Arlington Arts: Event Calendar

Arts Events in Arlington

March 22 - May 18 Momotaro: This classic Japanese tale about a boy born from a peach is told with traditional shadow puppets and Classika's distinctive movement style. Momataro leaves his family to battle terrible ogres and meets wonderful friends along the way. Suitable for aged 4 and up. Classika Theatre 703-824-6200 http://www.classika.org

April 1 - June 1 The Happy Time, by Kander and Ebb: The rarely produced Kander and Ebb musical tells the story of Jacques Bonnard, the world-traveling photographer, who returns home to French-Canadian St. Pierre in search of his happy youth. Along the way, Bonnard fires up the romantic spirit of his hometown's inhabitants and tempts his godson with dreams of escape. Signature Theatre 703-820-9771 http://www.signature-theatre.org

April 8 - May 31 Spring Solos 2008: The Arlington Arts Center's Spring Solos once again surveys the best in contemporary art from across the Mid-Atlantic region, providing six separate solo exhibitions under one roof. Artists participating are Jacklyn Brickman, Laure Drogoul, Jeremy Drummond, Jennifer Fleming, Jennifer Mattingly and Erin Williams. Opening Reception: Friday, April 11, 6 - 9 p.m.
Pictured: Artwork by Jennifer Mattingly, who meticulously constructs tiny playful dioramas out of matchboxes. Arlington Arts Center 703-248-6800 http://www.arlingtonartscenter.org

May 2 - July 12 The Thread as the Line: Contemporary Sewn Art: Curated by Cynthia Connolly, Ellipse Arts Center Director, the exhibition will include the work of international and American artists.
Opening: May 1, Artists's Talk: 5:30 - 6:30, Reception: 6:30 - 9 p.m. The Clarendon Strings will perform during the reception. Free Parking for the artists' talk and reception. Thursday, May 15, 6 - 9 p.m. Knitting Jam with Laure Drogoul's Apparatus for Orchestral Knitting. Amplify your craft by bringing your knitting to participate in artist and Sondheim Prize winner, Laure Drogoul's interactive sound sculpture and knitting circle. Ellipse Arts Center 703-228-7710 http://www.arlingtonarts.org/ellipseartscenter.htm#sewn

Artwork by Jennifer Boe

May 3 - May 31 Exhibition: Portraits of Central America: Portraits of Central America: Cipotes, Patojos y Chiguines, a photo essay about children by photographer Mario Quiroz will be on exhibition at Shirlington Library for the month of May. Reception: Wednesday, May 14, 6 - 9 p.m. with a lecture by Eva Rodriguez Bellegarrigue of the New Acropolis Project, which focuses on opportunities for volunteers in El Salvador and Central America; a gallery talk by the photographer Mario Quiroz; and a musical performance by singer Maura Mendoza. Shirlington Library Free 703-228-6545 http://www.MarioQuiroz.com/Cipotes.html

Photo by Mario Quiroz

May 8 - May 31 She Returned One Night (Volvio una Noche) by Eduardo Rovner: This screwball comedy is the story of a promising youth who might be a surgeon or a concert violinist, but is living as a street vendor and a member of a tango quartet. His dead mother is determined that he live up to his promise. Teatro de la Luna. Gunston Theatre Two 202-882-6227 http://www.teatrodelaluna.org

May 8 - June 7 Closing Time, by Owen McCafferty: A run-down pub in Belfast acts as a refuge for the drinkers who stop there, including the owners. This is a day like many before it, yet different, as the people who gather realize that sometime they must face up to the truth. Keegan Theatre. Theatre on the Run 703-536-1600 http://www.keegantheatre.com

May 13 - June 22 The Visit: Two-time Tony winner and Broadway legend Chita Rivera stars in this new musical based on one of the great plays of the 20th Century. Claire Zachanassian was driven from her hometown in disgrace when she was 17, having been betrayed by her lover. Several decades and seven husbands later, she has become the richest woman in the world, yet her hometown has fallen on hard times. Her offer to save the town comes with an outrageous price tag. Signature Theatre 703-820-9771 http://www.signature-theatre.org

Chita Rivera

May 15 Film: Golden Venture: A Journey into America's Immigration Nightmare (2006): The film chronicles the ongoing struggles of passengers who were aboad the Golden Venture, an immigrant smuggling ship that ran aground near Nw York city in 1993. Passengers had paid $30,000 to be brought to the U.S. from China's Fujian Province, expecting to arrive indebted but unnoticed. The Golden Venture crash became a symbol of a growing national concern over illegal immigration. Filmmaker Peter Cohn will lead a discussion about the film just after the screening. 6:30 p.m. Arlington Central Library Free 703-228-6340 http://www.planetarlington.com#golden

May 15 Knitting Jam with Laure Drogoul's Apparatus for Orchestral Knitting: In conjunction with the Contemporary Sewn Art exhibition at the Ellipse Arts Center, join Sondheim Prize winning artist Laure Drogoul's interactive sound sculpture and knitting circle from 6 - 9 p.m. Free. Ellipse Arts Center 703-228-7710 http://www.arlingtonarts.org/ellipseartscenter.htm#sewn

