It's Capital Fringe time

Hey there,

It's that time of the year, Capital Fringe Festival time. I stopped by Fort Fringe yesterday evening, home of the box office, the Baldacchino Gypsy Tent Bar and several of the official festival venues within a block or so.

The Capital Fringe Festival Box Office

Disclaimer: I actually worked at the festival as the PR/Marketing intern while in grad school at AU for Arts Management. I've proceed to produce a show every year since '10 at the festival, including this one. That being said, if you're interested in following that, please check out my AWoL Productions blog.

Now if you're not familiar with Capital Fringe, it's an opportunity for artists and companies to produce and present work for a generally adventurous audience. Half the time, you don't know what you're going to get and it can be pretty exciting. One thing to keep track of during the festival is the board in the box office.

The "Board" inside the Box Office

Anything you need to know about shows in the festival (i.e. cancellations, sold out shows) will be posted here.  I do recommend connecting with the festival on Facebook and/or on Twitter as well. Shows aside, the other awesome part about the festival is just hanging out in between shows, reuniting with old friends and making new ones.

Most of this community gathering happens under and around the tent, with a bar that has food and drink, the tent which also houses a performance stage.  And, if you haven't got a chance to check it out yet, take a look at this year's shows online.

The festival runs July 12 to 29. And if you already knew about the festival, are there any shows you're already looking forward to?

- J Street Jr

Follow @JStreetJr

Intersections: Final lobby vlog

Hey there,

It's pretty self-explanatory:

Until next year, for the festival.

But keep an eye out for upcoming posts as I keep up with what various artists are up in the area :-)

- J Street Jr

Intersections Artist Snapshot: Amanda Aldag

Hey there,


Another Intersections artist snapshot on this penultimate day of this year's festival at the Atlas Performing Arts Center. Amanda Aldag is a local vocalist who will be performing today with Euphonism, one of two a cappella groups featured in this afternoon's show.

Intersecting A Cappella Imagine doo-wop meets pop meets gospel meets R&B meets Motown when two fantastic DC a cappella groups share the stage.

I actually have the pleasure of having met Amanda through my day job at Class Acts Arts, which represents a number of artists and companies. One of the groups on our roster is Snowday, another a capella group Amanda is involved in.

And, if you haven't observed by now, the DC area performing arts scene continues to get smaller and smaller, and I LOVE it. With that, I'm glad to introduce you to Amanda:

JR: When did you start singing?

Amanda: I started singing when I was about 7 in the school choir. I participated in every music club that my schools offered but always was most at home singing. I first got involved in a cappella in college where I was part of an all-female group.

JR: How did you become involved w/ Euphonism?

Amanda: I was one of the founders of Euphonism. A few months before, I had just moved to DC after having lived in Japan for several years. I was finally getting settled in at my new job and learning my way around and really missed singing. None of the existing groups were holding auditions so when I saw an ad on Craig's List about a new group getting together, I jumped at the opportunity.

JR: What inspires you to sing?

Amanda: Singing makes me happy in a way that nothing else does. In the few brief periods in my life when I was not singing there was definitely a void. Singing has always come pretty easily to me, but creating music completely a cappella adds an extra challenge for me. Plus, the community is one in which I feel supported and inspired.

JR: What is one of your favorite Euphonism memories?

Amanda: So many memories to choose from! We laugh a lot in rehearsal which I know means a lot to all of us. After a tough day I know that a few hours with the group is enough to make me smile again. Lately we've been offered bigger and bigger opportunities which has been really exciting, like our recent performance at the London A Cappella Festival. Being a part of that event was one of the most thrilling things I've done as a performer. But, even better, was the time the group spent together over the week we were there. It was a wake up call to me about how lucky I am to have these 6 wonderful people in my life.

JR: What are you an Intersection of?

Amanda: Euphonism is an intersection of pure vocal harmonies and fun, cutting edge technology. We've merged traditional vocal stylings with some really unique electronic effects for a exciting show!

Very grateful for Amanda taking the time to share this with me. As you can probably imagine, she's pretty busy. Keep up with her on Twitter (which is where I snagged her awesome singing photo from, hope you don't mind, Amanda!!), as well as Euphonism. If you're more of a FB person, like their page here.

You can catch Amanda and Euphonism, today at 4pm!! Buy tickets here, RSVP here on FB, do so in THAT order, and hope to see you at the Atlas later on today. And whether or not you go to the show

-- JR

Intersections Artist Snapshot: Carolyn Kamrath

Hey there,

Here's an artist snapshot of dancer Carolyn Kamrath. Now, funny thing is Carolyn and I go back about 6 years. We first met at the American Dance Festival summer of '06. It wouldn't be too long before our paths crossed again, at American University's Arts Management program.

