Arts & Society

Georgetowner • January 16, 2015

The American Ireland Fund hosted its 22nd Annual National Gala and honored Vice President Joe Biden with its Peace Award March 13 at the National Building Museum.
Among the other speakers: An Taoiseach Enda Kenny T.D., Prime Minister of Ireland, and former Sen. Chris Dodd. Norah O’Donnell, co-anchor of “CBS This Morning,” served as mistress of ceremonies.
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Georgetowner •

On March 18, the Fashion Group International of Greater Washington, D.C., Region hosted its inaugural Rising Star awards event, honoring Washington, D.C.’s emerging talent at Fabio Trabocchi’s Casa Luca.

Rising Star 2014 Winners:

Accessories
Camille Gabriele, Camille Gabriele Designs

Beauty
JoElle Lee, JoElle Skin Care

Interior Design
William McGovern, McGovern Design Studio
Jewelry
Sophie Blake, Sophie Blake NY
New Media
All Things Fashion DC

Menswear
Pranov Vora & Philip Soriano, Hugh & Crye

Photography
Violetta Markelou, VM Photography

Stylist
Ariella Toloza, Ariella Faith

Womenswear
Tashia Senn, Tashia Senn Design

Mary Bird •

Ambassador of the Republic of Bulgaria Elena Poptodorova and her husband Georgi Petrov celebrated the National Day of the Republic of Bulgaria, which falls on March 3, at the Organization of American States on March 5. The ambassador expressed her appreciation to the musicians for the beautiful rendition of the countries’ national anthems. She called the occasion a day of optimism and acknowledged U.S. government representatives, members of the armed services and the diplomatic corps. She cited Bulgaria’s membership in NATO and the European Union and thanked civil society and Washington society for their consistent friendship.? [gallery ids="116970,116961,116980,116985,116997,116991" nav="thumbs"]

Gary Tischler •

Directors of Shakespeare plays try to find something new in their approach to plays that have after all been staged many times over time.

Robert Richmond, who’s done his share of kings at the Folger Theatre (“Henry V” and “Henry VIII”), but the murderous “Richard III” presented a whole new set of challenges for this director. Some of the results are immediate. For that reason, if you haven’t yet, you should head on over to the Elizabethan Theatre at the Folger while you have the chance. The production—powerful, exciting, thrilling and not a little scary—runs through March 16.

The first thing you’ll notice is that the Elizabethan Theatre isn’t the Elizabethan Theatre any more. Normally, a raised stage with two imposing pillars, the traditional stage has been reconfigured pretty much totally so that “Richard III” can be staged in the round (although it’s actually a square circle), with the audience surrounding the stage on all sides or encircling it.

“I just had this idea,” Richmond said, “that doing it this way offers up so many different sorts of opportunities for me, for the design, for the character and certainly for the audience. Somehow, we managed to do this physically, and it makes for a very different sort of play. I’ve always felt that a lot was going on the play—underneath, if you will, or off stage, that the audience heard about or didn’t even know about.”

The result is that the audience is almost part of the play. It’s a kind of trap in which the audience is hurtled into close proximity with the characters—King Richard himself, along with the thugs and assassins he uses to eliminate the opposition or people he has no further use for. Depending on where you’re sitting, you might suddenly have Richard himself standing or sitting next to you, musing in his sly, sinister way.

“It’s very up close and personal,” Richmond said. “I think we have to look at him from our time as well as his. And the fact that his body was more or less recently discovered and dug up after all this time only lends more immediacy to the production.”

For all of its length and complications, “Richard III” is one of Shakespeare’s most popular plays. It’s been done many times in films (Lawrence Olivier, Al Pacino and Ian McKellen), as well as on stage. “I think he’s a complicated, modern, ambitious man who carries a lot of pain, rage and anger within him. But he’s also very smart, very charming, sexy. Obviously, he’s a villain, but it’s when he’s most self-aware that you like him the most. You don’t altogether know what makes him behave the way he does—perhaps all the women in his life, including his bitter mother.”

