DC Artswatch 10-12

An open reading of the words of Zelda Fichandler, founding artistic director of Arena Stage, will take place at the Mead Center for American Theater on Sunday, Oct. 23, with a public memorial service the following afternoon. Fichandler died July 29, aged 91. To RSVP for the free events, email zelda@arenastage.org.

On Oct. 26, the Kreeger Museum will host “Creative Power,” an evening panel discussion with Renée Fleming, Peggy Cooper Cafritz, Clarice Smith and Arthur Bloom, moderated by Robin Strongin, founder of Disruptive Women in Health Care. The organization’s mission is “to serve as a platform for provocative ideas, thoughts, and solutions in the health sphere.” For details, visit disruptivewomen.net.

The Kennedy Center will celebrate the 90th birthday of tenor saxophonist and NEA Jazz Master Jimmy Heath at an Oct. 30 concert. Pianist Herbie Hancock, a spry 76, and the Jimmy Heath Big Band will perform. Brother of drummer Tootie and bassist Percy, the Philadelphia-born Jimmy played with other legends named Charlie (Parker), Dizzy (Gillespie) and John (Coltrane).

Kicking off an exhibition of the traditional resist-dyed fabrics known as bingata, the Textile Museum will hold a full-day symposium on Nov. 5 called “Only in Okinawa: Textiles and Traditions of the Ryukyu Kingdom.” The speakers will include representatives of the Okinawa Prefectural Museum and Art Museum and the National Theatre Okinawa. For details, visit museum.gwu.edu.

Hosted by the Historical Society of Washington, D.C., the 2016 Conference on D.C. History will take place Nov. 3-6. This year’s conference, the 43rd annual, will focus on the 225th anniversary of Washington, D.C., the culture of everyday life, immigrant communities and diaspora of and/or in the District, local politics and social movements and neighborhood history. For details, visit dchistory.org.