Created by J. Seward Johnson, Jr. as part of a sculpture exhibition, the 5-piece cast aluminum piece is now at its new home on a sandy beachfront location at Washington’s National Harbor, near the stage and plaza. 

The new location is inches off the waters edge and a smaller, somewhat less inviting and playful place than the former locations in a large grassy park.

Watch the video of the statute’s removal from Hains Point and installation at National Harbor.

The Awakening
National Harbor
137 National Plaza
National Harbor, MD 20745  (map it)

Dates and Times – Open daily, 24-hours a day.

Admission - FREE

Nearest Metro Subway Station – Branch Avenue – Green line, then a 20-minute bus ride (NH-1 Metrobus).

Parking – Garage parking is available at $1.00 per hour ($10 max.)

Images – from personal collection   ©2008, Jon Rochetti 
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Post from: The DC Traveler

Fast forward 18 years later and he’s directing Cirque du Soleil’s latest production to visit Washington, DC, KOOZA.  He also wrote and created the production, which opens October 30th, 2008 at the new Nation Harbor.

I had a chance recently to chat with David about the upcoming production of KOOZA.

Besides winning a Tony "Live Theatrical Presentation" Award in 1999 for Silent Tongue, David launched the role of the Cat in the Hat, in the Broadway musical Seussica, a musical based on the books by Dr. Seuss. He has also appeared in several movies, including Lorenzo’s Oil and on The Tonight Show.

KOOZA uses the classic Jungian theme, the duality of man — the good and the bad — the light and the dark. The show’s main character, a loner, seeks his place in the world, by exploring a wide range of emotions of the human condition. From power to fear, through solitude to laughter, the characters show us how we are all the same in our hopes, joys and fears.

When asked how long the production took from concept to stage, he related that the show’s concept is based on some of his European clowning and circus experiences, which he described as more classic in their technique and approach. But the show adds in a familiar America style of humor – slapstick, in the forms of the Three Stooges or Laurel and Hardy.

The first six months of development of KOOZA were dedicated to the creation of the concept, followed by another 18 months of production development with his team of over a dozen creative associates. During that period, all aspects of the show were developed, including the music – a key element of the show, as well as the costumes, sets and each performance. But he reminded me that it doesn’t include the years and years performers invest to make any Cirque show look effortless as they seem to defy gravity and much of natural law.

“It the first show where the clown’s performances were created specifically for the show in the studio,” he said. “And KOOZA is one of the most physical Cirque du Soleil shows in years.” A comment such as that is hard to comprehend, as all of the shows I’ve experienced have been exceptionally physical and seemed to push the performances to the limits of physical strength, agility, balance and control.

When asked if he is creating another Cirque show in the future, he hesitated and replied somewhat coyly, “Yes…one for production in 2010”.  Based on his somewhat reluctant answer, it seems he’s like so many other creative types, preferring to hold their work close to the chest until it’s ready for public consumption. 

I asked him what Washington DC audiences should look for, he replied that the audience should leave the performance with a feeling of inspiration and hope. “Hopefully feeling like a kid again.”

Something I suspect we could all use a bit more of these days.

For more details on performances and tickets, check out my original announcement on the KOOZA on The DC Traveler.  The scheduled performance run has been extended another two weeks, now ending on December 14, 2008.

Images – All courtesy of Cirque du Soleil, © Cirque du Soleil 2007 – headshot – by Olivier Samson-Arcand – C2007 Cirque du Soleil Inc.

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Post from: The DC Traveler

Opening October 30th, 2008, for a one month run at the National Harbor in Washington, DC, Cirque Du Soleil combines some of the best acrobatic performers in the world, with the art of clowning to create mystifying stories that delights audiences.

Tickets for Cirque’s Middle Eastern inspired show, KOOZA, just went on sale. The show includes high-flying acrobats, amazing gymnastics and dance, high wire and trapeze artists, bicyclists, jugglers, and, as always, a good dose of humor and memorizing live music.  

Cirque du Soleil has reinvented circus performing and taken it to amazing new heights.  That’s why over 80 million people worldwide have seen the magic of Cirque. 

