By Hunter L. Gorinson
Dark Horse’s “Oleanna”: He Said, She Said, We Judged Washington’s resurgent theater scene can now add one new group to its roster of capital city provocateurs -- the Dark Horse Theatre Company -- and the fledging arts collective has set itself up for an auspicious debut this month with their production of David Mamet’s “Oleanna” at DC Arts Center in Adams Morgan. A two-person, one-set play, “Oleanna” is indicative of the prizewinning playwright’s oblique and morally overcast character studies. When domineering and single-minded university professor John (Doug Mattingly) allows one of his students, Carol (Arianne’ Warner), into his office for an after-class advisory session, the events that follow leave both very different perceptions of what has just occurred and culminates in a sexually-tense power struggle full of lies, abuse and one-upmanship that could have ramifications on both sides of the lectern. An intimate piece it may be, but “Oleanna” director and Dark Horse’s Managing Artistic Director, Natasha Parnian, hopes their distinct take on the material will set her group apart as “a company of not just theater practitioners, but artists.” “I love the theatre that’s around [Washington] and it’s a very rich area, but I don’t see a lot of mixed media collaboration,” said Parnian. “We have a musician writing and recording original music for the show, a graphic designer creating the programs, fight choreographers… There are a lot of different team members making this show happen.” Dark Horse’s “Oleanna” is set for a threeweekend run at the DC Arts Center from June 4-19 with performances on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 PM. Tickets are $15 for the general public and $10 for seniors, students and DCAC members. 2438 18th St. NW • www.darkhorsetheatrecompany.com
2010 International VSA Festival “Those who assume a photographer has to be able to see, a dancer has to be able to walk, or a percussionist has to be able to hear are about to 10 ◆ DC midcity | June 2010
The Dark Horse Theatre Company takes up the case of David Mamet’s “Oleanna” this month at the DC Arts Center. (Photo: Deb Cobb)
have their preconceptions challenged.” So reads the mission statement of this year’s VSA Festival -- the metro area’s only event dedicated entirely to highlighting the resiliency and accomplishments of disabled artists from around the globe. Featuring more than 600 participants from six continents, the VSA Festival -- sponsored by the International Organization on Arts and Disability -- will showcase up-and-coming talent and recognized innovators alike during its weeklong run from June 6 to 12. Alongside events hosted by the likes of R&B Pattie LaBelle and actress Claire Danes, audiences can look forward to performances from 17-year-old pianist Matt Savage (heralded by Dave Brubeck as “the next Mozart”), “Last Comic Standing” winner Josh Blue, globetrotting “physical integrated dance” company AXIS and Grammy Award-winning jazz chanteuse Diane Schuur. And that’s just scratching the surface. The 2010 VSA Festival includes more than 40 events in music, theatre, dance, fine art, film and literature, and spans some 11 metro areas venues, including the mid-city region’s own DC Improv, the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the
Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Harman Hall and Lansburgh Theatre. It’s a short and crowded schedule to keep pace with, but even after the festival formally draws to close at the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage on June 12, some of it works will be sticking around Washington. The Smithsonian’s International Gallery, for instance, will be keeping their VSA installation of artwork from 54 contemporary artists living with disabilities -“Revealing Culture” -- on display through August 29. Price points and ticketing varies between venues, so check with the VSA website for more information, including a full schedule of festival events. www.vsarts.org
Dead Meadow Blooms Again Surviving in a town colloquially known to many as “Dead City” has always been a matter of fight or flight for DC bands, so one can’t really can’t fault former hometown psych rock outfit Dead Meadow for finally packing up and head-