Providing Natural Solutions for Male Sexual Health
There's not much we can count on in life, but if there's one guarantee, we can bet that our bodies change as we grow older. That's especially true for men as they age. One moment you're partying at the club, waking up refreshed, and hitting the gym. The next moment, getting out of bed is a chore. You're sore in places you never thought before, and hangovers don't just go away after a hot shower and a big breakfast.
And while sore joints and backaches can be treated with aspirin and ice, other signs of aging aren't as easy to treat. Of course, we're talking about challenges in getting and maintaining erections needed to satisfy your partner. At the extreme, we all know it as erectile dysfunction or ED for short but long before full ED, there are warning signs that things aren't working as they used to work. Hearing the ED word sends shivers down most men's spines. When you think about it, that makes sense - being unable to perform when you need to most is a scary thought.
If you're beginning to suffer from ED or male performance issues or you've been dealing with performance issues for some time, it may seem like nobody has any solutions or even really understands how these issues can impact your life and sense of well-being. However, ED of varying degrees is very common. More than 18 million men suffer from the condition in the U.S. Unfortunately, many of those men hide their performance issues without ever addressing them. If you're one of those men, and it feels like you're stuck in a rut with no help, we're here to tell you you're not alone. Proactive Wellness Centers, PLC is here to provide you with a long-lasting solution to help you regain confidence and perform like you used to.
Additionally, many men including the so-called "bio hackers" are using our treatments to PREVENT the performance decline in the first place. Why wait for the inevitable when you can implement strategies to prevent the decline in the first place.

The Proactive Wellness Center Difference
At Proactive Wellness Center, we are dedicated to making a difference in the lives of our patients by offering comprehensive programs that focus on reversing and slowing the aging process, preventing disease, and providing effective treatments for those with chronic illnesses. Our approach is three-fold, encompassing knowledge empowerment, disease prevention, and rejuvenation therapies tailored to each individual's unique physiology.
Empowering Patients with Knowledge: To achieve optimal health, we think that information is a powerful tool. Our programs are designed to educate and empower patients, equipping them with the information they need to take charge of their well-being. We provide comprehensive evaluations that incorporate patient-supplied information and utilize advanced diagnostics to assess health status thoroughly. By understanding their individual health profiles, patients can make informed decisions about their lifestyle, diet, and overall healthcare.
Disease Prevention through Comprehensive Evaluations: Prevention is key to maintaining good health, and we prioritize disease prevention through thorough evaluations. Our team utilizes comprehensive diagnostics to assess risk factors and identify potential health concerns. By addressing these factors early on, we aim to mitigate the risk of chronic diseases and promote overall wellness. Our approach goes beyond a one-size-fits-all model, recognizing that each individual is unique and requires personalized care.
Rejuvenation Programs for Optimal Health: Our anti-aging treatments are supported by research and center on slowing down the aging process, increasing tissue regeneration, and lowering cellular degradation.We understand that everyone's needs and goals are different, so our programs are customized to address individual requirements. Through advanced testing and genetics, we tailor the treatment approach to each patient, ensuring the best possible outcomes for their health and well-being.
At Proactive Wellness Center, we are committed to staying at the forefront of scientifically-validated therapies that reverse aging, prevent chronic diseases, and optimize health. For men who may be experiencing erectile problems, one of the proven therapies we offer is GAINSWave therapy in West Falls Church, VA. This therapy, among others, is part of our comprehensive approach to help patients achieve their health goals.
Our center is dedicated to providing personalized and effective care to our patients. We believe in equipping individuals with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions about their health, focusing on disease prevention, and offering rejuvenation therapies tailored to their unique physiology. Together, we can work towards reversing the aging process, preventing disease, and optimizing overall health for a better quality of life.
Our Services
- Providing Natural Solutions for Male Sexual Health
- The Proactive Wellness Center Difference
- What is GAINSWave Therapy?
- What Makes GAINSWave Therapy in Wolf Trap, VA Work?
- Other Treatments and Programs from Proactive Wellness Centers, PLC
- Achieve Your Wellness Goals at Proactive Wellness Centers, PLC
Service Areas
What is GAINSWave Therapy?
If you have ED or even a minor decline in sexual performance, there's a good chance you've already seen your primary care doctor. You've talked to them about the issues you're facing. And, if they're like many doctors, they prescribed you some pills and sent you on your way. Unfortunately, going this route doesn't do much to solve erectile dysfunction - you're just putting a band-aid on the problem. Plus, you're putting strange chemicals in your body via a "little blue pill" that may cause adverse side effects.
At the end of the day, you need a real-deal solution to ED, not a quick fix. The good news? A safe, non-invasive, injection-free answer to your problems exists. It's called GAINSWave therapy, and according to recent studies, it has shown an 85-92% success rate for mild to moderate cases of erectile dysfunction.