What's great is that living in the Brookland Artspace Lofts, I live right next to Dance Place, one of the organizations she's involved with.

JR: When did you start dancing?

Carolyn: According to our home videos, I’ve been dancing since I could walk! Just ask my Dad for a sampling of my early choreographic hits in our living room. I started formal classes at age 3 and have been dancing ever since – including as a dance major at GWU.

JR: How did you become involved with DancEthos & Dance Place?

Carolyn: Tiffany Haughn, the Artistic Director of DancEthos, was one of my college professors. She asked me to dance in one of her works for CrossCurrents Dance Company and a few years after that we formed DancEthos together. In addition to dancing for DancEthos, I do a variety of administrative work and choreograph for the company (check out my latest piece in our show at Dance Place June 23-24!).

I am also the Marketing Director for Dance Place. I started as a summer intern in 2007 and came back as a staff member while I was in grad school at AU for Arts Management. I’m very excited that Dance Place is presenting Illstyle & Peace Productions from Philadelphia as part of INTERSECTIONS on March 9-10 – besides being awesome dancers who are captivating to watch, they are very kind and loving people who we love to have around!

JR: What inspires you to dance?

Carolyn: I think movement as a form of expression is just ingrained in me. I’ve always danced – it’s always been completely natural to me and creates a sense of wholeness in my life. These days I find so much inspiration in how other people’s bodies move, especially non dancers. I continue to be curious about the body itself, let alone all of the interesting concepts that can be portrayed through dance!

JR: What is one of your favorite moments w/ any of the companies/organizations you're involved in?

Carolyn: Every rehearsal with DancEthos is hilarious, heartfelt and fun. Too many favorite moments! But recently I have loved revisiting a duet with Tina Fratello for our INTERSECTIONS performance of Unsung. We have a really honest connection when we dance this duet that is so fulfilling. I hope the audience this weekend enjoys it too!

JR: What are you an intersection of?

Carolyn: 

So yeah, it's a small world and it keeps getting smaller, especially the dance community in the area.

You can catch Carolyn, with DanceEthos as well as alight dance theater and Glade Dance Collective, today at 4:30pm, at Intersections.

With only a handful of tickets left, you can buy tickets here.

- J Street Jr

Intersections Artist Snapshot: Eddie Jeffries

Hey there,

Bringing you another artist snapshot, this time with Eddie Jeffries performing with Dissonance Dance Theatre. I met Eddie through the dance community in the area and he is actually one of my students in a piece I'm choreographing at Montgomery College.

When he saw that I was at Intersections a lot this year, he told me that he was performing with DDT. That's not my only intersection with the company. Back when I was an undergrad dance major at UMD, I took a choreography class and met Shawn Short, DDT's Founding Artistic Director.

Yeah, it's a small world. And with that, here's a bit about Eddie.

JR: When did you start dancing?

Eddie: I have been dancing for about 3 years. I started training in a musical theatre style followed by hip hop, other styles of jazz, modern and then ballet. I took my first official ballet class last year at Montgomery college when I began my study as a dance major. Since working with Dissonance Dance theatre I found a interest and appreciation for the art of ballet.

JR: How did you become involved with Dissonance Dance Theatre?

Eddie: I heard through a friend about an opportunity to be apart of the dawn project, so I went and did some research about Shawn short and was amazed by his work. So I contacted him with my bio and told him how interested I was, then came in for the first day of class! The dawn project is "A program created by Shawn Short, where he meets young African American boys and men where they are, affirms their interests and builds their artistic and entrepreneurial leadership." I have attend every 6 hour class/rehearsal on Sundays for the past three 2 & 1/2 Months. So i worked hard to Become understudies in some of his pieces and glad I was cast in one of his dance that will be performed at intersections.

JR: What inspires you to dace?

Eddie: I am my biggest motivation to continue in my passion for dance. I have always had strong interest in all form of art and this has become a passion and career interest for me.My everyday life and experiences inspire me to dance and continue to learn. Those experience helped me become who I am today. The stereotypes of African American male dancers being successful in the dance world gives me the drive to push myself. Dance is my outlet. It gives me a way of attaching my feelings to convey it through movement and send messages to anyone without speaking.

JR: What is one of your favorite DDT memories?

