The Atlas Performing Arts Center proudly announces the return of its highly anticipated INTERSECTIONS Festival, a month-long celebration of innovative and inspiring performances, running from February 14 through March 15, 2026. Now in its 17th year, the Atlas’ signature INTERSECTIONS Festival tra nsforms the H Street Corridor into a vibrant hub for artistic expression, inviting audiences of all ages to engage with a diverse lineup of performances in the genres of story, movement, and sound. With a mission to highlight cross-disciplinary collaboration and amplify the voices of artists from all walks of life, the festival continues to be a cornerstone of Washington, D.C.’s cultural calendar.  A sampling from the Stories track in the 2026 Atlas Intersections Festival. TOP LEFT: Osama Mahmoud Ashour: ‘My Name Is Not Bin Laden’; TOP RIGHT: Rawra: ‘Joanie’s World’; ABOVE LEFT: Bardin, Makhlouf, Hodsoll: ‘Seeing Maya’; ABOVE RIGHT: Ari Agha: ‘Key of T.’ Photos courtesy of the artists. Tickets are on sale now! Prices are $25-$37 plus fees. Patrons can receive a 15% off discount on individual tickets, available until December 31 at 11:59PM with the code: “EARLYBIRD15”.  In addition to single ticket purchases, the Atlas has three subscription style Festival Passes that offer great savings! Limited availability. • 3-Show Festival Pass: Select three (3) INTERSECTIONS performances and save up to $42! • 4-Show Festival Pass: Select four (4) INTERSECTIONS performances and save up to $60! • 5-Show Festival Pass: Select five (5) INTERSECTIONS performances and save up to $85! “This year we received more than 110 applications, making the adjudication process more competitive than ever. The range of voices, genres, and perspectives represented is truly inspiring,” said Jarrod Bennett, Executive Director, Atlas Performing Arts Center. “From emerging artists to seasoned performers, this year’s lineup reflects the incredible diversity and creativity of our community. I’m thrilled to see how these artists will transform our stages and spark meaningful connections through their work.” Aaron Waxman, Director of Production, added “The festival is an opportunity for the Atlas to support over 500 DMV-based artists performing on our stages. Our six full-time staff in the Production Department support the realization of 35 unique performances through extensive planning, communication, and artistic collaboration with each show’s creative team. That effort includes creating 25+ part time jobs in the arts as festival technicians and backstage crew. These opportunities support the growth of DC’s arts workforce and enable the Atlas to support the professional development of DMV-based lighting technicians, audio engineers, and stagehands.” FULL SCHEDULE PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONS WEEK 1: February 14-15 STORYSaturday, February 14 | 8:00 pm  Jenna Murphy Amy K Bormet: Sex MonsterSex Monster is a cabaret that distills the history of monsters through a contemporary (and sexy) female lens. MOVEMENTSunday, February 15 | 6:00 pmGlade Dance Collective: NACHMO DC 2026 Sampler ShowcaseThe NACHMO DC Sampler Showcase presents a selection of world premieres by local choreographers who have created a new work during the NACHMO January Challenge. WEEK 2: February 20-22 MOVEMENTFriday, February 20 | 8:00 pmDEVIATED THEATRE: siGHtSeven spirits, a haunted family, and a world between life and death collide in a dance opera of aerial silks, foreboding whispers, and kinesthetic precision. STORYFriday, February 20 | 8:00 pmFairouz Foty aka Classical Screamer, Malikat Al Dabke and Quartertonez MusicSowt al Ard blends opera, Arabic instrumentation, Levantine dabke, projections, and sensory immersion into a ritual of remembrance, asking what stories the earth holds. SOUNDSaturday, February 21 | 7:00 pmCapital City Symphony: Hope!A symphonic adventure centered around human connection, the power of community to overcome, and, through music, the healing and hope that is possible. MOVEMENTSaturday, February 21 | 7:30 pmFlame Forté: The Faces of SatineWhat lies beneath the glitter. The allure is only the beginning. The Faces of Satine pulls back the curtain and takes the audience on a journey into the mind of an illustrious, seemingly irresistible artist.  