News

A grateful farewell to our New York correspondent, Deb Miller

For nearly a decade, Deb Miller has covered New York theater for DC Theater Arts superbly. By NICOLE HERTVIK

WIT to require booster shots and medical-grade masks

Becomes first local theater to tighten COVID safety protocols in light of omicron.

‘A Strange Loop,’ a hit at Woolly, heads to Broadway

Michael R. Jackson’s ‘big, Black and queer-ass American Broadway show’ will open in spring 2022 at the Lyceum Theatre.

Adventure Theatre’s ‘Winterfest’ is a three-in-one celebration

Productions feature stories about the magic of Chanukah, a heartwarming Christmas journey from the Philippines, and the connecting power of snow.

Meshaun Labrone’s harrowing film ‘Spook’ now streaming on Tubi

Based on the haunting one-man play that debuted at Capital Fringe, a visceral exploration of American race relations, policing, and the criminal justice system.

For DEI in the arts, pay a living wage, says new AEA report

A national study of state and local arts agencies finds most grants lack wage requirements.

Theatre Washington debuts ‘Backstage at the Helen Hayes Awards’ series

A personal look into the lives that have made DC the second largest and most successful theater community in the nation.

NextStop Theatre slates five shows for winter/spring 2022

‘Every Brilliant Thing’ | ‘The Legend of Georgia McBride’ | ‘Nat Turner in Jerusalem’ | ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ | ‘Lucky Stiff’

In honor of World AIDS Day, historic ‘Normal Heart’ to screen today

A Q&A afterward will feature Emmy Award-winning director Paris Barclay and members of the predominately BIPOC and LGBTQ cast.

‘A Christmas Carol’ at Ford’s to benefit Theatre Washington Taking Care Fund

Inspired by the theme of charity in Dickens’s holiday classic, financial assistance to DC-area theater professionals in times of unforeseen hardship.

Imagination Stage begins in-person season with safety paramount

Five live productions to bring joy to the young and very young.

DC theater mourns the passing of Stephen Sondheim

A gathering of tributes shared on social media to a musical great who will live on — on our stages and in our hearts.

DCMTA’s 2021 Holiday Theater Guide

A wishlist of great offerings in the DMV for every taste and price range.

Avant Bard to stage August Wilson’s ‘How I Learned What I Learned’

An autobiographical solo play originally performed by Wilson himself.

Olney elevates ‘Beauty and the Beast’ to new and exciting heights

A diverse, unique, and thoughtful recreation of ‘a tale as old as time.’

Reginald L. Douglas named Mosaic Theater artistic director

Mosaic’s mission to produce transformational art that reflects DC’s diverse voices aligns with Douglas’s vision and hope for theater.

4615 Theatre returns to stage with ‘Housewarming Theatre Festival’

Featuring six short plays, a new interactive piece, musical performances, and more, the site-specific event will run four days in December.

GMCW’s ‘Holiday Show’ to ring in a season celebrating LGBTQ+ grit

Now in its 41st year, the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington returns to live performance to sing of the community’s perseverence.

Solas Nua to present U.S. premieres of digital theater from Belfast

Streaming November 18–21: four new works from Prime Cut Productions, one of Ireland’s leading theater companies.

Joseph Ritsch to perform as his drag persona, Sunrize

For three nights only, a loving satire of contemporary musical theater divas created by the Rep Stage producing artistic director.

Imagination Stage’s ’10 Seconds’ to debut at MLK Library

Imagination Stage in Bethesda debuts its stage play, 10 Seconds, at a premiere event on November 18 at Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, 901 G Street NW, Washington, DC. Honorary Chairs for the...

National Chamber Ensemble gets romantic with a new season

The company’s 2021-2022 season includes masterworks that have rightfully earned their status as highlights of the classical repertoire.

YAA to put on ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’

Featuring over 80 artists, the production kicks off Young Artists of America’s 10th-anniversary season with a return to live theater.

‘The Oresteia’ comes to Zoom via Virtual Repertory Theatre Collective

The classic Greek tragedy revisioned to reflect the turmoil and cloak-and-dagger of present-day DC.

