The federal government shutdown continued Tuesday and so did shutdown-related closings and cancelations in our area.
On Monday, the U.S. Navy Band canceled its Birthday Concert, set for Wednesday at the Music Center at Strathmore.
The sold-out show was themed “Defending American with Pride,” and was supposed to honor the country’s wounded warriors and their caregivers. In honor of the 150th anniversary of the Gettysburg Address, quotes by Abraham Lincoln highlighting freedom and liberty were going to be displayed on a video screen throughout the concert.
“We are very disappointed to cancel this concert, but we will continue to find ways to support and celebrate our great Navy,” said Capt. Brian O. Walden, commanding officer of the Navy Band.
Meanwhile, the shutdown has kept Glen Echo Park shuttered and meant some tough decisions for Adventure Theatre MTC, a nonprofit musical theater and education program based on the grounds of the National Park.
The theater gets no federal funding, but it’s losing money because of lost performances. It’s production of “Goodnight Moon” was canceled over the weekend, Monday and Tuesday. It moved classes to its space in Rockville, in the Wintergreen Plaza shopping center.
“We are currently looking into added performances and new opportunities for relocating the show,” said Michael Bobbitt, producing artistic director for the theater. “This shutdown has the prospect of doing great harm to the organization financially, and we hope the issue is resolved soon.”
The schedule at Glen Echo Park remains in flux.
All general schedule employees are back to work at Walter Reed on Naval Support Activity Bethesda, thanks to a weekend recall of many furloughed workers in the Department of Defense.