MOVEMENT Saturday, February 21 | 8:00 pmMOORE Contemporary Theatrics: Beneath The SunA visceral dance reimagining of A Raisin in the Sun, exploring Black dreams, survival, and identity through contemporary movement and theatrical storytelling. STORYSunday, February 22 | 5:00 pmOsama Mahmoud Ashour: My Name is Not Bin LadenOne man. One name. Too many assumptions. A sharply funny solo show about identity, discomfort, and surviving post-9/11 America — with jokes. MOVEMENT Sunday, February 22 | 5:30 pmSoulmatic: Time MachineTime Machine is a family performance honoring Black American freestyle dance, rhythm, and legacy through storytelling, movement, and the shared journey across generations. STORYSunday, February 22 | 6:00 pmAri Agha: Key of TAn interactive music/theater performance sharing transgender singer Ari’s voice transformation with testosterone. Join us to hear yourself anew and be part of the choir! SOUNDSunday, February 22 | 6:00 pmCarly Harvey: The Chrysalis – Blues At The CrossroadsA vibrant fusion of blues, gospel, jazz, rock, funk, and my Native Scat — intersecting with fancy dancing, flamenco, and tap to celebrate culture, rhythm, and transformation. WEEK 3: February 27- March 1 STORYFriday, February 27 | 7:00 pmShawn Shafner: Sheldon Feldman Sings the Songs They Told Him Not to SingSheldon Feldman Sings the Songs They Told Him Not to Sing is an interactive musical theater cabaret from a tone-deaf septuagenarian urging audiences to take center stage in their lives and never look back. MOVEMENT Friday, February 27 | 7:30 pmgalax movement duo friends: dualitygalax movement duo invites you to an evening of dance and film featuring other members of the DMV dance community! For one night only, experience the different relationships of humanity through movement and art. MOVEMENT Friday, February 27 | 8:00 pmCartier Williams Dance Theatre: Rhythm RefixRhythm Refix blends intricate footwork, contemporary music, and cinematic storytelling. It reimagines tap as a vibrant art form, celebrating Black cultural heritage with innovative choreography. MOVEMENT Friday, February 27 | 8:00 pmCapitol Movement Inc: ReflectionsReflections revisits 20 years of powerful performances while exploring today’s pressing social issues through movement, memory, and the enduring resilience of our communities. SOUNDSaturday, February 28 | 7:30 pmQi Yu Quartet: Guzheng Meets JazzBlends traditional Chinese melodies with jazz harmonies and improvisation, creating a fresh fusion that honors tradition while exploring new musical paths. SOUNDSaturday, February 28 | 8:00 pmLemonboy: Lemonboy in ConcertA vulnerable, autobiographical song cycle reflecting on self-discovery, grief, and compassion; blending personal reflections with the voices of chosen family in an intimate, collaborative performance. MOVEMENTSaturday, February 28 | 8:00 pmDarby, Fujimoto, and Umami Playground Dance Inc.: Urban Steps: DC, NYC and Tokyo Chandini Darby, Kyoko Fujimoto and Umami Playground – Three choreographers will present a dynamic triple bill exploring how cities and cultures shape identity, inspired by DC, NYC, and Tokyo. STORY Sunday, March 1 | 5:00 pmKate Mullis Melissa Wilson: RecessRecess follows 5 elementary school students throughout the school year as they dip their toes into life’s big questions, navigating family, friends, and politics. SOUNDSunday, March 1 | 5:30 pmMiss Kitty: Life’s Other PlansA cabaret of story and song (at about an hour long) about one person’s journey into the second act within a newly discovered queer body. MOVEMENTSunday, March 1 | 6:00 pmElements Dance Company: Until the Streetlights Come OnA vibrant dance journey honoring the freedom of childhood joy — remembering when it was safe, boundless, and shared, and calling for its return in today’s world. SOUNDSunday, March 1 | 6:00 pmProject Fusion GoodBeats: Open WorldProject Fusion Saxophone Quartet performs new chamber music