May 15 Arts al Fresco Opens in Rosslyn: Arts al Fresco opens in Rosslyn with a concert at 1401 Wilson Boulevard, from 11:45 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Free. 703-228-1850

May 16 - May 18 Spring Forward! Dance Performance: Center Dance Company presents its Spring dance concert with featured guest Dana Tai Soon Burgess and Co. The program will include Act III of Swan Lake ; Fractures and Khaybet by Dana Tai Soon Burgess & Co.; and the revival of Center Dance Company's A Bluegrass Portrait , choreographed by company founder Kathryn Fredgren and colleague Pamela Stewart. Tickets are available online. Friday & Saturday at 7:30 p.m., Sunday at 2 p.m. Thomas Jefferson Theatre 703-522-2414 http://www.arldance.org

May 17 Gabrieli: A Venetian Coronation 1595 : The Doge of Venice was the chief magistrate and a man of great power, and no celebration was bigger than his coronation. Giovanni Gabrieli, an organist at San Marco, composed a festival piece featuring the full arsenal of brass, strings and organ. He added 16 singers, and then positioned this array of musicians at many locations in San Marco. Share in the Metropolitan Chorus' recreation with brass, antiphonal choirs and organ of a truly memorable event. Mt. Olivet United Methodist Church, 1500 N. Glebe Road, Arlington. 8 p.m. 703-933-2500 http://www.metchorus.org

May 17 - May 18 Opera and the Dance: Opera Theatre of Northern Virginia will present an area premiere of American composer Robert Rodriguez' one-act opera Tango , and ensembles from several well-known operas in which dance is prominently featured. Included will be music from Mozart's Don Giovanni and Strauss' Die Fledermaus . Rosslyn Spectrum 703-528-1433 http://www.novaopera.org

May 17 Kander and Ebb Gala: Signature Theatre's national Kander and Ebb celebration will culminate in an extraordinary black tie Gala salute with a 6 p.m. performance of The Visit , starring Chita Rivera and George Hearn, followed by an elegant seated dinner and dancing. Signature Theatre 703-820-9771 http://www.signature-theatre.org

May 23 - June 8 House of Blue Leaves: October 1965, New York. The Pope is scheduled to speak at the UN to appeal for peace in Vietnam. Artie, a downtrodden songwriter, shares a seedy Queens apartment with his increasingly deranged wife. His downstairs neighbor and mistress refuses to cook for him until they marry. By the time the Pope arrives, Artie has his hands full with the two women in his life, his mentally-unbalanced son, three nuns, a hearing-impaired starlet, a Hollywood director and an exploding elevator. It's a comedy. Dominion Stage Gunston Theatre One 703-683-0502 http://www.dominionstage.org

May 30 Arts al Fresco Opens in Ballston: Arts al fresco concerts in Welburn Square in Ballston open with a lunchtime performance by The Mystic Warriors from 11:45 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Free. 703-228-1850

May 30 - June 8 Winnie the Pooh: Join the lovable bear stuffed with fluff as he finds himself involved in all sorts of adventures with his friends Eeyore, Piglet and Rabbit. The Children's Theatre. Thomas Jefferson Theatre 703-548-1154 http://www.encorestage.org

*June 1 J.S. Bach: Selections from St. Matthew Passion* :** A free concert featuring favorite choruses and arias from Bach's Passion According to St. Matthew will be presented by the Adult Choir and Orchestra of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington, with soloists Bea Ann Phillips, Ellen Beard, Lori Rottenberg and Hal Cleary. 4 p.m. 4444 Arlington Boulevard. Free. 703-892-2135

June 14 - August 16 The Lion and the Mouse: In this traditional African tale, the lion is saved by the tiniest of animals, the mouse. He must repay his debt but not lose face with the other animals. Told through Classika Theatre's unique movement, dance and music style. Classika Theatre 703-824-6200 http://www.classika.org

PERFORMANCE AND EXHIBITION LOCATIONS

ALL LOCATIONS ARE IN ARLINGTON UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED

Arlington Arts Center
3550 Wilson Blvd.

Arlington Central Library
1015 N.Quincy Street

Clark Street Playhouse
601 S. Clark Street

Classika Theatre
4041 S. 28th Street Columbia Pike

Columbia Pike Artist Studios
932 S. Walter Reed Drive

Crystal Forum
1800 S. Bell Street

Ellipse Arts Center
4350 N. Fairfax Drive

Gateway Park
N. Lynn Street at Lee Highway

Gunston Theatre One And Two
2700 S. Lang Street

Kenmore Middle School Auditorium
200 S. Carlin Springs Road

Lee Arts Center
5722 Lee Highway

Lubber Run Amphitheatre
N. 2nd & N. Columbus Streets

Metro Park
Between N. Moore & N. Lynn Sts. at Rosslyn Metro

Rachel Schlesinger Concert Hall, NOVA Alexandria Campus
3001 N. Beauregard St. Alexandria

Rosslyn Spectrum
1611 N. Kent Street

Signature Theatre
4200 Campbell Avenue

Spice of Life Plaza
1401 Wilson Boulevard

Theatre on the Run
3700 S. Four Mile Run Drive

Thomas Jefferson Theatre
125 S. Old Glebe Road

Welburn Square
Between Stuart & Taylor Sts. Across from Ballston Metro