Eddie: My favorite memory with Dissonance was being able to be apart of their photo shoot. It was an awesome experience and my first time ever getting an opportunity like this. In that very same day it was like a wake up call for me because I realized this is what I want to do and this is where I'm going to work to get here. The company was very helpful and I learned alot from them. They are all beautiful and talented dancers and people, which makes the experience even better

Cinema

Having a packed house last night, you've got only one more chance to catch Dissonance Dance Theatre at this year's Intersections, with Cinema, at 2:30pm.

If you can make it, you can buy tickets here.

- J Street Jr

Intersections Artist Snapshot: Jimmy Page

Hey there,

Here's a brief glimpse into the life of Jimmy Page, member of DCypher, one of Joy of Motion's Adult Dance Companies. They are also performing at Intersections tonight at 9:30pm (as was the last artist I blogged about), with Access Granted:

Joy of Motion Dance Center's adult hip-hop company unleashes their passion for jazz, tap, modern and pop-fusion AND their amazing hip-hop moves. Dance Party to follow!

So as opposed to the previous two artist friends I featured, I can't say I remember exactly how we met, probably out on the dance floor of some club and/or through mutual friends. But Jimmy was someone who gave me a run for my money, not that they teach you how to dance at clubs to electronic dance music and pop, but I'd say I could hold my own.

Anyway, all I can say is that I'm so proud to be able to call Jimmy a friend, and am thrilled with everything he's been able to pursue and accomplish with DCypher. And it's a pleasure that I'm able to share a little bit more about him, with you all.

JR: When did you start dancing?

Jimmy: If you were to ask my parents I'm sure they'd say, "As soon as he could walk!" I have seen footage of myself in a diaper with two hands on the TV screen stomping my feet as Michael Jackson's "Thriller" video plays. From the age of 8 or so I did Tae Kwon Do pretty exclusively because I was attracted to the idea of dancing as a unit and acrobatics combined with learning and memorizing choreography and performing it in front of large crowds. TKD taught me how to be committed and work through adversity and, most of all, to lead by example. Ultimately, most of the dancing I did was in clubs, freestyle circles, and at school dances where I would arrive (fashionably late, of course) and break it down the best I knew how. Developing your own style and personality is something I think most teens can identify with and I was lucky enough to have found my voice. Along with my passion for photography and filmmaking, dance had completed the puzzle.

JR: How did you become involved w/ DCypher? (this was a bit of a rhetorical question :-D)

Jimmy: After hearing about the DCypher "hip hop" auditions from you, though excited to participate, I realized I had never taken a formal dance class or audition in my entire life. The DCypher auditions were that class. I simply reminded myself that I wasn't going there to impress anyone, but to simply express myself and that's exactly what I did. A few days later, I had made the team, as well as what turned out to be a second family.

JR: What inspires you to dance?

Jimmy: Being surround by some of the most creative and energetic people is one of the gifts of being on a team like DCypher. Before practice, during, and even after (if we still have the energy) we share ideas, thoughts, and opinions on anything related to dance, or entertainment for that matter. I respect and admire those I have met through DCypher as I have become acquainted with other staff and dance teams in the Joy of Motion umbrella. I draw inspiration to dance from the feeling I get when I am absolutely losing myself in that moment when you know that, even if for a few moments, the song that is playing was made for you. I love that I am learning true choreography as I have plans to apply my own techniques to the love of film and music videos.

JR: What is one of your favorite DCypher memories?

Jimmy: Once a year, DCypher gets invited to the Culture Shock Ottawa Showcase. Passports in hand, DCypher drives the 8+ hours up the east coast and, throughout, we just make each other laugh and sing silly songs in the car. This all culminates into an indescribable experience where suddenly you are sharing dressing rooms with some of the most dynamic and talented dance crews you have ever witnessed. Being able to hang out with Culture Shock San Diego, DC, Ottawa, Toronto, and others was nothing short of a dream come true. And my favorite part? Stepping on stage to the cheering and applause from the biggest audience I have ever danced for and being privileged enough to leave my mark on that stage. I look forward to dancing in Canada once again later this summer!

JR: What are you an Intersection of?

Jimmy: I am the intersection of creativity and spontaneity.

Honestly, I can't help but smile a little that I was able to bring Jimmy along and introduce him to the opportunity. And, in case you were wondering, I did audition as well and did not make the initial cut. However, the neat thing was that they invited and encouraged me to take company classes and had expressed interest in having me be a part of their family. And I would definitely like to still take 'em up on that and audition again in the future!! :-D

Anyway, dancers like Jimmy and companies like DCypher are just one of the many reasons why I love being a part of the diverse and thriving dance community in the Metropolitan DC area. And even though I didn't make the cut, I'm just as thrilled to be able to support 'em from the audience and cut a rug with them and the other audience members at the dance party after tonight's show!!

