[Archived] Upcoming Programs at Oswald Durant Center

For Immediate Release: October 4, 2019

The City of Alexandria—through the Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities’ Arts division—invites the community to participate in creative arts programming at Oswald Durant Center, located at 1605 Cameron St. To register online for these programs, visit alexandriava.gov/WebTrac.

Bagels & Bach Concert Series

Enjoy classical music and a light brunch on select Sundays. Performances take place at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Tickets are $9 per person, available online or at the door. Children under 5 are free.   

• October 6: Old Bridge Chamber Orchestra Quartet
  Sheyna Burt and Christopher Dixon on violins, Deja Burt on viola, and Joan Burdette on cello.

Save the date for future classical music concerts on December 1 and December 14. Tickets available now.

Monthly Puppet Shows

Family puppet shows are fun for the very young and the young at heart. Performances are on select Saturdays and take place at 10 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. Tickets are $6 per person, available online or at the door. 

• October 19: Beech Tree Puppets perform The Giant Turnip
  An old man and his wife lovingly tend their garden and grow a vegetable so large they can’t pull it up by themselves. This whimsical folktale is sung and told with hand-crafted rod and shadow puppets. The story celebrates caring for the earth and working together. 

• November 16: Silly Goose and Val perform All Things Fall
  Val’s award-winning and participatory performance features 40 minutes of music, puppets, ventriloquism, dancing, singing to delight audiences of all ages. With bold voice talents and contagious dances, little ones get up, move, and laugh together. 

• December 21: Silly Goose and Val Holiday Extravaganza
  Val returns for a fast-paced, humorous musical treat celebrating snow, jingle bells, elves, Santa, reindeer and more. Enjoy a family afternoon out with music, ventriloquism, comedy, dancing, singing, and 100% audience participation. 

First Friday Family Art Night

Every First Friday, enjoy a memorable and artful evening with the family. Grab a slice and meet the guest artists starting at 6 p.m. Activities begin at 6:30 p.m. No experience is necessary. Tickets are $9 per person and are good for one art experience. Children under 5 are free.   

• November 1: Dances Around the World
• December 6: Season of Celebrations
  
  

For more information or to request reasonable disability accommodation, contact cherylanne.colton@alexandriava.gov or 703.746.5565, Virginia Relay 711.  

About the Artists

About Old Bridge Chamber Orchestra
Old Bridge Chamber Orchestra is an all-volunteer ensemble established in 1998 by musicians dedicated to providing stirring, low cost or free, classical concerts in the greater Prince William area. In addition to its orchestral offerings, Old Bridge Chamber Orchestra makes its musicians available for community and private events. Old Bridge Chamber Orchestra is a proud institutional member of the Prince William County Arts Council and was featured in the August 2014 edition of Prince William Living. OBCO is grateful for its financial supporters including the Prince William County Department of Parks and Recreation. For information about auditions, the orchestra’s performance schedule, and supporting the organization, visit www.obco.org.

Beech Tree Puppets
Founded by Ingrid and Ole Hass in 2012, brings meaningful stories with sensory-friendly and Beech Tree Puppeteers feel that puppets can break down barriers, and provide insights and resolutions to cross cultural differences, and open people to new ideas and possibilities. Beech Tree Puppets have performed artful performances to schools, libraries and public theaters in the wider DC area.

Silly Goose and Val
Ventriloquist, musician, composer, and performer Valerie Leonhart Smalkin has performed across America as well as in France and Belgium. She was one of the writers, performers, and co-producers as well as the head puppeteer of the Emmy-Award winning It's Kindertime on Baltimore’s WMAR-TV. Her three albums—A Gentle Halloween, Sing! Sing! Sing!... and Dance!, and Love Bug!—all received Parents’ Choice awards. Her book, Springtime Dance, earned gold in the Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards in 2014. She has earned several grants from the Maryland State Arts Council as a solo performer and actively performs and composes music for ages 2 through 10.