D.C. Arts Refresh and Renew: Let’s Rediscover Our Local Arts Scene (and Coverage)
I was on a panel the other day at which an audience member bemoaned the lack of local arts coverage in the District. I didn’t fix my face or bite my tongue: “If only D.C. had hyperlocal news outlets to cover such things,” I interrupted sarcastically.
I meant what I said. Some outlets with Washington in their name have taken a decidedly national turn—and that’s OK, because Washington City Paper is still here (and we’re not alone). I say this as a means to introduce our 2023 Spring Arts Guide, which is, indeed, filled to the metaphorical brim with local arts coverage. Not just with previews of events rolling through town at the Kennedy Center and the Anthem, but actual local arts events put on for and by actual locals. It’s the definition of local arts coverage, if I do say so myself.
Since January, when spring seemed so far away it felt cruel to issue assignments, I’ve been thinking about what and who to spotlight in our biannual roundup of artsy events in the DMV. Between the winter doldrums and a flickering hope that the worst of COVID is behind us, I wanted to focus on the idea of New and Renew.
With the help of nearly 30 writers, we spitballed on that loose theme and hunted down everything from big-name events—such the National, New Edition, and MUNA—to the local dance collective chitra.MOVES’ two-day TEMPLE performance and Dee Dwyer’s captivating photo exhibit of Anacostia. We have comedy superstars, such as Margaret Cho, coming to town, but also easy-to-overlook improv nights led by some truly hilarious locals. Like me, you might even learn what a “Harold Night” is. As happens, some events such as May 6’s inaugural Tamarindo Festival at RFK Stadium and Shakespeare Theatre Company’s May production of Here There Are Blueberries were announced after coverage was assigned. But in the end I’m awed by this package. It’s a reminder for even the most cynical and sarcastic of how truly talented and creative D.C. is—from its arts events to its arts writers. Don’t sleep on them.
In this day and age it’s almost a cliche to equate spring with rebirth and renewal. But then, some things are cliches for a reason. As the city unfurls from winter, without a COVID spike in sight (knocks on wood aggressively), now is a good time to reacquaint yourself with the very best side of the city we call home.
So do me, and those 28 other writers, a favor: Share this guide with your friends, your family, your coworkers—remind them that there is local coverage and local artists and smaller venues who are doing big and little things that continue to make D.C. more than politics, but a hub for arts and culture. —Sarah Marloff
Table of Contents
Music
Project GLOW’s Secret Garden Offers a Return to Electronic Music’s LGBTQIA Roots
When festival organizers approached D.C. nightclub icon Ed Bailey about imagining a new space at Project GLOW to represent the LGBTQIA community in 2023, he dreamed up the Secret Garden. Having DJed and operated legendary gay nightclubs for decades, from the now-shuttered Town to modern staple Trade, Bailey wanted to pull homegrown talent that harks…
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WRIZZARDS on the Rise
It’s hard to believe that the WRIZZARDS only recently began making music. Their single, “Ms. Barista,” was nominated for the 2024 Wammie Music Awards’ Best World/Global Song just two months after its release, but the suave acoustic hit marked the first time the Filipino multi-genre collective collaborated. (Independently, the collective’s members dabble in indie pop,…
You’re Invited Into Argo and the Violet Queens’ Immersive Live Shows
Arav Goswami always wanted to be a performer. As a kid, he felt more drawn to his favorite artists’ live shows than their recorded music—he’d watch videos of Queen, David Bowie, and Talking Heads concerts on YouTube all day long. He was enamored with the intricate details these artists put into their imagery: the clothes…
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Books
Sarah Robinson Expands the Queer Romance Genre
Sarah Robinson didn’t see people like herself in romance novels, so she decided to write ones in which she did. “I want to write stories that I feel like I can see myself in and my friend groups in,” Robinson tells City Paper. “I just wanted to see more stories that felt authentic to me.…
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Leslye Penelope Imbues Black Broadway With Literal Magic
All too often works of fiction set in D.C. take place in the world of politics, with the Washington Monument prominently in the background. But fantasy writer Leslye Penelope’s latest book, The Monsters We Defy, is set in 1920s D.C. with barely a whiff of the White House. Instead, it’s a supernatural heist novel that’s…
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Comedy
Dance and Performance
Diana Movius Uses Dance to Inspire New Climate Activists
Climate change has been a key part of Diana Movius’ life ever since the fourth grade. She distinctly remembers that day in elementary school when a scientist came to talk to her class about deforestation and climate change. “I was just absolutely devastated. Because before that, I had no idea that climate change was a…
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Film
Museums and Galleries
Travis Chamberlain Is Ready to Lead Washington Project for the Arts
Washington Project for the Arts has been around for 48 years, but this year, it has a brand spanking new executive director, Travis Chamberlain. As the organization is gearing up to celebrate its golden anniversary, Chamberlain arrives with a wealth of experience in many facets and disciplines of the arts, including directing theater, curating, and…
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Theater
Meet Shanara Gabrielle, the Incoming Producing Artistic Director at Theater Alliance
For Shanara Gabrielle, the newly announced producing artistic director of Theater Alliance, the performing arts serve a civic duty: creating communities of artists and informed citizens, sharing stories about social justice and opportunities for effective change, and opening up dialogues about contemporary topics. “Along with justice comes joy,” she says about socially engaged theater, “No…
Spooky Action Theater Restructures and Reimagines With Elizabeth Dinkova
While others may have been discouraged by allegations of a toxic workplace at Spooky Action Theater, Elizabeth Dinkova was drawn toward the opportunity to better nurture the emotional safety of artists and restore the local theater community’s trust. As of May 1, Dinkova is Spooky Action’s second-ever artistic director in its nearly two-decade history and…
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