Visual Artist Brenda Goerzen joined us to talk about the health benefits of painting for her during the COVID shutdown which impacted her mentally. Also learn about the unique materials she uses for her pieces, her #1 inspiration for creating art, and how she describes her particular type of art work. And then hear what very interesting fact she dropped on us halfway through the interview about how she exactly paints and how this technique would be such an entertaining show and explains why...

The award-winning architect Paola Amodeo returned to the show to talk about her latest and very exciting side business - jewelry design. Find out how she got into this line of work from an incident that happened 40 years ago, how her jewelry is so unique, how "adjacencies" and shapes appear to her when designing jewelry and her other services of repair and repurposing pieces and heirloom gems for customers. Also learn why she thinks architecture design so closely mirrors jewelry-making with...

Actor Jake Loewenthal took time out of his crazy schedule to chat with us about the upcoming world premiere of "Private Jones" at Signature Theatre about a a WWI deaf soldier and the unique device of "sound" in the production. Also hear about how he prepares for new roles, his bucket list of productions, his particular technique when sending in taped auditions, and what exactly he does when he is not on stage (hint: it is not reading a book!). And he does have one COVID silver lining that...

"Community Builder for the Arts" Stacey Schwartz shared with our listeners a wonderful new initiative being offered in communities throughout the US - Free Little Art Galleries. Find out what it is all about, how they help the community residents interact with the arts, how they uplift residents and how they help artists market their work. Also find out the process and how folks can take or give art. She also updated us on how the Hylton Performing Arts Center at George Mason University is...

One of the Artistic Producing Partners of Avant Bard Theatre returned to the show to give us all the details about their exciting 2024 season. Starting off the year they will be holding their annual "Scripts in Play Festival" that features staged readings of 3 original plays, along iwth talk backs and the ability of audience members to influence the final play. Subjects this year include a serial murderer, a queer Puerto Rican and a fictional Shakespeare. Also hear about their 2 main stage...

Dominion Stage's Director Mario Font and Actor Gary Bernard DiNardo came on the podcast to give us all the details about the organization's upcoming prodution of "Torch Song." Also find out how Gary prepared for his role as "Arnold" and how the character's personality resonated with him, some things you will see in the show from the director's standpoint and how the show captures family conflict. Also find out which roles and plays are on each guest's bucket list and what is coming next in...

The Visual Artist Judy Southerland joined us to talk about her new exhibition at the Fred Schnider Gallery of Art opening January 6th with an opening reception, an artist talk on February 4 and a closing reception on February 24. Hear about how she became a visual artist despite no art classes being offered when she was ins school, how Carl Sagan influenced her interest in art, and how her work in this latest exhibition features a unique glazing technique and hidden text within each work....

The newly hired Gallery Assistant at the Fred Schnider Gallery of Art A'nnah Howard came on the show to give us all the details about the gallery's exciting 2024 Exhibitions schedule - from gothic surrealism to psychology to human grief and anxiety. Also find out her aspirations for a career in the art world, the type of art she creates and why she loves the Fred Schnider Gallery whose mission is to showcase local artists.

Continuing our goal of interviewing "behind the scenes" theatrical professionals, we welcomed back to the show Jorge Acevedo who is the Casting Director at Signature Theatre. Find out exactly what a casting director does and how they go about finding the right actors for each role. Also learn the audition process followed at Signature, how Jorge strives to bring diversity and "outside the box" thinking to casting actors, how far in advance actors in DC are called up for auditions and how does...

The very talented actor Maria Rizzo appeared as a guest on the "Embracing Arlington Arts Talks" podcast to talk about her career, how she got into the theater industry, some of her previous "vampy" roles and her character in the current production of "Ragtime" being presented by Signature Theatre. Also learn what roles are on her bucket list, how she felt going onstage for the first time after the shutdown and her unique next "role." And for those romantics out there, listen in to the story...

The Artistic Director of Ballet Nova Dance Company Matthew Powell returned to the show to give us all the details about how they are celebrating their 20th anniversary of presenting "The Nutcracker" including a return to tradition and incorporating what it has meant to the company's families. Also find out about their spring ballet production (and how it will be announced) and an exciting "Roaring 20's" themed gala complete with a "speakeasy" in their black box theater. And learn one...

Actor and Playwright Rachel Hynes joined us back on the show to talk about her adventure and experiences transitioning from the DC theater scene to a small town in the Carolinas. From vast changes in commute times, community engagement with theaters and a sense of welcome about the arts in a smaller town vis-a-vis a big city were some of her observances. She also recounted for our listeners how as a playwright she devised a show about her many "scars" and a traumatic experience she had and...

