WETA Arts: May 2021

A Heroic Effort: The Capitol riot has resulted in at least $30 million in damage. Repairs have required intensive work, and the clean-up experience is reflected upon by Capitol employees in an article by award-winning news aggregator Business Insider. Many Americans have sent Architect of the Capitol employees letters expressing their gratitude for their work, some of which are documented in a special edition of their monthly magazine. 

Learn More: For a deeper understanding of the work of the Architect of the Capitol, visit their website, where you can learn about their history, check out their blog, and more. 

Musical Streams: The Freewheelin’ Insurgents is part of the Arena Riffs series, which features two other filmed musicals, one by Sean and Abigail Bengson and one by Rona Siddiqui. The series is commissioned by Arena Stage, a theatre that has tackled the present moment by adding films to its repertoire. Since the beginning of the pandemic, Arena Stage has also provided a platform to support artists selling their work through their Artists Marketplace program.  

About the Artist: Psalmayene 24 has a significant body of work in the D.C. area that extends beyond his frequent collaborations with Arena Stage. He recently kicked off a three-year residency at Mosaic Theatre with his play Dear Mapel. Check out Mosaic’s Creative Conversation to learn more about Psalmayene 24. 

Now Playing: Queen of the Capital is available for streaming at Amazon Prime and Alamo Drafthouse On Demand. To learn more about the film, read these pieces from NPR, Washington Blade, and Washington Post. 

Learn More: Queen of the Capital highlights the work of the Imperial Court of Washington DC, one of over 50 chapters that make up the International Imperial Court System, which you can learn more about here. 

Concerts and Classes: The Washington Ballet’s 2020-21 season will close in June with NEXTsteps, featuring new works by Silas Farley, Dana Genshaft, and Stanton Welch. Sign up for one of The Washington Ballet’s online classes, which are offered in a variety of difficulty levels and dance styles, or share distance learning resources for your kids. 

Gala 2021: On June 4^th, The Washington Ballet will host an in-person, socially-distanced gala to support its programs and productions. The evening will start with a private dinner followed by a performance by the company dancers at the Kennedy Center. Click here for more information.