Opera Update
The Magic Flute (January 21): Tickets were mailed out December 15.
L’Elisir D’Amore (February 9): Tickets will be mailed out in early
January.
A Sunday Outing at The Smithsonian
January 11, 1998
Rediscover two of Washington’s most remarkable buildings as you enjoy lunch
at the Smithsonian Castle’s dining room followed by a guided tour of the
Hirshhorn Museum. We have reserved 30 places for both the lunch and the tour.
“The Castle,” designed by James Renwick in his signature Norman-Gothic-Victorian
style, was built in 1855 as the Smithsonian Institution’s original building
and was the first museum to be built in Washington. “The Commons” dining
room is wonderfully elaborate and extravagant in its architectural features.
Our lunch reservation is for 1 pm. Prices are $8.95 for the soup & salad
bar and $18.95 for the full buffet, paid individually at the time of service
at the cash register.
Designed in 1974 by modern master architect Gordon Bunshaft and affectionately
known as “the doughnut,” the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden houses
the extensive 20th Century art collection of financier Joseph Hirshhorn as
well as many new works. Our tour, led by two experienced Hirshhorn docents,
will include a look at the special exhibition of paintings by Stanley Spencer
(1891-1959), an English “visionary realist.” The tour, starting at 2:15 pm,
is free of charge and will last about an hour.
The Details:
Places: The Smithsonian Castle, 1000 Jefferson Drive, SW Hirshhorn Museum
and Sculpture Garden, Independence Ave. & Seventh St. SW
Time: 1:00 pm – 3:30 pm (lunch 1:00; tour 2:15)
Metro: Smithsonian – Mall exit (Castle) and L’Enfant Plaza – Smithsonian
(Hirshhorn)
Bus/Parking: Street parking in and around The Mall
Cost: Lunch (see above; pay at time of service)
RSVP: For reservations contact Sherry Abel, who will be leading the group,
by January 8 at 202-244-4568 or
eabel@erols.com. Be sure to let her
know how many will attend and leave her your telephone number or e-mail address.
Modern Drama Discussion Group
January 21 and 31 – A Thousand Clowns
February 19 – Harvey
A Thousand Clowns is Herb Gardner’s 1962 play about an eccentric unemployed
writer raising his 12-year-old nephew to be independent and unconventional
while fighting off the efforts of well-meaning social workers to bring order
into their chaotic lives. It became a successful Broadway show and movie.
Discussion:
Wednesday, January 21 (Mike Replogle, director of play at ACT, will attend)
Luna Books, 1633 P Street, NW (Dupont Circle Metro)
6:30 pm Dinner , 7:30 pm Discussion
Cost: $2 plus dinner
RSVP: David Sobelsohn at 202-484-8303 or
dsobelso@capaccess.org
Performance:
Saturday, January 31, 2:30 pm
American Century Theater, Gunston Arts Center, 2700 South Lang St., Arlington,
VA (near S. Glebe Rd. & I-395)
Cost: $14 per ticket. Make checks out to American Century Theater and mail
by January 15 to Robin Larkin, 5403 Nibud Court, Rockville, MD 20852
(301-897-9314 or larkinr@erols.com)
Harvey, Mary Coyle Chase’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play (1944), concerns a
sweet middle-aged man whose constant companion is a 6-foot tall invisible
rabbit. One of the most successful plays in Broadway history, in 1950 it
became a hit movie starring James Stewart.
Discussion:
Wednesday, February 19
North China Restaurant, 7814 Old Georgetown Rd. (MD-187) at Cordell Avenue,
Bethesda (4 blocks from Bethesda Metro)
6:30 pm Dinner , 7:30 pm Discussion
Cost: $2 plus dinner
RSVP: David Sobelsohn (see above)
For further details, check the website at
www.jskay-consulting.com/theatre/
Note: Cornell has now joined Stanford and the University of Chicago as a
sponsor of the Modern Drama Discussion Group.
Over-30’s Singles Event
Friday, January 30
The Kiplinger Washington Editors Exhibit Hall will be the scene of a very
interesting event for over-30 single members of Stanford, Harvard, Yale,
Princeton, Wellesley, MIT, Mt. Holyoke, Dartmouth, University of Chicago,
and Vassar alumni clubs.
Guests will see a unique exhibit of sculptures and photographs of significant
figures in American history in the 75 years since the first Kiplinger Letter
was published. Blown-up excerpts from past Kiplinger Letters offer a fascinating
look back at U.S. business, government, and culture. Also on view will be
“Washington….Then and Now,” the Kiplinger family’s own collection of maps,
prints, photos and paintings of Washington landmarks, some still standing,
but many now transformed or demolished. Sponsored by the Washington Wellesley
Club, the event will include a cocktail buffet and cash bar. Space is limited,
so reservations should be made early.
The Details:
Place: Kiplinger Washington Editors Building Exhibit Hall, 1729 H Street,
NW
Time: 6:30 – 8:30 pm
Metro: Farragut North and Farragut West
Cost: $15 in advance, $20 at the door.
RSVP: Please send your check (payable to WDCSA) to Bill Pegram, 815 S. 18th
Street, Apt. 400, Arlington, VA 22202.
Questions:Call Bill at 703-486-0952.
Piano Concert: Awadagin Pratt
February 27, 1998
(Reservation deadline: January 15)
Awagadin Pratt is a graduate of the Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore
(now part of Johns Hopkins University) and was the winner, at age 26, of
the prestigious Naumburg International Piano Competition in 1992. According
to Dr. Jesse Johnson (Penn ’82, Stanford ’86, Stanford’88), that’s “a hell
of an accomplishment for a brother in dreadlocks playing classical piano
music!!!”
Dr. Johnson, a member of the Washington Performing Arts Society (sponsor
of the concert), together with the WPAS staff, is trying to arrange a reception
for the artist to include those who purchase tickets through him. Stay tuned.
The Details:
Place: Kennedy Center Concert Hall
Time: 8:30 pm
Cost: $13.75 per ticket (half price Orchestra seats)
RSVP: For tickets, send a SELF ADDRESSED STAMPED ENVELOPE (very important)
and $13.75 per ticket (made out to Dr. Jesse Johnson) to Dr. Jesse Johnson,
12645 Fantasia Drive, Herndon, VA 20170.
Questions: Call Dr. Johnson at 703-917-7424 (w) or 703-925-9772 (h).
The Washington Opera:
Don Giovanni
March 19, 1998
The WDCSA has purchased 20 tickets for the Washington Opera’s Don Giovanni
on March 19 at the Kennedy Center. This will be our final opera outing for
the season, so don’t miss out if you’ve been wanting to join in but haven’t
yet been able to do so. Starting with this announcement, we will accept
reservations on a first-come first-served basis in the order in which we
receive checks by mail. Your tickets will be mailed to you about a month
before the performance.
The Details:
Date: Thursday, March 19
Place: Opera House, Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
Time: 8:00 pm
Cost: $77 per ticket
(1st Tier)
RSVP: Please make your check payable to WDCSA and mail it to Julie Campbell,
2601 Klingle Road, NW, Washington DC 20008.
Questions: For further information, call Julie at 202-244-0206 or e-mail
her at JulieSed@aol.com.