl Harbor through the GI Bill, it provides an overview of important events on the battlefield and the home front.
This exhibition was funded through a grant from the Veterans Legacy Grant Program. Each panel highlights the experiences of men and women interred in National Cemeteries with a special Soldier Spotlight. The exhibition commemorates WWII Veterans and Service members through the discovery and sharing of their stories, reminding viewers that it was individual Americans from all walks of life whose service and sacrifice led to Allied victory. We invite you to use this exhibition as an example to learn more about the service of Veterans in your community.
For more info go here.
Nature Therapy
Summer Nature Therapy:
Embracing the Season's Shift
Meadowlark Gardens, Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, Visitor Center, 9750 Meadowlark Gardens Court, Vienna, Va. June 14, 1:30 - 2:30 p.m. 18 +, mixed.
Join an afternoon of garden immersion at the threshold of summer, where calm and connection meet in the transition from spring renewal to summer vibrance. Together, we’ll slow down and tune in to the natural changes unfolding in Meadowlark Botanical Gardens’ woodlands, meadows, or lakes, releasing stress and grounding ourselves in nature’s rhythms with certified nature therapy guide Ilana Rubin of Kindred Nature. All adults are welcome. Registration required.
About Nature Therapy
Nature therapy, also known as forest therapy or forest bathing, draws inspiration from the Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku. Through mindful and sensory nature connection invitations, we create space to slow down and reconnect—with nature, with ourselves, and with each other. This practice helps to rediscover a sense of belonging within the natural world and the community. Research shows that nature therapy naturally reduces stress, restores focus, boosts creativity and mood, and supports immune health.
Your Experience
- Awaken your senses and reconnect with the natural environment;
- Relax into guided mindfulness practices;
- Explore the subtle sensory shifts from late spring to early summer;
- Enjoy slow, peaceful walking as birdsong and butterflies fill the garden air;
- Reflect, share, and connect as part of a warm-hearted community-of-the-moment;
- Close with tea and light snacks in the gardens.
Each program offers a unique journey, co-created by the season, the location, the wildlife, and the group. We may walk about a mile or less at a relaxing pace, on a mix of terrain that can include both paved and unpaved paths. Every invitation is adaptable to your comfort level—no experience or special skills needed. Whether you're new to mindful nature connection practices or have joined us before, you're warmly welcomed to this experience.
Meet Your Guide: Ilana Rubin brings warmth and expertise as a certified nature and forest therapy guide and as the founder of Kindred Nature. Trained and certified by the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy Guides and Programs, Ilana established Kindred Nature in 2021 to replenish inner radiance, resilience, and belonging with nature and community through empowering and restorative experiences. She has guided many rejuvenating, nature connection programs at NOVA Parks sites, as well as for diverse clients including the U.S. Forest Service, the GW Office of Integrative Medicine and Health, families, couples, and individuals. Visit Kindred Nature to learn more.
Program Details
- Registration: $35 per participant (ages 18 and up). All attendees are considered participants. Advance online registration required.
- Welcome: All adults are warmly invited - no previous experience or background needed!
- Meeting Point: Meet at the Visitor Center of Meadowlark Botanical Gardens.
- Bring: Water bottle, comfortable weather-appropriate clothing, and shoes for outdoors.
- Weather: Programs run rain or shine unless conditions are hazardous.
- Arrival: Please come 10-15 minutes early to be ready to begin our journey together.
- Special Requests: For dietary allergies or accommodation needs, please contact kindrednatureguide@gmail.com.
- Refund Policy: A refund is provided only if your space is filled by an individual on the waitlist. Refunds are not provided within 72 hours of the program.
For more info go here.
Cult Cinema
Forbidden Planet (1956)
U.S. Library of Congress, Packard Campus Theater, 19053 Mt. Pony Rd., Culpeper, Va. Saturday, June 14, 2-4:00 p.m.
A starship crew arrives at a distant planet that’s home to Dr. Morbius (Walter Pidgeon), his daughter (Anne Francis), a powerful robot… and a mysterious terror. Considered one of the great science fiction films of the 1950s. Color, 98 min. (Digital).
For more info go here.
By Christopher Jones
Member discussion