What’s on





FREE PERFORMANCES
AND ARTS FAIR

The Kennedy Center
Saturday, August 20th, 2022
10:30am – 8:30pm

Thank you to all who were able to join us for the Open Doors festival at The Kennedy Center. This event included an arts market, dance and movement classes, panel discussion, cabaret & Millennium Stage performances, and more. The festival, created by members of the disability community, celebrates professional artists who identify as disabled and/or d/Deaf, in community with allies.

Feel free to share the archived Millenium Stage live stream!

And enjoy these photos by our collaborator, Greater Depth Media, of various parts of the festival (descriptions coming shortly)

Schedule of Events

Arts Market

2–8:30 p.m.

PRESIDENTIAL GROVE

A collection of six photographs, created by using the silhouette of a woman’s face against different backgrounds, including a sky and flower, medical instruments, beaded art, and two reflective surfaces. A pink silhouette of a young girl against wood grain is in the upper center. The Open Doors Festival logo is in the bottom right corner of the image.
The Body is Good, a photography series by Jessica Wallach, featured artist in the arts market and panel discussion.

About the Arts Market: Artists include Allison Dyer (painter, textile artist, and crafts artist) Alex Fitzgerald (digital painter), Mateo Mordecai (bio architectural artist), Kaeden Stewart (visual artist across multiple media and found object collage artist) Jessica Wallach (photographer), D’Bora Ware (painter, sculptor, and mixed media artist).

Door Jams -Dance Classes In Collaboration with Dance Sanctuaries

Come dance with us Saturday morning at 4 classes 10:30 a.m. until 2:45 p.m. at the Kennedy Center.  These classes are a part of the Open Doors Festival and are in collaboration with the Culture Caucus and the Dance Sanctuaries programs of the Social Impact Office. Please register for this dance section of the festival

STUDIO F AT THE REACH

Class #1 | Revolving Doors Introduction – Dance, Access and Disability Justice

10:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

Explore and create in a safe space technique to create dance that is accessible to yourself and others. Join Corina Dalzell (dancer and choreographer) and Suzanne Richard (dancer and director) for a chance to dance and create in a framework of Disability Justice. All bodies are welcome and celebrated.

Instructors: Susie Richard & Corina Dalzell

Class #2 | Introduction to Viewpoints

1:00-2:00 p.m.

This class will be a basic Introduction to Viewpoints, a set of techniques developed by Anne Bogart to help us think about how we move. Participants will learn about the 9 Viewpoints and come away with an enhanced understanding of how to recognize and communicate about movement in artistic spaces and out in the world. All levels welcome – no previous experience necessary. Participants are encouraged to wear comfortable clothing they can move in. No specific accessibility needs beyond anything a participant may need to understand verbal explanations and cues.

Instructor: Regan Linton

Movement Workshop: Revolving Doors – Dance, Access and Disability Justice

2–2:45 p.m.

Explore and create more deeply in a safe space technique to create dance that is accessible to yourself and others. Join Corina Dalzell (dancer and choreographer) and Suzanne Richard (dancer and director) for a chance to dance and create in a framework of Disability Justice. All bodies are welcome and celebrated.

A movement class in a rehearsal room. Twelve participants hold out their arms and pinch their hands downward. They are different ethnicities and wear casual clothing and masks. All are seated, except for one. One participant uses a power wheelchair. The Open Doors Festival logo is in the bottom right corner of the image.
Instructors: Suzanne Richard and Corina Dalzell.

Main Festival

When Arts, Access, and Awesomeness Intersect

PANEL DISCUSSION | RIVER PAVILION

3–3:45 p.m.

About the Panel: If you want to change society, start with the Arts. A panel discussion on how the arts contribute to access and awesomeness for disabled and intersectional communities. Speakers include Michelle Banks (director and performer), Regan Linton (director and actor), and Suzanne Richard (artistic director and performer)

Open Door Jam

CABARET PERFORMANCE | RIVER PAVILION

4-6 PM

Headshots of three performers. Emily wears a cheerleader’s uniform, and has a big smile, and looks off to the right. Regan is a white woman with blonde hair in a forest green collared shirt and jeans. She’s seated in a manual wheelchair, full of joy and smiling into the distance. Marlena is a woman with light brown hair, wearing a jean jacket and colorful scarf, holding an open book. The Open Doors Festival logo is in the bottom right corner of the image.
Open Door Jam performers Emily Kranking, Regan Linton, Marlena Chertock (shown). Part 1 features Adam McCrensky, Aaron Hyndman, Mel Hardy, Alexander Burdette, and Lisa Lewis. Part 2 features Amelia Turkewitz, Emily Kranking, and Regan Linton, Marlena Chertock.

A celebration of DMV performers with disabilities. Part 1 features performers Adam McCrensky and Aaron Hyndman in partnership with Artstream, poets Mel Hardy and Alexander Burdette, and circus performer Lisa Lewis. Part 2 continues with Amelia Turkewitz in partnership with Artstream, poet Marlena Chertock, and actors Emily Kranking and Regan Linton.

Open Doors Festival on The Millennium Stage

Open Doors Festival on The Millennium Stage

MILLENNIUM STAGE PERFORMANCE | GRAND FOYER

6–7 p.m.

Headshots of three artists. Scott is a white man with short brown hair, a beard, a black shirt, a half smile, and looks directly out. Aarron is a Black man with short brown hair and a beard, wearing a black suit and bowtie. He signs with his hands pressed together offset, and smiles off to the right. Shelby is a woman with short brown hair and a black shirt. She has a big grin and looks directly out. Natalie is a woman with below-the-shoulder brown hair, a patterned black-and-white dress and yellow cardigan. She is mid-performance, standing at a mic. Her expression is animated. Amy is a white woman with long red hair, large pink earrings, a white shirt, and a rust-colored cardigan. She stands with a hand in her pocket, with a toothy smile and looking directly out. The Open Doors Festival logo is in the bottom right corner of the image.
Millennium Stage event featuring performers Scott Sedar and Aarron Loggins, composer and pianist Shelby Lock, poet Natalie Illum, playwright Amy Claussen, and more.

About the Millennium Stage performance: Join us to celebrate DMV writers and performers who identify as disabled and/or d/Deaf, including performers Scott Sedar and Aarron Loggins, playwright Amy Claussen, composer and pianist Shelby Lock, and poet Natalie Illum. They are joined by both performers with disabilities as well as allies: Linda Bard, Regan Linton, Suzanne Richard, James Rushin, Tro Shaw, Jessica Wallach, and Stuart Weich. Tickets are free and can be reserved, link coming soon.

Music and Mingle

7–8:30 p.m.

LIVE MUSIC SET | RIVER PAVILION

Headshots of two musicians. Zak is a man with brown hair and a black collared shirt. He has a big, toothy smile and looks directly out. Towsley is a performer with a wide-brimmed hat, a white collared shirt, and tattoos. They hold a guitar and have a relaxed smile, looking directly out. The Open Doors Festival logo is in the bottom right corner of the image.
Live music set featuring composer and performer Zak Sandler and musician Towsley.

About the Music and Mingle: Close out the day with music and a chance to meet other artists and attendees. Featuring composer and performer Zak Sandler and musician Towsley. Discounted drinks will be served in the River Pavilion.

Our Shows



Current Productions
Past Productions
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Open Circle Theatre is dedicated to shows integrating professional artists with and without disabilities.  Please follow the links to the left to find out more about current and past productions.

Open Circle Theatre productions from 2003 to present.