Performances: Feb 19-26, various hours.

Out of the Vineyard (OOTV) is written by esteemed playwright Psalmayene 24, who masterfully adapts the groundbreaking historical work "A Question of Freedom: The Families Who Challenged Slavery from the Nation’s Founding to Civil War" by historian William G. Thomas III, for the stage. 

Directed and choreographed by Tony Thomas, Out of the Vineyard highlights the families, names, and places, illuminating stories of quests for freedom and opportunity against systematic racism. By exploring how slavery has shaped our societies and encouraging audiences to think critically about the legacy of hiding historical details, Out of the Vineyard promotes a deeper understanding of the issues facing us today. The play inspires audiences to work toward a more just and equitable future.

Unraveling over seven decades, the enslaved families of Prince George’s County, Maryland, including the Butlers, Queens, Mahoneys, Bells, and more, embarked on a relentless legal quest for freedom. These brave families confronted formidable slavery within the court system, leading their crusade to the highest echelons of justice: the Supreme Court.

Exhibition: Feb 3 - Mar 8 | Hours: Mon-Fri 8:30 am - 5 pm; Sat: 9 am - 4 pm; Sun: Closed

James Stephen Terrell’s Transcendence: Beyond the Terrestrial Plane weaves line, shape, and pattern into a mesmerizing collage. Figures emerge, surreal and otherworldly. Drawing from the legacy of David Driskell and Romare Bearden, he launches into uncharted territory. His work captivates the eye, demanding time for revelation. The unseen emerges, like light through stained glass windows in Black and Roman Catholic churches. Terrell’s art pulses with the vibrancy and movement of optical art, echoing Bridget Riley and Victor Vasarely.

Exhibition: Feb 3 - Apr 13; Mon-Fri 9am-5pm

Join us for an opening reception of “Myth and Mystery” with artist Sharon Robinson. Trained as a city planner and working in the transit and urban design field for over 20 years, Sharon Robinson has been a full-time artist, muralist and teacher since 2000. Her artworks are intricate and richly textured collages and mixed media pieces that explore identity and nourish the humanistic spirit.

Exhibit: Jan 20 - Mar 8 | Public Reception: Jan 25, 5pm-8pm | Artist Curator & Talk: Feb 15, 2pm-4pm

Museum Hours: Mon-Fri: 10am-7pm; Sat: 10am-4pm; Sun: Closed.

The Sound of DC: A Visual History is a four-part exhibition series focused on the rich history of the music scene in the DMV area.

The newest chapter of this series focuses on Go-Go, a style of funk that originated in D.C. in the 1970s; leading into a look at how fashion factored into these unique DC music scenes; and concluding with photography from behind-the-scenes at prominent local music venues. Each section will collaborate with local stakeholders and exhibit artifacts such as posters, flyers, zines, photographs, and audio recordings.

Exhibit: Jan 27 - Feb 28.

Open daily, 10am-5pm | Artist Reception: Feb 2, 2pm-5pm

The M-NCPPC Black History Program returns to Montpelier Arts Center with its annual exhibition in honor of Black History Month. For more than 40 years, the Black History Program has worked to preserve, honor, and celebrate Prince George’s County’s rich African American heritage. Come out and explore stories from our county’s past that highlight the challenges and triumphs of the African American community.

Exhibition: Jan 20 - Mar 8 | Public Reception Jan 25 | Artist Curator and Talk: Feb 15

Exhibit Hours: Mon-Fri : 10am-7pm; Sat : 10am-4pm

Right over Left: DMV Runway Review (2017-Present) is a group exhibition, curated by Danyela J Brown. The exhibition, comprised of videos from legendary DMV runway clips and archived effects, seeks to juxtapose the artists’ relationships to craft and performance with the call-and-response timescale of Runway as a genre determined on the floor. Danyela insists upon critical ballroom studies as a methodology for reckoning with the material realities and urgencies of Black and brown, queer and trans, neurodiverse and disabled artists. Ballroom as a genre is stridently competitive, decidedly ephemeral, and absolutely ungovernable at the same time it is the only platform many have to celebrate their expertise and self-determination. Brown started voguing in 2017 at SMYAL and has walked internationally in the mainstream and Kiki ballroom scenes. Currently, she is VA Mother of the Kiki House of Supreme, and she serves as Director of Operations for DMV Kiki Nights Inc, curating ballroom programming in DC.

