Jodie Turner-Smith, who spent her formative years growing up in Montgomery County, is taking on the role of Athena in the latest installment of Disney’s Tron franchise. Known for her powerful performances in films like Queen & Slim and After Yang, Turner-Smith continues to rise as one of Hollywood’s most dynamic talents.
Laytonsville’s Katie Killacky, who we first featured in 2022 for her work as an actress and longtime acting coach, is seeing her daughters make waves of their own in Hollywood. Killacky, the founder of Capital Coaching Studio, has taught acting from her home in Montgomery County for nearly a decade. Now, her daughters Maggie and Annabelle are building impressive résumés with appearances across some of television and film’s biggest projects.
Every October, as Halloween approaches and horror fans revisit their favorite scary movies, The Blair Witch Project inevitably makes its way back into the spotlight. The 1999 indie phenomenon not only redefined the horror genre but also has deep ties to Montgomery County, where much of it was filmed.
Strathmore has appointed Rochelle Rice, a 2015 Artists in Residence alum, as Director of the Artists in Residence and Artistic Advancement Fellowship Programs, where she will oversee the flagship artist development initiatives and launch the new fellowship this fall. (more…)
Cynthia Adarkwa, a writer-producer on HBO Max’s hit medical drama The Pitt, took home an Emmy last night as part of the show’s Outstanding Drama Series win, an honor with a Montgomery County connection. Adarkwa is a Montgomery Blair High School alum (Class of 2006).
Tillman, a native of Prince George’s County, MD has made history at the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards. The Severance star won the award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, becoming the first Black man ever to win in the category. According to Variety, it was the only acting field in the Emmys’ 77-year history that had never before honored a Black performer.
Songwriters in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. are invited to compete for $10,000 and a chance to perform on one of the region’s premier stages. Applications are now open for the 10th Anniversary Bernard/Ebb Songwriting Awards, founded by Cathy Bernard to honor her uncle, Broadway legend Fred Ebb (Cabaret, Chicago, New York, New York). The competition culminates in a live concert featuring the finalists at the Music Center at Strathmore right here in Montgomery County on April 24, 2026.
Deep End, a darkly comedic and socially charged indie series by D.C. playwright John Becker, is now streaming nationwide on Fawesome TV. The show has also been awarded a $5,000 grant from the Arts & Humanities Council of Montgomery County for its artistic excellence and community impact.
What has been described as the “largest ever-curated fine arts multi-venue show in the U.S.” comes this fall to 16 art venues around the Greater Washington DC capital region as curator Florencio Lennox Campello surveys over 500 female artists actively working around the DMV.
Pilar Sanders, the proud mother of NFL players Shilo and Shedeur Sanders, was seen cheering on her son, Shilo Sanders, in a custom outfit designed by Montgomery County’s Passion For Ezra. The outfit was worn for Shilo’s preseason debut with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he made an impression with a significant hit and a tackle.
Strathmore introduces six dynamic young musicians as its Artists in Residence (AIR) Class of 2026—a genre-defying cohort selected for their creativity, skill, and artistic vision. The artists will make their debut at Fresh AIR on Wednesday, Nov. 12, at 8 p.m. at The Music Center. This signature event for one of the region’s premier professional development programs for rising musicians will feature the participants’ original works, innovative collaborations, and cross-disciplinary performances. Tickets are available to the public on Friday, Sept. 5.