Reports from men who have used GAINSWave therapy in Wolf Trap, VA report the following benefits:
- Stronger, Longer Lasting Erections
- Improved Sexual Pleasure
- More Blood Circulation and Flow
- Better Girth and Length
- Less Rest Needed Between Orgasms
- Enhanced Intimacy in the Bedroom

Unlike many ED treatments, you don't have to worry about surgery or drugs when you choose GAINSWave. This revolutionary treatment uses acoustic wave technology, also called pulse wave therapy, instead of surgery or pills, which helps to rebuild blood flow to the penile region, thereby boostings erectile strength and, by proxy, confidence.
But the benefits of GAINSWave don't end there. This therapy also breaks up micro plaques and boosts nitric oxide, which forms new blood vessels and collagen. That's exciting news for men suffering from Peyronie's disease, which is another condition specific to male sexual health.
Contact Us For Services

What Makes GAINSWave Therapy in Wolf Trap, VA Work?
With time, men's blood flow decreases, sensitivity isn't what it once was, and blood vessels start to get thinner or even partially or fully blocked. With GAINSWave, high-frequency, low-intensity shockwaves rejuvenate areas of the penis that have suffered with age. For instance, micro plaques are removed, new blood vessels form, and blood flow increases. According to several clinical studies, enhanced blood flow from GAINSWave translates to more sustainable, rigid erections in 75% of men.
Though males in America are only beginning to realize the benefits of GAINSWave, it's a treatment that has been used for over a decade around the world. Backed by science and proven to rejuvenate vasculature in male erections, GAINSWave works without any pain or recovery time. In fact, it's possible to pop into Proactive Wellness Centers on your lunch break for a therapy session.
Proactive Wellness Centers' GAINSWave treatments feature:
- Low-Intensity Pulse or Shockwaves
- All Natural
- No Needles
- No Pills
- No Pain
- No Surgery
- No Recovery Time
- Quick Procedures
Because this procedure is needle, surgery, and drug-free, most men don't have to suffer through costly insurance claims or unsightly scarring. With GAINSWave and our comprehensive and personalized ED treatment plans, all you need to focus on is enjoying life, knowing your erectile dysfunction is a thing of the past.
Who Are the Best Candidates for Gainswave Therapy in Wolf Trap, VA?
If you're a man over the age of 30 and want to optimize your performance or if you are suffering a decline in this area, GAINSWave may be for you. That's even more true if other treatments never worked. For many men, those unsuccessful solutions include pills like Viagra. If prescription pills don't solve your ED problems, GAINSWave is a great option to consider. Academic studies show that shockwave therapy is successful where PDE5 inhibitors (like Viagra or Cialis) fall short.
In fact, many urologists now consider shockwave therapy the greatest revolution in ED treatment in over a decade. Even men without erectile dysfunction use GAINSWave as a preventative therapy to keep their bedroom performance strong and avoid compromised blood vessels.
Some of the key benefits of GAINSWave procedures over other ED treatments include:
- No Drugs
- Backed by Clinical Studies and Extensive Medical Research
- Vast Record of Success
- FDA-Approved for Enhanced Sexual Wellness
- Available at Proactive Wellness Centers, PLC
What Should I Expect from GAINSWave Therapy at Proactive Wellness Centers?
If you're ready to begin your journey to a healthier, happier sex life, getting started at our wellness clinic is as easy as 1-2-3:
Make an Appointment: Give our office a call at 703-822-5003. One of our Clinical Intake Coordinators will answer any question you have and get you started. If you prefer, you can text "gainswave" to 833.341.0170, and our Clinical Intake Coordinator will get back to you personally and confidentially.
Prep: Once the intake process is complete, you'll schedule a time for GAINSWave therapy in Wolf Trap, VA. You'll arrive at our wellness center for treatment at least 30 minutes before your appointment time. Procedure time is usually no longer than 30 minutes and occurs in our wellness center.
Enjoy the Benefits: Once your GAINSWave therapy session is over, you can get right back to what you were doing beforehand. Studies show that approximately 75% of men enjoy positive results like stronger, longer-lasting erections after treatment. Most men only need 6-12 sessions for optimal results.
Other Treatments and Programs from Proactive Wellness Centers, PLC
As the premier wellness clinic in Virginia and the metro D.C. area, we provide patients with a comprehensive list of treatments to slow the process of aging and treat chronic conditions. Our vision is to provide the latest in scientifically-validated therapies, like GAINSWave therapy in Wolf Trap, VA, for reversing the aging process, preventing chronic disease, and optimizing health.