by living composers and music from video game adventures, in collaboration with the Good Beats Ensemble. WEEK 4: March 6-8 STORYFriday, March 6 | 7:30 pmJaemi Theatre: BaalIn a toxic city where birth is banned, a nonbinary doctor fights for life. A dystopian drama of slime, protest, and impossible choices. MOVEMENTFriday, March 6 | 8:00 pmAnushka Raje Co-Choreographers: We Are Somebody’s AncestorsChildren of immigrants lead We Are Somebody’s Ancestors, a dance showcase exploring inheritance and the ways we harness our own stories. Choreography by Lauren DeVera, Ishanathan Guteng, Tim Huynh, Tulani Janae, and Anushka Raje. MOVEMENTFriday, March 6 | 8:00 pmA.J. Collabs: Color Me (Curly) – Detangled StoriesA multidisciplinary performance using movement, voice, and sound to explore Black hair’s cultural and emotional significance, celebrating identity, challenging bias, and honoring history, resilience, and self-love. FREE FAMILY FUN DAYMarch 7 | 10am-12pm | Atlas LobbyFAMILY FUN DAY: The Great ZucchiniFamily Fun Day with the Great Zucchini! The Great Zucchini, Washington’s funniest and most magical preschool and kindergarten entertainer, performs a colorful magic show where every child is a star and guaranteed to laugh! This event is free and open to the public.  STORYSaturday, March 7 | 7:30 pmRAWRA: JOANIE’S WORLDA bathroom. A bassline. A beast. Frida’s secret shame festers behind closed doors until Joanie, their inner drag-monster, screams for attention. MOVEMENTSaturday, March 7 | 8:00 pmPercussion Discussion: Keeping TimeKeeping Time is a captivating tap dance exploration of the intricate relationship between rhythm, music, and the journey of life. SOUNDSaturday, March 7 | 8:00 pmGay Men’s Chorus of Washington, DC: BawdyOur annual cabaret, this year titled Bawdy, featuring stories and songs sung by soloists from GMCW. STORYSunday, March 8 | 5:00 pmAntoine Lee: Clocked InClocked In is a stylized comedy show with live music that offers a hilarious and quirky satire of office and work culture in modern America. STORYSunday, March 8 | 5:30 pmBardin, Makhlouf, Hodsoll: Seeing MayaIn this comedy-drama, Danny, 26, American, and his Tel Aviv neighbor, Maya, 52, start an affair during the Gulf War. How serious can it get? SOUNDSunday, March 8 | 6:00 pmDana Nearing: High Heels…Higher Notes!High Heels…Higher Notes! – Channeling the Queen in Me to Bring You Songs of the Most Iconic Female Vocalists of All Time! MOVEMENTSunday, March 8 | 6:00 pmFuria Flamenca Dance Company: Amalgamas (Encuentros)Experience Flamenco’s vibrant fusion of cultures, celebrated through music, song, and dance in a dynamic, multifaceted performance honoring its rich evolution. WEEK 5: March 13-15 MOVEMENTFriday, March 13 | 8:00 pmAerial Ignition: ETHERealityThrough breathtaking aerial artistry, ETHEReality presents inspiring stories about the courage it takes to be different enough to transcend a world that demands sameness. MOVEMENTSaturday, March 14 | 8:00 pmTextures Dance Theatre: TEXTURESOriginal contemporary works weaving identity, resilience, and community into textured movement from intimate solos to ensemble surges, performed by 10-15 dancers. STORYSunday, March 15 | 6:00 pmTonia Ford Vines: The Church Bizness MeetingThe Church Bizness Meeting is a hilarious gospel comedy about a community church facing closure due to ineffective leadership and a rapidly changing Washington, DC. ABOUT THE ATLAS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER The Atlas Performing Arts Center is a non-profit performing arts venue in a historic theater in the H Street Northeast community in Washington, DC. The Atlas Performing Arts Center provides spaces for artists to create music, theater, and dance to entertain and engage audiences in exploring the ideas and issues of our time. Atlas nurtures an environment that welcomes artists representing our diverse community. They invest in partnerships and programs that reflect the best of the arts and our humanity.   The post Atlas announces lineup for 2026 Intersections Festival appeared first on DC Theater Arts. ...read more read less