Exhibition: Jan 27 - Feb 28 | Public Reception: Feb 2, 2-5pm

Exhibit Hours: Daily, 10 am - 5pm (except holidays)

Since the era of emancipation, black migration to the Washington, D.C. region has been fueled by the promise of economic opportunities, especially those opportunities afforded by employment with the federal government. For generations of African Americans, careers in the federal civil service have paved the way for professional advancement and economic security, expanding the ranks of the middle black class. However, this path has also been fraught with obstacles born of the nation’s dark history of segregation and racism. This exhibit explores this complicated history, focusing on how Black federal employment has shaped Prince George’s County.

This exhibition is curated by the M-NCPPC Black History Program. For additional information, email blackhistory@pgparks.com or call 240-264-3415. 

To RSVP for the opening reception, email blackhistory@pgparks.com. 

Exhibit through November 26, 2026

The first joint acquisition of the National Portrait Gallery and the Smithsonian American Art Museum (the two share a building) is Sir Isaac Julien’s fascinating moving image installation, which blends period reenactments across five screens to give the viewer insight into the life, accomplishments, activism, and brilliance of Frederick Douglass (1818-1895).

Performances: Feb 20 @7pm, Feb 22 @8pm, Feb 23 @3pm

Experience the torment and colorful beauty of Tchaikovsky’s four-movement symphony inspired by Lord Byron’s poem under the baton of Vasily Petrenko. Award-winning young virtuoso Edgar Moreau joins the program for Saint-Saëns’ First Cello Concerto—an impassioned departure from the standard concerto form.

Performances: Feb 20 - Mar 2

Shen Yun's unique artistic vision expands theatrical experience into a multi-dimensional, inspiring journey through one of humanity’s greatest treasures—the five millennia of traditional Chinese culture.

This epic production immerses you in stories reaching back to the most distant past. You’ll explore realms even beyond our visible world. Featuring one of the world’s oldest art forms— classical Chinese dance—along with patented scenographic effects and all-original orchestral works, Shen Yun opens a portal to a civilization of enchanting beauty and enlightening wisdom. 

Traditional Chinese culture—with its profoundly optimistic worldview and deep spiritual roots— was displaced by communism in China. Today, only the New York–based Shen Yun is keeping this precious heritage alive on stage. And it’s an experience that will take your breath away.

Performances: Feb 4 - Mar 16

meet sarah. she's funny. she's foul-mouthed. she's 10.

Ten-year-old Sarah faces a new school, her parents’ divorce, and an embarrassing secret you’ll never guess (unless you read the title) as Emmy winner Silverman’s bestselling memoir comes to life in The Bedwetter - A Musical. Featuring a book co-written by Silverman and Tony nominee Joshua Harmon (Prayer for the French Republic) and music by Grammy and Emmy winner Adam Schlesinger (Fountains of Wayne, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend), this is the musical story of a funny little girl with clinical depression.

Performances: Jan 28 - Mar 16

A psychological thriller with a shocking and disturbing twist that will leave you breathless.

A young woman whose screaming breakdown at work has gone viral must receive an evaluation from a crisis therapist before she can return to her job at a well-known tech firm. During the appointment, however, secrets emerge, and filters strip away as doctor and patient edge toward an epic showdown.

Performances: Feb 6 - Mar 2 | Thursdays – Saturdays 8 pm, Sundays 2 pm | Funciones: Jueves a sábados 8 pm, domingos 2 pm

In Spanish with English surtitles | En español con sobretítulos en inglés

Fuenteovejuna, perhaps Lope de Vega's most performed work, addresses the people's right to rebel against the abuse of power. Written in 1613 and based on real events, it tells the story of the commander of the town of Fuente Ovejuna, Fernán Gómez de Guzmán, subjectss the citizens to suffer under the rigors of an arrogant, corrupt, and ruthless government. But when they find that power really resides in the citizens, they unite, take up arms, and confront authority with the battle cry of “What is Fuenteovejuna? “The whole town, together!”   

Fuenteovejuna, quizás la obra más representada de Lope de Vega, habla de la rebelión del pueblo frente al abuso de poder. Escrita en 1613 y basada en hechos reales, cuenta la historia del comendador del pueblo de Fuente Ovejuna, Fernán Gómez de Guzmán, que lleva a padecer a los ciudadanos los rigores de un gobierno soberbio, corrupto y despiadado. Pero cuando el pueblo se cansa de ser humillado y encuentra que el poder realmente reside en la gente, es decide unirse, tomar las armas, y enfrentar a la autoridad bajo el grito de “¿Qué es Fuenteovejuna? ¡Todo el pueblo, a una!”.

