STC Announces Winter/Spring 2012 Happenings at the Harman

The Shakespeare Theatre Company announces the Winter/Spring 2012 schedule for Happenings at the Harman, a free programming series offered Wednesdays at noon held in the Forum in Sidney Harman Hall (610 F St. NW). Featuring discussions and performances by Washington-area scholars and artists, Happenings at the Harman is a great way for people to discover new art in the middle of the week on their lunch break.

Patrons are invited each week to view a different performance or discussion featuring musicians, actors, dancers, puppeteers and genre-mixers that will leave people inspired and culturally fulfilled. STC’s Director of Education, Samantha K. Wyer, comments on the program, “If you enjoy an invigorating event in the middle of a busy work day, Happenings is for you. Those who view the Shakespeare Theatre Company’s weekly free performances are given one hour to be inspired by local artists as they perform in an intimate setting, and each week brings something new.” The beginning of the 2011-2012 Season included performances by the Congressional Chorus, the Washington Balalaika Society, DanceAntonini, J. Scott Matejicka and many others. Patrons are encouraged to visit Sidney Harman Hall Wednesdays at noon to see a unique performance or discussion.

Winter/Spring 2012 Happenings at the Harman Schedule

Wednesday, January 11, at noon
Special Happenings Event: Peter DiMuro Curates Local Dance
The Forum in Sidney Harman Hall

The second of three special curated Happenings events in the 2011-2012 Season. This event will feature new work from local choreographers.

Wednesday, January 18, at noon
Burnett Thompson
The Forum in Sidney Harman Hall

Burnett Thompson, pianist, composer and educator, will share his musical setting of Shakespeare’s Sonnets.

Wednesday, January 25, at noon
Ballet Teatro Internacional
The Forum in Sidney Harman Hall

The Premiere Hispanic Heritage Dance Company in Washington, D.C., will present a repertoire of classical and contemporary ballet, and modern dance.

Wednesday, February 1, at noon
Charles Mokotoff
The Forum in Sidney Harman Hall

Classical guitarist Charles Mokotoff will appear with guitarist Matt Palmer and will play music for one and two guitars by Brahms, Boccherini, de Falla, Johanson and others.

Wednesday, February 8, at noon
Yo Coquelicot
The Forum in Sidney Harman Hall

Yo Coquelicot is a creative company committed to producing professional theatre. They incorporate a variety of theatrical elements including mime, dance, live music, puppetry and clown.

Wednesday, February 15, at noon
Violin Dreams
The Forum in Sidney Harman Hall

Patrons can enjoy a mid-day Jazz concert with Violin Dreams.

Wednesday, February 22, at noon
Next Reflex Dance Collective
The Forum in Sidney Harman Hall

The Next Reflex Dance Collective, founded by Roxann Morgan Rowley and Erika Surma, is an award-winning modern dance company.

Wednesday, February 29, at noon
TBA
The Forum in Sidney Harman Hall

Wednesday, March 7, at noon
Local Dance Curated by Peter DiMuro
The Forum in Sidney Harman Hall

The final of three special curated Happenings events in the 2011-2012 Season. This event will feature new work from local choreographers.

Wednesday, March 14, at noon
UrbanArias
The Forum in Sidney Harman Hall

UrbanArias is a new opera company dedicated to producing short, contemporary operas.

Wednesday, March 21, at noon
Local Puppeteers
The Forum in Sidney Harman Hall

Puppeteers from the D.C. area will show examples of their work, in conjunction with the presentation of Basil Twist’s Petrushka, presented by the Shakespeare Theatre Company March 16-25, 2012.

Wednesday, March 28, at noon
OperaBelle
The Forum in Sidney Harman Hall

Three female opera singers will enchant the audience with their Spring Concert.

Wednesday, April 4, at noon
O’Neill Festival
The Forum in Sidney Harman Hall

In partnership with STC and Arena Stage, local universities have been working with the writings of Eugene O’Neill and will present their works-in-process. George Washington University students will be presenting this first week.

Wednesday, April 11, at noon
O’Neill Festival
The Forum in Sidney Harman Hall

In partnership with STC and Arena Stage, local universities have been working with the writings of Eugene O’Neill and will present their works-in-process. Georgetown University students will be presenting this second week.

