Creative Cauldron Closing its Season with Thunder

Special to the Falls Church Times

Creative Cauldron’s founder, Laura Connors Hull, says their final production of the season is “fixing to blow the roof off the cauldron!” Directed by Helen Hayes Award winning actor, Stephen Gregory Smith, Thunder Knocking on the Door is “a musical fable that is filled with humor and heart, and just the right touch of supernatural high jinx” according to Hull.

When writer Keith Glover first penned Thunder in 1999, he knew he had a hit on his hands. Steeped in the devil-at-the crossroads blues mythology of the Mississippi Delta and featuring music and lyrics by three-time Grammy Award winner Keb’ Mo’ and his collaborator Anderson Edwards, this show has played to critical raves and sold out houses in theaters around the country.  Stephen Gregory Smith fell in love with the show when it premiered at Arena Stage in 1999.

Smith is guiding a powerhouse cast of singers including Shayla Simmons, featured in last year’s Creative Cauldron hit original production of “Women of the Blues.” Shayla most recently appeared as Deena Jones in Signature Theatre’s Helen Hayes Award winning production of Dreamgirls.  She is joined by Iyona Blake, RaMond Thomas, Malcolm Lee and Michael Mainwaring, each a vocal dynamo in their own right.

Performances are at 8 pm, Thursday through Sunday, through May 26. Tickets are $22 for adults and $20 for seniors/students.  Ticket specials include the “Juke Joint” — up close seating for 4 people and a bottle of wine for $100 and the “Sunday Night Bargain Blues” – buy one adult ticket and get the second one for half price for any Sunday performance.  Online purchase only and limited to 20 per show.

Purchase tickets in advance at www.creativecauldron.org Creative Cauldron is located at ArtSpace Falls Church, 410 S. Maple Avenue in the Pearson Square building.

SATURDAY 5/4: Attic Treasures Sale

9am to 1pm – Falls Church Community Center – 223 Little Falls Street

Find your treasure at the oldest and largest annual fundraising sale in the Little City.  All proceeds will support the VPIS community programs like Concerts in the Park and other programs you love.  It is quite fun to discover unbelievable bargains and unique treasures while tapping your toes to the live music of Andrew Acosta.

Donations Drop – Friday May 3, 10am to 7pm  – Fall Church Community Center- 223 Little Falls Street

The following are accepted:  household items including kitchen items, musical instruments & recordings, plants (5 gallon max size), gardening items, household goods, kitchenware, special treasures (antiques, collectibles), toys, jewelry, hardware, books.  Sorry – no clothing, bicycles, computer equipment, or junk please.  We need volunteers – please contact Michael or Marybeth Connelly at 703‐237‐0604 or email mbdoncon@gmail.com.

SATURDAY, 5/18: Civil War Day

The City of Falls Church will host Civil War Day – a living-history event depicting the Falls Church home front during the Civil War – on Saturday, May 18. This free event will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Cherry Hill Park and Farmhouse (312 Park Ave.).

This year’s theme is the Home Front. Living history presentations with Civil War soldier and civilian reenactments will show how the area coped with the war at their doorstep. Other events and activities include soldier firing and drilling exercises, live music, a children’s activities tent, house tours, and more. A special Emancipation Proclamation presentation will take place at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., and a free bus tour of the new Civil War Trail through town will depart at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

Box lunches consisting of chicken, coleslaw, corn bread, ginger cake and lemonade will be available for $8.00 each. Advanced lunch tickets for $7.00 are recommended and can be purchased at the Community Center (223 Little Falls St.) by May 17.

For more information, call 703-248-5171 (TTY 711). This event is sponsored by the Recreation & Parks Department, the Victorian Society at Falls Church, and the Falls Church Historical Commission.

SATURDAY 4/13: Bilingual Concert at MEH

In celebration of The Week of the Young Child (April 14-20), bilingual educator, children’s author, and recording artist José-Luis Orozco will bring his folk guitar and wide repertoire of songs from throughout Mexico and Latin America for an interactive concert on Saturday, April 13, 2013, at 11 a.m., at Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School in Falls Church.  Concert tickets are available at www.fcmlcc.org, $5 for children and $7 for adults.  Read more

SATURDAY, 4/6: Randy Barrett Concert

Falls Church’s own Randy Barrett will perform Saturday, April 6 at 7 pm at Creative Cauldron at ArtSpace Falls Church, 410 S. Maple Ave.  The band Mama Tried showcases the talents of Randy and Dede Wyant, two of the DC area’s best bluegrass singers and multiple WAMMIE Award winners!  Tickets are $20 adults and $18 student/seniors.  Purchase online at www.creativecauldron.org.

SATURDAY, 2/16: Kamel Zenia & Band Concert

Kamel Zenia and his band will be in concert at Creative Cauldron on Saturday, February 16 at 7:30 pm, part of the “Passport to the World” series of concerts.  Zenia fuses the sounds of Berber, Gnawa, Rumba Flamenca, and Algerian folk/rock to create a unique blend and a lively style.

Tickets are $20 adults, $18 students/seniors and can be purchased in advance at www.creativecauldron.org Creative Cauldron is located at ArtSpace Falls Church, 410 S. Maple Avenue in the Pearson Square building.  Free parking is available in the garages at 410 and 400 S. Maple Ave.

West African Stories, Songs & Puppets at Creative Cauldron

FALLS CHURCH TIMES STAFF
February 13, 2013

 

Families, especially those with young children, are invited to “Tales of West Africa with Kofi Denis” at Creative Cauldron on Sunday, February 17 at 2 pm, part of the “Passport to the World” series.

Kofi is a Master Teaching Artist with Wolf Trap’s Early Learning through the Arts, and promises a fun and interactive afternoon of storytelling, songs, games and drums.  Creative Cauldron actor/puppeteers will join Kofi in the telling of stories about the cultural traditions of West Africa and Ghana.

Tickets are $10, children 4 and under are free.  Tickets can be purchased in advance at www.creativecauldron.org Creative Cauldron is located at ArtSpace Falls Church, 410 S. Maple Avenue in the Pearson Square building.  Free parking is available in the garages at 410 and 400 S. Maple Ave.

Kamel Zenia Concert at Creative Cauldron

FALLS CHURCH TIMES STAFF
February 11, 2013

 

Kamel Zenia and his band will perform at Creative Cauldron on Saturday, February 16 at 7:30 pm, part of the “Passport to the World” series of concerts.

Kamel Zenia was born in Algeria, and his music is inspired by the rich and different ethnic groups that exist throughout that region of northern Africa along the coasts of the Mediterranean and the Atlantic and in the villages of the Sahara Desert.

Zenia fuses the sounds of Berber, Gnawa, Rumba Flamenca, and Algerian folk/rock to create a unique blend and a lively style. He blurs the musical boundaries that invites audiences to celebrate, dance and be swept away by the music’s passion.

Tickets are $20 adults, $18 students/seniors and can be purchased in advance at www.creativecauldron.org Creative Cauldron is located at ArtSpace Falls Church, 410 S. Maple Avenue in the Pearson Square building.  Free parking is available in the garages at 410 and 400 S. Maple Ave.

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