Intersections Artist: Children's Chorus of Washington

An Interview with Joan Gregoryk
Jacqueline Lawton: What type of artist are you?
Joan Gregoryk: I am a choral director

JL: Where were you born? How did you end up where you are now?
JG: I was born in North Dakota, and majored in music in college in St. Paul, Minnesota. I represented my college at a conference here in Washington, and decided to come here to teach music after graduation.

JL: Who are your heroes?
JG: Sister Mary Davida, who was a music instructor in college and Doreen Rao a choral director from Canada.

JL: List five words that describe your personality:
JG: upbeat, responsible, dedicated, hard-working, and fun-loving.

JL: What is the best advice you have to give?
JG: Make certain your life's work is something about which you are passionate

JL: What do you think will be cool about the festival?
JG: The opportunity to see a wide variety of artists from across the DC area.

JL: How do you feel your performance fits into the festival?
JG: We are sharing a concert with Glorystar, whose members are primarily of Asian descent.

JL: Finish this sentence: I am an intersection of ...
JG: two cultures, Ukranian and Czechoslovakian.
~~

Children's Chorus of Washington with Glorystar Children's Chorus
Together We Sing, a cultural intersection of two outstanding youth choruses, each launching international tours.
Saturday, Mar 6 at 2:00 PM
Lang Theater
Tickets: $10 student (ages 12 and under) / $20 adult
For audiences ages 6 and up.

www.childrenschorus.com
www.glorystar.org

Intersections Artist: Vertical Voices Playback Theatre

An Interview Tim Reagan

Jacqueline Lawton: What type of artist are you?
Tim Reagan: I am a theatre educator and director. I also dabble in music and visual art.

JL: Where were you born? How did you end up where you are now?
TR: I was born and raised in the one traffic light town of Marcellus, NY - a small suburb of Syracuse. I moved to DC to attend graduate school, where I met my wife, Lisa Agogliati. After working in non-profit arts and theatre management, I returned to my calling as a teaching artist as the director of the Middle School Drama Program at Sidwell Friends School, where I have been since 1995.

JL: Who are your heroes?
TR: My heroes are stroke survivors, and people who work with young children and people with disabilities.

JL: What is your favorite quote?
TR: "Just keep swimming." Dori's mantra from Finding Nemo.

JL: Why did you want to be a part of intersections?
TR: The fact that someone is interested in what today's youth have to say is important. Vertical Voices Playback Theatre is a forum for audiences to learn about themselves and their community. I look forward to seeing what kind of community will be formed by those attending the festival.

JL: How do you feel your performance fits into the festival?
TR: The company members of Vertical Voices Playback Theatre capture the essence of someone's personal story quickly and concisely. Despite their age, these company members have the knack to accurately reflect the feelings of young children to older adults - a nice meeting place, or intersection, for folks to learn about one another.
~~

Vertical Voices Playback Theatre
Intersect: Let Your Life Speak, an interactive performance created by DC’s Sidwell Friends School performers probing the festival theme.
Sunday, Feb 28 at 4:30 PM
Sprenger Theater
Tickets: $5
For audiences ages 5 and up.

Intersections Artist: Tom Teasley

An Interview

Jacqueline Lawton: What type of artist are you?
Tom Teasley: I am a world percussionist who combines playing styles, instruments and techniques from Africa, India and the Middle East with American jazz. I also combine instruments of ancient origin with contemporary digital technology.

JL: Where were you born? How did you end up where you are now?
TT: I was born in Washington, DC!! After playing in rock bands during my teens I went to Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore, MD. After graduation while my colleagues were going for orchestra auditions I was touring nationally in blues bands. After several tours to New Orleans I began to notice that western percussion is only the beginning. I then began to seek out master drummers from Africa, India, and the Middle East and combine those styles with my experience with western classical music and American jazz.

JL: Who are your heroes?
TT: I have many heroes. Personally, my parents, Gandi and Martin Luther King. Musically they would be Joe Morello, Max Roach, Igor Stravinsky, Zakir Hussain and many, many more...

JL: If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you be?
TT: I would be right here-In the Washington, DC area!! I just returned from several tours to Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Jerusalem. I am delighted to be home for a while!

JL: What is your favorite quote?
TT: “If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away.”- Henry David Thoreau

JL: How do you feel your performance fits into the festival?
TT: My music is an intersection between the ancient music of the Middle East, India and Africa filtered through my experience as an American musician combined with the latest developments in digital technology.
~~

Tom Teasley
The Drum: Ancient Traditions Today, a journey from ancient times to the future with an internationally renowned world music percussionist.
Sunday, Feb 28 at 5:30 PM
Lab II
Tickets: $5
For audiences ages 6 and up.

Percussion Workshop:
Sunday, Feb 28 at 3:30 PM
Lab II
Tickets: FREE

www.tomteasley.com

Intersections Artist: Word Beat

An Interview with Charles Williams

Jacqueline Lawton: What type of artist are you?
CW: I am a singer and an actor (spoken word)

JL: Where were you born? And how did you get here?
CW: I was born in Haynesville Louisiana- After spending several decades in Europe, it was time to come home. We wanted to be on the East Coast, but not in NY.

