Musical groups keep nostalgic tunes alive
The big band (and small combo) sounds from the not-all-that-distant past are being swung around town these days by the 20-member Ain’t Misbehavin’ Big Band and the Rearview Mirror duo.Name that tune from the ‘30s to the ‘80s, and these groups will most likely have it on their charts.Rearview Mirror’s two-person group — Columbia residents Iris Hirsch, ... READ MORE
Winning big on TV’s “The Price is Right”
Eva McQueen-Gates says she doesn’t consider herself a lucky person. In fact, she recently lost money on a trip to Las Vegas. But that all changed a few days later when her name was called with the hallmark “Come on down!” on “The Price is Right.”McQueen-Gates, who is 63 and lives in Brandywine, Md., could hardly contain her excitement. She leapt up from her... READ MORE
Pickleball offers fun way to fitness for all
Mix together a bit of badminton, ping pong and tennis, and you’ve got pickleball — a game that’s growing in popularity across the country.“It’s addictive,” said Susan Smolen, who first heard of the game about eight years ago while visiting a friend in Florida. Now Smolen plays four times a week when she’s in Baltimore, and “every day, all... READ MORE
Local architect produces first rock opera
A new original musical will open at the Silver Spring Black Box Theatre for six performances from July 22 to 31. Called 99 — A Rock Opera, the musical was written by local musician and composer Mark Baughman and directed by Jonathan Zuck, an award-winning film and stage director. It tells a story about two former soul mates who are reunited on opposite sides of a protest in a... READ MORE
Sam Waterston’s 60-year career on stage
Actor Sam Waterston plays a nefarious lobbyist for the gun industry in the movie he’s now filming. And like Toronto, which is filling in for the Washington-set movie since filming is cheaper there, Waterston is also playing somewhat off-type.“I’m not a very nice guy,” Waterston says of his role in Miss Sloan, also starring Jessica Chastain and John Lithgow, and set... READ MORE
Seven ways to enjoy summer in the city
If you’re sticking close to home this summer, not to worry. There’s still plenty to do in the area. Grab a snowball to keep cool, and head on out to enjoy some of Baltimore’s favorite traditions.1. ArtscapeArtscape is the largest free arts festival in the U.S. (last year, over 350,000 attended), and it’s located right here in Charm City. There will be more than 150... READ MORE
Columbia launches inaugural film festival
The Columbia Film Festival — the first of what organizers hope will be an annual event — gets underway Friday, June 24 and Saturday, June 25 with two dozen films from around the world screened at Howard Community College. The films, from movie makers as far away as Korea and Japan and as close to home as Ellicott City, helps winds up this summer’s Columbia Festival of the Arts,... READ MORE
Summer: big-name musicals, festival fare
Summer theater in Washington: The first thing we usually ask ourselves is what’s onstage at the Kennedy Center, which typically schedules a couple of big productions, often for long runs. There’s no deviation from custom this year, with a couple of major audience attractions in the Potomac palace.First is Kinky Boots, running from June 14 to July 10 in the Opera House.... READ MORE
Peter Pan flies high at Toby’s in Columbia
Wild Indians, bungling pirates and kids who know what’s important (not growing up) are whooping, flailing and flying all over the small stage at Toby’s in the dinner theater’s gleeful and invigorating Peter Pan.The inspiring energy — which has been achieved in a very disciplined form through terrific choreography, strong vocalizing and faultless acting —... READ MORE
Older dancers show amazing gracefulness
In a discipline filled with young, flexible dancers, it isn’t often that seniors have the opportunity to take to the stage and offer their own expressions through movement.Their leg extensions may not be as high as they used to be, nor their lunges as deep. But older dancers bring deep emotion and vast experience to their performances, according to Cheryl Goodman, director of Dance... READ MORE
Arts 2024
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