By Southwester Staff The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) will host its inaugural Hip-Hop Block Party Saturday, August 13, to celebrate the first anniversary of the release of the Smithsonian Anthology of Hip-Hop and Rap. The event will feature performances by local and national talent, presentations and activities that explore […]
Grammy Winner Pens Original Songs for Arena Production
By Sheila Wickouski Grammy Award-winning songwriter Marcus Hummon’s songs have been recorded in many genres, including pop, R&B, gospel and most notably in country music. He has written some of the genre’s most iconic songs, including Rascal Flatts’ “Bless the Broken Road,” the Dixie Chicks’ “Cowboy Take Me Away” and Sara Evans’ “Born to Fly.” […]
Spy Museum Hosts Pop-Up Exhibit on Daring Colombian Operation
By Southwester Staff The International Spy Museum on L’Enfant Plaza has opened a new pop-up exhibit telling the story of Operación Jaque, a deception operation planned and executed by Colombian forces in 2008. Artifacts on loan from the Embassy of Colombia in the United States can be viewed at the exhibit, where visitors will learn […]
Young Readers: The Family That Reads Together
By Kitty Felde When I was growing up, I often heard the phrase from Fr. Patrick Peyton, “The family that prays together stays together.” At the National Council of Teachers of English conference, I was reminded of that mantra when I heard about Family Book Clubs. Family Book Clubs are similar to a grownup book […]
Career-Spanning Exhibit Showcases Sam Gilliam in the Round
By Southwester Staff In the 60 years since Sam Gilliam moved to Washington from Tupelo, Mississippi, his large, color-stained manipulated unstretched canvases, in the tradition of the Washington Color School artists, have been featured in major museums all over the world. Now at the Hirshhorn Museum, the retrospective exhibit Sam Giliam: Full Circle is a […]
Playwright Charles Randolph-Wright Shines Spotlight on Frederick Douglass in Arena Stage World Premiere
By Sheila Wickouski On July 15, Arena Stage will host the world premiere of the musical American Prophet: Frederick Douglass in His Own Words. Douglass’ own words power soaring new melodies and an original script from Grammy Award-winning songwriter Marcus Hummon and Charles Randolph-Wright, also known for Arena Stage’s Born for This: The BeBe Winans […]
Arena Stage Announces New Season Lineup
By Southwester Staff Arena Stage announced a lineup of new productions for the company’s 73rd season, scheduled to kick off in July. The season will be Artistic Director Molly Smith’s 25th in the role, and will feature musicals, comedies and dramas to showcase the broad range of American theater. “Reflective of our shared experience, our […]