Step Afrika! performs “The Migration: Reflections on Jacob Lawrence.” Photo by Jati Lindsay. Courtesy of Arena Stage
By Southwester Staff
January brings a new calendar year for making resolutions and trendy lists of what’s in and what’s out. It’s still the middle of the planned theater year, however, and Arena Stage has five more shows lined up to close out its 2023-24 season.
Each has its own unique theme and offers an experience of entertainment and inspiration. That is the special gift of live theater all year long. Here’s a preview:
“Swept Away” Continues to Make Waves
“Swept Away” has garnered widespread acclaim since its opening on November 25 and has been extended until January 14. The show, featuring music and lyrics by The Avett Brothers, is a 19th-century tale of survival during a violent shipwreck off the New England coast. With a memorable set featuring a rollicking boat, this production may be on a voyage to Broadway. Discounted Southwest Night performances are on January 4 and January 10.
Vinny DePonto Takes Center Stage in “Mindplay”
Mentalist and theater artist Vinny DePonto will explore the realms of magic and memory in “Mindplay” from January 19 to March 3, 2024. The performance promises to captivate audiences, with a Southwest Night scheduled for January 30.
“Tempestuous Elements” Connects Black History and Women’s History
Timed to celebrate Black History Month and Women’s History Month in February and March respectively, “Tempestuous Elements” (February 16 – March 17, 2024) is the eleventh entry in the Arena Stage’s Power Play cycle. It narrates the inspiring story of Anna Julia Cooper, a visionary Black feminist and educator. Born into slavery in 1858, Cooper’s life was dedicated to education and she is noted as the fourth African American woman to earn a doctoral degree.
This play has a strong connection not just to American history but to DC history, as it focuses on Cooper’s tenure as principal of Washington’s historic M Street School, where she fought to keep Black education alive, despite the racism and sexism that threatened to consign her efforts to obscurity. Southwest Nights are on March 5 and March 15.
“The Unknown Soldier” Unravels a Musical Elegy
From March 29 to May 5, “The Unknown Soldier” takes the audience on a musical journey through time. The story unfolds as a woman discovers a picture of an unknown soldier in her grandmother’s keepsakes, sparking a poignant exploration of the past. Southwest Nights are scheduled for April 24 and May 3.
“The Migration: Reflections on Jacob Lawrence” by Step Afrika!
To close the season, Step Afrika! presents “The Migration: Reflections on Jacob Lawrence” from June 6 to July 14. The production uses percussive dance-theater to portray one of the largest movements in U.S. history, the migration of six million African Americans from the rural South to the industrial North in the 1900s. Original artworks by Jacob Lawrence from his iconic “The Migration Series” are currently on view at Dupont Circle’s Phillips Collection, providing a visual complement to Step Afrika!’s performance. Southwest Nights are on June 11 and July 11.