Some of the most requested services we offer include:

Low-T Treatment for Men
While not as widely discussed as menopause is for women, andropause is very real for men just as menopause is significant for women. Our Low-T program for men focuses on the unique needs of men who are suffering from andropause or low testosterone. The Program Testosterone replacement when clinically indicated, optimization of DHEA and Pregenenolone, combined with nutritional guidance, nutritional supplementation recommendations to optimize your health. For men where Testosterone has declined, the Low-T program is a necessary complement to the Gainswave therapy.
Depending on lab results and patient goals, the program may also include peptides to help patients optimize their health and body composition. If you can identify with some of the symptoms below, you are likely experiencing low testosterone / andropause and are a candidate for laboratory testing to determine if BHRT is right for you.
Symptoms may include:
- Fatigue
- Erectile dysfunction
- Decreased stamina
- Loss of physical agility
- Decreased mental sharpness
- Prostate problems
- Insomnia

Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy for Women
Like men, women's bodies change as they grow older. Often referred to as menopause, this time in a woman's life can be stressful when the body uses energy differently, fat cells change, and hormones decline.
Many of the common symptoms and conditions associated with menopause are widely known and discussed, but there are many that are overlooked. At Proactive Wellness Centers, we've seen patients misdiagnosed with other illnesses that were actually caused by a decline in hormone levels. Our BHRT program for women focuses on the unique needs of women who are suffering from the common as well as the lesser-known symptoms of menopause.
Those symptoms may include:
- Hot Flashes
- Mood Swings
- Depression
- UTIs
- Irritability
- Anxiety
- Indigestion
- Osteoporosis
- Vertigo
- Anxiety Attacks
- Vaginal Dryness
- Fatigue

What are Bioidentical Hormones?
Bioidentical hormones are also known as natural hormones. They are substances with the same chemical makeup as the hormones produced in your body. Hormones are not drugs - they occur naturally and are found in every human on earth. BHRT replaces hormones at a physiologic level that is not harmful to the body.
If you're suffering through the symptoms of menopause, taking Midol isn't going to solve any problems. Fortunately, our BHRT program for women is designed to eliminate many menopausal symptoms. That way, we give women a chance to recapture their energy levels and vitality with drugs or surgery. Contact our office today to learn more about bioidentical hormone replacement therapy and how it can help you recapture the joys of your youth.
Bredesen-Protocol Strategies for Improving Brain Health
We believe that a healthy brain is paramount to overall well-being. Unfortunately, little is known about promoting brain health, lowering the risk of dementia, or stabilizing symptoms for patients experiencing early signs.
After much research, however, Dr. Lawson from Proactive Wellness Centers determined that the Bredesen protocol provides the best evidence-based approach to diagnosing and treating cognitive decline.
The approach, created by Dr. Dale Bredesen, is called ReCODE. This protocol involves multiple strategies to pinpoint specific health issues contributing to Alzheimer's Disease. The results of each strategy are measured using blood tests, dementia tests, cognitive evaluations, and other signs of overall health improvement. Now a Bredesen Certified doctor, Dr. Lawson now offers patients the full Bredesen ReCODE protocol to help them recover from debilitating illnesses like Alzheimer's.
Through this exciting approach, patients have shown dramatic improvements in cognitive function. In some cases, they achieve a reversal of symptoms and have even returned to work.
Proactive Wellness Centers' ReCODE program uses significant functional medicine experience and includes:
- Lifestyle Interventions
- Targeted Nutrients
- Therapeutic Diets
We're thrilled to add this promising Alzheimer's disease treatment for qualifying patients at Proactive Wellness Centers.

Chronic Disease Treatment
Long-term diseases like Lyme disease and Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS) can ruin a person's life and often leave them afraid to leave the house. To make matters worse, these chronic diseases are often initially misdiagnosed, complicating treatment and leaving the patient depressed and hopeless. And while some medical prescriptions can help, many chronic disease sufferers live without finding true relief.
At Proactive Wellness Centers, our innovative doctors have developed a comprehensive treatment program to address chronic diseases like CIRS and Lyme disease. Generally, our Chronic Disease Treatment follows SSRP protocols as defined below:
- Stop the progression of the disease while strengthening the immune system
- Stabilize patients by balancing hormones and restoring energy
- Reverse cellular, mitochondrial, and other damages caused by chronic diseases, based on lab markers and/or symptomatic expression
- Prevent further development of the chronic disease processes
Our SSRP protocol provides patients with a promising program based largely on the emerging bodies of evidence in the chronic disease space. This evidence is supported by peer-reviewed medical journals, clinical studies, and even double-blind placebo-controlled studies.