You can buy tickets here. And check out the video below for an even more in-depth behind the scenes of DCypher, w/ Jimmy,

- J Street Jr

Intersections Artist Snapshot: Richard Weinberg

Hey there,

Bringing you another inside-scoop with one of the artists performing at Intersections. Richard Weinberg is a member of Potomac Fever, one of the Gay Men's Chorus of Washington's small ensembles. They will be joining Tom Goss on stage in concert, this evening, with You Don’t Question Love:

A nationally-known unique voice among gay singer-songwriters is joined by the a cappella pop ensemble from the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, DC.

And here's my disclaimer.  GMCW is actually how I first met Ricky, but DC being the small town it is, we have a number of friends and acquaintances from the performing arts scene in common.

Also a funny story about the first time I ever came across Tom Goss. I was actually introduced to his work when I sat on the panel for the individual artist grant program at the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, and he was one of the applicants.

Small world, right?! Anyway, without further ado, here is my exchange with Ricky:

JR: When did you start singing?

Richard: I started singing in elementary school choir and always remember music being my favorite class. I was fortunate to grow up in Northern Virginia where the public school arts programs are relatively thriving. Choir class and school musicals gave way to madrigal choir and private voice lessons in high school when I ultimately realized that singing is what I always wanted to do.

JR: How did you become involved w/ Potomac Fever?

Richard: This is my second season singing in Potomac Fever and my third season singing with the Chorus. I had been doing professional opera chorus in Baltimore and D.C. for nearly 10 years when I decided that taking a break would be good for me. Music had become too much of a job, and I what I didn't realize but ultimately found with the Chorus was that singing was supposed to be fun. I've had friends in the Chorus for a long time, had seen many shows, but simply never had the time to consider joining. I auditioned for Potomac Fever when a vacancy became available, and ever since, Potomac Fever for me has been the ultimate musical experience within our community.

JR: What inspires you to sing?

Richard: Just like any medium in art, singing draws upon many sources of inspiration. As a singer, part of what we get to do is embody the text of the song we're singing and learn how the composer was inspired by the words. When we add our own experiences in life to how we might relate to the text and the music, then we find our own personal inspiration. With good music, in any given song the audience could be reacting to the inspiration of multiple people, which is why I think singing can have such an emotional impact. What inspires me to sing in Potomac Fever are my fellow singers; we are such a close-nit group (we refer to each other as brothers), that making music with each other and touching our audience with it is an inspiration in of itself.

JR: What is one of your favorite memories with Potomac Fever?

Richard: I think my favorite memory with Potomac Fever is yet to come. I have a feeling that years from now, when I'm no longer a part of the group, that I will look back on the time I sang with Potomac Fever and recall some of the most cherished memories of my life. I'm sure we may all take it for granted week to week while juggling an intense rehearsal and performance schedule, but the memories I'll treasure will simply be when we're singing together, the music clicks, the harmonies sound perfect, and we are all fully present with each other.

JR: What is Potomac Fever an intersection of?

Richard: I would say Potomac Fever is an intersection of the fun, the serious, the lighthearted, and the emotional. Probably what's found in the middle of this intersection is love.

If you're reading this, I'm probably preaching to the choir when I say how thrilled and blessed I am to be a part of this community, having met awesome artists and people like Ricky and many others involved in the festival. What's crazy is how much we've already crossed paths before, and for me, that is one the main affirming things about the festival, this celebration of community, and coming together, across race, culture, class, etc. To share with each other and to move forward together.

But I digress. Also, with the group pic, you probably picked out Ricky in the middle, but if you look carefully to the bottom right corner, you'll see the Atlas' own Program Manager, Robert T. Boaz :-)

Wanna go to tonight's 9:30pm show at the Atlas Performing Arts Center? You can buy tickets here (of the handful that are remaining). And if you'd like to see a video from a rehearsal for GMCW's last holiday show of Potomac Fever singing, check out the clip below.

- J Street Jr

Catch Paige tonight in Liner Notes

Hey there,


I was able to touch base with Paige Hernandez-Funn, just one of the hundreds of artists participating in this year's Intersections, whom I had the pleasure of meeting through a local arts organization dedicated to raising the profile of Asian-American/Pacific Islander artists, SuluDC. Since then, it's always a good time whenever our paths cross, and that brings us to this year's festival, with her production, Liner Notes:

Paige Hernandez directs a musical journey through hip-hop’s many intersections when multiple artists join The Corner Store Jazz Trio to breathe life into a fading art-- the liner note.

She was gracious enough to take time out of her schedule to answer a few questions.


