This Week at the Workhouse Arts Center

This week features the first Stand Up Comedy Night at the Workhouse, the opening of Painting at the Workhouse Exhibition and the closing performances of Rapunzel and much more!

Come on out and experience some laughs Friday, June 29, at 8pm! 

Stand Up Comedy Night will feature brilliant comedians bound to show you a good time. The comedians include:

• Jeff Maurer, Last Comic Standing Semi-Finalist who has also performed at various venues such as the D.C. Improv and Riot Act;
• Kat Radley, winner of the Women in Comedy Festival Friars Club Award;
• Rahmen Mostafavi who has appeared at DC Improv, Riot Act, Richmond Funny Bone and the Arlington Cinema and Drafthouse. 

Due to the material that will be presented, all patrons must be 18 years old to attend the performance.  Tickets are available both online ($10) and at the door ($12 cash only).

Commerce is a new exhibition series at the Workhouse, featuring studio artists in media specific and thematic shows in the McGuireWoods Gallery.  Curated by Workhouse Director of Visual Arts, Scott Habes, the initial show, Painting at the Workhouse, will takes place June 29 – July 22, 2012, and features a wide range of styles and approaches from the professional artists working at the Center. 

Painting at the Workhouse will feature classical styles such as landscape, botanical, still-life and portraiture, as well as contemporary painters pushing the limits of the medium.  The exhibition aims to unite the Workhouse’s painters and display their work in a context that unites them with the broader community.  The show will highlight each artist in a one-of-a-kind installation and will emphasize work with collectors’ and designers’ tastes in mind. Please join the artists at the opening reception on Saturday, June 30 from 5-7pm. 

You may have heard there have been some changes in our Performing Arts Department.  To shed some light on those changes, here is a statement from John Mason, President and CEO of the Lorton Arts Foundation:

"The Performing Arts Department at the Workhouse Arts Center encompasses theatre, music, dance, film and festivals.  The Workhouse launched Studio 3 Theatre for Young Audiences and Workhouse Theatre last December, however after six months of experience, there is a need to restructure the theatre program. 

"The original model was based on in-house theater productions, that while an excellent concept providing outstanding performances, is not financially viable in a 100-seat theatre.  The department will seek arrangements with existing local theatre troupes and ensembles to rent or profit-share productions in the W-3 Theatre. 

"While this may take a few months to develop, the Performing Arts Department hopes to announce its 2012/2013 season later this summer.  This change in business model will only impact the theatre program.  All other musical, dance and film events and festivals will take place as scheduled. 

“As we reviewed our programming and refined our FY2013 budget, is has been necessary to make adjustments to our Workhouse business model.  Most recently I made a difficult budgetary decision to change the business model of the current theater program.  I regret that this shift will require less personnel, resulting in the loss of two Performing Arts staff positions.  This business model is common in the theatre world and will allow us to continue to deliver quality theatre productions and to fulfill our mission.”

THIS WEEK AT THE WORKHOUSE

• Painting at the Workhouse exhibition in the McGuireWoods Gallery, June 29 – July 22.
• Workhouse Prison Museum in Building W-9.
• June exhibitions in all seven studio buildings and the Vulcan Gallery.
• Workhouse Farmers Market Thursday at 3:30 – 7pm on the Workhouse Quad.
• Rapunzel by Studio 3 Theatre for Young Audiences Saturday at 10am and 1pm.
• Mount Vernon Nights at the Workhouse features Chopteeth (Afrofunk) Saturday at 7pm.

Stop by and visit us! 

The Workhouse is open Wednesday – Saturday from 11am – 7pm and Sundays from 12 – 5pm.  The Workhouse Prison Museum is open Wednesday – Friday from 12 – 3pm and Saturday – Sunday from 12 – 4pm.  Visit www.WorkhouseArts.org for more information, to purchase tickets or to register for classes.

Camela Speer
Director of Marketing
Workhouse Arts Center . . . Escape to Arts & Entertainment!
camelaspeer@lortonarts.org
www.facebook.com/WorkhouseArts