What Richmond has produced—with a fury-filled, compelling performance by Drew Cortese in the title role who was in the Studio Theatre production of “The M-F in the Hat”—is a kind of vision of a clean, smooth, hell, which opens up periodically to receive one of Richard victims, from his brother, to the princes, to Buckingham and Lady Anne. And when it does, as bodies tumble or slide in, you see a living world down below. Which is downright scary.

The in-the-round stage is not permanent. But the memory will stay with you for a long time. So is this “Richard III.” Go while you can.

Mary Bird •

On, Feb. 12, the eve of yet another storm that closed the Federal Government the following day, Cynthia Howar hosted an enthusiastic gathering at her home studio for a wine and cheese reception to celebrate her new works of art “Paintings from the Brandywine Valley, Cuba, and Provence (2013).” The artist sells her works and notecards of her paintings from her studio and online. She was recently included in the Citizens Association of Georgetown Art Show at the House of Sweden. [gallery ids="101651,145214,145209,145216" nav="thumbs"]

Georgetowner •

Some cool gals got together Feb. 15 to celebrate the 40th birthday of Norah O’Donnell, co-anchor of “CBS This Morning,” and wife of D.C. chef and restaurateur Geoff Tracy. The group took over the second floor of Cafe Milano, the spot where first lady Michelle Obama celebrated her birthday last year. [gallery ids="117004,117001" nav="thumbs"]

Mary Bird •

Ambassador and Mrs. Salem Al-Sabah welcomed their guests to the 53rd Anniversary of the National Day of the State of Kuwait at the Four Seasons Hotel on Feb. 20. Exquisite floral arrangements adorned the ballroom where food stations offered an international display of temptations. Buffet tables were laden with the very best of the Middle East, Asia, Italy and the U.S., featuring mini lobster rolls, crab cakes and so much more. The dessert treats would take a season of MasterChef programs to reproduce. [gallery ids="101652,145205,145203" nav="thumbs"]

Mary Bird •

The James Beard Foundation (JBF) was recognized by the Destination & Travel Foundation with the 2014 Spirit of Hospitality Award at a gala dinner held at the Convention Center on Feb. 11. JBF President Susan Ungaro accepted the award presented annually to individuals and organizations that show exceptional commitment to the travel and tourism industry. Former Chief of Protocol Capricia Marshall called the JBF “an invaluable partner to the U.S. Department of State/Office of Protocol as it launched its global Diplomatic Culinary Partnership in 2012” recognizing the power of dining and culinary arts as an important tool of diplomacy. [gallery ids="101653,145201,145197" nav="thumbs"]

Gary Tischler •

**“Richard III”** at the Folger Shakespeare Theatre is a never before re-configuration of the Elizabethan Theatre, murder most foul all around, tense direction by Robert Richmond and a frightening and sly Drew Cortese as the murderous king, through March 16.

**“We are Proud to Present….,”** like nothing you’ll ever see on stage, as six actors take on the subject of race and genocide. A new play by Jackie Sibblies Drury at the Woolly Mammoth Theatre through March 9.

**“Moby-Dick”**— by the Washington National Opera Company in the Kennedy Center’s Opera House. Even if you don’t like opera, this is the one that will get you into the game. Spectacular, beautifully sung with grand music by Jake Higgie. Through March 8.

**Coming Up:**

**“World Stages: International Theater Festival 2014,”**on Kennedy Center Stages March 10-30. A feast at multiple venues of the best theater from elsewhere. Check out “The Suit,” from the Theatre des Bouffes du Nord, legendary director Peter Brooks adaptation of a South African short story; “Savannah Bay,” starring Emmanuelle Riva, from the Theatre de ‘Ateleir; and “Rupert,” about, you guessed it, media mogul Rupert Murdoch, making its U.S. premiere, by the Melbourne Theater Company. Go to [kennedy-center.org/worldstages](http://www.kennedy-center.org/programs/festivals/13-14/world/index.cfm) for more information.

