Spotlight: Upcoming events in D.C. — February 1-7
The Insult
The Insult
One of five nominees for Best Foreign Language Film at this year’s Academy Awards, this powerful and revealing Lebanese film focuses on an insult blown out of all proportion, exacerbating already-high tensions between Muslims and Christians in modern-day Beirut. Kamel El Basha won Best Actor at the 2017 Venice Film Festival for his portrayal of Yasser, a Palestinian refugee facing off in a media-hyped court case against Adel Karam’s Tony, a Lebanese Christian. Directed and co-written by Ziad Doueiri (The Attack). Opens Friday, Feb. 2. Landmark’s Bethesda Row Cinema, 7235 Woodmont Ave. Call 301-652-7273 or visit landmarktheatres.com.
Sovereignty
As its contribution to the Women’s Voices Theater Festival, Arena Stage offers a world premiere of Mary Kathryn Nagle’s exploration into the state of Native American affairs. Focused particularly on Washington’s historical treatment of the Cherokee Nation and the present-day consequences, as examined through the work of a young Cherokee lawyer fighting for her people while confronting the ghosts of her grandfathers. To Feb. 18. Mead Center for American Theater, 1101 6th St. SW. Call 202-488-3300 or visit arenastage.org.
Greensky Bluegrass
Known for fiery live shows complete with a full light show that diehard fans called the Campers travel far and wide to see, the progressive bluegrass band from Kalamazoo, Michigan, makes their debut at The Anthem this weekend, with support from fellow Michigander Billy Strings, picked as one of “10 New Country Artists You Need to Know” by Rolling Stone in 2017. Saturday, Feb. 3. Doors at 6 p.m. The Anthem, 901 Wharf St. SW. Remaining tickets are $40. Call 202-265-0930 or visit theanthemdc.com.
Mary Gauthier
In a career spanning over two decades, the lesbian country/folk artist has had her songs covered by everyone from Jimmy Buffett (“Wheel Inside The Wheel”) and Blake Shelton (“I Drink”) to Bettye LaVette (“Worthy”) and Candi Staton (“Mercy Now”). A native of New Orleans now based in Nashville, Gauthier returns to the area for an intimate concert supporting her powerful new concept album Rifles & Rosary Beads, a collection of 11 deeply personal songs that she co-wrote with U.S. veterans and their families. Saturday, Feb. 10. Doors at 6:30 p.m. Jammin Java, 227 Maple Ave. E. Vienna. Tickets are $20 to $22. Call 703-255-3747 or visit jamminjava.com.
Raising America’s Zoo
Local journalist Kara Arundel tells the story of her father-in-law, Arthur “Nick” Arundel, a gorilla hunter-turned-activist who played an instrumental part in transforming the National Zoo into one of the world’s leading conservation centers. (Fun fact: Arundel published the Times Community Newspapers, for whom Metro Weekly‘s editor-in-chief served as a film critic for 15 years.) Tuesday, Feb. 6, at 6:30 p.m. Kramerbooks, 1517 Connecticut Ave. NW. Call 202-387-1400 or visit kramers.com.
Burlesque-a-pades In Loveland
New York’s Angie Pontani, billed as the “International Queen of Burlesque,” presents the 11th anniversary of a Valentine’s Day-themed show mixing performances in the revived art of striptease with magic, music and comedy. New York drag king and transgender comedian Murray Hill returns as host of an evening featuring performances by Potani, Baltimore performance artist Cherie Nuit, LGBTQ burlesque artist The Maine Attraction, The Evil Hate Monkey, Philadelphia’s Peek-A-Boo Revue featuring Goldi Fox, Ginger Leigh, and Cherry Bomb, and Cleveland’s musical husband-and-wife super-duo Pinch & Squeal. Friday, Feb. 9, at 7:30 p.m. The Birchmere, 3701 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria. Tickets are $29.50. Call 703-549-7500 or visit birchmere.com.
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