Heather Brady, special to wtop.com
WASHINGTON — The D.C. area is well past the halfway point in its 2013-2014 arts season, but performances are not slowing down.
Several shows have already extended their runs thanks to popular demand, and more premieres are in the works.
Here are a few upcoming shows that piqued WTOP’s interest:
The Washington Ballet’s “British Invasion: The Beatles and the Rolling Stones” features two rock ballets set to music that influenced rock ‘n’ roll for decades.
Trey McIntyre’s and Christopher Bruce’s choreography twists the traditional style of ballet in contemporary ways. And if the dance company’s track record of innovative performances is any indication, the show will be spectacular. Christopher Wheeldon’s piece, “There Where She Loved,” featuring the music of Kurt Weill and Frederic Chopin, will be featured.
Ticket info: March 5, 7:30 p.m. (preview); March 6, 7:30 p.m. (opening); March 7, 7:30 p.m.; March 8, 1:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; March 24, 1:30 p.m. & 6:30 p.m. Tickets: $35 to $125. Buy online or by call 202-467-4600. The Kennedy Center is at 2700 F Street NW in Washington, D.C.
If you didn’t get enough of the Peking Acrobats in the movie “Ocean’s 11,” you can catch the upcoming performance at the Hylton Performing Arts Center in Manasses, Va. Their Hylton debut will feature juggling, tumbling, magic and more – perfect for a family outing.
Ticket info: Feb. 26 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $32 to $48. One free student ticket available with George Mason ID. There will be a pre-performance discussion with a member of the company. The Hylton Performing Arts Center is at 10960 George Mason Circle, Manassas, Va.
The Kennedy Center’s hip-hop theater festival, One Mic: Hip-Hop Culture Worldwide, features several events over the span of several weeks from late March to early April. From a graffiti mural exhibition to urban contemporary dance performances to a discussion of the benefits of a hip-hop approach in education, the festival seeks to celebrate hip-hop as an American art form.
Ticket info: For more information about festival events, dates, times, locations and ticket prices, click here.
“Beaches,” the musical adaptation of the 1985 novel by Iris Rainer Dart now playing at the Signature Theatre, follows the 30-year friendship of two women who meet as children. The world premiere of the production features a new musical score by David Austin and by the novel’s author. Its run has been extended through March 30 due to the musical’s popularity and success this month.
Ticket info: For more information about dates, times and ticket prices, click here. The Signature Theatre is at 4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington, Va.
Ford’s Theatre will present “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” the musical that follows six adolescents as they compete in a spelling bee tournament, beginning in late March. Four volunteers from the audience will be picked to participate in each show. The show is recommended for ages 12 and up.
Ticket info: The show runs from March 14 through May 17. For more information about dates, times and ticket prices, click here. Ford’s Theatre is at 511 10th St. NW, Washington, D.C.
At Arena Stage, a special add-on show called “Loveland” by writer and performer Ann Randolph tackles the subject of personal grief. Her one-woman show portrays the struggle of a woman trapped on a plane as she flies across the U.S. to go to the funeral of a family member.
After a successful two-year run in San Francisco, Randolph’s performances and interactive, guided writing workshops with her audiences will kick off her national Good Grief Tour, which focuses on a national discourse about grief.
Ticket info: March 18 through April 13 (Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.; Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8:00 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday at 2:00 p.m.; one weekday matinee at noon on April 2). Tickets: $25 to $40. Buy them online, by phone at 202-488-3300 or at the sales office. Arena Stage is at 1101 6th St. SW, in Washington, D.C.
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