Wednesday, April 18, at noon
WPAS: Feder Memorial String Competition
The Forum in Sidney Harman Hall

The winners of the Washington Performing Arts Society’s competition, D.C.-area youth in grades 6-12, play classical works.

Wednesday, April 25, at noon
Furia Flamenca
The Forum in Sidney Harman Hall

Furia Flamenca’s unique style combines flamenco’s gypsy heritage with modern flamenco choreography to create an elegant balance of motion and energy.

Wednesday, May 2, at noon
Washington Balalaika Society’s Russkie Musikanti
The Forum in Sidney Harman Hall

Since 1988, The Washington Balalaika Society has been entertaining D.C. audiences with their orchestra of Russian Folk instruments.

Wednesday, May 9, at noon
DanceAntonini
The Forum in Sidney Harman Hall

DanceAntonini is a movement group that bridges post modern movement, dance theatre, and improvisation.

Wednesday, May 16, at noon
Happenstance Theater
The Forum in Sidney Harman Hall

Happenstance Theater is a professional company committed to devising and producing original, performer-created visual, poetic theatre. Meaning is often found by happenstance.

Wednesday, May 23, at noon
Congressional Chorus
The Forum in Sidney Harman Hall

Celebrating the spirit, diversity and power of American choral music has been the mission of the Congressional Chorus since its founding in 1987.

Wednesday, June 6, at noon
Faction of Fools
The Forum in Sidney Harman Hall

During the run of STC’s The Servant of Two Masters, the Faction of Fools Theatre Company celebrates Commedia dell’Arte in Washington, D.C., and around the world.

Wednesday, June 13, at noon
Cam Magee and Beverly Cosham
The Forum in Sidney Harman Hall

In the spirit of Shakespeare’s The Merry Wives of Windsor (STC’s mainstage production begins June 12) actor Cam Magee and singer Beverly Cosham, team up for a delightful exploration of the age old theme: “Men, Can’t Live With Them, Can’t Live Without Them.” From sonnets and speeches by the Bard to love songs by Johnny Mercer and Cole Porter, the program promises to be a perfect celebration of men.

Wednesday, June 20, at noon
TBA
The Forum in Sidney Harman Hall

Wednesday, June 27, at noon
WPAS: Men and Women of the Gospel Choir
The Forum in Sidney Harman Hall

Since 1991, the Washington Performing Arts Society Men and Women of the Gospel Choir has demonstrated artistic excellence in this art form through performance of works by local and national composers.

For more information, please call the box office at 202.547.1122 or visit ShakespeareTheatre.org/Happenings.

ABOUT THE Shakespeare Theatre Company

In the 2011-2012 Season, the Shakespeare Theatre Company is set to celebrate! Not only is it the 25th year of Michael Kahn’s leadership, vision and artistic direction but, over the past quarter of a century, STC has become one of the nation’s leading theatre companies. Today, STC is synonymous with artistic excellence and making classical theatre more accessible.

The Shakespeare Theatre Company’s innovative approach to Shakespeare and other classic playwrights has earned it the reputation as the nation’s premier classical theatre company. By focusing on works with profound themes, complex characters and poetic language written by Shakespeare, his contemporaries and the playwrights he influenced, the Company’s artistic mission is unique among theatre companies: to present theatre of scope and size in an imaginative, skillful and accessible American style that honors the playwrights’ language and intentions while viewing their work through a 21st-century lens.

In its 2007-2008 Season, the company opened the Harman Center for the Arts, consisting of the new 774-seat Sidney Harman Hall and the 451-seat Lansburgh Theatre, both located in downtown Washington’s Penn Quarter neighborhood. A dynamic hub of activity, the Harman Center showcases the company as well as outstanding local performing arts groups and nationally renowned organizations. STC’s annual Free For All performance, a re-creation of a production from seasons past staged for free in August and September, is now held at Sidney Harman Hall. Sidney Harman Hall is located at 610 F Street NW. The Lansburgh Theatre also plays host to a number of different performing arts organizations, among them Synetic Theater and several of STC’s mainstage productions. The Lansburgh Theatre is located at 450 7th Street NW.