Dominion Stage’s ‘Five Women Wearing the Same Dress’ opens Nov. 5

A biting comedy about the societal label of being “too much” that diminishes women.

Happenstance Theater announces first post-COVID production

The comedic ensemble returns with ‘BrouHaHa’, an existential escapade for a two-week run at the Baltimore Theater Project.

‘Where We Belong’ to play at Baltimore Center Stage prior to U.S. tour

Performing solo, Madeline Sayet personifies her Mohegan heritage of women as powerful carriers of their culture.

Diverse, multi-abled Omnium Circus to debut under big top in Tysons

The world’s most inclusive and accessible circus opens live November 18.

Maryland’s AngelWing Project takes audiences to Beale Street

A 1950’s family drama, the play follows two Black cousins from Mississippi who struggle to make a life for themselves in spite of secrets threatening to invade and interrupt their peace.

Rorschach Theatre plots next immersive story, ‘Chemical Exile’

Following the success of ‘Distance Frequencies,’ a new season-long experience.

We Happy Few presents ‘A Midnight Dreary Episode 3: Etched in the Wall’

Chilling audio plays adapted from the works of Edgar Allan Poe and Charlotte Perkins Gilman.

Keegan Theatre to stage ‘N,’ a drama about first Black actor on Broadway

A hundred years ago he made history. Now a descendant reveals his story.

Woolly adds a Brit hit to its season of artists ahead of their time

Jasmine Lee-Jones’s ‘seven methods of killing kylie jenner’ offers a Gen Z take on Black womanhood, colorism, and the politics of social media activism.

‘Black Flute’ from IN Series to screen free Friday on National Mall

Mozart’s ‘Magic Flute’ reconceived with Black voices central to performance and production.

‘Red Bike’ by Caridad Svich to get DC debut in a block party

Reimagined by Pan Underground, the play will be an immersive experience at the center of a community celebration.

Washington Stage Guild’s in-person season to spotlight trust

Four plays that show trust being built, being questioned, fraying, and breaking.

Need to find space for your art? Here’s how, from ArtsFairfax.

Step-by-step instructions that can be used by artists and arts orgs anywhere.

Creative Cauldron plans live 2021–22 season to ‘reignite, reimagine’

The Falls Church company marks its 12th year with six theatrical productions and two concert series.

Four safe, fun shows for fall from NextStop

Revised season programming and rigorous health protocols.

ExPats Theatre to stage gut-wrenching war drama Pankrác ’45

In a prison in Prague in 1945, five women stand accused of Nazi collaboration.

Emergent Seed to showcase grant winners at Art All Night on Saturday

Free music, spoken word, and visual art in an unmatched setting.

Black resistance to slavery in PG County inspires ‘Freedom Stories’

Psalmayene 24 to adapt local history for the stage in unique county-wide anti-racist collaboration.

Peter’s Alley returns to the stage with acclaimed drama ‘Proof’

A play about the unknowability of love and the mysteries of mathematics.

Shaw and his star actress will drop lines in ‘Dear Liar’ from WSG

Washington Stage Guild presents a free online performance of letters between George Bernard Shaw and Mrs. Patrick Campbell, the original Eliza Doolittle.

A ‘Bright Star’ on the horizon for Riverside Center

The Fredericksburg, VA, venue’s 2021–22 season is underway, featuring musicals, farces, mysteries, and beloved classics.

Rapid Lemon Productions to stage modern take on 1916 anti-racist play

Aladrian C. Wetzel’s new adaptation of ‘Rachel’ by Angelina Weld Grimké to be offered both in person and streaming.

Woolly Mammoth returns to in-person performance with ‘Teenage Dick’

A darkly comic riff on Shakespeare’s Richard III features a high school kid bullied because of his cerebal palsy.

Ragamala Dance Company to present free world premiere Sept. 11–12 at the REACH

Site-specific work imagines a metaphorical world of immortality.

‘KPOP, The Musical’ dropped from Signature’s 2021/22 season

Due to ‘pandemic-related logistical challenges,’ the Broadway-bound show won’t stop at The Anthem.

Free ‘Concert of Remembrance’ at Kennedy Center September 10

National Symphony Orchestra program to commemorate 9/11, reflect on loss from COVID, and honor frontline workers.