Silvia Azzoni, of the Hamburg Ballet, stars as The Little Mermaid at the Kennedy Center this weekend. (Photo by Holger Badekow)
You’d have to be an April fool to sit home all weekend. From the last circus of its kind to a kite festival to dating stories told live, there’s plenty to do in the D.C. area.
FRIDAY, MARCH 31
CIRCUS: Sure, the circus sounds a little lame. But it’s your last chance to be this uncool. After 146 years in show business, “the greatest show on earth” is hanging up its circus tent. Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey will hold its final performances in May, but makes its D.C. stop on the farewell tour this weekend before heading to Fairfax. Come eat popcorn, watch acrobats defy gravity, see big cats jump through hoops, freak out about the clowns, and more at Out of This World, a space-themed production for the whole family—or, you know, whoever. (The Verizon Center, various times. $18-256)
MERMAIDS: Do you want to be where the people (in pointe shoes) are? Try the Kennedy Center, where the Hamburg Ballet is bringing Hans Christian Andersen’s fable about forbidden love and sacrifice to life on stage. This run of The Little Mermaid, which ends Sunday, marks the D.C. premiere of John Neumeier’s dark adaptation of the classic story. (The Kennedy Center, 7:30-10:30 p.m. $29-125)
HORROR: Falling in love can be scary, but it’s usually not terrifying. Of course, you might feel differently if the family curse brought death and misery to anyone who dared let a crush get too real. D.C. native Catriona Ward wrote about such a family in Rawblood, named “Best Horror Novel” at the British Fantasy Awards. You can come meet the twisted mind behind the tale and ask her a few questions at a book signing and reading. (East City Bookshop, 6:30-8:30 p.m. FREE)
SHIFT: Think deeply about the nature of creation during an Atlanta Symphony Orchestra performance. Part of SHIFT: A Festival of American Orchestras, a co-presentation of Washington Performing Arts and The Kennedy Center, the concert features narration and a whole lot of singing—including soloists and a full chorus—as it explores the creative process through religious, philosophical, poetic, and scientific textual sources. Composer Christopher Theofanidis will participate in a post-concert discussion, which is great, because we already have questions. (The Kennedy Center, 8:00-9:30 p.m. $25)
JAZZ: In a sentimental mood? Start your weekend with A Tribute to the Music of Phyllis Hyman. Shang and the Brencore Allstar Band will cover the late singer’s hits, songs such as “You Know How to Love Me”, “Living All Alone” and “Don’t Wanna Change the World”. (Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club, 8:00-11:00 p.m. $35-40)
GLOW: Head up to Baltimore this Friday for the Light City Glow Party at Harbor East. The kick-off event to the second annual Light City Festival will feature live music, drinks, and glow-in-the-dark or LED everything. Don’t you hate misplacing your drink? Not a problem when the cup is luminescent. Start off the night by walking through a handful of on-site light installations. (Harbor East, 6:00-9:00 p.m. FREE)
DAS COUNTRY: Grab a beer and a Bavarian pretzel and settle in for an intimate concert by award winning singer-songwriter Sarah Peacock. The country-rock musician carries a message with her clear, sultry voice. Her anti-bullying anthem “The Cool Kids” was nominated for best song in the 2015 American Songwriting Awards, and her ballad “Hurricane” won the honor in 2014. (Sauf Haus Bier Hall & Garten, 8:00-10:30 p.m. $10)
More: Shiba San + MK, ZOSO: The Ultimate Led Zeppelin Experience, BreakfastClub: An 80’s Dance Party
(Photo by John J Young)
SATURDAY, APRIL 1
GO FLY A KITE: The Blossom Kite Festival is back for its seventh year of fun with the four forces of flight. Every year, the National Mall turns into a spectacle of shapes, colors, and many, many strings as kites take over the sky. Bring your own, or impress everyone with your crafting skills by entering the youth or adult kite makers competition. Come early for the kick-off parade, check out the demonstration of kite tricks at 1:30 p.m., and stick around for a rokkaku battle at 3 p.m. Or just come hang out. (Grounds of the Washington Monument, 10:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. FREE)
BOWLING: If you “don’t roll on Shabbos,” you’ll have to skip this one. Everyone else can check out the grand opening of Northern Virginia’s newest bowling alley. Complete with 30 lanes illuminated by black lighting, an extensive arcade, “Party Pretzels,” and specialty cocktails (anyone want to split a fishbowl of booze?), this bowling alley isn’t just for kids’ pizza parties. Party guests will receive a complimentary round of bowling (shoes included), a $5 arcade card, and snacks. (Bowlero Centreville, 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. FREE)
PLAYMAKING: Writing, directing, and staging a play is hard enough. This weekend, four teams of theater makers will have just 24 hours to take a production from conception to curtain. This year’s LiveArt in a Day is “Female Forward,” and begins Friday night when woman playwrights Thembi Duncan, Amanda Quain, Brittany Willis, Amanda Zietler will be assigned a director, some actors, a prop, and a D.C. landmark. They have until Saturday morning to come up with a script, which the rest of their team then has to turn into a play. At 7 p.m. Saturday, it’s show time—whether they’re ready or not. (Anacostia Arts Center, 6:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m. $20)
STORYTELLING: Telling a compelling story is an art form. So is dating—successfully, anyway. This Saturday, the two combine at the live taping of Singleling, the storytelling podcast about love and dating. Singleling’s Vanessa Valerio and the hilarious Cara Foran will cohost this show, which features local storytellers Keith Mellnick, Vijai Nathan, and Chelsea Shorte. You’ll also hear a story from NYC performer and veteran storyteller Jeff Simmermon, winner of The Moth GrandSLAM. (Black Cat, 9:30 p.m. $15)
More: R&B Only, Duo YUMENO, Japanese plum wine tasting
(Photo by Ben R)
SUNDAY, APRIL 2
CHEROKEE CULTURE: The fourth annual Cherokee Days Festival is this weekend, highlighting the history and culture of the three federally recognized Cherokee tribes. There will be storytelling, traditional music, weaponry, wood carving, dance, traditional games, and more. (American Indian Museum, 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. FREE)
BEER AND WINE FEST: Another weekend, another opportunity to day drink. The Cherry Blossom Wine and Beer Festival arrives in Southeast this weekend. Toast the arrival of spring with tastings of more than 100 beers and wines, plus live entertainment and food to soak up all the…fun. General admission tickets get you unlimited full pours of beer, cider, and wine spritzers, ten tasting tokens, entry into Boozy Bingo, plus access to lawn and social games. (Yards Park, 1:00-4:00 p.m. $41-89)
BATTLEFIELD: Director Peter Brook’s “epic” 1985 production The Mahabharata finds new life in Battlefield, a revised and extended excerpt from its precursor. War is tearing the kingdom and the Bharata family apart. A freshman ruler must face the consequences of his choices, and what that devastation means for his people. Sunday’s matinee is the last performance of Battlefield’s D.C. run. (The Kennedy Center, 2:00-3:30 p.m. $49)
More: Beyond Bossa Nova: A Tribute to Brazilian composers, Ladies Tea, Girls and Guitars, Japanese Stone Lantern Lighting Ceremony, free community day at National Museum of Women in the Arts