**“Water by the Spoonful,”** a Pulitzer Prize winner by Quiara Alegria Hudes. is at the Studio Theater, March 5-April 23.

**Schubert’s “Winterreise,”** a great song cycle for voice and piano, performed by bass-baritone Ryan McKinny and pianist Kim Pensinger comes to the Barns at Wolf Trap, March 7.

**“Hamlet, the rest is silence,”** Synetic Theatre’s, wordless rendering of Shakespeare’s tale of the Danish prince, March 13-April 6.

**“The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,”** a play that will sneak up on you like a friend you didn’t know you had. At Ford’s Theatre March 14-May 17.

**“Camp David,”** a new play, about Carter, Begin, Sadat and a peace treaty, directed by Molly Smith, at Arena Stage, Mar 21-May 4.

**Voices From a Changing Middle East Festival. Theater J presents its annual festival, featuring “The Admission,”** in collaboration with the Cameri Theatre and the Arab-Hebrew Theatre of Jaffa, by Motti Lerner, March 20-April 6 and “Golda’s Balcony”, April 10-27, with Tovah Feldshu portraying Golda Meir in a play by William Gibson (“The Miracle Worker”). Plus readings and other events.

**The British Invasion: The Beatles & The Rolling Stones**—The Washington Ballet presents two rock ballets, “Trey McIntire’s ‘A Day in the Life’” and Christopher Bruce’s “Rooster,” March 6-8 at the Kennedy Center

**Some Musical Highlights:**

**March1**

Kathy Mattea at Sixth and I Historic Synagogue, a Washington Performing Arts Society concert.

“Sweet Honey in the Rock” at Music Center at Strathmore.

**March7**

The Minetti Quartet at the Embassy of Austria, Embassy Series.

**March 29**

Johnny Clegg at Lisner Auditorium.

**April 11-12**

“The Romantics: Schubert and Goethe,” In Series at Heurich House Museum.

**April1 2**

“Of Thee We Sing: The Marian Anderson 75th Anniversary Celebration (Washington Performing Arts Society), with Jessye Norman and Soloman Howard at DAR Constitution Hall.

Hilary Hahn, Music Center at Strathmore (WPAS)

**May 4-11**

Blue Note at 75; jazz celebration concerts at the Kennedy Center.

Nicole Cusick •

The spring theater season is off to a strong start, with some venues pushing boundaries with their productions and others bringing mainstream favorites to town.

For it’s production of Richard III, running through March 16, the Folger Theatre reconfigured it’s Elizabethan Theatre into its first ever theatre in the round. Traditionally used as a proscenium space, the stage has been flipped, making the playing space a central square ring with seats on all sides creating a very tense environment that thrusts spectators into the action of the play. A promo video showing how the space was transformed is at www.folger.edu.

Keegan Theatre is bringing a very different feel-good musical to town: “Hair,” opening Mar. 15. Last winter, Keegan produced a very successful run of “Cabaret,” so “Hair” – with several of the same cast members – is likely to be an equally successful production.

The Washington Ballet will present a special limited engagement at the Kennedy Center, “British Invasion: The Beatles & The Rolling Stones,” Mar. 5-9. Marking the 50th anniversary of the Beatles coming to America, this thrilling and thought-provoking performance is set to classic tunes by the Beatles and the Stones. The featured choreographers include Trey McIntyre, Christopher Bruce and Christopher Wheeldon.

The Studio Theatre is bringing D.C. a show with a lot of buzz: “Water by the Spoonful,” the 2012 Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Quiara Alegría Hudes. The second play in her trilogy, the play is about Elliot, a combat veteran who lives in North Philadelphia. Elliot, who is taking care of his dying mother, relies on his cousin Yaz as he tries to adjust to civilian life. Other characters face the challenge of getting clean and sober as they struggle against adversity. Described by the New York Times as “a moving collage of lives in crisis,” the show opens Mar. 5.

Check out the spring performance guide to learn more about the productions on D.C.-area stages in the coming months.