Everyone’s favorite adorable Star Wars droid (sorry, R2) will be making two special appearances — on Friday from 4 to 5 p.m., and on Saturday from 2 to 3 p.m. Also on display: a selection of costumes from The Last Jedi. Location: Awesome Con Jr.
The Science of Black Panther
An panel of experts explore the realities and the possibilities of science, technology, engineering, art, and math in Black Panther, as well as the intersection of pop culture, Africa and Afrofuturism, and how imagination and innovation translates into art, awesome technology, and rewarding careers. Friday, March 30, at 4 p.m., Ballroom.
John Boyega Panel
The Star Wars and Pacific Rim Uprising hero will hold an exclusive Q&A and field questions from the audience. Guests can reserve a “skip-the-line” ticket for $75 that guarantees a seat in the first 10 rows of the three center sections closest to the stage. Saturday, March 31, 6 p.m., Main Stage.
Awesome Con (2017) — Photo: Tom Donohue
John Barrowman Panels
The Doctor Who, Torchwood, and Arrow star will be signing autographs and appearing for photo ops throughout the weekend at Booth 34 in the Exhibit Hall. He will also appear on the Legendary Comics panel on Saturday, March 31, at noon, and for a solo Q&A on the Main Stage at 4:15 p.m.
Autograph Signings
This year’s “featured guests” (who you typically have to pay extra to meet) include Boyega, Barrowman, Dave Bautista, Michael Rooker, Pom Klementieff, and Sean Gunn from Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2, Stephen Amell from Arrow, Cress Williams from Black Lightning, Tom Welling from Smallville, Ben Savage from Boy Meets World, and Charisma Carpenter from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Visit Awesome-con.com for schedules and pricing.
Pride Alley
Co-presented by Geeks Out, curators of New York’s LGBTQ-themed convention Flame Con, Pride Alley is a full section dedicated exclusively to LGBTQ creators. Awesome Con will also host more than a dozen LGBTQ panels, including “Star Trek Discovery & A New Era of Diversity” on Friday, from 3:30 to 4:15 p.m., “Creating Inclusive Gaming Spaces” on Saturday, from 11:30 to 12:15 p.m., and “Let’s Be Wonder Women,” on Saturday, from 3:30 to 4:15 p.m.
The Awesome Con exhibit hall, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center (801 Mt. Vernon Pl. NW) is open Friday from noon to 8 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit Awesome-con.com.
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The Montgomery County performing arts campus is certainly giving a warm welcome to both musical artists and music lovers this winter, presenting a rich and diverse lineup in the warm and acoustically rich venues of the Music Center and the Mansion on the North Bethesda campus.
An equally impressive, if more limited, lineup is also on offer at AMP, the sibling intimate cabaret spot up the road. Below are 10 highlights of shows on tap at the three venues between now and early March.
Mandy Patinkin In Concert sees the Emmy-winning TV star (Chicago Hope, Homeland) and Tony-winning Broadway legend (Evita, Sunday in the Park with George) dropping by for a powerful, passionate evening of song, specifically to perform "Being Alive," a collection of some of his favorite tunes, from Irving Berlin to Cole Porter to Harry Chapin, and of course Stephen Sondheim, all accompanied by Adam Ben-David on piano. (1/28, Music Center)
In the world of comic strips and cartoons, even the artists have great origin stories. That includes the queer creators of underground comix profiled in No Straight Lines, Vivian Kleiman's delightful documentary making its TV debut this month on PBS's Independent Lens.
Inspired by the acclaimed anthology No Straight Lines: Four Decades of Queer Comics, edited by Justin Hall, the film chronicles how pioneering artists grew a niche art form into a social movement with the pop culture impact to produce mainstream successes like Alison Bechdel's graphic novel-turned-Tony-winning Broadway musical Fun Home.
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