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David Siegel

Stories by David

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‘Great Performances’ Continue at Mason

Center for the Arts announces next season’s ‘Great Performances.’

Once again, George Mason University Center for the Arts will dazzle audiences with a wide array of celebrated artists from around the world with its upcoming 2016-17 “Great Performances” series.

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Film Festival Returns to Fairfax, Bigger and Bolder

Northern Virginia International Film Festival to be held at Angelika Film Center April 21-30.

Returning for its second year, the Northern Virginia International Film Festival will continue to “create a slice of Hollywood in Northern Virginia; this year is even bigger and bolder” than its inaugural season at the Angelika Film Center in the Mosaic District, said Fernando Mico, founder and director.

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Lorton: ‘Warrior Art’ on Display

Workhouse creating arts opportunities for active and retired Service members.

A year ago, the Workhouse Arts Center launched a “Military and the Arts Initiative.” It was initially a collaboration with Fort Belvoir, the USO of Metropolitan Washington-Baltimore and the Northern Virginia Regional Commission (NVRC).

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Lorton: Cultural Diversity Sculpture

Work by Foon Sham on display at Workhouse Art Center.

Arts Council of Fairfax County Strauss Fellowship recipient, and internationally-renowned artist Foon Sham, who lives in Fairfax County, has created the large scale detailed work entitled “Culture House.”

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A Night of Laughter and Jazz

Talented comic and music artists appearing at Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia.

At 23 years old Haskins is a world-class trumpet player and composer/arranger. He is the originator of “ImproviStory,” a concept in which storytelling drives the creation of improvised music springing from audience interactions.

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Timeless Masterpiece of Broken Hearts

Virginia Opera’s “La Boheme” at Center for the Arts.

Soon, Northern Virginia audiences will be able to be transfixed by Puccini’s mesmerizing masterwork “La Boheme.”

'Romeo and Juliet' at GMU Center for the Arts

“That all the world will be in love” wrote Shakespeare. Such a deep wish for the ages from The Bard’s 400-year-old tragic tale of two young lovers hoping their feuding families would reconcile.

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'Orpheus in the Underworld' Plays at GMU's Center for the Arts

Have no fears of flying off into Offenbach’s delicious musical parody of the legend of Orpheus pursuing his wife Eurydice into the Underworld.

Taking the Helm at Workhouse

Ava Spece named president and CEO of Workhouse Arts Center.

“The selection of Ava Spece to lead the Workhouse was due to her vast, deep appreciation and passion for the Arts as well as her strength, poise and character to help us achieve the dreams envisioned by the Workhouse,” said Tim Rizer, chair, Workhouse Arts Foundation Board.

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Fairfax: 'ARTS by George!' Gala Features Broadway Superstar Bernadette Peters

“There is nothing like it anywhere else in the region,” said Rick Davis, dean, George Mason University, College of Visual and Performing Arts describing the upcoming ARTS by George! Gala evening.

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Fairfax: 'Fall for the Book Festival' Returns Sept. 27-Oct. 3.

Book-lovers rejoice; the local treasure “Fall for the Book” is arriving for a week-long stay. This year’s celebration will feature over 150 authors representing a wide-gamut of genres.

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Fairfax Symphony Orchestra to Celebrate Beethoven

Season opening performance on Saturday, Sept. 19.

Plenty of reasons to celebrate the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra (FSO) about to begin its 59th season as Fairfax County’s flagship orchestra. This year, under the baton of music director Christopher Zimmerman, the FSO will celebrate the genius of Beethoven’s masterpieces while featuring the coming generation of virtuoso classical pianists.

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Lorton: Introducing Shakespeare to Children

Workhouse Arts Center debut for Pocket Change Theatre’s “Midsummer on a Playground.”

Continuing to bring Fairfax County fresh, youthful performing arts talent to audiences, the Workhouse Arts Center has a special family-friendly treat in store.

Innovative Dance Event at Workhouse ArtWalk: “Mise en Dance”

The Workhouse’s monthly “2nd Saturday ArtWalk” has been showcasing the diverse work of visual artists. “It is a unique time to meet the artists and watch them create new pieces,” said Joseph Wallen, performing arts director.

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James Bond Is Coming to Workhouse

The one-man show is a lampoon and theater of the imagination of all things James Bond.

Dive into the world of that suave secret agent, James Bond, as he plants the British flag in a live theater production at the Workhouse. Bond won’t be alone either; the production will have a wealth of eccentric characters; good and evil, male and female, along with original music adding urbane flair to the action and antics.

‘Military and the Arts Initiative’ Comes to Workhouse

The Workhouse Arts Center is launching a “Military and the Arts Initiative.” It is a collaboration with Fort Belvoir, the USO of Metropolitan Washington-Baltimore and the Northern Virginia Regional Commission (NVRC). The Initiative is focused on expanding opportunities and providing activities for veterans and military service members.