When choosing chronic disease treatments for patients, our team of doctors and clinicians focus on safety and efficacy before anything else. Typical therapies associated with our chronic disease treatment programs include:
- IV Vitamin Therapy
- Targeted Nutritional Supplements
- Compassionate Care and Personalized Service from Qualified Doctors
As an integrative practice, we use conventional medications when indicated, especially in cases of underlying co-infections and other areas where traditional medication offers the best course of treatment.
If you're at your wit's end living with a chronic disease, call Proactive Wellness Centers today. Our innovative treatments and therapies may be the key you need to unlock a new, healthy life.
Achieve Your Wellness Goals at Proactive Wellness Centers, PLC
From GAINSWave therapy in Wolf Trap, VA, to Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy for women, our doctors are here to serve you with care, compassion, and a commitment to your health.
That's because, at Proactive Wellness Centers, we take a patient-first approach to every service we offer. Unlike some anti-aging clinics, we focus on your goals, your experiences, and how we can address your health and well-being needs. We believe with a full heart that your story matters, and we're ready and waiting to listen. If you're looking for personalized, functional, regenerative treatments that address root causes, you're only a phone call away from living a healthier life.

Hours Open Monday through Friday 9AM to 5PM

Latest News in Wolf Trap, VA
Wolf Trap's Summer 2023 Season Kicks Off With Fireworks, Concerts
Emily Leaymanhttps://patch.com/virginia/vienna/wolf-traps-summer-2023-season-kicks-fireworks-concerts
VIENNA, VA — The summer season unofficially begins over Memorial Day weekend, and so does the summer concert season at Wolf Trap.Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts is a popular destination for summer concerts at its Filene Center, an outdoor amphitheater. Summer concerts kick off Thursday as ...
VIENNA, VA — The summer season unofficially begins over Memorial Day weekend, and so does the summer concert season at Wolf Trap.
Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts is a popular destination for summer concerts at its Filene Center, an outdoor amphitheater. Summer concerts kick off Thursday as The Avett Brothers perform on three nights.
Families can then enjoy a free concert with fireworks. On Sunday at 8 p.m., the popular Blast Off! with "The President’s Own" United States Marine Band returns. The band will perform concert band favorites, including tunes from "The Music Man," a medley of the Armed Forces’ service songs and more.
A fireworks display will be held after the concert around 9:45 p.m. Fireworks viewing areas will open around 9:30 p.m. This free event is open to all, but seating is offered first come, first served.
Wolf Trap's Filene Center has a packed season with big-name performers. Some shows have already sold out, including Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, Charlie Puth and Sting.
Other concerts have limited ticket availability, including John Legend, Ms. Lauryn Hill, Steve Miller Band, KIDZ BOP, Train and James Taylor & His All-Star Band.
One other summer highlight will be the Out & About Festival headlined by Brandi Carlile and featuring 11 LBGTQ+ artists and allies to celebrate Pride month. The festival will be held June 24 and 25.
Beyond the Filene Center, the Wolf Trap Opera will perform its summer residency program at The Barns at Wolf Trap. The season includes three full scale productions, as well as recitals and concerts throughout the community.
For younger audiences, Children's Theatre-in-the-Woods performances will be held over seven weeks. The performances from June 20 to Aug. 5 range from music and dance to theater and puppetry. Children will stay engaged as the performances encourage audience interactions.
Those attending Filene Center performances can bring their own food and drinks, including alcohol, to enjoy at the new Meadow Overlook picnic areas or on the Filene Center lawn during performances. Another option is the returning The Fermented Pig at Ovations' farm-to-table barbecue buffet before Filene Center performances. New this year is a quick service bar with drinks and bites. Picnic boxes can also be preordered. Concession stands are also available during performances, providing meals, snacks and drinks.
Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts is located at 1551 Trap Rd., Vienna, VA. Parking is free but limited. A Wolf Trap Express Shuttle is available roundtrip from the McLean Metro station during all Filene Center summer performances.
To see the full calendar for Wolf Trap's summer season, visit www.wolftrap.org/calendar.
Virginia Native Jason Mraz Calls First-Ever Wolf Trap Show ‘Exciting’
Kate Oczypokhttps://northernvirginiamag.com/culture/culture-features/2023/07/27/jason-mraz-wolf-trap/
Grammy Award–winner Jason Mraz, famous for hits like “The Remedy” and “I’m Yours,” returns to his home state to play at Wolf Trap for the first time.Two-time Grammy Award winner and Virginia native Jason Mraz is currently on tour, promoting his new album Mystical Magical Rhythmical Radical Ride. Mraz, who won Grammys for “Make it Mine” and “Lucky” with Colbie Caillet performs for the first time at ...
Grammy Award–winner Jason Mraz, famous for hits like “The Remedy” and “I’m Yours,” returns to his home state to play at Wolf Trap for the first time.
