33 Variations’
The genius of Beethoven at LTA
Was it genius or obsession? From the pen of Moises Kaufman, author of “The Laramie Project” and “Gross Indecency; The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde,” The Little Theatre of Alexandria debuts “33 Variations,” where eminent musicologist Katherine is determined to discover the reason Beethoven spent so much time writing a series of variations on a second-rate waltz he once described as “a cobbler’s patch.”
‘Ghost-Writer’
Witty wordplay at MetroStage.
Novelist Franklin Woolsey is a stickler for punctuation. He insists that the hyphen in “gentleman-farmer” suggests a dual nature, thus revealing the subtle meaning behind the hyphenated title of Michael Hollinger’s “Ghost-Writer,” a brilliant, witty production making its Washington-area debut at MetroStage. Not to be confused with the Roman Polanski film of the same name — without the hyphen — Hollinger’s tale is set in 1919 in Woolsey's one-room office in New York City. Much to the chagrin of his wife, Woolsey (Paul Morella) has hired Myra Babbage (Susan Lynskey) to type his novels as he dictates them.
Charles Esten: From Alexandria to 'Nashville'
May 3 show at the Durant Arts Center features Esten's new, original songs, benefits The Alexandria Scholarship Fund.
Charles "Chip" Esten, an Alexandria boy from age 8 who plays Deacon Claybourne on the ABC hit show "Nashville," likes to think of songwriting like it's farming. "I love the farming as much as I love the crops, I love doing it as much as what you get out of it," said Esten, speaking of his love for the writing process as much as the record deals and shows that it can yield. The 47-year-old actor, comedian and singer-songwriter credits Alexandria, in part, for helping him fall in love with the city of Nashville, because of its "Virginia qualities." Charles "Chip" Esten, an Alexandria boy from age 8 who plays Deacon Claybourne on the ABC hit show "Nashville," likes to think of songwriting like it's farming. "I love the farming as much as I love the crops, I love doing it as much as what you get out of it," said Esten, speaking of his love for the writing process as much as the record deals and shows that it can yield. The 47-year-old actor, comedian and singer-songwriter credits Alexandria, in part, for helping him fall in love with the city of Nashville, because of its "Virginia qualities."
Barking Up The Right Tree
Community supports dogs’ continued use of Westgrove Park.
Approximately 100 citizens attended the Park Authority’s public hearing Tuesday night, April 30, to discuss the proposed master plan for the Westgrove Park, off of Fort Hunt Road and adjacent to Belle View Elementary School. Although some residents and organizations expressed reservations and concerns, the majority of attendees and speakers supported the creation of the off leash dog area at Westgrove Park. Opposition was minor, with the bulk of the criticism aimed at fine tuning the proposal. The next step for the Park Authority staff is to review the residents’ comments and modify their proposal before submitting to the Park Authority Board for its review and final vote.
Cook Off Benefits Carpenter’s Shelter
More than 600 people crossed the threshold of the Birchmere to attend the 11th annual Carpenter’s Shelter Cook-Off fundraiser on Sunday afternoon, April 28.
New Beginning at Cemetery
New Beginning at Cemetery
Anywhere else in the city, it would appear out-of-place in size and design. But being the lodge — or gatehouse, as many say — at the entrance to Alexandria National Cemetery, the building is a perfect fit. Montgomery C. Meigs, Quartermaster General of the Army, is remembered for ordering that Federal troops be buried all over the plantation estate of Robert E. Lee. Today, that place is Arlington National Cemetery.
Mount Vernon Bulletin Board May 1
Information on events taking place in Mount Vernon.
Girl Scouts Enjoy Aquatic-Themed Party
Girl Scouts from the Pride of the Potomac Service Unit had a shell of a good time at the Under the Sea Girl Scout Birthday dance, March 16 at Charles Houston Recreation Center in Alexandria.
New Beginning at Cemetery
Lodge to be resurrected.
Anywhere else in the city, it would appear out-of-place in size and design. But being the lodge — or gatehouse, as many say — at the entrance to Alexandria National Cemetery, the building is a perfect fit.
Charlie Named 2013 Tavern Dog
Charlie, a rescued dog and an American foxhound, took top honors at the annual Gadsby’s Tavern Dog competition Saturday afternoon, April 27, in Market Square.
Got Food?
Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive set for May 11
The nation's largest single-day food drive will take place on Saturday, May 11, when postal workers in Alexandria will join others across the country in the 21st annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive.
Local Couple Writes ‘Love at First Flight’
Book captures their lives, from a pilot’s stories to courtship.
Three years after beginning the writing process, Alexandria residents Bud and Fran Orr saw the official release of their book “Love at First Flight” in bookstores and online book offerings. A true story surrounding their courtship and marriage during the Vietnam War, “Love at First Flight” hit Amazon.com and the shelves of Barnes and Noble in January.
Charles Esten: From Alexandria to 'Nashville'
May 3 show at the Durant Arts Center features Esten's new, original songs, benefits The Alexandria Scholarship Fund.
"Now that I'm in Nashville the thing that I'm loving the most is co-writing. You walk into the room and you shake hands with someone you've never met before and you walk out four hours later and you've got this thing … sharing ideas and everything, it's almost magical, like a miracle." — Charles "Chip" Esten of ABC's hit show "Nashville"
Entertainment 4/24/2013 AX
Calendar
‘Pacific Pulse’ Nicholaus Aman attempts to express the nature of the Pacific coast through his solo exhibition, Pacific Pulse, at Alexandria's Artspace 109 Gallery, will be on display through May 11. Gallery hours are: Tuesday through Friday noon-5 p.m., Saturdays 11 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sundays noon-5 p.m.
‘Six Degrees of Separation’
Kevin Bacon is nowhere to be found. Instead, it’s Sidney Poitier that brings together friends and strangers in “Six Degrees of Separation,” now playing at Port City Playhouse. The popular “six degrees of separation” theory explores the premise that everyone in the world is connected to everyone else by a chain of no more than six acquaintances, and Port City Playhouse brings playwright John Guare’s smart dialogue to life in a thoughtfully-executed production that showcases a stellar ensemble cast.