Entertainment

New York Bound

Negro Ensemble Company selects local playwright.

Alexandria resident and playwright McKenya Dilworth will be one step closer to realizing some of her biggest dreams on Sunday, March 29.

Tiny Dancers Summer Camp

There’s something afoot at Tiny Dancers in Fairfax City this summer, as they offer their award-winning program of themed, week-long camps.

Celebrating the Persian New Year

The Nowruz Festival will be held March 15 at John Carlyle Square Park in Alexandria.

Following 3,000 years of customs and traditions, the colorful Nowruz Festival — the Persian New Year celebration — will be held Sunday, March 15 at the John Carlyle Square Park near the King Street Metro in Alexandria.

The New School of Northern Virginia Presents ‘The Laramie Project’

Students at The New School of Northern Virginia (NSNVA) are presenting a challenging, and controversial play this March: “The Laramie Project.” In 1998, a young college student named Matthew Shepard was beaten and left to die in a brutal act of antigay violence.

A Heartbeat Through the Universe

Virginia Opera presents “La Traviata.”

Be smitten with Violetta, the brave woman who learns that “love can be inspired by a passing glance,” but happiness is not such an easy journey. This is the grand sweep of Verdi’s “La Traviata,” the world’s most performed opera, coming to the Center for the Arts, courtesy of Virginia Opera with music by the Richmond Symphony Orchestra.

My Pit’s The Pit

Freshman’s funny film about McLean High School Band featured in Bethesda Film Fest.

About 100 people submitted films, and Josh Leong, 14, of McLean, is $500 richer for earning one of five spots in an upcoming Film Festival for a comedy film sketch about his high school marching band.

Peter Mayer Enthralls at St. Aidan’s

Also at Focus concert, Lea warms up the night.

The snow was still thick on the ground Saturday night, March 7, and temperatures were finally just beginning to warm, when the two folksingers Peter Mayer and Lea, like thawing springtime breezes, took their turns regaling the audience in the sanctuary at St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church.

‘Mary Poppins’ at Burke Presbyterian

More than 50 junior and senior high school youth from Burke Presbyterian Church (BPC) presented the musical “Mary Poppins” on March 6-8. The church, transformed by more than 26 hand-painted panels into early 20th century London, was packed for each of the four performances.

Kenmore Students Put Art on the Table in Arlington

Seventh Grade Art students create designer tables for gallery show and sale.

With power tools and the gift of color, Kenmore Middle school art students designed and constructed 39 coffee tables that went on display in the gallery space in Arlington’s Ballston Mall.

Death Knell for Arlington's Artisphere?

Where the Artisphere went wrong.

The County Manager Barbara Donnellan has finally made the recommendation to put the Artisphere down after five years of its limping through budget seasons. Tasked with finding a way of saving the financially hemorrhaging arts center, Donnellan warned the County Board in December that Artisphere’s future was in jeopardy, and followed through with listing the Artisphere as one of the optional cuts in the proposed Fiscal Year 2016 County Manager Budget, released Feb. 19.

“Flourishing After 55”

“Flourishing After 55” from Arlington Office of Senior Adult Programs, March 23-28.

Signature Theater in Arlington Presents ‘Soon’

World premiere musical explores possibility of life and love and deferred dreams.

Directed by Matthew Gardiner, Signature Theater is presenting the world premiere of the musical, "Soon" by Nick Blaemire through April 26. The action centers around the hottest summer in human history and, in a few months, all water on earth will evaporate.

‘Children of Eden’ on Stage

Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington hosts Chalice Theatre.

Chalice Theatre of Arlington is presenting the musical “Children of Eden” through March 15. Never on Broadway, but often performed in local theatre groups, this musical by Stephen Schwartz, who also wrote the better known musicals “Godspell” and “Pippin,” is about family.

Alexandria Welcomes Zombie Apocalypse Survivors

The mayor welcomed Rick Grimes and others from the AMC show “The Walking Dead” to the city. Grimes entered the city on March 1 and has expressed an interest in joining local law enforcement. In the show, based on a comic series by Robert Kirkman, Alexandria is a safe-zone relatively protected from apocalyptic horrors.

New Art Exhibits to Open in Reston and Herndon

Local artwork to be on display.

Several nonprofits within the Reston and Herndon area, including ArtSpace Herndon located on Center Street and the Greater Reston Arts Center (GRACE) have helped showcase local artwork, and as some exhibits close, new displays will soon open.

The Connection