Two-time Grammy Award winner and Virginia native Jason Mraz is currently on tour, promoting his new album Mystical Magical Rhythmical Radical Ride. Mraz, who won Grammys for “Make it Mine” and “Lucky” with Colbie Caillet performs for the first time at Wolf Trap on August 6.
Mraz talks to Northern Virginia Magazine about his new album, the Jason Mraz Foundation that supports arts education and the advancement of equality, and what it will be like coming back to his home state.
Congrats on your new album. Tell us more about the vibe you were going for.
Touring last summer was quite insightful because we were able to test out new songs and get a feel for what songs the audience was not into. What they were telling us was that they wanted to stay on their feet and dance. So, we went into the studio to try and make a dance album. It’s been a bucket list item of mine for years. I knew it wasn’t going to be electronic dance music. I had to still figure out how my band and I could pull it off. I’ve made pop music my whole life, I’ll admit that. I stayed in that lane. Looking for new experiences, still, we’d never attempted to do something so up. We set out to make something you could dance to.
I’m always writing from wherever I am in life. I’m in my mid-40s, and it’s long enough to look back and see that I’ve been on a ride. I’m still optimistic about how much of that ride and time I have left, even though time is no guarantee. There’s a preciousness to the optimism on this record. I love this record and how it came out. There’s a freedom to it, and still a fresh naivete to it, but there’s also a little more learned experience and maturity inside of it as well.
What can people who go to your Wolf Trap concert expect to see?
It’s a Technicolor dream show. I’ve got all my best friends with me, 12 of us on stage including me. It’s a colorful recollection of my songs but celebrating the new album, too. We don’t play the new album in its own entirety. The way the new album feels and sounds is how we dress up the old songs as well. We’re also able to play some old songs I’ve never been able to play before because I didn’t have the personnel to help me recreate the song the way it’s recorded on the album. It’s a sonically big and beautiful and fun show. We don’t take ourselves too seriously, so it’s relaxed, too, with audience interaction, whimsy, and a whole lot of dancing.
Are you looking forward to getting back to your home state? Do you have any favorite places to visit in Virginia?
I would go see shows at Wolf Trap growing up in my high school years. In those formative years, I was going to concerts and daydreaming about your life. My daydreaming about my life was being on a big stage one day. I’ve never performed at Wolf Trap, so for me it’s quite exciting because I’ve seen so many shows there as a kid. Specifically, Ani DiFranco and Bob Dylan were big ones for me. I was a fan of both, guitar for Ani and, of course, Bob Dylan for his legendary songwriting.
When I saw Wolf Trap was on the tour schedule, I was very excited about coming back because it gives my family the chance to come up from Richmond to see me and have a bit of a reunion that day. It will be an extra special day on tour.
It seems like you are very dedicated to a lot of important causes. Can you tell us more about the Jason Mraz Foundation or other issues you’re passionate about?
I am sensitive to all the issues. It’s kind of hard to live in this world because everything from climate to equality, social justice, criminal justice, they all need our constant attention and help. I feel like unfortunately this country has been kind of bought and sold and far from the people.
Where I feel like I succeed because I’m an entertainer and performer is the arts education lane. I feel like I can connect with young people and help give them resources and great opportunities for them to pursue not just the arts but an experience of inclusion, acceptance, and compassion, which I think the arts are great at.
The foundation provides grants and scholarships to programs all around the country to help young people get involved in local arts programs. I feel like my superpowers really work best when they’re connected to the arts, so that’s where I tend to do my work.
You just released Mystical Magical Rhythmical Radical Ride. What are your plans for the rest of the year?
We have a program in schools from October to February in San Diego at eight different participating schools. After this tour, I won’t be touring for the rest of the year. I’ll be spending more time doing the foundation program and a television project that I can’t mention much about yet, unfortunately.
It gives me the ability to work from home and still contribute to society. I’ll resume touring probably next summer.
Feature image of Jason Mraz by Shervin Lainez courtesy Ashley White PR
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Wolf Trap’s ‘Faust’ brings a hard bargain to the Big Easy
Michael Andor Brodeurhttps://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/music/2023/07/24/faust-wolf-trap-review/
On Sunday, a matinee of Wolf Trap Opera’s “Faust” didn’t feel all that far removed from the muggy afternoon beyond the sturdy walls of the Barns, set as it was in the deep heat of fin de siècle New Orleans.But director Alison Moritz’s smartly refined production of Charles Gounod’s 1859 mainstay proved immediately transportive, casting the opera in an alluring new light and concentrating its grandeur into a potent potion.This “Faust” — the tale of an aging scholar who ...
On Sunday, a matinee of Wolf Trap Opera’s “Faust” didn’t feel all that far removed from the muggy afternoon beyond the sturdy walls of the Barns, set as it was in the deep heat of fin de siècle New Orleans.
