Let Me Down Easy

Anna Deveare Smith has brought her magical gift of storytelling to Arena Stage with her new one woman play, Let Me Down Easy. Directed by Leonard Foglia the production moves well and the stories woven together by Smith are moving. In the city where the battle over health care reform took place, and now the battle to repeal the groundbreaking legislation wages on, it speaks to the souls of the audience. The production runs through February 13 and has a number of engaging talk backs scheduled. While the play is called Let Me Down Easy, the content is thought provoking and lifts you up.

Advancing the Dialogue

Since Fritz Pollard and Bobby Marshall became the first African American players in the National Football League in 1920 a lot has changed about the game and the business of professional football. The racial mix of players on the field has grown much more representative of people of color but the presence of African American coaches hasn’t changed nearly as much. This issue is explored in great detail in the book Advancing the Game by N. Jeremi Duru. He’ll bring his insight to Washington this Saturday, January 29 at a reading and signing at Politics and Prose from 6:00pm – 9:00pm. Perfect reading as we prepare to watch Mike Tomlin and his Steelers in the Super Bowl once again.

A Fitting Tribute

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts was designated a ‘living memorial’ to President Kennedy by the United States Congress following his assassination. The signing of the John F. Kennedy Center Act was done by President Johnson on January 23, 1964. It is only fitting that now through February 6 the Kennedy Center will host The Presidency of John F. Kennedy: A 50th Anniversary Celebration. The thoughtful celebration features performances by and the National Symphony Orchestra, American Ballet Theatre, Yo-Yo Ma, Denyce Graves and Emanuel Ax, and others. View the entire schedule of events here.

Celebrating Zora

Join local artisans of all kinds as they showcase and sell their work at a special celebration in honor of literary treasure, Zora Neal Hurston on Saturday, January 15 at Eatonville, 2121 14th St., NW starting at 12 noon. Participants include Asunder with their custom made cufflinks by the local designer Ray. Later in the afternoon there will be a double feature presentation of Their Eyes Were Watching God and Zora is My Name.

Our Love for Langston

For the past decade Beltway Poetry Quarterly has published the work of poets and authors who live in the Washington area.  The Winter 2011 issue is a special tribute to Langston Hughes who spent several years living in Washington, DC. This special issue includes ‘Langston Hughes in Washington, DC: Conflict and Class’ by Kim Roberts with a map of places Hughes lived and worked in DC by Emery Pajer.

Live from London!

In case you didn’t have an opportunity to see the musical Fela during the Broadway run and you don’t have the money to fly across the pond to see it in London at the National Theater, you now have the chance to see the London production via live broadcast January 17 at Sidney Harman Hall. Tickets for the screening are $20 and should be purchased in advance.

To Honor and to Serve

On January 17, 2011 our nation will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the holiday recognizing Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and continue the tradition of using it as a “day on, not a day off” honoring Dr. King’s memory by serving. The MLK Day of Service is a part of United We Serve, the President’s national call to service initiative. It calls for Americans from all walks of life to work together to provide solutions to our most pressing national problems.  Sign up for a project here.