RCC ANNOUNCES 2018-2019 PROFESSIONAL TOURING ARTISTS SERIES (PDF)
RESTON, VA — Reston Community Center (RCC) proudly announces the 2018–2019 Professional Touring Artist Series at the CenterStage. The season includes an exciting mix of new artists and those Reston has come to know and love. Tickets will be available to Reston residents and employees on August 1 and to the general public on August 8.
“I am very excited to bring the community a season that offers something for everyone,” said RCC Director of Arts and Events Paul Douglas Michnewicz. “From world-renowned authors to dance nights with the stars, from sensational jazz concerts to hysterical stand-up comedy, from a Broadway legend to an opera diva – the CenterStage couldn’t be more diverse or more timely,”
The Professional Touring Artist Series 2018–2019 season includes:
2018 National Heritage Award Fellows at the Reston Multicultural Festival
Saturday, September 22, 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. (performance times vary)
Lake Anne Plaza (Free and open to the public)
The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) National Heritage Fellowships are the nation’s highest honor in folk and traditional arts. Fellows this year are Carolyn Mazloomi, African-American quilter, and Eddie Bond, Appalachian old time fiddler.
Mazloomi’s quilts have been exhibited in venues such as the National Civil Rights Museum and the Renwick Gallery. Her quilts often reference African-American history as well as African ancestry. Bond is an Appalachian old time fiddler and lead vocalist for the New Ballard Branch Bogtrotters, which derives its name from the original Bogtrotters, the famous Galax, VA-area band of the 1930s.
The Bad Plus: Never Stop II
Sunday, September 30, 7:00 p.m. ($20 Reston/$30 Non-Reston)
The Bad Plus came together at the end of the 20th century and has avoided easy categorization ever since, winning critical hosannas and a legion of fans worldwide with their creativity, unique sound and flair for live performance.
Armistead Maupin, Best-selling author and LGBTQ activist
Sunday, October 21, 7:00 p.m. ($20 Reston/ $30 Non-Reston)
Armistead Maupin’s iconic Tales of the City series has blazed its own trail through popular culture. His new book is a memoir titled Logical Family, which grew out of his critically acclaimed one-man show of the same name and can be purchased prior to and after the performance. (Recommended for adults ages 18 and older; younger audience members must be accompanied by a parent or guardian).
Dr. Robert Sapolsky, acclaimed author, stress expert, biologist and neuroscientist
Wednesday, November 7, 8:00 p.m. ($20 Reston/ $30 Non-Reston)
Dr. Sapolsky is a MacArthur “Genius” Fellow, a professor of biology and neurology at Stanford University and a research associate with the Institute of Primate Research at the National Museum of Kenya. He lectures widely on topics as diverse as stress and stress-related diseases, baboons, the biology of our individuality, the biology of religious belief, the biology of memory, schizophrenia, depression, aggression and Alzheimer’s disease. His book Behave can be purchased prior to and after the performance.
Holiday Gospel Extravaganza with The Legendary Ingramettes
Sunday, November 25, 3:00 p.m. ($15 Reston/ $20 Non-Reston)
Known as the First Family of Gospel Music in Richmond, VA, The Ingramettes’ commanding performances demonstrate their extraordinary depth of talent in American gospel music. The Ingramettes have received numerous awards, including the prestigious Virginia Heritage Award, and recently performed at the Virginia Folklife Festival and the Library of Congress.
Happy Vaudeville Holidays with Mark Brutsché
Saturday, December 1, 11:00 a.m. ($5 Reston/ $10 Non-Reston)
With Christmas just around the corner, Santa has gone missing! His elves are on the hunt, but can they find him before it is too late? Join “Mr. Vaudeville and Friends” in this hilarious adventure filled with music, mayhem and laughter for an afternoon of holiday-spirited fun.
Lúnasa Christmas from Ireland with Special Guest Singer Ashley Davis
Saturday, December 15, 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. ($25 Reston/ $35 Non-Reston)
Internationally acknowledged as one of the finest traditional Irish instrumental bands, Lúnasa has performed across the globe since 1997. Featuring guest singer Ashley Davis and dancers, the band and their guests will create a musical, spoken word and entertainment tapestry taking the audience back to the Irish homeland in the days leading up to Christmas.
From Here to There: An evening with opera diva Elizabeth Bishop
Sunday, December 16, 7:00 p.m. ($15 Reston/$20 Non-Reston)
Critically acclaimed mezzo-soprano and Reston resident Elizabeth Bishop will present a thrilling evening on the theme of journeys, singing music from opera, classical song repertoire and American folk standards.
Reston Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Celebration Keynote Address and Community Lunch
DeRay Mckesson, Civil Rights Activist, author of The Other Side of Freedom: The Case for Hope
Monday, January 21, 12:00 p.m. ($5 Reston/ $10 Non-Reston)
Spurred by the death of Michael Brown and the subsequent protests in Ferguson, MO, DeRay Mckesson has become a leading voice in the effort to confront the systems and structures that lead to the mass incarceration and police killings of black and other minority populations. Mckesson’s newly released book On the Other Side of Freedom: The Case for Hope will be available for purchase before and after his keynote address, and the author will sign books following the community lunch.
Dabke, choreographed by Zvi Gotheiner, in collaboration with dancers
In partnership with Dance Place
Thursday, February 7, 8:00 p.m. ($20 Reston, $30 Non-Reston)
Dabke is based on a Middle Eastern folk dance, a line dance often performed at weddings, holidays and community celebrations. This beautiful, modern interpretation of this cross-cultural favorite explores themes of solidarity, tradition and the universal nature of dance. After the performance, learn how to do the dabke in our Community Room, when the performers become your teachers as we all celebrate community through dance.