Performances: Feb 20-23

Three Contemporary Stories From Voices Of Color

Vespers, choreographed by the iconic artist, Ulysses Dove echoes the tales of women braving life’s storms, grappling with the process of loss, grief and the power of the maternal spirit. Dove’s brilliant ability for storytelling is the anchor for exploring spiritual movement of both the living and the lost. In her electrifying new work, Jennifer Archibald creates a visceral experience that blurs the lines between the legacy of ballet and the raw energy of contemporary movement. Set to a vibrant soundtrack by DJ Foremost Poets, this piece immerses you in a euphoric blend of rhythm and emotion, redefining dance as a bold and extraordinary expression of the human spirit. Seasons, choreographed by Edwaard Liang is set to Vivaldi’s, “The Four Seasons” recomposed by Max Richter. This lush and visually stunning work explores time while captivating audiences with its beautiful, organic shapes.

Join us for a truly unique and inspiring evening that celebrates the power of dance to transcend the human experience and captivate the audience’s spirit.

Performances: Feb 21-28

Ntozake Shange’s highly influential 1976 choreopoem for colored girls… might well be the most performed and important piece of theater created expressly by and for Black women in the history of the United States. The work has been adapted for both film and television and can boast a Tony-nominated Broadway revival as recently as 2022. UMD School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies faculty members Ama Law and Fatima Quander direct a loving rendition of Shange’s masterpiece that proves its timelessness.

Performances: Fri/Sat @8pm; Sun @2pm; Feb 7-23

by Anna Deavere Smith

Directed by Lorraine Brooks
Produced by Maureen Rogers

“FIRES IN THE MIRROR is, quite simply, the most compelling and sophisticated view of urban racial and class conflict…that one could hope to encounter…spectacular further proof…that the American theater is rising to illuminate these rancorous times with a vitality that may be equaled but is certainly not surpassed by any of our other native arts…” —The New York Times.

Performances: Feb 7 - Mar 1; Fri/Sat: 8 pm & Sun: 2pm

This groundbreaking "choreopoem" is a spellbinding collection of vivid prose and free verse narratives about and performed by Black women.

Performances: Feb 7 - Mar 1; Fri/Sat: 8 pm & Sun: 2pm

This groundbreaking "choreopoem" is a spellbinding collection of vivid prose and free verse narratives about and performed by Black women.

Performances: Feb 22 - Mar 9

This whimsical superhero adventure, based on Navajo creation legend, follows the journey of celestial siblings. Writer and director Rhiana Yazzie and dramaturg Steven Paul Judd offer a funny and thought-provoking world premiere play that challenges us to look at heroism through a new lens.

Performances: Feb 22 @8pm; Feb 23 @4pm

Power, identity, resilience, and the intricate balance between personal ambition and ethical integrity. Soul In Motion takes this opportunity to honor the achievements and talents of Powerful Women from around the globe, during our 41st Anniversary.

Join us as we recognize all women, encountering their pasts and navigating new challenges. True power lies not only in survival, but in reclaiming their voices, resilience, and identities. SALUTE – The Powerful Woman!!

Exhibition: Feb 3 - Apr 13; Mon-Fri 9am-5pm

Join us for an opening reception of “Myth and Mystery” with artist Sharon Robinson. Trained as a city planner and working in the transit and urban design field for over 20 years, Sharon Robinson has been a full-time artist, muralist and teacher since 2000. Her artworks are intricate and richly textured collages and mixed media pieces that explore identity and nourish the humanistic spirit.

Performances: Feb 6 - Mar 2 | Thursdays – Saturdays 8 pm, Sundays 2 pm | Funciones: Jueves a sábados 8 pm, domingos 2 pm

In Spanish with English surtitles | En español con sobretítulos en inglés

Fuenteovejuna, perhaps Lope de Vega's most performed work, addresses the people's right to rebel against the abuse of power. Written in 1613 and based on real events, it tells the story of the commander of the town of Fuente Ovejuna, Fernán Gómez de Guzmán, subjectss the citizens to suffer under the rigors of an arrogant, corrupt, and ruthless government. But when they find that power really resides in the citizens, they unite, take up arms, and confront authority with the battle cry of “What is Fuenteovejuna? “The whole town, together!”   

Fuenteovejuna, quizás la obra más representada de Lope de Vega, habla de la rebelión del pueblo frente al abuso de poder. Escrita en 1613 y basada en hechos reales, cuenta la historia del comendador del pueblo de Fuente Ovejuna, Fernán Gómez de Guzmán, que lleva a padecer a los ciudadanos los rigores de un gobierno soberbio, corrupto y despiadado. Pero cuando el pueblo se cansa de ser humillado y encuentra que el poder realmente reside en la gente, es decide unirse, tomar las armas, y enfrentar a la autoridad bajo el grito de “¿Qué es Fuenteovejuna? ¡Todo el pueblo, a una!”.