I’ve seen three of their shows and each performance was spectacular and totally entertaining.  After attending any show, there’s always a few acts that leave me asking  “just how did they do that?”

Tickets are now on sale and should go fast, so order soon.

Cirque Du Soleil – KOOZA
Under the Grand Chapiteau at the Plateau
201 Harborview Avenue
National Harbor, MD 20745  (map it)

Dates and Times – October 30 – November 30, 2008, Daily, except Mondays. 

Tickets – Adults – $55.00 – $215.00, kids 2-12 -  $38.50 – $150.50, Weekday Senior and student discounts available for some shows – $49.50 – $112.50. Tickets are on sale now and available online or by phone at 800-674-5440.

Nearest Metro Subway Station – Branch Avenue – Green line, then a 20-minute bus ride (NH-1 Metrobus).

Parking – Harbor parking is normally $1.00 per hour ($10 max.), but event parking may be charged.

Images – All courtesy of Cirque du Soleil, © Cirque du Soleil 2007 – Skeleton Dance – photo by Olivier Samson Arcand & costume by Marie-Chantale Vaillancourt.

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Post from: The DC Traveler

At the show you can check out and tour about 40 luxury yachts (not “boats”) all over 40 feet in length.  The yachts are for sale, for hire/charter or can be custom built by yacht builders to your specifications.

The show also includes other types of yachting toys, such as tenders and perhaps personal helicopters, jet packs and James Bond type cars.

And for the people looking for their first, entry-level boat, here’s one that can be purchased and run for less than the cost of just one day’s worth of champagne needed to stock any of the yachts that will be on display.

Yacht Show at National Harbor
National Harbor
137 National Plaza
National Harbor, MD 20745   (map it)

Dates and Times – Thursday – Sunday, June 5 – 8, 2008. Hours – Thur. 11-6, Fri. 11-7, Sat. 10-7, Sun. 10-6.

Admission – $16.00 and are available online.

Nearest Metro Subway Station – Southern Avenue – Green line, then a 4 mile cab ride.

Parking – Paid parking for $10.00 is available.

Images – yacht 1, yacht 2, yacht 3, rowers 

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Post from: The DC Traveler

Sadly, it has been sold and will be moved to a new location.  On Wednesday, it will be dug up and begin its move to its new home.

The good news. It isn’t moving far.

The National Park Service “temporary” 2-year permit initially allowed the piece to be located in the park in 1980. But it’s been there ever since.

It has since become one of the most popular non-monument sculptures in Washington, DC and a great photo op for parents with kids, lovers and tourists alike.  At night, the sculpture has an eerie yet tranquil feel to it overlooking the Potomac River and National Airport.

Installed in by American sculptor J. Seward Johnson, Jr., as part of a international sculpture exhibition; the 15-foot high, 5-piece cast aluminum sculpture overlooks the water at the end of East Potomac Park. 

The piece has been for sale ever since it was installed and last spring, it was sold for $740,000 to the developer of the new 300-acre National Harbor development on the Potomac River waterfront, in Prince Georges county in Maryland.

The piece will be placed near the harbor’s amphitheater, close enough to the water, that in times of flooding, it will be partially underwater.  It’s current positioning will also be changed slightly, to make the sculpture’s placement a bit more anatomically correct.

The sculpture’s new location will be visible from the Wilson Bridge and a focal point of the development.

Besides The Awakening, the new National Harbor will be home to four  boating docks, six new hotels including the Wyndham Vacation Resort with 1,100 rooms, a couple condo developments with 2,500 residential units, and a half million sq. feet of office space. 

Additionally, the National Children’s Museum will be opening there in 2012, as well as an outdoor movie theater, as well as a convention and entertainment center for events such as music concerts, Octoberfest and festivals.

The first events at he new National Harbor, starting in May of this year, include a luxury yacht show and a food and wine festival.

The Awakening at Hains Point
East Potomac Park
About ¾ miles south 1090 Ohio Dr. SW, at the end of the Hains Point
Washington, DC 20001

Images – personal collection – © 2008 – Jon Rochetti

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Post from: The DC Traveler