JR: When did you start performing?

Paige: I started performing in late elementary school. I took a keen interest in “dramatic reading” and went on to win several competitions and scholarships. By the time high school came around, I was destined for the Baltimore School for the Arts. Its all 1099’s from there. lol
JR: How did you start your work w/ B-Fly Entertainment?

Paige: I created B-FLY to house my two one woman shows (Havana Hop and PAIGE IN FULL). Once I spoke its mission into the universe (elevated art for the hip hop generation), then ideas, opportunities and producing new work was inevitable. I knew folk were hungry for “elevated” hip hop but good googly moogly I had no idea that the company would be in such demand. I am humble, grateful and so very excited for its potential.

JR: What inspired Liner Notes?

Paige: My pops and my husband. My father is an accomplished funk musician and has always been an advocate to explore musical history of all genres. He instilled in my brothers and I, a passion for music artistry and a desire to always keep an open mind in the arts.

My husband is an accomplished jazz musician who has toured internationally since we started dating almost 8 years ago. I go to his “straight ahead” jazz gigs and he would communicate to me in the audience using different hip hop bass lines. I’d smile big and bright and loved that we had a common language.

The thought of my husband and father playing alongside each other…covering hip hop and jazz…really excites me. It speaks a lot to my appreciation and respect for what they do and how we’re all able to communicate with each other using music.

My pops taught me how to read Liner Notes and my husband helps me to collect them.

JR: What is one of your favorite moments in creating this piece?

Paige: I really love that the performers featured in this piece all have their own personal story connected to a Liner Note. Discovering those stories and moments in time has been awe inspiring. I’m truly fortunate to work among such dedicated, talented and passionate artists.

JR: What are you an Intersection of?

Paige: I am an intersection of vinyl, tape, cd and mp3. I am living, breathing mixtape.


So there you have it. You can catch Paige and her crew in Liner Notes tonight, at 8pm.  Buy tickets here.


You can also follow her on Twitter and join the festival conversation with #IntersectionsDC. And if you're more of a Facebook kind of person, make sure to like B-Fly Entertainment's Fan Page.




- J Street Jr

Dance at this year's Intersections

Hey,

So here's a disclaimer. I'm a dancer, I went to UMD for Dance and have continued to teach, choreograph, and perform since graduating.

And that is the lens through which I wanted to write this blog and highlight these performances, for any other dancers and dance audience members. I do type this with this one challenge: if you tend to see dance, for every dance performance you see at this year's Intersections, see one non-dance performance. That's all. Simple :-)

That being said, here are the dance events you can catch at the Atlas this festival. Links go to FB event pages:

Jane Franklin Dance

This weekend:

• Double Take (Jane Franklin Dance) - 2/24 @ 7pm; 2/25 @ 1:30pm & 5:30pm
• Los Caminos del Flamenco (Furia Flamenca) - 2/26 @ 2pm
• Click SEND (Sidwell Friends School Dance Ensemble) - 2/26 @ 6pm

Next weekend:

BodyMoves
Contemporary
Dance Company

• Access Granted (DCyhper Dance) - 3/2 @ 9:30pm
• Essence of Dance: A Cultural Perspective (BodyMoves Contemporary Dance Company) - 3/3 @ 11:30am
• Getting Airborne (Zip Zap Circus & Airborne DC!) - 3/3 @ 5:30pm & 8pm
• Samudra: Churning Oceans (The Spilling Ink Project & Srishti Dances of India) - 3/3 @ 7pm
• Cinema (Dissonance Dance Theatre) - 3/3 @ 9:30pm, 3/4 @ 2:30pm
• Art Connection (SMYAL's Youth Arts Ensemble & Dance Exchange's Teen Exchange) - 3/4 @ 3pm
• Life in Motion: A Trio of Perspectives (alight dance theater, DancEthos & Glade Dance Collective) - 3/4 @ 4:30pm

Final weekend:

Illstyle and Peace

• Future Preludes (Peter DiMuro PDM: Public Displays of Motion) - 3/8 @ 7pm, 3/9 @ 7pm
• Impossible IZZpossible (Illstyle and Peace presented by Dance Place) - 3/9 @ 8:30pm, 3/10 @ 8:30pm
• Giving it All to the Day (Shange Dance Productions) - 3/9 @ 9pm
• EveryBODY Catch the Beat! (Metropolitan Youth Tap Ensemble) - 3/10 @ 12pm
• SOLE Defined (Just Tap) - 3/11 @ 2pm
• Bodies: A Music and Dance Exploration (Vivre Musical & Full Circle Dance Co.) - 3/11 @ 2:30pm

And that's that!! Again, if you tend to see dance anyway, try to see one non-dance performance for every dance one you see :-)

Now, I need to get ready to head to the Atlas!!