JL: Who are your heroes?
CW: My heroes are Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, and all the ancestors that came before me.

JL: If you could be an animal, what would you be and why?
CW: What animal would I be? I think some kind of mutt dog. They are loved and are loving.

JL: What is the best advice you have to give?
CW: Listen!!

JL: How do you feel your performance fits into the festival?
CW: Word-Beat does a repertoire that is perfect for the festival.

JL: Finish this sentence: I am an intersection of...
CW: deep friendship, and being together with like minded people.
~~

Word-Beat
The Legacy of Langston, a multi-disciplinary salute to Langston Hughes, featuring popular collaborators singer/actor Charles Williams and percussionist/composer Tom Teasley.
Saturday, Feb 27 at 7:30 PM
Lab II
Tickets: $10
For audiences ages 11 and up.

www.word-beat.com

Intersections Artist: Voices from Busboys and Poets

An Interview with Holly Bass and Benny Blaq

Jacqueline Lawton: What type of artist are you?
Holly Bass: I am a multi-disciplinary artist. My work draws from spoken word, dance theater and performance art.
Benny Blaq: Spoken Word.

JL: Where were you born? How did you end up where you are now?
HB: I was born and raised in California. I went to school in New York and had planned to live out my days there. A summer internship in DC turned into a long-term stay and now I love it here.
BB: Brooklyn Ny and i was in the military and was stationed @ the Pentagon.

JL: Who are your heroes?
HB: My favorite artists are those who have committed to making art until their last breath, who continue to innovate and even become more outrageous and provocative over time.
BB: My mother

JL: What is your personal theme song?
HB: (Living My Life Like It’s) Golden, by Jill Scott
BB: A change is going to come - Sam Cooke

JL: Why did you want to be a part of intersections?
HB: Art is a great way to build and enhance community. I support anything that brings more voices into the dialogue.
BB: I think its a dope concept

JL: What do you think will be cool about the festival?
HB: It’s taking place in an amazing space in an incredible neighborhood in DC. I hope that long-time residents will be excited about the festival and feel that they own it as much as the artists and newcomers to H Street do.

JL: How do you feel your performance fits into the festival?
HB: Poetry is an act of democracy, an expression of the First Amendment, a way to speak that transcends borders and barriers. I’m proud to be able to host a spoken word event that will include poets of different backgrounds and experiences-- black, white, brown, gay, straight, foreign and American-born.
BB: I bring a lot of energy and a different perspective than most.
~~

Voices from Busboys and Poets
The City in Words, a night at the mic when resident poets Holly Bass and Benny Blaq of the popular Busboys and Poets restaurant host a dynamic evening of spoken word and open mic.
Sunday, Feb 28, at 7:30 PM
Sprenger Theater
Tickets: $10
For audiences ages 15 and up.

http://hollybass.com/

www.busboysandpoets.com

Intersections Artist: Arena Stage presents Voices of Now

An Interview with Taelor A. Price, DeLante Fludd, Ashley H., Laneisha McCauley and Adrienne C. Marvritte

Jacqueline Lawton: What type of artist are you?
Taelor: I am a transformed artist.
DeLante: I am an Actor and Visual Artist
Ashley: I am a literal artist.
Laneisha: I am a performer and a writer.
Adrienne: I am a crazy, loveable artist who loves to make people
laugh.

JL: If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you be?
Taelor: I would be in my own little world with my own little house and car with a bunch of little people who love me dearly.
DeLante: I would be in Australia.
Ashley: California.
Laneisha: I would be on 13th Street, talking to Elizabeth.
Adrienne: I would be travelling from Spain to France to Italy to Hawaii. I can always imagine myself there.

JL: What is your personal theme song?
Taelor: My theme song is Moving Forward by Hezekiah Walker
DeLante: Hero by Mariah Carey.
Laneisha: The Sign
Adrienne: Follow Me by Uncle Kracker because it’s like how I feel on life man.

JL: What is the best advice you have to give?
Taelor: Pray
DeLante: Label the food you put in the refrigerator.
Ashley: Life goes on no matter what, so don’t dwell on what tomorrow won’t hold.
Laneisha: Don’t force. If the shoe doesn’t fit, get a different size.
Adrienne: Don’t wear any boy shorts or thongs on stage. It will give you major wedgies.

JL: How do you feel your performance fits into the festival?
DeLante: Because you have encounter encounters at intersections or crossing points in your life and we will show some in our performance.
Laneisha: Our performance is called Encounter, so I feel it fists pretty well.
Adrienne: Voices of Now is a great fit because as artists we are constantly exploring the intersections of life.
~~

Voices of Now
Encounter, a musically poetic look at young peoples' lives devised and performed by Arena's top youth ensemble.
Sunday, Feb 28 at 2:30 PM
Sunday, Mar 7 at 2:30 PM
Sprenger Theater
Tickets: $5
For audiences ages 11 and up.

http://www.arenastage.org/

Intersections Artist: Washington Performing Arts Society

An Interview with Najee Thompson and Monet Gooch

Jacqueline Lawton: Where were you born? How did you end up where you are now?
Najee Thompson: I was born in Baltimore City, I ended up where I am now by God, first and foremost. But I ended up here by singing at my church and going to performing arts schools for middle school and high school.
Monet Gooch: I was born in Washington, DC. and ended up where I am now because my family wanted better for our life.

