and Oakton HomeLifeStyleHomeHomeLifeStyleLifeStyle ViennaVienna Page 7 The award for Comic Actress in a Play went to Kelly Brents of Vienna, “Deadwood Dick,” James Madison High School. Classifieds, Page 10 Classifieds, ❖ Cappies Gala Entertainment, Page 8 ❖ Honors High School Theater Opinion, Page 6 Entertainment, Page 8 Generation Code Opening in Vienna News, Page 5 County Honors Lord & Lady Fairfax News, Page 3 Photo by Steve Hibbard/The Connection www.ConnectionNewspapers.comJune 14-20, 2017 online atVienna/Oakton www.connectionnewspapers.com Connection ❖ June 14-20, 2017 ❖ 1 Theatre ‘Ma Rainey’ Comes to Tysons 1st Stage present ‘Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.’ By David Siegel The Connection ith its exceptional, unflinch- ing production of the leg- Wendary August Wilson’s “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” 1st From left: Clayton Pelham, Jr. and Stage continues its trail-blazing for North- Thomascena Nelson in “Ma Photos by Teresa Castracane/Courtesy 1st Stage ern Virginia theater audiences. Wilson’s “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” at 1st From left: Clayton Pelham, Jr., William T. Newman, Michael Anthony Rainey” was the first of his lauded 10-play Stage in Tysons Williams, and Jason B. McIntosh in “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” at 1st cycle about the African-American experi- Stage in Tysons. ence in 20th century America. Wilson went on to become the rare playwright with Where & When st Pulitzer, Tony and Academy Award recog- 1 Stage presents “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” ways of music and showier living. moments of poetic beauty. And one of a vig- at 1524 Spring Hill Road, Tysons. Performances st nition. through June 25, 2017. Thursdays 7:30 p.m., In her directorial debut at 1 Stage, orously delivered, compelling anger at God “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” is set in Fridays 8 p.m., Saturday 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., Deidra LaWan Starnes does not have the for and why there is and continues to be 1920’s Chicago. The legendary blues singer Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets: Adults $30, Seniors production either mince Wilson’s original crushing discrimination. Ma Rainey is set to cut a new record with (65+) $27 Students and Military $15. Call 703- dialogue or shy away from its powerful The “Ma Rainey” ensemble includes Wil- 854-1856 or visit www.1stStgeTysons.org Note: four black musicians. Her white manager Contains strong language, racial slurs. For messages that black lives matter. liams Aiken (Sturdyvant), Tracey Farrar and the white recording studio executive mature audiences. With casting of uniformly strong actors, (Dussie Mae), Jason B. McIntosh (Slow are always nearby. What transpire is the Starnes brings together a tight ensemble Drag), Thomascena Nelson (Ma Rainey), blistering dramatization about trying to ken Ma Rainey, a woman who knows what and sets in motion her solid vision for the William T. Newman Jr. (Cutler), Tendo cope with racism and its aftermath. The pro- she wants based upon her own experiences, production as a volatile mix of incendiary Nsubuga (Sylvester), Joe Palka (Irvin), duction flares with interpersonal conflicts, and a younger, disruptor of a trumpeter monologues, highly compostable interac- Clayton Pelham, Jr (Levee), Michael An- intense accounts of pervasive racism and named Levee who pushes to disrupt the old tions, sharp funny moments, expletive lan- thony Williams (Toledo) and Joshua Witt an inflamed conflict between the outspo- ways for what he thinks are sharper jazzier guage including racial slurs. There are also (police officer). teen 2 ❖ Vienna/Oakton Connection ❖ June 14-20, 2017 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Vienna/Oakton Connection Editor Kemal Kurspahic News 703-778-9414 or [email protected] Supervisor Cathy Hudgins (D-Hunter Mill) with Lord and Lady Fairfax Supervisor Linda Smyth (D-Providence) with Lord and Lady for her from her district, Jerry Poje and Therese Martin. district, Phil Niedzielski-Eichner and Sue Kovach Shuman. County Honors Lord & Lady Fairfax very year since 1984, two indi- lic health. viduals from each of the nine Lady Fairfax: Therese Martin has commit- EFairfax County magisterial dis- ted years to public service and is an asset tricts, as well as two from the at- to Fairfax County. She has served Hunter large “domain” of Board of Supervisors Mill District for nine years as a Fairfax Chairman Sharon Bulova are honored for County Election Officer and represented the their service to their communities or for League of Women Voters on the Criminal particular acts of heroism. For their dedica- Justice Advisory Board. Additionally, she tion, these community caretakers are has arranged and participated in multiple named Lord and Lady Fairfax for the year. voter registration campaigns. Currently, she The 2017 honorees were feted at a re- represents Supervisor Hudgins on the Bar- ception at the County