Entertainment

Chocolate Lovers Valentine Features ‘Old’ Fairfax High

The annual Chocolate Lovers Festival valentine this year features the original Fairfax High School building, drawn by Fairfax artist Jackie Liedl.

Encore Presents ‘The Little Mermaid Jr.’

Final performances of the Encore Stage & Studio Theatre’s “The Little Mermaid Jr.”

Honoring Martin Luther King Jr.

The Chantilly Pyramid Minority Student Achievement Committee (CPMSAC) held its 20th annual Martin Luther King Festival, Jan. 12, at Westfield High.

‘The Wizard of Oz’ at Congregation Har Shalom

A cast of 51 performs classic on Jan. 25-26 in Potomac.

Coinciding with the 75th anniversary of the movie, The Har Shalom Players of Potomac is skipping down the yellow brick road with its theater-in-the-round production of L. Frank Baum’s classic “The Wizard of Oz” on Jan. 25-26.

Potomac Library To Host ‘Love Crazy’ Author

Parents’ letters inspire memoir.

Looking for some indoor activities during the winter blast? This Thursday, Jan. 16 at 7 p.m., Selby Fleming McPhee will speak about her new book “Love Crazy” at the Potomac Library located on 10101 Glenolden Drive.

Winter Concerts Wow Audiences At Herndon High

Herndon students display their musical skills.

In December, students in the Herndon High choir and band were very active. Members of the Herndon High School Band "Pride of Herndon" went to Hawaii to represent Virginia in the 2013 Pearl Harbor Memorial Parade. The Pride of Herndon was awarded Grand Champion honors for their performance. The Herndon High School Choir Department has also been busy with choral groups putting on performances for the holiday season. This included an evening show on Dec. 7 at Herndon Town Square by The Herndon High School Madrigals and Herndon Brass Quintet.

First Night Welcomes 2014

Fireworks and Fun Hunt highlight New Year's Eve celebration.

Revelers from as far away as Paris celebrated the New Year in Alexandria as a dazzling display of fireworks lit up the waterfront to signal the arrival of 2014.

‘Curtain Up!’

Edelen shines in Signature Theatre production of "Gypsy."

She was always more tease than strip, and ever since she first shared the stage with Tessie the Tassel Twirler in the 1920s, she was determined to be famous for more than feathers and falsies. She was Gypsy Rose Lee, the queen of burlesque, whose 1959 memoirs inspired the award-winning Broadway musical "Gypsy," now playing at Shirlington’s Signature Theatre.

Alexandria's New Book Shelf

DreamDog Foundation creates citywide literacy program.

Passionate about sharing the gift of reading, the DreamDog Foundation intends to get books into the hands of every child in need in the City of Alexandria through its new literacy program called Alexandria's Book Shelf.

Fairfax Academy Presents Eighth Annual MCT Fest

Original music created by students at Fairfax Academy will be featured at the eighth annual Musical Computer Technology (MCT) Fest on Friday, Jan. 10, at 7 p.m. at the Sherwood Community Center in the City of Fairfax. Fairfax Academy is one of six high school academies in Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS).

Starting the New Year with a Hike

Area residents spend New Year’s Day at Mason Neck State Park.

Park rangers led visitors of Mason Neck State Park through a series of hikes on Jan. 1 as part of America’s State Parks First Day Initiative. Mason Neck hosted three hikes on New Year’s Day, each of varying difficulty. Interpretive Ranger Kevin Koons led eager hikers on the third guided hike of the day, which included an easy one-mile walk along the Bay View Trail, providing views of marshlands and Belmont Bay. Koons said the park is famous for its bald eagle sightings.

‘Mr. Mac’ Nominated for Grammy Award

Glen McCarthy vying for first-ever music-educator honor.

Glen McCarthy played trumpet in high school; but when his parents gave him a guitar for graduation, it changed the trajectory of his life. He’s played guitar in bands ever since then – yet what’s defined him most, he says, is being a guitar teacher.

Benny is Back!

Arriving soon for your entertainment.

Jack Benny was a classic comedian of stage, screen, radio and television. He spanned decades and generations. He is even considered a forerunner of what is now called situation comedy. Some suggest that the comic styles of Jerry Seinfeld and Kelsey Grammar ("Frasier") have Benny-like qualities. Soon there will be a golden opportunity to see him again. Well, not "the" Jack Benny, but award-winning actor Tim Newell in a one-man performance of "Mister Benny" at the Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia in a production for all audiences, non-members and members alike.

Fairfax Symphony Orchestra Promises ‘Intense, Personal, Intimate Experience’

Concerts at GMU’s Harris Theater to celebrate the 100th birthday of Benjamin Britten.

Have you heard? The next performance of the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra (FSO) chamber series, will be in a special location; the Harris Theater at George Mason University.

When Books Are Outlawed and Knowledge Discouraged

Ray Bradbury's "Fahrenheit 451" comes to Center for the Arts.

Continuing a series of enthralling professional touring theater productions, George Mason University's Center for the Arts is presenting "Fahrenheit 451" by renowned science fiction and fantasy writer Ray Bradbury. It is another in an "amazing assortment of performances," said Tom Reynolds, Center for the Arts director of artistic programming.

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