Sections
  • Home & Style
  • Editors’ Picks
  • Events Calendar
  • Food
  • Health
  • News & Politics
  • Longreads
  • Our Events
  • Parenting
  • Real Estate
  • Shopping
  • Things to Do
  • Travel
  • Weddings
Reader Favorites
  • 100 Best Restaurants
  • Takeout Guide
  • Cutest Dog Contest
  • Neighborhoods
  • Newsletters
  • Directories
Washington’s Best
  • Apartment Rentals
  • DC Travel Guide
  • Dentists
  • Doctors
  • Financial Advisers
  • Health Experts
  • Home Improvement Experts
  • Industry Leaders
  • Lawyers
  • Mortgage Professionals
  • Pet Care
  • Private Schools
  • Real Estate Agents
  • Restaurants
  • Retirement Communities
  • Wedding Vendors
More
  • Subscribe
  • Manage My Subscription
  • Digital Edition
  • Shop
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • About Us
  • Advertising
  • Contact Us
  • Jobs
© 2021 Washingtonian Media Inc.
Privacy Policy
All Rights Reserved
 Rss
Skip to content
Washingtonian.com
  • Search
  • Subscribe
  • Menu
  • News & Politics
  • Things to Do
  • Food
  • Health
  • Shopping
  • Home & Style
  • Real Estate
  • Weddings
  • Travel

  • 100 Best Restaurants
  • Takeout Guide
  • Cutest Dog Contest
  • Neighborhoods
  • Newsletters
  • Directories
Things to Do

Portraits Are Coming Alive at the National Portrait Gallery This Week

Written by Marisa H. Dunn
| Published on July 13, 2016
Portraits Are Coming Alive at the National Portrait Gallery This Week
Aliyah Briggs as Richard Nixon. All photos courtesy of Evy Mages
Tweet Share

A group of DC students is bringing some of the famed sitters in the National Portrait Gallery to life this week. The “Portraits Alive!” exhibit is part of the city’s Marion Barry Summer Youth Employment Program and features eight high schoolers who have spent the majority of their vacation studying portraiture in the Smithsonian museum.

Kyla-Mechelle Petty as Malcolm X
Kyla-Mechelle Petty as Malcolm X

After finding a painting subject that resonated with them, the students worked with local playwrights to research and create monologues. The result is a tour throughout the gallery that features interpretations of figures from Eleanor Roosevelt and Albert Einstein to Polish cosmetics executive Helena Rubinstein and Native American advocate Russell Means.

Blondina Reeder as Sylvia Rivera.
Blondina Reeder as Sylvia Rivera.

Blondina Reeder, an incoming senior at Duke Ellington School of the Arts, chose transgender activist Sylvia Rivera because, she said, she wanted to portray someone whose life message had meaning today.

“The LGBT community, along with other minorities, are still fighting for their rights,” she said. “I wanted to educate people about their ongoing struggle.”

Daniel Jay as Albert Einstein.
Daniel Jay as Albert Einstein.

The amateur thespian historians will be at the National Portrait Gallery every day this week, and again from August 1-5, with performances at noon and 1:30 PM.

Don’t Miss DC’s Best Events: Get Our Things to Do Newsletter

Arts, culture, and things to do in DC.

Or, see all of our newsletters. By signing up, you agree to our terms.
More: MuseumsNational Portrait GallerySummer Youth Employment Program
Join the conversation!
Share Tweet
Marisa H. Dunn
Marisa H. Dunn
Editorial Fellow

Related

A Donald Trump Portrait Is Coming to the National Portrait Gallery

This past spring, Raven exhibited the piece at a political-art gallery across from the museum—one of many ploys for publicity for his lawsuit.

Trump-Loving Artist Julian Raven Calls on President to Resign

Your Ultimate 💀Spooky Guide💀 to Halloween and Día de los Muertos Events Around DC

Rendering courtesy of the Museum of the Bible.

DC Will Have Its First Museum Reopening on Monday

More from Things to Do

Swingers Will Bring Mini-Golf for Grownups to Dupont Circle

You Can Now Rent Picnic Boats at the Wharf

Lunar Landing, Virtual Art, and a Bass Concert: Things to Do In DC, April 12-14

Bluebells Are About to Peak at Bull Run Regional Park

Live Theater Will Return to DC This Month

A Massive 3-D Cherry Blossom Projection Will Light Up Northeast DC Tonight and Tomorrow

A Dolly Parton Biography, Chat with Tammy Duckworth, and an Instagram Play: Things to Do in DC, April 1-4

New Plays, an Arepa-Making Class, and Cherry Blossoms: Things to Do in DC, March 29-31

Most Popular

News & Politics

Here’s Why You Might’ve Heard Extremely Loud Fighter Jets Over DC Friday Morning

News & Politics

Elon Musk’s Plan to Get Commuters From DC to Baltimore in 15 Minutes Appears to Be Dead

Food

7 Must-Try DC Bagels (That You Won’t Find at a Bagel Shop)

Things to Do

Swingers Will Bring Mini-Golf for Grownups to Dupont Circle

News & Politics  |  Things to Do

You Can Now Rent Picnic Boats at the Wharf

© 2021 Washingtonian Media Inc.
All Rights Reserved.
Washingtonian is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
Privacy Policy and Opt-Out
 Rss
Get the best news, delivered weekly.
By signing up, you agree to our terms.
  • Subscribe
  • Manage My Subscription
  • Digital Edition
  • Shop
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • About Us
  • Advertising
  • Contact Us
  • Jobs