JL: Who are your heroes?
NT: My heroes are Barack Obama, and Stevie Wonder
MG: My heroes are my Mom because she I believe she work so hard just to make a better life for me and helps me to rise above everything

JL: What is your personal theme song?
MG: Never Would Have Made It - Marvin Sapp

JL: What is the best advice you have to give?
NT: Strive to reach your goal. Never settle for less no matter what, don't let anybody tell you can't because you can and you will, you and God control your future.

JL: Why did you want to be a part of intersections?
NT: I want to be a part of intersections because I feel that I can give to the community. I feel that maybe that certain performance on that certain day someone may realize that HEY they want to start singing and they may decide that is their career path to start singing. To bring the main frame together, I feel that I can be the influence that someone lives their dream.

JL: What do you think will be cool about the festival?
MG: I think seeing the different performances and the discipline that goes on in the different performance groups. Each performance has a story and history and I think being able to experience the history of each performer/performance is what makes it cool.
~~

Washington Performing Arts Society

Summer Academy Live! WPAS presents a concert of their up and coming youth performers in Children of the Gospel, the Capital Jazz Project and Summer Steps with Step Afrika!
Saturday, Feb 27 at 2pm
Lang Theater
Tickets: $5
For audiences of all ages.

www.wpas.org

Intersections Artist: DCypher Dance

An Interview with Natasha Hawkins

Jacqueline Lawton: What type of artist are you?
Natasha Hawkins: I’ve been dancing since I was four years old and my mom had me in every dance class you could think of from Ballet to Tahitian. Even today I like to dabble in lots of different styles, so in that case I can’t say I’m one type of artist. I’m just a person with a passion for performing.

JL: Where were you born? How did you end up where you are now?
NH: I was born and raised right here in Washington, DC. Funny thing is I live less than two minutes from the hospital where I was born.

JL: If you could be an animal, what would you be and why?
NH: I love the water and swimming so any type of aquatic animal would be just fine with me!

JL: What is your favorite quote?
NH: I say a lot of things, “I support…” and “YESSSSSSS!!!!” but no particular quote.

JL: Why did you want to be a part of intersections?
NH: As the Rehearsal Director for DCypher Dance, being in this festival is an opportunity for our company to share hip hop and our experiences in exchange for listening and learning from others.

JL: How do you feel your performance fits into the festival?
NH: Our mission statement speaks directly to what this festival wants to accomplish. DCypher Dance focuses on developing new and innovative works of pure hip hop and fusion that are high energy, provocative, and “culture specific” for audiences of all ages and walks of life. DCypher Dance produces works that enrich and empower community through dances of understanding, tolerance, and celebration!
~~

DCypher Dance
DCypher 10.2: Co-Ed, A high-voltage hip-hop performance event by a boundary-breaking DC ensemble that will invite festival-goers to a new cultural crossroads -- step up and in!
Friday, Mar 5 at 9:30 PM
Tickets: $15
Sprenger Theater
For audiences ages 13 and up.

Dance Party:
Friday, Mar 5 at 11:00 PM
Sprenger Theater
Tickets: $5

For a six-week performance class leading to advanced participation in the show, go to: http://www.joyofmotion.org/

Intersections Artist: Blues Professor Wale Liniger

Jacqueline Lawton: What type of artist are you?
Wale Liniger: I enjoy a curious mind and look for pertinent expressions through oral & written narratives, through the sounds of guitar and harmonica, through the Blues.

JL: Where were you born?
WL: I was born in Bern, Switzerland.

JL: If you could be an animal, what would you be and why?
WL: A bear. I wonder how it feels waking up after hibernation: a brand-new world every time?

JL: If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you be?
WL: In a nation that rallies around a necessary common goal, in a warm place.

JL: What is your favorite quote?
WL: "It all depends on how we look at things, and not on how they are themselves." -Carl Jung

JL: Why did you want to be a part of intersections?
WL: As an immigrant I live with the sense of 'permanent transition,' with questions about our points of departure and our points of arrival. I believe there will be others like me at Intersections.

JL: How do you feel your performance fits into the production?
WL: I believe the Blues to be an important human energy. Alas, more often than not we try to silence it instead of giving it a voice. Intersections promises to be a platform for a wide variety of artistic perspectives on life.
~~

Blues Professor Wale Liniger
Take a unique journey into the blues with a Swiss-born artist who has made this distinctly American sound his own, weaving harmonica, guitar and voice into a rich musical tapestry. A celebrated artist featured in blues festivals on both sides of the Atlantic, this professor is a true believer in the creativity of the human mind when the heart is in trouble.
Sunday, Feb 28
6:00-7:30pm
Lobby
FREE

This performance is sponsored by The Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC).
http://www.bluesprof.com/

Click the link below to watch a video of Blues Professor Wale Liniger: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YkVE0q0ocE