Humor to Hold One's Own As 50 Approaches

A singular performer is coming to the area. Annabelle Gurwitch, who co-hosted TV's "Dinner and a Movie," has been seen on a wide variety of television shows including "Seinfeld" and is the author of "I See You Made an Effort: Compliments, Indignities, and Survival Stories from the Edge of 50" will be at the JCC of Northern Virginia. She will be doing her signature comedic riffs on marriage, parenting and insights into turning middle-aged.

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Delightful Trick and Treat

‘The Rocky Horror Show’ at the Workhouse Arts Center.

The "edgy, fresh, bold, and daring" Unquiet Theatre is giving audiences a Halloween trick and treat with its production of the delightfully screwball musical "The Rocky Horror Show."

Fall for the Book in September

Local book festival with something for everyone.

Your opportunity to be part of a literary celebration is about to arrive. The annual Fall for the Book Festival begins on Sept. 11. It is a week-long, multi-venue affair with free events at locations throughout Fairfax County, and beyond.

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Speedboat of a Production

“Legally Blonde: The Musical” comes to the Workhouse.

Youthful, unstoppable energy with sharp wit will be filling the Workhouse stage as "Legally Blonde: The Musical" arrives. "We are delighted to have the Metropolitan Performing Arts Theatre company bring its production of the musical ‘Legally Blonde’ to the Workhouse stage," said John Mason, CEO/President, Workhouse Arts Center.

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Mason Presents Artistic Discovery

Center for the Arts at George Mason University announces season of great performances.

The arts are an integral part of the quality of life in Fairfax County. The coming 2014-2015 season for the Center for the Arts at George Mason University will once again provide diverse arts and entertainment of national and international quality for the community. For George Mason University President Dr. Angel Cabrera, "our responsibility is to serve others, to enrich the life of our community culturally and economically. We encourage lifelong learning, and the programming at the Center for the Arts is one of the ways in which we live out that mission.

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‘Carmen’ Comes to Area

Virginia Opera brings "Carmen" to Center for the Arts.

Virginia Opera, the Official Opera Company of the Commonwealth of Virginia, will present Georges Bizet’s sultry tragedy about opera’s most famous femme fatale, "Carmen." The opera has enthralled audiences for more than a century and is one of the most popular. "Carmen" follows Don José and his ill-fated obsession with the alluring Carmen who tosses him aside for another man leading to jealous rage.

Never Giving Up

New play at Workhouse about Alice Paul and the Suffragettes.

"When you put your hand to the plow, you can't put it down until you get to the end of the row." American Suffragette and life-long crusader for Women's voting rights Alice Paul (1885-1977) used this phrase as her watch words. It was a metaphor for never giving up.

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‘Something Completely Different’

Max Raabe & Palast Orchester come to Center for the Arts.

And now for something completely different for the Northern Virginia area entertainment scene. All the way from Europe to tantalize.

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Jazz to Brighten a Winter Night at the Workhouse

Pianist Bobby Jasinski and vocalist Lena Seikaly perform this weekend.

Live cabaret is now a regular mainstay at the Workhouse. "The intimate and very population cabaret-style performances regularly sell-out" according to Joey Walden, Workhouse Performing Arts Director. "The popularity of the series has drawn interest from DC talent, as a result the caliber of entertainment you may experience at the Workhouse rivals established metro area venues in the same genre."

Benny is Back!

Arriving soon for your entertainment.

Jack Benny was a classic comedian of stage, screen, radio and television. He spanned decades and generations. He is even considered a forerunner of what is now called situation comedy. Some suggest that the comic styles of Jerry Seinfeld and Kelsey Grammar ("Frasier") have Benny-like qualities. Soon there will be a golden opportunity to see him again. Well, not "the" Jack Benny, but award-winning actor Tim Newell in a one-man performance of "Mister Benny" at the Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia in a production for all audiences, non-members and members alike.

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Fairfax Symphony Orchestra Promises ‘Intense, Personal, Intimate Experience’

Concerts at GMU’s Harris Theater to celebrate the 100th birthday of Benjamin Britten.

Have you heard? The next performance of the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra (FSO) chamber series, will be in a special location; the Harris Theater at George Mason University.

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Haunted Cabaret Comes to the Workhouse

The show to spotlight the music of local talent.

"We are always looking to bring audiences quality entertainment. For Halloween we are delighted to present something very special, a haunted cabaret," said Joseph Wallen, director, Workhouse performing arts. What better place to celebrate a holiday known for its teasingly frightful outlook, than the now readapted Workhouse prison built 100 years ago.

