LETTER: Thanks for Opportunity

May 3, 2012

Thank you to my supporters and to the many citizens of this fine City for sharing their time, ideas and efforts during the recent City Council campaign. I am honored and humbled to have had the opportunity to have met and learned from so many people that make our community great.

I applaud the choice our City has made; Dave Tarter, Nader Baroukh and Phil Duncan are all fine men and each will bring their unique strengths to bare as our representatives on City Council.  Congratulations to our four top notch representatives elected to School Board: Kieran Sharpe, Joan Wodiska, Justin Castillo and Charlotte Hyland.  I tip my hat to all of those who ran in yesterday’s election.  And, I salute the many citizens whose questions and concerns have helped strengthen our city and educate me.  Because of them I am better informed and better able to serve the community I love in the years to come.

Sincerely,

Paul Handly

Through SATURDAY, 5/5: Elephant Man Opens at GMHS

The George Mason High School Theater Arts Department presents the Elephant Man by Bernard Pomerance, opening Thursday, May 3rd at 7:30 pm. The show runs through Saturday, May 5th.  Tickets are $8 for students and seniors and $10 for adults.

The play is directed by seniors Bryan Ward and Rebecca Thackrey and produced by Theater Arts Director Pamela Ricker.  The Play is set in London’s industrial revolution of the late 1800’s, and tells the story of Joseph Merrick, known as The Elephant Man, who had a bone disorder which caused him to develop terrible deformities.  Merrick was a side show freak until he was rescued by Treves, a surgeon at the London Hospital.  The play examines issues of people’s fear of the unknown and prejudices based on appearance as well as our intolerance of perceived imperfections of all kinds.

The play is a serious drama and will be staged with creative lighting, projections, and short animations to create the settings and communicate the themes. Technical support will be by John Ballou and the George Mason Technical Theater Crew, as well as Mr. Ballou’s classes. Starring roles include Sean Driggers as The Elephant man, Samuel Blagg as Dr. Treves, Emma Pierce as Lady Gomm, Joseph Warren as Ross and Kikki Skotte as Mrs. Kendall.  The supporting ensemble brings the size of the cast up to 40 in all.

This is a very intellectual, symbolic, and challenging script and the George Mason cast is more than up to the challenge of bringing it to life. There should be striking and impressive technical elements to the show as well, which promise to make it a memorable piece of theater.

 

 

Art-A-Lot Kicks Off FIRSTfriday Outdoor Season

By FALLS CHURCH TIMES STAFF
May 3, 2012

This Friday, May 4, begins the first of the season’s Art-A-Lot events – the outdoor venue for FIRSTfriday of Falls Church.  Outside in the parking lot at 111 Park Ave, there will be local art on display, a live music concert, and a gathering of classic cars.

Inside at Art and Frame of Falls Church, there will be a reception for Isabelle Babington’s exhibit entitled Blue Notes that she describes as “eclectic notes with a blue paintbrush following an idea, exploring new ways, keeping an open eye and an open mind in no particular order.”  Meet the artist at the opening reception from 6:00 – 8:00 pm. Isabelle will give an artist talk at 7:10 pm. Read more

Through SUNDAY, 5/20: “Women of the Blues” at Creative Cauldron

Creative Cauldron presents ”Women of the Blues” an original Blues review celebrating the  music and lives of some of the greatest singers of the 20th Century. Preview performances are Thursday and Friday, May 3 and 4 at 7:30 pm at ArtSpace Falls Church, 410 S. Maple Avenue.  Tickets are $20 Adult/$18 Student/Senior and can be ordered in advance online at www.creativecauldron.org.  The show continues Thursday through Sunday evenings at 7:30 pm through May 20.