- J Street Jr

Why SpeakeasyDC speaks to me :-)

Hey there,

So what do you think of when you hear "storytelling"?

If you're like me before I had ever been to a SpeakeasyDC event, what first comes to mind is a...different kind of storytelling than what SpeakeasyDC does with and for everyday folk.

Wikipedia defines storytelling as:

Storytelling is the conveying of events in words, images and sounds, often by improvisation or embellishment. Stories or narratives have been shared in every culture as a means of entertainment, education, cultural preservation and in order to instill moral values. Crucial elements of stories and storytelling include plot, characters and narrative point of view.

Sure...that's rather broad and general. You can go to the entry to read the rest, but pay attention to the brief bit about contemporary storytelling, and that's where SpeakeasyDC comes in.

I first became involved with SpeakeasyDC...well, I don't even know excatly who said what, but I ended up signing up for one of their open mics, and the theme was telling a story about a picture.

If you want, you can see my first time, and how I discovered my love of dancing:


JR Russ tells true story at SpeakeasyDC’s open mic from SpeakeasyDC on Vimeo.

Just in case you didn't watch it, or even if you did, that was an autobiographical story, as all SpeakeasyDC stories are. And it was pretty neat, and comPLETEly different from anything I'd done as a performer.

So what is SpeakeasyDC? Well, once again, words that have already been written say it better than I could:

"SpeakeasyDC (formerly Washington Storytellers Theatre) is a non-profit arts organization based in Washington, DC. Our mission is to give voice to people’s life experiences, support artistic expression, build community, and contribute to DC’s cultural capital and creative economy by promoting and teaching the art of autobiographical storytelling. Since time immemorial, storytelling has served to entertain, teach, touch and capture the human experience."

You can read the rest of the mission and find out more about the programs on the About page. You can also check out this piece in the Washington Times from this past October, Storytelling takes center stage at SpeakeasyDC.

I was actually asked to join their cast of last year's pride show performed on Woolly Mammoth Theatre's main stage, Don't Ask, Do Tell. If you want, you can check out that clip too, and hear about how I discovered love in high school.


JR Russ tells true story on SpeakeasyDC stage from SpeakeasyDC on Vimeo.

And now? Well, here's the disclaimer: I was asked to join the board this past fall, and happily accepted. I'm going to have to tell you why in a nutshell, because I could go on and on if I shared every reason in its fullest.

Don't Ask, Do Tell cast

Photography by Alexander Morozov

Basically, SpeakeasyDC was the perfect storm of things I'd come to value as an audience member, artist and arts administrator. It is a wonderful intersection of art and community, of empowerment and ritual.  If you've ever gone to the regular monthly open mic, then you've probably experienced all of these on some level.

You can check out more videos on Vimeo & YouTube. You can also like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

At this year's Intersections, you have two chances to catch our show for the festival, Born This Way: Stories About Queer Culture in America, tonight at 8pm and this Saturday, the 25th, at 7pm.

You can buy your ticket here and RSVP on Facebook here. And make sure you do so in that order ;-)

And if you're there tonight, please find me and say hey!!

- J Street Jr

"One night only" at Intersections this weekend

Hello again,

And yes, that was a Dreamgirls reference. So, as I was perusing the assortment of happenings over the festival, I encountered a bit of a dilemma. There were some performances that were happening once, and once only!! Not that rarity has an effect on value (as w/ rare stones) as all of the artists are presenting wonderful, quality work, in each of their disciplines, but artists with more than one performance allowed for a li'l (not much) wiggle room in terms of mapping out this and the following two weekends.

For the most part, all of those performing in the Cafe Concert series are only doing so one time. But those are free. So I just wanted to highlight special events and those ticketed performances (some I'll be seeing, others I won't due to seeing another show at the same time) happening this weekend, blazing through the Atlas long enough to make a wish on, one night (or day) only.

Stephen Lang from Avatar

Links go to FB event pages. And you can buy your tickets here.

