Arena Stage to Host FAKE IT UNTIL YOU MAKE IT Pre-Show Event

Washington D.C.'s Arena Stage is hosting a Native Affinity night before a performance of Fake It Until You Make It this Saturday, April 12, 2025. Leading into the 8pm performance, the pre-show event will include a vibrant marketplace featuring Native artists, artisans, and vendors, a panel discussion recognizing and honoring the healing work of Two-Spirit communities, and a show-stopping performance by International Two-Spirit Ambassador Mellonie Moore (Mel Willie), whose bold drag artistry celebrates Native heritage with fierce self-expression and captivating power.

The event is free, and attendees can RSVP here. Click here to purchase tickets to Fake It Until You Make It. Use promo code COMMUNITY for $20 tickets. Take a look at the schedule and lineup for the pre-show below.

DETAILED EVENT SCHEDULE

Native Marketplace | 6:00-8:00PM

Native artists, artisans, and vendors will showcase a rich variety of arts and crafts available for purchase. Each item tells a unique story, rooted in centuries of tradition and creativity.

Honoring the Two-Spirit Path: Activism and Healing | 6:00-7:30PM
Join Arena Stage for Native Affinity Night, celebrating Two-Spirit resilience, creativity, and community. The event begins at 6pm with a marketplace featuring Native artists, artisans, and vendors showcasing a rich variety of handmade works—each piece telling a unique story rooted in centuries of tradition and creativity. Then at 6:30pm, gather for a pre-show panel discussion where shared stories and reflections will honor the healing work Two-Spirit communities continue to lead, linking past challenges to ongoing efforts for justice, recognition, and cultural revitalization. There will also be a show-stopping performance by International Two-Spirit Ambassador Mellonie Moore (Mel Willie), whose bold drag artistry celebrates Native heritage with fierce self-expression and captivating power.
Click here to RSVP to attend this free event.

Panelists:

• Elton Naswood (Navajo), Executive Director, Two-Spirit & Native LGBTQ+ Center for Equity
• Andrew Charney (Edisto Natchez-Kusso), Eastern Two Spirit Ambassador
• Christine Ann Fender-Oxendine (Lumbee), LGBTQ+ Dancer/Artist/Community Organizer in the DMV
• Mel Willie (Navajo), International Two Spirit Ambassador