Charming, Smart, Comedic

Cabaret duo “Marcy and Zina” arriving in Fairfax.

"Neurotically optimistic songs about love and life" are coming to Northern Virginia audiences as the award-winning Marcy Heisler and Zina Goldrich pull into the Northern Virginia Jewish Community Center (JCCNV). You may not know their names right off hand, but Kristin Chenowith, Audry McDonald and Michael Feinstein regularly sing their compositions.

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An Artistic Evening Like No Other

“ARTS by George!” returns to George Mason stage.

With an open invitation to the community, the George Mason University College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) is holding its eighth annual "ARTS by George!" event. It has quickly become one of the premiere arts events in Northern Virginia. The mission of "ARTS by George!" is to showcase and support Mason students in a wide range of artistic fields including arts, dance, music, theater, computer game design, film and video studies and arts management. The gala raises funds to provide for student scholarships. It is capped off this year by the headliner performance of Tony Award winner Laura Benanti.

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Celebrating Diversity Through Music

The Fairfax Symphony Orchestra (FSO) will be presenting bilingual master classes and outreach presentations at various Fairfax County venues.

With grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Arts Council of Fairfax County, the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra (FSO) will be presenting bi-lingual master classes and outreach presentations at various Fairfax County venues in the coming weeks.

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Energy and Passion at Workhouse Stage

The Metropolitan Performing Arts Theatre to present “Fame, The Musical.”

Youthful sensibilities are coming to the Workhouse stage. Chronicling the fictional lives of a variety of determined performing arts students at New York City's High School of Performing Arts, "Fame, The Musical" will transport audiences with its exuberance, courtesy of the Metropolitan Performing Arts Theatre.

Play That ‘Lifts Your Soul’

Hub Theater to present “Act a Lady.”

There are tough times in a small Prohibition-era Midwestern town. What is to be done to keep everyone and everything going? Well, in the Hub Theater's next production, “Act a Lady,” the townsfolk come together to explore their lives in rather unexpected ways. Even gender gets exuberantly blurred. And there is even hip accordion music.

‘Urban Decay 4’ at Workhouse

A show of distinctive urban sensibility with plenty of social commentary.

"Urban Decay 4" exhibition. Gathering together "low-brow" art that aims to challenge the tried-and-true, "Urban Decay 4" curator Debra Yarrington has brought together a show of distinctive urban sensibility with plenty of social commentary. The dozens of works displayed by nearly 30 different artists from Fairfax County and far beyond include large-scale three-dimensional wooden creations some with a sheen of glass-like luster, hanging art with a punk culture perspective or with a colorful cartoon-like appearance.

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A Passion for Dance

Richmond Ballet II to perform and teach master class.

The importance of dance is clear to Stoner Winslett, artistic director of the Richmond Ballet. "Dance is the expression of the human spirit through movement. It is the instinctive language of our hearts and minds," she wrote.

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Providence Players of Fairfax County Receive 19 WATCH Nominations

The Providence Players of Fairfax County have been nominated for 19 Washington Area Community Honors (WATCH) for artistic and technical excellence in Community Theater.

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Wonderful Tunes, Wonderful Voices

The Gay Men's Chorus of Washington comes to the Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia.

Continuing to expand its Performing Arts Series, the Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia (JCCNV) is bringing the Gay Men's Chorus of Washington (GMCW) to the local area for an evening of entertainment of Broadway show tunes, pop music and traditional choral music.

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Local Dancers Perform With Renowned Group

Mark Morris Dance Group, Dance Gala at Mason.

The celebrated Mark Morris Dance Group will soon bring its energy and style, its live music repertoire and several local dancers to enthrall audiences at the Mason Center for the Arts.

Comedic Wit and Wisdom Fills the Workhouse

Once it was a place with the clanging noise of jail bar cells closing, but now laughter regularly wafts through the Workhouse. The source is the liveliness and vigor of stand-up comics of distinct genres and attitudes filling the seats as comedy nights are now a fixture at the Workhouse.

A Premiere of Hilarity and Weight

The Hub Theater presents “How I Paid for College.”

"My life is a thousand-piece jigsaw puzzle I have to put together while wearing mittens" is one of the off-beat lines that powers "How I Paid for College," by Helen Hayes Award-winning playwright Marc Acito. The premiere play opens Friday, Dec. 7, at the ever-adventurous Hub Theater in Fairfax.

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Buoyant Holiday Fare

Providence Players present “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.”

A delightfully boisterous, but controlled chaos lit up a recent rehearsal of the Providence Players' next production, the family-friendly holiday treat "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever." Over a dozen joyously energetic middle school and high school students were rehearsing their roles under the watchful eye of Director Beth Whitehead (Mantua).

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