Performances: Feb 27 - Mar 1 @8pm

The Paul Taylor Dance Company makes a triumphant return to the Kennedy Center as the company commemorates 70 years of extraordinary dance. Experience Paul Taylor classics and the world premiere of How Love Sounds by Hope Boykin (Artistic Advisor for Dance Education at the Kennedy Center). 

Performances: Feb 28 - Mar 30

DESIRE IS THE ULTIMATE REBELLION 

Against the lavish backdrop of 1870s New York, where hypocrisy thrives and hidden passions simmer, Karen Zacarías brings Edith Wharton's timeless masterpiece, The Age of Innocence, to the stage. This adaptation unveils a searing critique of high society's suffocating norms, presenting a riveting tale of forbidden desires. Surrounded on all sides by an ocean of societal conformity, love clashes with duty, and innocence is sacrificed. Follow the compelling journey of Newland Archer as he grapples with the rigid constraints of privilege, torn between tradition and the allure of forbidden passion.

Performances: Feb 7 - Mar 1; Fri/Sat: 8 pm & Sun: 2pm

This groundbreaking "choreopoem" is a spellbinding collection of vivid prose and free verse narratives about and performed by Black women.

Exhibition: Feb 3 - Apr 13; Mon-Fri 9am-5pm

Join us for an opening reception of “Myth and Mystery” with artist Sharon Robinson. Trained as a city planner and working in the transit and urban design field for over 20 years, Sharon Robinson has been a full-time artist, muralist and teacher since 2000. Her artworks are intricate and richly textured collages and mixed media pieces that explore identity and nourish the humanistic spirit.

Exhibition: Feb 3 - Apr 13; Mon-Fri 9am-5pm

Join us for an opening reception of “Myth and Mystery” with artist Sharon Robinson. Trained as a city planner and working in the transit and urban design field for over 20 years, Sharon Robinson has been a full-time artist, muralist and teacher since 2000. Her artworks are intricate and richly textured collages and mixed media pieces that explore identity and nourish the humanistic spirit.

Exhibition: Feb 3 - Apr 13; Mon-Fri 9am-5pm

Join us for an opening reception of “Myth and Mystery” with artist Sharon Robinson. Trained as a city planner and working in the transit and urban design field for over 20 years, Sharon Robinson has been a full-time artist, muralist and teacher since 2000. Her artworks are intricate and richly textured collages and mixed media pieces that explore identity and nourish the humanistic spirit.

With a musical journey spanning over 50 years, Kevin Powe Sr, a seasoned guitarist, has graced the stage alongside an impressive array of National Performing Artists, including Marcus Miller, Melisa Morgan, Natalie Cole, and Terence Blanchard. Drawing inspiration from legendary figures like Jimi Hendrix, Carlos Santana, and The Isley Brothers, Kevin’s eclectic style encompasses funk, rock, blues, jazz, and R&B. His debut project, “Loud Blues,” with his band Kev Powe Thang, showcases his versatile talent, while his compositions have left their mark on albums such as the Phaze II Jazz Band’s “No Cover Charge.” Don’t miss the chance to experience the soulful sounds of Kev Powe Sr. at Harmony Hall Arts Center.

Exhibition: Feb 3 - Apr 13; Mon-Fri 9am-5pm

Join us for an opening reception of “Myth and Mystery” with artist Sharon Robinson. Trained as a city planner and working in the transit and urban design field for over 20 years, Sharon Robinson has been a full-time artist, muralist and teacher since 2000. Her artworks are intricate and richly textured collages and mixed media pieces that explore identity and nourish the humanistic spirit.

Exhibition: Feb 3 - Apr 13; Mon-Fri 9am-5pm

Join us for an opening reception of “Myth and Mystery” with artist Sharon Robinson. Trained as a city planner and working in the transit and urban design field for over 20 years, Sharon Robinson has been a full-time artist, muralist and teacher since 2000. Her artworks are intricate and richly textured collages and mixed media pieces that explore identity and nourish the humanistic spirit.

Exhibition: Feb 3 - Apr 13; Mon-Fri 9am-5pm

Join us for an opening reception of “Myth and Mystery” with artist Sharon Robinson. Trained as a city planner and working in the transit and urban design field for over 20 years, Sharon Robinson has been a full-time artist, muralist and teacher since 2000. Her artworks are intricate and richly textured collages and mixed media pieces that explore identity and nourish the humanistic spirit.

Exhibition: Feb 3 - Apr 13; Mon-Fri 9am-5pm

Join us for an opening reception of “Myth and Mystery” with artist Sharon Robinson. Trained as a city planner and working in the transit and urban design field for over 20 years, Sharon Robinson has been a full-time artist, muralist and teacher since 2000. Her artworks are intricate and richly textured collages and mixed media pieces that explore identity and nourish the humanistic spirit.