And Then there Was One
'Someone Who'll Watch Over Me' opens at Port City Playhouse.
It's been more than a quarter of a century since Irishman Brian Keenan, Englishman John McCarthy and American Terry Anderson were taken hostage in Beirut and held in a series of desolate cells throughout the city. Keenan was released after more than four years in captivity and went on to pen “An Evil Cradling,” a chilling account of his experience.
Gunston Hall Museum Director Ousted by Regents After Year of Controversy
David Reese is out; Mark Whatford to serve as acting director.
After surviving more than a year of calls for his resignation, Gunston Hall museum director has been removed as head of the historic house site.
Calendar for April 19
E-mail announcements to the Gazette, gazette@connectionnewspapers.com. Photos and artwork are encouraged. Deadline is Thursday at noon for the following week's paper. Call Steve Hibbard at 703-778-9412 with questions.
Hollin Hills Hosts 2012 House & Garden Tour
Hollin Hills, the mid-century modern neighborhood in Alexandria, hosts its next House & Garden Tour on Saturday, April 28, from noon to 6 p.m.
Easter Eggstravaganza at Gum Springs
The staff at the Gum Springs Community Center held an Easter Eggstravaganza on Saturday, April 7. More than 60 children and their parents participated in the afternoon events. Easter baskets were filled with grass, goodie bags with treats were distributed, lunch was served in the cafeteria and crafts followed. The children made Easter bunny masks and jeweled eggs and colored in drawing sheets before going into the gym for a few games. At 3 p.m., the children paraded outside for an Easter Egg Hunt in the field.
At the Library
Thursday/April 12 AARP Tax Assistance. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Sherwood Regional Library, 2501 Sherwood Hall Lane, Alexandria. Free tax assistance. Preference given to older adults. Adults. 703-765-3645.
“Be Careful! The Sharks Will Eat You”
A riveting saga of survival at MetroStage.
He was just 4 years old when his father hurriedly whisked him away one dark, moonless night into the unknown. For Jay Alvarez, the journey was profound and one he shares in a riveting performance of “Be Careful! The Sharks Will Eat You,” a one-man show written and performed by Alvarez chronicling his family's flight from Fidel Castro's Cuba in 1964.
Alexandria Calendar April 11
E-mail announcements to the Gazette, gazette@connectionnewspapers.com. Photos and artwork are encouraged. Deadline is Thursday at noon for the following week's paper. Call Steve Hibbard at 703-778-9412 with questions.
Bittersweet Wins Eighth Annual Great Rum Punch Challenge
Bittersweet was the big winner with its “Pomander Punch” on March 24 at the Eighth Annual Great Rum Punch Challenge at Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, beating out runner-up Gadsby’s Tavern Restaurant, the defending champ Dogfish Head, and worthy competitors Bacardi, FireFlies, and RedRocks. This is the third win for Bittersweet, which took top honors in 2007 and 2009.
Notes from the Artistic Director
Patrons ask how do I come up with a season of plays and musicals, and I always respond that every single show has a different story of how it got to my desk. Favorite actors bring their favorite plays to my attention and if I fall in love with the play, it feels like a match made in heaven. Our reputation for launching new musicals (chamber size musicals-four to six characters, no more than five musicians, unit set) means I get a lot of demo tapes sent in my direction.
‘Hopa Tropa Kukerica!’
The Ambassador Theater presented “Hopa Tropa Kukerica!,” a Bulgarian masquerade with puppetry, song and dance April 1 at the George Washington Masonic Temple in Alexandria. The play was conceived and directed by Lilia Slavova with choreographer Ivan Dimitrov, set designer Antonio Petrov, puppet design by Julia Tashev and music arranger Petko Kilov. For more information on upcoming events visit www.aticc.org
At GWMS
Recording artist and blues preservationist Curtis Blues sang and played at George Washington Middle School on March 2 to more than 300 students and teachers. His educational performance on the Mississippi Delta Blues wove together music, history and an inspirational message about creativity and character. Blues’ visit was sponsored by the Hammerheads, an afterschool club whose members had recently finished building their own cigar box guitars. Tech Ed teacher Kyle Godfrey sponsors the club in partnership with the Alexandria Seaport Foundation.
Cherry Dishes Compete in Alexandria
Restaurants help celebrate George Washington’s birthday.
Twelve years ago, the George Washington Birthday Celebration Committee was looking for a way to get the local restaurants involved.
The Power of One in 'On the Waterfront' at The American Century Theatre
It has been hailed as one of the greatest movies of all time, winning eight Academy Awards for an all-star cast that included Marlon Brando, Eva Marie Saint, Lee J. Cobb and Karl Malden. But for playwright Budd Schulberg, himself an Oscar winner for Best Story and Screenplay, the 1954 film version of “On the Waterfront” was never quite the story he wanted told.
Midori and Friends Visit T.C. Williams
It was the chance of a lifetime for members of the T.C. Williams High School youth orchestra as world-renown Midori spent March 27 coaching aspiring musicians as part the legendary violinist's week-long Orchestra Residencies Program.