April 14, 2008 – Arlington, VA (Crystal City) – Arena Stage continues to ‘Play On!’ in spite of its
current expansion and renovation project currently taking place at its Southwest DC home.
The temporary home of Arena Stage, presently located
in Crystal City at 1800 South Bell Street, presented its adaptation of playwright James Magruder’s ‘Play On!,
a political satire that addresses current issues such as the continuing saga of education woes and the necessity of keeping
the Arts and sports in our schools.
Cast members, featuring those in politics, entertainment
and sports included Tim and Daphne-Maxwell Reid; WNBA president, Donna Orender; Ted Leonsis, Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton;
Charles Mann; and Georgetown Hoyas men’s basketball coach, John Thompson, III.
“I get to do a one second tap dance, and I have
one line”, said DC council woman, Carol Schwartz. “Hopefully I won’t mess it up.”
Many cast members return each year to participate
in the benefit.
“This is my fourth year”, said DC councilman
Jack Evans.
The cast is not required to learn their lines, but
instead get to read the script from individual notebooks.
Former NFL great, Charles Mann, who jokingly stated he was not prepared, did a fine job in his role
as sports reporter that parodies ESPN’s Pardon The Interruption (PTI).
“It’s a great
benefit, and it’s all about having fun”, said Mann.
Co-chaired by Dr. Sheila
Johnson, Washington Mystics owner, the annual event helps raise funds for Arena Stage's education and community outreach programs which impacts nearly
20,000 youth each year via its Arts programs. Programs are geared toward young
people ages three to eighteen, some at no cost.
This year’s event was highlighted by a performance
by the Ballou Senior High School Marching Band. The band has been invited to participate in the 2009 Macy’s Thanksgiving
Day parade.
Arena stage is the DC area’s largest not-for-profit
theatre and attracts more than 200,000 patrons.
For more info, see www.arenastage.org.
For photos from the play with the cast of characters,
click here.
