At six, Intersections Festival packs in more discoveries than ever

Theater lovers will once again have lots to look forward to, as the 6^th Annual Intersections Festival returns to the Atlas Performing Arts Center over the next three weekends. Of course, the festival offers more than just great theater; it also has performances in music, film, opera and dance—more than 100 in total gracing Atlas’ five stages.

“One of the things that’s distinctive about this year is we have gone even deeper around the notion of engaging with our audiences in innovative ways,” says Mary Hall Surface, artistic director of the festival, who created the event along with Atlas Founder Jane Lang in 2010. “Every performance offers some new entry point into what’s on stage, whether it’s an interactive event before the show, or the show itself has an interactive performance, or there’s a follow-up after the show.”

“It’s all about our goal of creating an event that is a unique gathering place where we increase what it is we share through the arts,” Surface says. “We started this to try and create an event that would embody the mission of the Atlas. In that sense, we’ve achieved our goal. We certainly attract… the most diverse audiences in DC for any arts event and the roster of artists include students up to those among the most established artists in DC, and emerging artists.”

Several performers are also reaching out to audiences online; such as the Capital City Symphony which developed the second half of their program by asking people what they want them to play. Additionally, every night (except closing night) will feature a “Meet the Artist” opportunity at happy hour with performers on hand to talk with patrons.

Over the next three weekends, more than 700 different performance artists from nearly 125 groups will hit the stage. The events are spaced out, allowing festival-goers to experience a variety of productions every day.

When performances are over, attendees have the chance to head to Atlas’ Kogod Lobby for some food and enjoy the festival’s Washington Post-sponsored Café Concert series, featuring artists like Cecily, Andrea Wood, Matthew Mills, Alpha Dog Blues and the Chamasyan Sisters.

Example? Here’s what audiences will find opening day, Friday, February 20th:

But arrive early to catch:

• a happy hour with festival artists
  a griot dance workshop
  Bossa Nova from Veroneau
  griot performer Cheick Hammala Diabata

and stay after for:

• Flamenco
  a Nu-Jazz duo
  and the Opening Night party, led by the National Hand Dance Association

More theatre performances at Intersections:

Once the last performance finishes, Intersections still won’t be over. For the first time, it is holding a dance version of an “Open Mike” and presenting an “Open Marley,” where dancers from all genres are invited to participate on the 20 x 15 stage. Doug Yeuell will serve as host and invite dancers up for the fun.

Surface says another enlightening show is Surrender by Goldie Dean, playing March 6 at 7:30 p.m. and March 7 at 4:30 p.m. Deane is a “hip-hop womanist,” dedicated to empowering and liberating the stories of Black women and girls and Surrender combines music, dance, and verse to tell the story of a young woman and her rites into womanhood with traditional Yoruba rituals and traditions.

“While she’s been involved in the festival before, this year she has this very interesting piece, which is a right of passage into womanhood; a theater spoken word piece,” Surface says. “She’s very exciting.”

Intersections remembers the tiny tots as well. Arts on the Horizon, which produces exclusively for the wee ones, has 9 performances between Feb 27 at March 7th.  And everyone will have the chance to enjoy Happenstance Theater‘s favorite clown duo Pinot and Augustine (Feb 21 at 8pm and Feb 28 at 11:30am)

With more than 700 performers whose performance art crisscrosses theatre, dance and music, Intersections makes it possible for everyone to “Take a Chance. Try Something New.”