Thursday, 2/23

• 7:30pm - An Evening with Stephen Lang and Guest Artist Tom Teasley (Festival Special Event)
• 9:00pm (Free) - A 60's Celebration in Honor of Jane Lang and The Atlas' Fifth Anniversary Season (Paul Sprenger Hosts)

Friday, 2/24

Life Stories Live

• 9:00pm - Little Red and the Renegades (Festival Opening Night Party)

Saturday, 2/25

• 11:00am - Life Stories Live: An Interactive Performance for Families (Vertical Voices & Synergy in Action Playback Theatre Companies) 
• 2:00pm - Mutts Gone Nuts (Special Benefit Performance for Atlas Family Programming)
• 3:30pm - Buses Are A Comin': The Freedom Riders in Song and Story (The Delta Players and the Northeast Senior Singers)
• 5:30pm - "...And Bid Him Sing." (Folger Shakespeare Library)
• 8:00pm - Intersections in Space: Supernova Meets Synchronicity (Nasar Abadey and Supernova)



Christylez Bacon

• 9:30pm - Washington Sound Museum (Christylez Bacon)

Sunday 2/26

• 2:00pm - Camino al Flamenco (Furia Flamenca)
• 2:30pm - The Adventures of Prince Achmed (Tom Teasley)
• 5:00pm - Click SEND (Sidwell Friends School Dance Ensemble)

Again, you can buy your tickets here. And this list,  by no means, is any commentary on my own preferences or recommendations, either the events included, and those not.

I know at times, I believe in fate more than choice. So if you're not sure what to check out, and you're that kind of person or in that kind of mood, these dates are the one and only time you can catch these performances by these artists, during the festival!!

Don't worry, if you believe in choice and free will more than fate (or are just in that kind of mood), I'll have another blog out tomorrow pretty much touching on the other artists presenting this weekend, with multiple dates/times.  The only thing is a number those artists have shows that are only this weekend as well, you just have more than one chance; so just something to keep in mind.

- J Street Jr

This week at Intersections

Hey all,

So this Thursday marks the beginning of this year's Intersections Festival. I'm part of their Accelerator crew, a group of arts advocates and influencers that will be providing another level of connection from the art to the audience. Several of them are also on Twitter (the following links go to their profiles), Kenya Allmond, Shannon Mouton & Simone Jacobson.

You can check out info and get more links on the rest of the Accelerators at Intersections Festival's Latest News page. But I digress...what I really wanted to highlight were the performances I will be checking out this upcoming week and weekend, which I hope you find me and say hi, if you're there as well!!

All of the hyperlinks in the list are different ones: the time of the events listed below will take you to purchase tickets, and if it's a time that's not hyperlinked, it's probably a Cafe Concert and FREE; the event name will take you to FB event pages; while the organization links will take you to the organization's website, and Twitter profiles & FB pages will be specified. And you can download the complete schedule here.

So here we go:

Thursday, 2/23

Born This Way

• 6:30pm - Cafe Concert  presented by The Washington Post (Torcuato Zamora)
• 8:00pm - Born This Way: Stories About Queer Culture in America (SpeakeasyDC | Facebook | Twitter) *disclaimer* I sit on the board of SEDC

With Little Red
and the Renegades

Friday, 2/24

• 7:00pm - From Shuffle to Showboat: Prelude to the American Musical (The In Series | Facebook)
• 9:00pm - With Little Red and the Renegades (Festival Opening Party!!)

Saturday, 2/25

Bud, Not Buddy

• 11:00am - Bud, Not Buddy (Adventure Theatre | Facebook | Twitter)
• 12:00pm - Cafe Concert  presented by The Washington Post (Boogle Babes' Mr. Skip)
• 1:30pm - Double Take (Jane Franklin Dance | Facebook)
• 3:00pm - A Birthday Sing-Along in Honor of Jane Lang and the Atlas (Paul Sprenger Hosts)
• 3:30pm - Road Signs (Quest Visual Theatre | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube)
• 5:30pm - ...And Bid Him Sing (Folger Shakespeare Library | Facebook | Twitter)

Click SEND

Sunday, 2/26

• 1:30pm - Cafe Concert  presented by The Washington Post (Peter DiMuro & Friends)
• 3:00pm - Cafe Concert presented by The Washington Post (Tara Linhardt and Friends)
• 5:00pm - Click SEND (Sidwell Friends School Dance Ensemble) - ONLY show!!

And that's it!! JUST for the first week/end :-)

I'd like to really highlight the opening night party on the Friday as well as the Birthday Sing-Along on saturday!! With so much going on, those are nice opportunities to socialize and meet some of the movers and shakers, as well as other audience members and artists!!

And definitely make sure to say hello to Mary Hall Surface, Festival Artistic Director, and the rest of the staff and administrators who make this wonderful event happen (click here to learn more about them and the festival).

Leave a comment, tweet me, or post on my wall if you think our paths might intersect this weekend. And keep an eye out, for content throughout the week and weekend, as well as the next schedule, a week from now!!