Government Center bara Varon Volunteer Award Selection Com- on the morning of June 6. Following this mittee and the Hunter Mill Citizen Budget gathering, the Lords and Ladies were es- Advisory Committee. In addition to several corted into the Board Auditorium where Fairfax County bond referenda task forces, their accomplishments were publically ac- she was an alternate representative on the knowledged and each received a certificate Fairfax Solid Waste Advisory Committee. declaring their status. The Lords and Ladies will be making a Board of Supervisors Chairman Sharon Bulova with the At-Large Lady Providence District few more appearances during their reigns, and Lord Fairfax, Jane Miscavage and John J. “Jeff” Lisanick. Lady Fairfax: Since her retirement from including at the signature celebration for newspaper work, Sue Kovach Shuman has Fairfax County’s 275th anniversary, which applied her “can do” spirit, writing, and will take place in the area surrounding the Introducing 2017 Lord and Lady Fairfax personal skills to volunteerism for the Historic Fairfax Courthouse in central At-Large tinued through her service to #IamFCPS, a county. In addition to serving as the presi- Fairfax, on June 17. Just to add another Lord Fairfax: John J. “Jeff” Lisanick is a grassroots organization that advocated for dent of the Mantua Citizens’ Association, “jewel in the crown” of this event which former client at New Hope Housing’s a fully funded 2017 FCPS budget, and later, Shuman is currently working on Fairfax promises fun and festivities for the whole Eleanor U. Kennedy Shelter. Desiring to give as the Vote Yes Meals Tax Campaign Man- County’s Neighborhood History Community family, the real Lord and Lady Fairfax will back to the homeless community, he joined ager. Currently, Jane Miscavage continues Project for the 275th anniversary, helping be joining celebration all the way from the Consumer Advisory Council (CAC) as to serve our schools as Vice President of the with “Providence Perspectives”, an oral his- Great Britain. an original member in 2012. Since being Fairfax County Council of PTAs. tory project, and is on the board of the Nicholas Fairfax, 14th Lord Fairfax of elected Chair of the CAC in 2013, he has Friends of Accotink Creek. She also serves Cameron, and Lady Annabella will help cel- been a member of the Governing Board with Hunter Mill District as community ambassador for the Agency ebrate the founding of our county from a goal of preventing and ending Lord Fairfax: Jerry Poje is the current on Aging and created the “Neighborhood when the area was part of lands owned by homelessness. Jeff took his passion to end Hunter Mill appointee to the Human Ser- Network,” an aging-in-community initiative his ancestor, the 6th Lord Fairfax of homelessness to a new level in July 2015 vices Council. He was previously the presi- to support older residents. Cameron. when he was hired by New Hope Housing dent of the board FACETS, and he is a Lord Fairfax: There are many reasons for In announcing the visit by Lord and Lady as the Residential Coordinator of the same founding board member of the Communi- Phil Niedzielski-Eichner’s selection as Fairfax (the originals), Chairman Bulova shelter in which he was once a client. He ties of Faith United for Housing. As a vol- Providence’s Lord Fairfax. He was twice laughed that the noble guests seemed a bit now serves as the Coordinator of Residen- unteer, he applies his professional expertise elected to the Fairfax County School Board confused by the fact that there were more tial Services, overseeing seven different to help people in need through improved and served one year as chairman. He was also peers in Virginia whom they would be meet- sites. accessibility, accountability, and coordina- a member of both the Park Authority Board ing. “Only here in Fairfax,” she told him. Lady Fairfax: Jane Miscavage has been an tion in Fairfax County human services de- and the Environmental Quality Advisory “We’re special.” incredible asset to both Fairfax County Pub- livery. He has been recognized with the Council. Phil also chaired the Use of Force lic Schools and our community at large. In 2008 Fairfax County Human Rights Com- Subcommittee under the Ad Hoc Police Prac- — Andrea Worker 2007, Jane began serving as a founder and mission Award for efforts to prevent and tices Review Commission. He remains in- manager of the Food Allergy Support Group end homelessness, and the 2010 Fairfax volved with the Commission through the Photos by of Northern Virginia, where she helped over County Martha Pennino Award for Commu- “Implementation Committee.” Looking for Andrea Worker 400 families access up-to-date allergy re- nity Service. His career in scientific discov- another challenge, Phil volunteered to be- The Connection search and health care professionals. Her ery called for the social and political cen- come Providence’s representative on the commitment to children and families con- ters act on those discoveries to protect pub- Fairfax County Planning Commission.