Visual Artist Delna Dastur appeared on the "Embracing Arlington Arts Talks" podcast to talk about her upcoming exhibition at the Fred Schnider Gallery of Art. Also find out her favorite medium to work with, her genre of artwork, and some unique materials she uses including some from her native India. Also learn about her creative process and how she started teaching at the Art League (Torpedo Factory) and the Smithsonian and how climate change impact every piece of art she creates.

Our 300th episode!!!! The Executive Director of Encore Stage and Studio Sara Duke returned to the show to give us all the details about their exciting upcoming season whose theme is "belonging" based on what her students were telling her about coming back to the theater. The season includes a new "Flip the Script" project - a big hit in the past. Also learn about what she and Encore staff learned during COVID and how the theater industry changed. And why does she prefer youth theater over...

Director Stevie Zimmerman appeared on the "Embracing Arlington Arts Talks" podcast to talk about her craft as a director, how she ended up in the theater industry, and her thoughts on what needs to be considered when theaters choose their seasons. Also hear about her creative process for both a play that has been presented before and for premieres, as well as her collaborative approach to directing. Very insightful chat!

Child Entertainer "Groovy Nate" is a gift to children! Listen to his journey to becoming "Groovy Nate" to why he focused his music on entertaining and educating children to the types of events he presents to one of his tricks to keeping even the youngest children engaged and alert. Also find out about his Grammy nomination (and how it almost didn't happen) to how he believes music positively impacts not only the children who sees his performances but also him as an educator. And what's next...

Playwright and Actor Victor Salinas joined us on the "Embracing Arlington Arts Talks" podcast to talk about his new original play about 2 immigrant sisters - one documented and the other not - and their different perceptions of the United States that is being presented by the Mexican Cultural Institute. Also learn about his role in the upcoming Gala Hispanic Theatre's production of "Bathing in Moonlight," as well as how he got his start in the theater industry at the age of 6 in Mexico City....

The newly  named Artistic Director of Adventure Theatre Kurt Boehm returned to the show to give us all the details about their busy and fun upcoming season which offers many shows for young audiences. Also hear about the theater's mission, the associated Musical Theater Center (Academy), his goals for the organization, and where he wants to see the theater in 3-5 years and how he ended up in the theater industry.

Visual Artists Stephanie Lane and Joe Cortina joined us on the podcast to talk about their upcoming duo exhibition at the Fred Schnider Gallery of Art which will include unique paintings and even some immersive projections (think floating figures and ghostlike apparitions). Also find out the preferred genres and paint mediums they both prefer, Stephanie's unique painting process, Joe's company "Cortina Productions" which creates immersive experiences in museums and how COVID impacted their work.

The Artistic Director of the National Chamber Ensemble Leo Sushansky gave us all the details about the upcoming season which focuses on diversity and presenting the works of lesser-known composers of color. Find out who and what will be featured for all five concerts, information about their annual Young Artists Competition, and some of other concerts he has planned for the coming months.

Actor Lolita Marie appeared on the "Embracing Arlington Arts Talks" podcast to chat with us about how she got into the theater business, a very unique 2nd role she had when starting out and her tricks in preparing for a new role. Also get all the details about the upcoming production of "Sweat," her character some of her fellow actors and one special actor in particular. And what's her next gig?

Visual Artist Pakan Penn enlightened us with a discussion about his unique painting style - using a palette knife instead of a brush - which results in a textured "3D" effect because of the many paint layers. Also hear about his upbringing in Cambodia and how these memories  influence his work, the great honor he had of having a painting hung in the White House during the 8 years of the Obama Administration and his response to the age-old question "how do you know when a painting is done."

Director Matthew Randall and Playwright Craig Houk came on the podcast to give us all the details about the upcoming Dominion Stage production of the world premiere of "Brute Farce" - a British farce and play within a play that includes a kidnapping, a potential murder, an unlikable theater critic, along with many twists and turns along the way. Also find out why Dominion chose to present this play, its route through the organization's original play-writing contest and how playwrights can...

The Artistic Director of Mosaic Theater Company Reg Douglas returned to the podcast to give us all the details about their exciting upcoming season. From four main stage productions, three world premieres (two which received support from the theater's new play development incubator program) and Lincoln, Nancy Reagan, Pocahontas, a hip-hop musical and a time-shifting play, there is something for everyone. Also learn about their innovative "H Street Oral History Project Festival" and a unique...

The Academy-award nominated Playwright Jose Rivera appeared on the "Embracing Arlington Arts Talks" podcast to talk about the premiere of his new play "Your Name Means Dream" at the Contemporary American Theater Festival (CATF). Hear details about the show (that focuses on growing older and AI), the phenomenal two actors appearing in the production, and what he really thinks of AI. Also Jose regales us with interesting stories about his Oscar nomination and attending the awards ceremony,...