ב״ה
For 8 Nights, D.C. stands for the District of Chanukah.
It’s taken six years, but Brian Feldman (Best Performance Artist, Washington City Paper Best of D.C. 2018) is finally bringing the project that started it all to the District. And not to just one venue, but all 8 Wards.
Unlike anything ever seen in D.C. history, The Feldman Dynamic: 8 Wards of Chanukah is unprecedented reality theater event featuring a family – Brian Feldman’s actual family (Mom, Dad, and sister) – celebrating Chanukah together live on stage. There’s no script, no rehearsal, and every performance is completely different. It’s not improv. It’s the reality show that will never be on TV.
The performance features potato latkes, jelly doughnuts, dreidels, and chocolate gelt, takes place all eight nights of the holiday (December 2-9), and travels nightly to a different venue and D.C. Ward – in numerical order:
♦ Night 1 / Ward 1: Sun. Dec. 2 at 6:00 PM at Source Theatre (Cardozo)
https://www.facebook.com/events/379716489072573/
♦ Night 2 / Ward 2: Mon. Dec. 3 at 6:30 PM at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company (Penn Quarter)
https://www.facebook.com/events/417245882052631/
♦ Night 3 / Ward 3: Tue. Dec. 4 at 7:30 PM at Heather’s Hideaway (Private Residence) (Palisades)
https://www.facebook.com/events/1885933261452010/
♦ Night 4 / Ward 4: Wed. Dec. 5 at 6:30 PM at RhizomeDC (Takoma)
https://www.facebook.com/events/1121800797962431/
**FOLLOWED BY A CONCERT AT 8:00 PM WITH SEPARATE TICKETING**
♦ Night 5 / Ward 5: Thu. Dec. 6 at 7:30 PM at Hole in the Sky (Eckington)
https://www.facebook.com/events/1567261403382360/
♦ Night 6 / Ward 6: Fri. Dec. 7 at 9:30 PM at The Miracle Theatre (Capitol Hill)
https://www.facebook.com/events/482053695543798/
♦ Night 7 / Ward 7: Sat. Dec. 8 at 6:00 PM at Westover Farms (Private Residence) (Hillcrest)
https://www.facebook.com/events/2029566367303535/
♦ Night 8 / Ward 8: Sun. Dec. 9 at 6:00 PM at Anacostia Arts Center (Anacostia)
https://www.facebook.com/events/366636077173520/
Jews have been wandering for thousands of years. What’s another 8 nights?
The Feldman Dynamic is Brian Feldman, Edward Alan Feldman, Adrienne McIntosh, and Marilyn Wattman-Feldman.
The Feldman Dynamic had its world premiere in August 2003 as part of FringeNYC (The New York International Fringe Festival), where it was featured on NBC’s Today Show (Ok... so it’s been on TV once, but that’s it!) and dubbed “the reason the Fringe exists,” among many other accolades. It’s one of Brian Feldman’s six signature projects, the others being BFF (premiered at the 2012 Capital Fringe Festival), Brian Feldman’s Under the Covers (never been presented in D.C.), Dishwasher (premiered at the 2015 Capital Fringe Festival), The Skill Crane Kid (never been presented in D.C.), and #txtshow (the longest running independent production in D.C. theater history).
Of his more than 115 realized works, Brian still considers The Feldman Dynamic his pièce de résistance; it’s certainly the most autobiographical and remains his most difficult to perform. Easily the most exciting thing about this particular project is that it will be the first time that Brian’s entire family will be in D.C. at the same time, traveling up from Central Florida, and therefore the D.C. premiere of the project – six years in the making. It’s also the first performance of the project since January 2014.
$2 from the sale of each ticket will benefit one of the following eight D.C. charities: Martha's Table (Ward 1), Miriam's Kitchen (Ward 2), D.C. Law Students In Court (Ward 3), Humane Rescue Alliance (Ward 4), SOME (So Others Might Eat) (Ward 5), DC Central Kitchen (Ward 6), Bread for the City (Ward 7), and Community of Hope DC (Ward 8).
And if your last name is “Feldman,” you get a free ticket at the door (with valid photo ID)! (Offer applies only to Nights 1, 4, 5, and 8, and you may only redeem one free ticket for the entire run. Offer not valid if tickets are sold out prior to the performance.)
Save your Netflix binging for another holiday; the fact that this is actually happening counts as a minor miracle.
This project was supported by the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities, which receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts.
When & Where Is It?
Wednesday, December 5 at 6:30 PM (Night 4 / Ward 4)
RhizomeDC (Takoma) 6950 Maple St. NW
Additional information: This night features live cooking of latkes. This venue is partially wheelchair accessible. *Limited Seating*
How Much Is It?
$15 advance (plus service fees) — TICKETS
$18 at the door (plus service fees, unless paid with cash)
$2 from the sale of each Dec. 5 ticket benefits Humane Rescue Alliance.
Hashtag: #TFD8WC
Twitter: @FeldmanDynamic
Instagram: @brianfeldmanprojects
Facebook Event: http://j.mp/tfd8wc_fb4
FAQs:
What happens after I purchase my ticket?
You are absolved of all Jewish guilt from that moment until the end of 5779 (Sep. 29, 2019).
Are there ID or minimum age requirements to enter the event?
No. HOWEVER – babies, young children, and those with short attention spans are advised not to attend.
What are my transportation/parking options for getting to and from the event?
Visit Rhizome DC’s website (http://www.rhizomedc.org/about-rhizomedc/) for everything you could possibly want to know and more about getting to and from Night 4.
What can I bring into the event?
An open mind.
How long is the event?
45 minutes. (But don’t be surprised it if feels longer.)
How can I contact the organizer with any questions?
Email: projects[at]brianfeldman.com
Subject: TFD8WC Questions
What’s the refund policy?
There are no refunds.
Do I have to bring a printed ticket to the event?
No, but you can if you want.
Is my ticket transferrable?
Tickets are transferrable, and may be given as Chanukah gifts.
How do you spell חנוכה in English?
Depending on the desired alliteration, we’ve previously spelled it the two main alternating ways, “Chanukah” or “Hanukkah.” Examples: Chanukah with The Feldman Dynamic (2004), The Feldman Dynamic Chanukah Spectacular (2005), The Feldman Dynamic: Home for the Hanukkahs (2006), The Feldman Dynamic: Hanukkah in Little Havanaka (2007), Cracker Barrel® Old Country Chanukah (2008), and The Feldman Dynamic: Jai-Alai Hanukkah (2009).
Photo Credit: Edward Alan Feldman. (From left: Edward Alan Feldman, Adrienne McIntosh, Marilyn Wattman-Feldman, Brian Feldman.)