But director Alison Moritz’s smartly refined production of Charles Gounod’s 1859 mainstay proved immediately transportive, casting the opera in an alluring new light and concentrating its grandeur into a potent potion.
This “Faust” — the tale of an aging scholar who strikes a deal with the devil for another taste of youth — had its own fateful bargain to strike: For the cozy purposes of the 382-seat Barns and its modest pit, conductor Geoffrey McDonald led his lean 26-piece orchestra in a reduced orchestration of the opera by Francis Griffin.
McDonald handled his short staff ably and energetically, filling in gaps of anticipated intensity and approximating vacancies of scale wherever he reasonably could, and otherwise offering a sensitive, responsive and clearly endeared reading of the score. (Admittedly, I’d have traded both of my shoes to the devil for a single trombone.)
This tamping of Gounod’s roaring flame put added pressure on the singers to sing — not to mention the intimacy of the space raises the stakes on those singers to act.
Fortunately, all aspects were in order on Sunday: Moritz’s vision is graced by a keenly cast ensemble of talented singers, well-complemented by a chorus of Wolf Trap studio artists, its ranks effervescently present and (for the most part) dynamically sound. (Here and there, the orchestra didn’t stand a chance.)
Tenor Eric Taylor made a forceful and compassionate Dr. Faust, his “Rien! En vain j’interroge” a rending introduction of a man broken by longing and (here) jonesing for poison. A remaining fleck or two of the youthful vigor to which he was trying to bargain his way back would have been welcome, but it was still an assured demonstration of the grace and control Taylor wielded through all five acts.
Certainly soprano Brittany Logan was the afternoon’s standout singer as Marguerite — her voice clear and rich, capable of burnished color and shocking lightness. She has this way of tightening her voice around a particularly aching word; you can hear the stone in her throat. It’s not that she’s superhuman; she’s extra-human, a quality that made her Marguerite magnetic. This was especially so in her lithe and lilting jewel aria (“Ah! je ris de me voir si belle”) and her anguished pleas (and chilling heights) in the final trio (“Anges purs anges radieux”).
Méphistophélès was convincingly embodied in white linen finery and impressively sung by bass Wm. Clay Thompson. Part unholy spirit and part Deep South mob boss, he lent the devil suitably skeevy form and restrained vocal power. (Thompson apparently specializes at mining a sinister undercurrent in his voice, his lows smoldering like magma.) I loved his cloying faux-serenade in Act IV (“Vous qui faites l’endormie”) and his last stand in the demonic fifth act,presiding in a horned mask over an eerie mob of revelers in a humid-looking bordello.
In a pants role, mezzo-soprano Mary Beth Nelson offered a charming take on the crushingly dorky and perpetually friend-zoned Siébel, skillfully girding the young rival’s nervous voice with a thin rod of earnest nobility. Baritones Kyle White and Mario Manzo gave strong performances and likable energy to the duo of Valentin and Wagner, the former admirably rising to the required swagger and dying one of the slowest deaths I’ve ever seen onstage. I left the hall wanting to hear more of mezzo-soprano Kathleen Felty, whose voice was warm and rich, and gave more than the average Marthe.
The opera’s NOLA vibe was helped along with costumes by Lynly Saunders and lights by Colin K. Bills, whose golden-hour sunsets and crimson underworld bestowed the action with a poetic halo. Lawrence E. Moten III’s scenic designs were clean and clever — the wrought-iron rails and balconies of a New Orleans court quickly transforming into a chapel (complete with an effective shock of organ). A signpost in front of Marguerite’s home reads “1020 Rue Saint Ann” — a nod to Marie Laveau, a 19th-century free woman of color who became known as the “Voodoo Queen of New Orleans” that here serves as a spiritual template of sorts for our troubled heroine.
At times, Moritz’s vision of the Big Easy felt a touch congested onstage, and I wondered whether more routine use of a central platform thrust into the front rows might have helped. But these were small distractions in a production that otherwise wicked uncanny power from a limited palette. Even in reduced form, it felt like a deal worth striking.
Faust repeats July 27 and 29 at the Barns at Wolf Trap in Vienna, Va. wolftrap.org/opera.
Our picks in summer theater, dance, pop and classical
HAND CURATED
Singer Calls Out Wolf Trap For Taking Hefty Cut Of Merchandise Sales
Elliot C. Williamshttps://dcist.com/story/23/09/18/wolf-trap-tomberlin-show-merchandise-fees/
Ted Eytan / FlickrSunday night’s concert at the Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts began like many others before it. A light rain fell as fans of headliner Ray LaMontagne filed into the Filene Center, Wolf Trap’s 7,000-seat outdoor amphitheater in Vienna, and purchased light fare and $14 drinks (in $6 spill-proof cups) imprinted with the Wolf Trap logo.But fans weren’t using the time to purchase merchandi...