- J Street Jr (on Facebook & Twitter)

P.S. you should join the mailing list of the Atlas Performing Arts Center, like them on Facebook, and follow them on Twitter

Intersections reception last week

It's a small world, after all!!

Last Thursday, the Atlas Performing Arts Center had a reception for those participating in this year's Intersections: A New America Arts Festival (Feb 23 to Mar 11).

In fact, I had already been at the Atlas just a couple of days prior with Dance/Metro DC's Awards Committee, to meet with Festival Artistic Director, Mary Hall Surface, and her team on-site, but more on that in a later blog.

At the reception, I was there as a SpeakeasyDC Board Member, and also just as a member of the amazingly diverse performing arts community, here in the DC area.

Even before I entered the Atlas, I run into Colin Hovde, who recently returned to Theatre Alliance on staff as Artistic Director.  We were joined by Jenny Frederick, Artistic Director of Rorschach Theatre and Director of Performing Arts at Cultural Development Corporation, as we entered the lobby.

So we enter the lobby, and while I feel like I'm just name-dropping at this point...I think I've made peace with the fact that I kinda am. I'm thrilled to know the people I do in DC, and every time our paths cross, it just reaffirms that somehow I managed to end up where I need to be, doing what I love in life, here in the Washington metropolitan area.

Before the official reception program begins, I run into Jeffrey Blender, the board member who was responsible for recruiting me to SpeakeayDC's board before terming out, met me in the lobby, after which I proceeded to run into a number of other creatives.

One is Bobby T, a wonderful guy and singer, who I know through the Gay Men's Chorus of Washington. One of GMCW's small ensembles, Potomac Fever, will actually be performing in the festival along with local musician, Tom Goss.

I see Samia, an artist I know through my work at Class Acts Arts, as one of our MD Traditions in the Schools artists, and say hi. She's presenting her Spirit of Unity concert.Turning around at one point, I bump into Ouida, a classmate of mine from AU's Arts Management program and give her a hug. She's there on behalf of Dance Exchange's Teen Exchange program, which will be performing at the festival. A disclaimer: I recently became a member Society DX, Dance Exchange's twitter ambassador group.

Another dancer present was Angella, founder and Artistic Director of Alight Dance Theater.  Our paths actually crossed the last presidential election year, participating in a David Dorfman piece where I did my undergrad, in UMD's Dance program.

And I should not have been surprised when I run into Paige Hernandez, performing a piece with B-fly Entertainment. Our paths crossed when she presented a selection from her show, Paige in Full, at Sulu DC's monthly event.

Can't forget running into Solomon, who was present on behalf of the Library of Congress and their concert series. "What?" you might be asking, "the Library of  Congress has a concert series?!" Yes, yes it does. At least that seemed to be the majority of the reactions he received. One of DC's best kept secrets, I might argue. Our paths intersected in the last professional show I did before starting grad school in '08, Jerry Springer: the Opera with Studio Theatre 2nd Stage.

That's about it, as far as I can remember.  And that's just the tip of the iceberg, when it comes to the variety and quality of performing artists that are presenting work at this year's Intersections Festival.

And if I saw you that evening, or mentioned you but didn't list your organization above or below, please let me know.

The amazing thing was looking at the festival calendar and seeing how many other artists I knew in some capacity.  The humbling thing is realizing this has less to do with me and more to do with the wonderful community that we have in the DC area, one in which we strive to better ourselves and each other, with our art.

More than anything, this evening really reminded me how exciting this year is going to be, as well as how much each year continues to top the last, for me as an artist, as an audience member, and just as a person who is part of this huge, extended family.

You can check out the festival schedule here. Anything you're looking forward to, or are you participating? Feel free to leave and comment!!

And if you're attending the festival, particularly the Speakeasy DC shows or the Dance/MetroDC awards, I look forward to seeing you there,

- J Street Jr

On social media? So is pretty much every organization I mentioned, those participating in the festival directly and others who were present by association.

• Intersections - Facebook | Twitter
• Atlas Performing Arts Center - Facebook | Twitter
• Alight Dance Theater - Facebook | Twitter
• B-fly Entertainment - Facebook
• Class Acts Arts - Facebook | Twitter
• Cultural Development Corporation - Twitter
• Dance Exchange - Facebook | Twitter
• GMCW - Facebook | Twitter
• MD Traditions - Facebook
• Rorschach Theatre - Facebook | Twitter
• SpeakeasyDC - Facebook | Twitter
• Studio Theatre 2nd Stage - Facebook | Twitter
• Sulu DC - Facebook | Twitter
• Theatre Alliance - Facebook | Twitter