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Tonight
Every other month at Busboys and Poets 14th & V, TransAfrica Forum hosts a documentary screening followed by a discussion. The Sudan is the focus of tonight’s event, which is part of the Cabral/Truth Circle series. Named for Amilcar Cabral and Sojourner Truth, the series examines the history and political movements of Africa and the African Diaspora. The event takes place from 6 to 8 p.m.
Students from the University of Maryland’s musical theater program perform a cabaret of Broadway favorites featuring songs from composers like Ellington, Gershwin, and Bernstein. Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Center, 6 p.m.
Tuesday
Calling all Rothko fans! At noon, National Gallery of Art lecturer Sally Shelburne and senior conservator of modern paintings Jay Krueger present a special hour-long gallery talk in conjunction with the exhibit “In the Tower: Mark Rothko.”
The Washington Bach Consort performs its monthly donation-based cantata concert at the Church of the Epiphany, 1317 G St, NW, from 12:10 to 1 p.m. Organist Jeremy Filsell performs Cantata 155: “Mein Gott, wie lang, ach lange” and Canonic Variations on Cantata 769: “Vom Himmel hoch.”
It’s indie film night at BloomBars, and tonight’s feature is Taking Root: The Vision of Wangari Maathai. The biopic of the Kenyan Nobel Peace Prize Laureate relates how she turned the simple act of planting trees into a nationwide movement to safeguard the environment, protect human rights, and defend democracy. The donation-based screening takes place from 7 to 9 p.m. and will include a post-screening discussion.
Wednesday
Enjoy some dance on your lunch break at Sidney Harman Hall with a free performance by Life Rhythm Dance Move Project, part of the weekly “Happenings at the Harman” series from noon to 1 p.m.
Hillyer Art Space hosts the final screening in the Global Lens International Film Series from 7 to 9 p.m. The film is free for students with valid I.D. and is donation-based for the general public (suggested $5 minimum). Tonight’s feature is the Iranian film My Tehran For Sale . The film, set against the backdrop of Tehran’s thriving arts culture, offers an insider’s perspective on life in Iran’s capital city, following a terminally ill actress, Marzieh, and her desperate quest for political asylum. Refreshments will be served and the film will be followed by a special Q & A with folks from sponsoring organization Reel Worldwide Underground Link.
Thursday
There’s a free public concert at 2 p.m. called Songs for the Unsung, a “reminiscent theatre” piece created from the personal stories of veterans from World War II to Vietnam. Their stories have been set to music and will be performed by members of the Washington National Opera. The event will take place at the Armed Forces Retirement Home, officially located at 3700 N. Capitol St. NW. Note that the actual entrance address is 140 Rock Creek Church Rd. NW, where it intersects Upsher St.
Amy Melrose is the creator of Free in DC, an arts, culture, and consciousness
blog highlighting free and low-cost events that are all Metro accessible in the D.C. area. You can also follow Free in DC on Twitter and Facebook.