Sunday night’s concert at the Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts began like many others before it. A light rain fell as fans of headliner Ray LaMontagne filed into the Filene Center, Wolf Trap’s 7,000-seat outdoor amphitheater in Vienna, and purchased light fare and $14 drinks (in $6 spill-proof cups) imprinted with the Wolf Trap logo.
But fans weren’t using the time to purchase merchandise from opening act Sarah Beth Tomberlin — rather, they couldn’t, because unlike the typical Wolf Trap show, the artist, who goes by Tomberlin, wasn’t selling any T-shirts, records, or other paraphernalia.
Tomberlin explained the lack of merch after she finished her acoustic set: She told the crowd that she wasn’t selling her T-shirts because Wolf Trap takes a 41% cut (30% + 5% card fee + 6% tax).
She added that as an independent artist who rented a car with her cousin to go on the six-week Just Passing Through tour with LaMontagne, having to pay such a steep commission threatens her livelihood. She said she’d rather not sell her shirts for $60 to make a profit. After giving her statement, Tomberlin received applause from the crowd and later posted to Instagram, where she described the “aggressive merch cuts” as the highest she’s seen while on tour.
So what’s behind that cut? Tomberlin has little say in negotiating things like commission rates for merchandise sales, she says in a phone call with DCist/WAMU. Her booking agent and the tour promoter (in this case, Live Nation) agree to all those details before she agrees to go on the road, she says.
“It’s extremely important for artists’ survival to continue to talk about this and to create change and to inform an audience who has no idea about these merch cuts,” Tomberlin says. “People think when they’re going to a show and they’re paying $35 for a shirt that it’s going to us. Only a portion of that is going to me.”
Tomberlin said she was hoping the venue would let her sell her own merch and keep more of the profits, but Wolf Trap gave her the option to either agree to the terms and let the venue’s staff handle the sales or not sell at all.
“And I chose to not sell as a statement, because it is wrong and it is truly upsetting,” Tomberlin said.
Some fans took to social media to criticize the merchandise policy, commenting on the venue’s Instagram post about the concert. One Instagram user wrote: “Tomberlin deserved better treatment by you. Stop alienating the artists that make what you do possible in the first place. Do better.”
Wolf Trap doesn’t discuss contract terms publicly, according to Wolf Trap spokesperson Sandra Rodriguez. But, she adds, “Wolf Trap’s operations, including merchandise rates, are consistent through the summer, and all artists performing at the Filene Center have had the same terms without incident.”
Tomberlin’s stand against merch cuts comes two weeks after artist Jeff Rosenstock seemingly called out I.M.P’s 9:30 Club and other venues on his tour for taking cuts of merchandise sales. (He posted a screenshot to X, formerly Twitter, showing that the D.C. venue on his tour would be taking a 20% cut of sales of soft merch, such as shirts, and 10% for hard merch, including vinyl records. He performed at 9:30 Club on Sept. 6.)
An I.M.P. spokesperson said that “it can vary” when it comes to merch agreements between artists and the concert promoter’s venues — which include The Anthem, 9:30 Club, Merriweather Post Pavilion, and others. The spokesperson added that venues are “enormously expensive” to operate, especially since the pandemic began, and cited costs like insurance, taxes, liquor licenses, utilities, security, lighting, and staffing — including the staff that sells the merchandise on behalf of the artists.
“I don’t think that a merch cut from an artist keeps a venue open at all,” Tomberlin says when asked about venues’ expenses. “I think the bar tab keeps them open. I think having shows that people want to come see and then charging, what I’ve seen at some places, $20, $25 for a cocktail … I think that keeps venues open. I don’t think that stealing from an artist keeps venues open.”
Tomberlin on Instagram took specific aim at Wolf Trap, which operates under a public-private partnership between the nonprofit Wolf Trap Foundation and the National Park Service. She posted screenshots from Wolf Trap’s website advertising its “growing $31M endowment” and commitment to reducing “physical, financial, and societal barriers to access” to the arts.
Wolf Trap, which sits on 117 acres and includes an educational arm, a restaurant, and multiple performance venues, is the only U.S. national park dedicated to the performing arts. The venue is unique in that guests are encouraged to bring their own food and beverages to enjoy on the lawn.
“For transparency,” Tomberlin also shared on her Instagram stories what she says are the merchandise policies for the rest of the venues on the tour, most of which appear to be an 80/20 cut; meaning for every dollar spent, the venue keeps 20 cents:
Tomberlin says some fans have sent her money through Venmo to support her in lieu of her T-shirt sales.
