ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Northern Virginia enables fine and performing arts junkies with a fix in many different forms.
By Susan Anspach
Demetrius Parker (Photography by Jonathan Timmes)
Community Theater Actor
DEMETRIUS PARKER
Murder Upon Request; Arlington; 703-587-4504; www.murderuponrequest.com
A senior member-writer and production manager for local live participatory theater company Murder Upon Request, 42-year-old Demetrius Parker cites “American Idol”-inspired “A Challenge to Die For” as one of MUR’s most frequently requested improvisational crime scripts. “Before the show starts, we ask if anyone in the audience can audition for the ‘next season,’” says the D.C. native who got his start in the seven-member company 12 years ago after having been pulled up on stage himself. Parker is also making his mark in the indie film trade: He’s casting director for local film studio 19th & Wilson’s production “Ghosts Don’t Exist,” a project that netted Redskins tight end Chris Cooley as executive producer.
To whom or what would you give Northern Virginia a failing grade?
Affordable housing, though the Northern Virginia area has tons of housing available with new construction all the time. These homes are way too overpriced and are not affordable to the everyday worker or family.
Cover Band
GONZO’S NOSE
3712 Mason St., Fairfax; 703-303-9687; www.gonzosnose.com
Enjoying a steady rotation in Northern Virginia’s bars, most notably and most frequently Arlington’s dance floor-equipped Clarendon Ballroom, this 12-year-old regional cover staple specializing in the ’80s and the upbeat up-to-date consists of five rockers best booked three to six months in advance of your event.
Signature Theatre( Photography by Scott Suchman)
Theater Company
SIGNATURE THEATRE
4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington; 703-820-9771; www.sig-online.org
“What we’ve always done is try to do exciting and bold theater presentations,” artistic director Eric Schaeffer says. “People know that when they come to Signature, they’re going to get a really high-quality piece of theater.”
Annual Event
VIVA@ VIENNA!
Church Street, Vienna; 703-255-4742; www.vivaviennava.org
A Rotary Club-sponsored Memorial Day weekend festival showcasing area businesses and vendors, Viva! Vienna! headliners for 2009’s live music entertainment included local talent Chelsea Lee, zany kid-pleasers Rocknoceros and roots rocker Luke Brindley.
College mascot
HOKIE BIRD
Virginia Tech
Dance Troupe
CREATIVE DANCE CENTER (Chantilly Location)
14155 Sullyfield Circle # E, Chantilly; 703-378-1800; www.cdcdance.com
Ginny Frye directs the competition team housed in what’s currently ranked as the No. 1 Virginia competitive dance studio by Dancer Magazine. The audition-based 115-member troupe competes regionally five times a year, and one to two times a year at the national level, though Frye points out, “That’s the fun part of what we do. … Dance education is our first priority.”
Performance Arts Center
GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY CENTER FOR THE ARTS
4400 University Drive, Fairfax; 888-945-2468; www.gmu.edu/cfa
Art Gallery
TORPEDO FACTORY
105 N. Union St., Alexandria; 703-838-4565; www.torpedofactory.org
Outdoor Arts Venue
WOLF TRAP
1645 Trap Road, Vienna; 877-WOLFTRAP; www.wolftrap.org
