Though renovation of the McLean Community Center is currently underway, The Alden won’t be taking an off-season. The performing arts venue has announced its schedule of music, theater and other events, and while the performances won’t take place at their usual home, area audiences will still have plenty to enjoy.
Throughout the month of September The Alden has organized a weekly Countdown Concerts in the Parks series which will take place at 5 p.m. every Sunday from Sept. 9-30 at the McLean Central Park Gazebo. The performer lineup alludes to The Alden’s history with each artist highlighting a decade since the center’s 1975 opening. This includes the ‘70s with Superflydisco on Sept. 9; Teäze will honor the ‘80s on Sept. 16; Saved by the ‘90s pays tribute to its eponymous decade from the Backstreet Boys to Notorious B.I.G. on Sept. 23; and the 2000s are represented by So Fetch on Sept. 30. These performances are free and open to the public.
The Alden is also making a special point to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Jurassic Park, announcing a pair of events related to the Steven Spielberg classic. There will be a screening of the original film on Friday, Oct. 12 at The Old Firehouse ($4 tickets, $2 for MCC tax district residents). The next month, on Nov. 17, experience the film in a slightly different way, as actors and sound effect artists create a 60-minute “shot-for-shot” remake of Jurassic Park titled Hold on to Your Butts ($19 tickets, $14 for MCC tax district residents).
Then, get ready to celebrate the holidays with The Alden as it will host a special outing to see A Christmas Carol at Ford’s Theatre. The Alden will provide transportation, parking and tickets, so all you have to do is show up. This will be for a performance on Dec. 2 at 2 p.m. ($175 to sign up, $135 for MCC tax district residents).
In January 2019, The Alden’s 383-seat theater will once again open, and a bevy of shows are already scheduled. “Although we’ve enjoyed the creative and logistical challenge of programming outside of our home, we’re looking forward to being back in the community’s beloved venue,” said Sarah Schallern, The Alden’s performing arts director, in a press release.
Shows set for 2019 include The Capitol Steps, a production of The Wizard of Oz, The Okee Dokee Brothers, Sophocles’ Antigone, Shakespeare’s The Comedy of Errors and The Winter’s Tale, All the Way Live! With Paige Hernandez and Baye Harrell and more. Schedule is subject to change.
For more information, visit aldentheatre.org. // 1234 Ingleside Ave., McLean
