Embracing Arlington Arts Talks

Excited to present our podcast interview with Playwright/Actor/Podcaster Iyona Blake who told us about her world premiere of the play she wrote entitled "Girls of Madison Street" that focuses on family dynamics, dysfunction and healing. Also learn about experience playing Billie Holiday, top three acting roles on her bucket list, and how she highlights women and their stories on her podcast "Sister Conversations."

The new CEO of Encore Creativity for Older Adults Joshua Vickery updated our listeners about the organization's exciting new program "Encore University" that offers online classes and workshops on all arts genres, including visual arts, singing, dance, master classes, recitals and much more. Also find out his goals for the organization, details about their upcoming live concert on May 14th at the Strathmore, his experience working for Disney World and how singing helps seniors both mentally and physically.

Educational Theatre Company's Managing Director Ashley Hammond and Development Director Katie McCreary updated our listeners on several new and exciting programs for ETC in 2022. From a Partnership with Challenge Racism to help change live and disrupt racism to the reestablishment of the Creative Age program for seniors, elementary school theater programs and the Devising Hope partnership with Street Sense, ETC has been pivoting constantly during the pandemic.

The Producing Artistic Director of NextStop Theatre Company Evan Hoffmann gives us all the details about their upcoming season in this "Embracing Arlington Arts Talks" podcast. Learn about his return to the stage after a 10-year acting hiatus in the first show of the season "Every Brilliant Thing," upcoming shows rounding out the season, safety protocols being followed by the theater, and how the chosen productions are perfect for this year. Also get the scoop on why the theater transitioned from the Elden Street Players to NextStop Theatre and what is behind that name.

Co-producers Olivia Hairfield and Nick Friedlander of "A Night of One Acts" - a collaborative effort between The Arlington Players (TAP) and the Little Theater of Alexandria (LTA) gave us all the details about this wonderful 40+ year event featuring never-before produced short plays. Learn about this unique opportunity for playwrights around the world, where and when to see the show, what the three shows are about, and how volunteers can get mentored in any theater craft in preparation for the run. Also find out what exactly a stage manager does in the theater.

Sholeh Shirazi appeared as a guest on "Embracing Arlington Arts Talks" to tell us the story about her mother-in-law - Iranian artist Rafat Mossadeghi whose work is being shown at the Fred Schnider Gallery of Art. Find out about her life in Iran and how her experiences there influenced her artwork, as well as other major themes like women helping other women women's rights and nature. Also hear a truly wonderful story about a person who bought a piece of art done by Rafat in 1978 and what she told Sholeh more than thirty years later.

Visual artist Jean Sausele-Knodt appeared on the podcast to talk about her unique sculptural artwork using oil paint, wood, embroidery, metal and even concrete. Find out more about these three dimensional wall pieces that are being shown at the Fred Schnider Gallery of Art, as well as some fun events including an artist talk and Artists Holiday Tour. Also hear how the theme of "fragmentation" relates to all her work and how the pandemic impacted her work.

The Executive Director of the Ballston BID Tina Leone returned to the "Embracing Arlington Arts Talks" podcast to update us on the Ballston business and non-profit community in a post-pandemic world. Also she gave us all the details about their upcoming Ballston Holiday Wreath Market which will be raising funds for several non-profit organizations, and offering entertainment, art projections, a pop-up outdoor bar and an appearance by Santa. Plus get a sneak peek into some fun happenings in 2022 being sponsored by the BID.

Urban Arias' Artistic Director Bob Wood and Executive Director Anne Carolyn Bird appeared on the "Embracing Arlington Arts Talks" podcast to talk about the organization's exciting new commissioned opera entitled "Unknown." The productions encompassed five poems set to operative music and depicts personal reflections about the emotions that people int he military experience. Learn how the idea came up for the work, who will be performing, the premiere film event details and more. Also hear about their spring show - a comedy to reopen their live performances again.

Director Dani Guy gives us all the details about Dominion Stage's upcoming production of "Five Women Wearing the Same Dress." Find out about this interesting show, the actors performing in it, safety protocols for actors and patrons, and whether she agrees that this is a "feminist" show. Also find out what is on her director bucket list and her process for directing shows, including the importance of having the actors involved.