An evening with Broadway legend Baayork Lee
Saturday, February 9, 8:00 p.m. ($15 Reston/$20 Non-Reston)
From her Broadway debut in The King and I to starring in the original production of A Chorus Line, Baayork Lee has worked alongside some of the most famous musical theatre artists of the past 70 years. Spend an evening with this delightful Broadway veteran as she discusses sustaining a creative career, her intergenerational work with the National Asian Artists Project and the state of Broadway today.
Yumi Kurosawa with special guest Anubrata Chatterjee
Wednesday, February 13, 8:00 p.m. ($15 Reston/$20 Non-Reston)
Koto visionary Yumi Kurosawa teams up with world-renowned tabla player Anubrata Chatterjee for a romantic program that brings together two exciting musical traditions, bridging the cultures of Japan and India.
Ranky Tanky
Sunday, March 3, 7:00 p.m. ($20 Reston/$30 Non-Reston)
Ranky Tanky released their eponymous debut in October of 2017. By December of that year, their album had soared to the No.1 position on the Billboard, iTunes, and Amazon Jazz charts. From playful game songs to ecstatic shouts, from heartbreaking spirituals to delicate lullabies, the “Gullah” musical roots of Charleston, SC, are “rank” and fertile ground from which these contemporary artists are grateful to have grown.
Contra-Tiempo presents: joyUS justUS
In partnership with Dance Place
Thursday, March 14, 8:00 p.m. ($20 Reston/$30 Non-Reston)
With an invigorating blend of physically intense and socially astute interpretations that push the boundaries of Latin dance as an expressive cultural and contemporary form, Contra-Tiempo brings salsa back to its roots as a mode of expression for the struggles of the working class. Learn how to salsa in the Community Room after the performance, where the performers become your teachers as we all celebrate the communal nature of dance.
Reduced Shakespeare Company’s The Complete Works of Shakespeare (abridged) [revised]
Wednesday, March 27, 8:00 p.m. ($25 Reston/ $35 Non-Reston)
Join these madcap men in tights as they weave their wicked way through all of Shakespeare’s comedies, histories and tragedies in one wild and memorable ride that leaves audiences breathless and helpless with laughter. In the spirit of Shakespeare himself, RSC shows contain some occasional bawdy language and mild innuendo. All children (and parents) are different, so we’ve chosen to rate our shows PG-13: Pretty Good If You’re 13.
Jazzmeia Horn
Saturday, March 30, 8:00 p.m. ($20 Reston/ $30 Non-Reston)
Jazzmeia Horn has a name that speaks for itself, capturing her very essence. With vocal confidence far beyond her years, the young singer arrives with a debut recording that serves as a clarion call proudly announcing the arrival of a confident musical talent with a bright future ahead of her, blessed with a name that carries its own destiny.
Liner Notes: A Musical Journey Through Hip-Hop’s Many Intersections
Sunday, April 7, 3:00 p.m. ($15 Reston/$20 Non-Reston)
This electrifying show combines live music, poetry and a multimedia design that enhances a medley of your favorite jams while bringing together generations of music lovers. Collide with music’s past and present through hip-hop samples and actual liner notes from your favorite LPs. featuring Paige Hernandez, Baye Harrell, Akua Allrich and Kris Funn’s Corner Store Jazz Quintet.
Trout Fishing in America
Saturday, April 13, 3:00 p.m. ($5 Reston/ $10 Non-Reston)
Trout Fishing in America is an eclectic folk/rock band best known for perceptive, funny and delightful music that has earned them a place in the hearts of kids and parents everywhere.
Still Standing: A Musical Survival Guide to Life’s Catastrophes
with Anita Hollander, actress and disability rights activist
Wednesday, May 8, 8:00 p.m. ($15 Reston/ $20 Non-Reston)
Anita Hollander has established a highly successful career in New York and regional theatre, television and film despite having lost her leg to cancer. Still Standing has been presented at the Kennedy Center, The White House, Off-Broadway, Walt Disney World, throughout the United States and Russia. Stay afterward and learn about her views on disability as it’s depicted in modern media and theatre.
ETHEL with guest artist Robert Mirabal present
The River
Sunday, May 26, 7:00 p.m. ($15 Reston/$20 Non-Reston)
ETHEL and Robert Mirabal, Native American musician, instrument builder and three-time GRAMMY® Award winner, present their next evolution of the cross-cultural concert experience. The inspiration this time is “Water as the embodiment of Spirit, and its essential role in Life on Earth.” As delivered by these master performers, the effect is breathtaking, even ecstatic. Arrive early at 6:15 p.m. for a pre-show conversation with Robert Mirabal.
An Evening with Nancy Giles, CBS news commentator and comedian
The Accidental Pundette: Musings, Complaints, Shrieks and Sighs on American Politics
Saturday, June 1, 8:00 p.m. ($25 Reston/$35 Non-Reston)
For more than 14 years, Giles’ work on the Emmy Award-winning CBS Sunday Morning has received acclaim for its unique blend of common-sense wisdom, laugh-out-loud humor, and social and political commentary.
Unless otherwise noted, all performances take place at the CenterStage, located at Reston Community Center Hunters Woods. Additional information about each of the performances is available online at www.restoncommunitycenter.com.
Tickets will be available for purchase as follows:
August 1: Sales Open to Reston Residents and Employees
Residents and employees within Small District 5 can purchase tickets. Proof of residence or employment status may be required.
August 8: Sales Open to the General Public; Online Sales Begin
The general public, as well as Reston residents and employees, can purchase tickets.
Box Office Business Hours are as follows:
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday: 4:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Saturday: 1:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Two Hours Prior to Curtain Time for Each Performance
