Washington DC

Meet the dramaturg for ‘Hadestown’

Ken Cerniglia, a Catholic University grad, has been instrumental in developing work at the Kennedy Center and on Broadway.

Colonial Players entertains with complex ‘By the Way, Meet Vera Stark’

An illuminating exploration of Black erasure through typecasting in Hollywood.

In ‘Hadestown’ at Kennedy Center, a wildly exciting theatrical carnival

Borrowing from Greek mythology, a musical of love, loss, and the power of dreams.

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.

The comedy in Olney’s ‘Thanksgiving Play’ comes with a side of snark

Now available to stream: Playwright Larissa FastHorse’s satire about white “wokeness,” a brilliant middle finger.

Two centenarians recall their lives in ‘Having Our Say’ at Creative Cauldron

Who doesn’t love listening to older relatives telling stories about back in their day?

In time for Halloween, a haunting ‘Girls’ Night (with Spirits)’ from the Welders

An audio play about a Black woman who believes her home is being haunted—a realistic, immersive, and enjoyable audio play with fun twists in the script.

A powerful and meaningful ‘Celia and Fidel’ at Arena Stage

A new play based on a fight between Cuba’s most influential female revolutionary and its most notorious political leader.

‘A Black and White Cookie’ premieres at Silver Spring Stage

Can a bakery favorite repair the world?

Explosively beautiful ‘Hadestown’ gets down at Kennedy Center

The music steals the show, but there is much, much more to enjoy.

Little Theater of Alexandria has a winning thriller in ‘Wait Until Dark’

Good acting and taut direction in an enjoyably suspenseful evening of theater.

Sterling Playmakers debuts an original romantic comedy, ‘The Social Secretary’

Those who aren’t ready for summer to end will find warmth, love, and laughter in this beach read brought to life.

Smart showtune satire from Reston Community Players teens

Their ‘Musical of Musicals (The Musical!)’ is meta entertainment and unbridled fun.

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

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

Colonial Players to present Lynn Nottage’s ‘By the Way, Meet Vera Stark’

This spritely, sly satire is a sharp take on race and culture in the past and today.

Synetic Theater’s ‘Madness of Poe’ is deliciously horrific

Neatly combines Poe’s gift for Victorian horror with the brilliance that Synetic is known for.

Unabashed comfort and joy in ‘The Book of Mamaw’ at 1st Stage

A solo performer’s tribute to his maternal grandmother, who raised him and gave him the tools he needed to engage with life.

Spooky Action’s unrealistic ‘Realistic Joneses’ is a complete treat

The text keeps us off-kilter in a way that tickles us silly even as a sobering undercurrent churns.

For Folger’s Karen Ann Daniels, the Bard’s big O stands for opportunity

The new artistic director and director of programming has her sights set on equity and community.

How to be a hero: The lesson of ‘Remember This’ at Shakespeare Theatre

David Strathairn’s spectacularly affecting performance as Jan Karski becomes not only an emotional but a moral experience.

How a new NOVA theater will go on with the show despite a hit

The lead was struck by a car—but Nightsky Theater will open its outdoor ‘Picnic’ on schedule.

Providence Players of Fairfax premiere youthful ‘The Beatle Club’

It’s the summer of 1965 and these Teaneck club kids really dig the rock band.

Paul Taylor Dance Company opens Kennedy Center dance season with verve

Two familiar works ease us back into the theater on a high note.

‘My Lord, What a Night’ becomes truly thrilling at Ford’s Theatre

Imagined musings on the historically real friendship between Marian Anderson and Albert Einstein, two powerful voices for freedom.

‘Becoming Dr. Ruth’ returns to Theater J and welcomes us in

The evening encourages us to engage with Dr. Ruth’s memories as well as to contemplate what might be our own.

Once upon a time under the stars at Wolf Trap: Shakespeare Theatre’s gala

On the scene at the company’s buzzed-about fundraiser.

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.

A playful and poignant ‘Defying Gravity’ at Aldersgate Church Community Theater

The quirky dramatic comedy is based tangentially on the Challenger disaster.

A grand night of singing in ‘A Familiar Melody’ at NextStop

A revue of beloved showtunes makes for a giddy reunion of artists and audience.

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.

Reston Community Players kick off apprentice program with musical sendup

A production of ‘The Musical of Musicals (The Musical!)’ providing local students hands-on experience.

Shavian wit meets its match in ‘Dear Liar’ from Washington Stage Guild

Lively and brilliant letters between George Bernard Shaw and the original Eliza Doolittle from before there was Zoom.

‘Bright Star’ shines at Riverside Center for the Performing Arts

A powerful and transformative story full of heartbreak and hope.

Teshonne Powell on terror and healing in the lives of Black women

The second production from Welders 3.0 is her audioplay horror story, ‘Girls’ Night (with Spirits).’

‘Teenage Dick’ at Woolly Mammoth is entertaining and revelatory

A funny, scary adventure rife with incandescent ideas.

Tune in to Kennedy Center’s big 50th birthday party Friday on PBS

Celebrating 50 years of the National Cultural Center, the evening is hosted by six-time Tony winner Audra McDonald.

Final inning for ‘Toni Stone’ is a fans’ outing at Nats Park

Views from the free streaming event courtesy of Arena Stage

In ‘Prepping for Widowhood,’ it’s ladies night and never too late

Best Medicine Rep channels women of a certain age ready for their next act.

Neil Simon’s ‘Rumors’ at Rockville Little Theatre is a delightful romp

For anyone with a funny bone yearning for a few hours of frothy fun.

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

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

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.

Adventure Theatre’s ‘Luchadora!’ a fantastic show for the whole family

The tale of a teen tomboy, set in the world of Mexican wrestling.

Woolly Mammoth commits its ‘badass theater’ to accessibility

For the entire season, accessibility will be built into productions from the get-go rather than tacked on at the end.

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

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

A dazzling solo performance in ‘Bo-Nita’ from 1st Stage

Terri Weagant juggles accents and body postures to give us five distinctly and flamboyantly desperate people we won’t soon forget.