The October edition of Phillips after 5 took inspiration from The Washington Ballet’s upcoming production of Dracula (October 24-November 4) and, of course, one of the year’s most festive holidays– Halloween. In case you missed the sold-out event, check out my short video of very talented students from TWB@THEARC performing choreography from Michael Jackson’s Thriller. Or better yet, get a ticket to the ballet and go see Dracula in person (Phillips after 5 guests receive an exclusive offer of 15%-off tickets to all performances. Follow @PhillipsMuseum on Twitter to find out more)!
Author Archives: Brooke Rosenblatt
Art and Family Fun Around Town
My husband and son participating in the art activity at the Kreeger Museum. Photo: Brooke Rosenblatt
Phillips devotees know that the museum’s annual Jazz ‘n’ Families Fun Days occur on the first weekend in June, and we also have a great Discovery Pack for adults and children to use together when they visit the museum any day.
In addition to these resources, I’m always looking for new opportunities for free-spirited, art-related family fun. This fall, several organizations in the metropolitan area are offering great programs, and best of all they are free! Here’s a recent adventure undertaken by my own museum-going family and a few upcoming events we’re looking forward to.
Last Sunday we participated in the Biennial Kreeger Museum Open House. My husband, our two-year-old son, and I all enjoyed the story time and the sculptural stick art project designed by Eileen Wold. We took the opportunity to experience Dan Steinhilber’s special exhibition Marlin Underground. My son particularly loved seeing how the artist used an array of everyday objects to make music.
October offers other free opportunities for families at area cultural organizations. This Sunday, we’re headed to Artisphere for Free Family Day Open House. We went last year and discovered a magic performance by David London, who I’m pleased to see will return this year. Later in the month we’re checking out the Corcoran’s Community Day, which looks really great with a series of fun art making workshops.
Hope to see you there, and please feel free to share other family-oriented programs you know about in the comments section!
The Shape of Things: Prep List
Next week, Neil LaBute’s play The Shape of Things (2001) becomes the latest in a line of staged readings to grace the Phillips’s narrow but noble stage. Shakespeare Theatre Company‘s Alan Paul directs this one-night-only art-world drama in an art-world context. Here is our cheat sheet to prepare for the program (other than, ahem, reserve your tickets):
1. Ask yourself soul-searching questions, like “what would I do for love?” and “how far would I go for art?”
2. Visit a college art museum. In D.C. you might choose AU’s Katzen Arts Center or GW’s Luther W. Brady Art Gallery. Can you imagine a chilling saga of seduction and manipulation unfolding here?
3. Read up on art projects that involve transformations of the human body–the play made us think about ORLAN especially.
4. Watch the 2003 movie (or take a shortcut with the trailer below), starring Paul Rudd and Rachel Weisz. LaBute directs the original cast with whom he had premiered the play at London’s Almeida Theatre two years earlier.
5. Listen to some Elvis Costello. The Grammy Award-winning English singer-songwriter wrote the brooding, abrasive soundtrack for the 2003 film.
See you at the theater!