Metro News Release

For immediate release: June 14, 2007

MetroPerforms! begins in DC this Friday

Auditions in Prince George's County to be held on Saturday

MetroPerforms! begins in the District of Columbia on Friday, June 15, when two dancers will grace the entrance of the Dupont Circle Metrorail station (Q Street entrance) from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the first scheduled performance in Metro history. See performance schedule.

The program expands on Saturday, June 16, when Metro and the Prince George’s Arts Council hold auditions for performances at select Metrorail stations in Prince George’s County. Auditions in Montgomery County are scheduled for June 29.

In May, Metro, along with the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, held two audition sessions. The judges selected 22 of the 109 acts that auditioned.

“We auditioned a rich and diverse group of performers and selected artists who truly showcase the region’s cultural diversity,” said Metro’s Art in Transit Manager and MetroPerforms! judge Michael McBride. “I think the public will be very pleased with the performances.”

Those making the cut include musicians with African, Latin and Asian influences, a youth orchestra, hip hop band, country/bluegrass band, belly dance troupe and story teller.

District of Columbia performances have been scheduled through September 28 outside of the Dupont Circle, Woodley Park, Metro Center, Fort Totten, Gallery Place-Chinatown and Anacostia Metrorail stations. Performances mainly will take place on Fridays from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. A handful of performances are on Monday evenings and two are scheduled on Saturdays. (A full schedule of performances is attached.)

Developed by Metro’s Art in Transit Program, MetroPerforms! invites local performers to showcase their talents at select Metrorail station entrances. Metro invited local arts councils in areas served by Metro to help select and schedule performances at stations in their respective jurisdictions.

The auditions in Prince George’s County will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 16, at the Mt. Rainier Artists Loft community room, 3311 Rhode Island Ave., Mt. Rainier, MD. Interested individuals should send an email to vrussell@artspg.org to schedule an audition time.

Montgomery County will hold auditions from 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday, June 29, at Silver Plaza on Ellsworth Drive in downtown Silver Spring. The auditions will be open to the public and performers will have three minutes on stage to impress a panel of judges.

Performances at stations in Prince George’s and Montgomery counties will likely begin in July.

All performances in the MetroPerforms! program will take place at designated station entrances at a distance far enough away from station stairs and escalators to ensure clear access for people heading into or out of Metrorail stations. In addition, program participants are not permitted to sell merchandise, nor ask for money from the public while performing. The local arts councils will pay the performers a stipend.

Performers selected to participate in MetroPerforms! are subject to criminal background checks by the Metro Transit Police Department, required to wear a Metro-issued identification badge while performing, and must cooperate with Metrorail station managers and Metro Transit Police to ensure that performances do not compromise station access and the safety of Metro customers and the general public.

MetroPerforms! is a one-year pilot program developed by the Metro Art in Transit Program in conjunction with local arts councils in the Metrorail service area to enhance the experience of transit users and pedestrians, and support the arts in the region.

Performance schedule as of June 13:

June 15 Dupont Circle (Q Street)
June 18 Metro Center (11th + G streets)
June 22 Fort Totten
June 25 Metro Center (11th + G streets)
June 29 Gallery Place (7th + G streets)
June 30 Woodley Park**
July 6 Anacostia
July 7 Woodley Park**
July 10 Metro Center (11th + G streets)
July 13 Gallery Place (7th + G streets)
July 20 Dupont Circle (Q Street)
July 27 Anacostia
July 31 Metro Center (11th + G streets)
Aug 3 Dupont Circle (Q Street)
Aug 10 Fort Totten
Aug 17 Metro Center (11th + G streets)
Aug 24 Fort Totten
Aug 31 Woodley Park
Sept 7 Gallery Place (7th + G streets)
Sept 14 Anacostia
Sept 21 Gallery Place (7th + G streets)
Sept 28 Dupont Circle (Q Street)

**Two performances begin at 11:30 a.m. All other performances begin at 4:30 p.m.

News release issued at 12:00 am, June 14, 2007.