“It’s not just going in my pocket. It’s going to gas, it’s going to hotels, it’s going to food, it’s going to pay for the merch, the rental car,” she adds. “I hope that it causes a wave of change for people to continue to speak up about it because Live Nation doesn’t want me to talk about it, Wolf Trap doesn’t want me to talk about it. But I feel it’s important to talk about.”
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Heading to Wolf Trap? What You Need to Know Before You Go
Maggie Rothhttps://northernvirginiamag.com/things-to-do/things-to-do-features/2023/05/17/heading-to-wolf-trap-what-you-need-to-know-before-you-go/
Wolf Trap has some fantastic shows, but before you head there, make sure you know what to expect.The Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts in Vienna has been a staple in Northern Virginia for over 50 years ago. Every year, it hosts an expansive lineup of live performances, from big-name concerts to symphonic orchestras to kid-friendly puppet shows.If you’re planning to attend any of the shows on Wolf Trap’s ...
Wolf Trap has some fantastic shows, but before you head there, make sure you know what to expect.
The Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts in Vienna has been a staple in Northern Virginia for over 50 years ago. Every year, it hosts an expansive lineup of live performances, from big-name concerts to symphonic orchestras to kid-friendly puppet shows.
If you’re planning to attend any of the shows on Wolf Trap’s calendar, here are some things you’ll want to know before you visit one of its three individual venues: the Filene Center, the Barns at Wolf Trap, and the Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods.
The Filene Center is the largest venue at Wolf Trap. It’s a large outdoor amphitheater where many of the biggest shows at Wolf Trap perform.
Entrance inspection: Yes, everything you bring in — coolers, purses, baskets, totes, diaper bags — will be inspected. Bags, backpacks, and suitcases can be no larger than 14-inches-by-13-inches-by-10-inches, and you may only bring in two items, excluding purses and blankets.
Seating: The Filene Center seats over 7,000. Guests purchase seats within the covered amphitheater or opt for general admission lawn seating.
Guests with lawn tickets can bring blankets or chairs to sit on, but lawn chairs, including legless beach chairs, are only permitted in the back area of the lawn. Seat cushions with back support are allowed anywhere on the lawn and can be rented at the gift shop, located on the plaza.
When to arrive: Park gates typically open 90 minutes before the show starts. Since lawn seating is first-come first-served, people often line up at the gate to get a good spot.
Guests with seated tickets can make their way to their seats in the amphitheater 30 minutes before the start of the show.
Food and drink: Guests are welcome to bring their own food and beverages – including alcohol, as long as it’s not in a keg – to enjoy picnics on the lawn. In the covered seating area, guests can bring water and other beverages in reusable spill-proof Wolf Trap cups, which can be purchased at concessions.
Wagons and coolers on wheels are OK, as long as they are no larger than 18 inches-by-16-inches-by-12- inches.
The concessions stand has casual food, such as burgers, sandwiches, and snacks. You can also buy beer, wine, and cocktails to take to your seat, but no food is allowed in the covered area.
What’s prohibited: The center has a list of items you cannot bring.
The Barns is an indoor theater space, housed in two restored barns from the 18th century.
Entrance inspection: Wolf Trap reserves the right to inspect what you bring in.
Seating: Guests select their seats when purchasing tickets. There are 284 seats on the floor level, and an additional 98 on the balcony.
When to arrive: The lobby and bar open 90 minutes before showtime, and theatre doors open 30 minutes before showtime.
Food and drink: The lobby has a full bar, which sells specialty drinks and food – you’ll find starters like a charcuterie board, entrées, including a crab cake sandwich and a margherita flatbread, and desserts. Drinks can be taken to your seat, but food cannot. No outside food or drink is permitted.
Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods is a small outdoor stage tucked into the woods of the park, where Wolf Trap hosts host kid-friendly shows.
Seating: Shows at the Children’s Theatre are all general admission. There are rows of benches for seating, with space for about 700.
When to arrive: The theater opens at 10 a.m., 30 minutes before the performances start.
Food and drink: No food or drink, except water, is allowed.
There is free parking available for all venues, but space is limited. The address to give your GPS will depend on which venue you’re attending.
The Filene Center and the Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods: 1551 Trap Rd., Vienna
The Barns at Wolf Trap: 1635 Trap Rd., Vienna
If you’d prefer to take public transit, a shuttle between Wolf Trap and the McLean Metro station for every summer show at the Filene Center. Shuttles to the venue run every 20 minutes, starting two hours before the show and ending at showtime. Return shuttles leave 20 minutes after the show, and no later than 10:45 p.m. on Sundays through Thursdays or 11:20 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Shuttle tickets cost $3 to $5.
Rideshares and taxis go to a designated pickup/drop-off area, located on the west side of Trap Road.
Feature image courtesy Wolf Trap
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