Arena Stage

DC Favorites ‘Dear Evan Hansen’ and ‘Come From Away’ Vie for Best Musical as the 2017 Tony Award Nominations Are Announced

DC Mega-hits Dear Evan Hansen and Come From Away, which wowed audiences during their sold out runs at Arena Stage and Ford’s Theatre, will be vying for Best Musical, as the 207 were Tony Award...

Review: ‘Smart People’ at Arena Stage

As soon as the lights come up on Lydia R. Diamond’s Smart People, now playing at Arena’s Kreeger Theater, the focus is clear. Or is it? Are four really “smart” people, who are only trying to save the...

Review: ‘A Conversation with Alec Baldwin’ at Smithsonian Associates

A sold out crowd Wednesday night enthusiastically enjoyed the Emmy, Golden Globe, and Screen Actors Guild Award-winning actor, writer, producer, comedian, and political activist Alec Baldwin’s...

Review: ‘A Raisin in the Sun’ at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater

“I am a giant surrounded by ants!” exclaimed Walter Lee Younger in a scene from A Raisin in the Sun. Walter is the embodiment of how society, family members, and internal struggle can defer dreams....

Magic Time! ‘Intelligence’ at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater

Lately I’ve been thinking that there are two key questions that must be asked of every season-programming choice by every theater’s artistic director: 1) Why now? 2) So what? There is no single right...

Review: ‘Intelligence’ at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater

Intelligence, the new play at Arena Stage about the Valerie Plame CIA scandal, comes at a very timely moment in politics. As Donald Trump appears increasingly clownish, the presidency of George W....

Review: ‘The Very Last Days of the First Colored Circus’ at Restoration Stage

A long-ago love story inspired this richly textured play with 1920s music. When Playwright Steven A. Butler Jr. was growing up, he heard family stories about how his great-great grandparents, Ruby...

Review: ‘Watch on the Rhine’ at Arena Stage

Lillian Hellman’s Watch on the Rhine came to DC for a command performance on January 25, 1942. The occasion: Franklin Roosevelt’s 60th birthday. America had just entered World War II and the fight...

Magic Time! ‘Watch on the Rhine’ at Arena Stage

Whatever this play meant to Broadway audiences when it debuted in 1941, just prior to America’s entry into a war of resistance to fascism abroad, what matters now is what it means to audiences just as...

Review: ‘The Originalist’ at Asolo Repertory Theatre

Playing now in repertoire with The Great Society, a stunning new play that New York has not yet seen, called The Originalist, is keeping the good citizens of Sarasota who clearly love good theatre...

In the Moment: A Chat With Ethan Van Slyke on His Career and Understudying For ‘Watch On the Rhine’ at Arena Stage

A joy for a theater writer is to bring notice to young up-and-coming actors. In the past year I have the good fortune to see Ethan van Slyke perform with several professional theater companies in the...

Review: ‘Roe’ at Arena Stage

The title of Lisa Loomer’s riveting play Roe refers to both the pivotal Supreme Court case Roe v. Wade and the person known as Jane Roe who was the plaintiff in it. Loomer dramatizes both stories—why...

Meet the Three Young Actors in ‘Watch on the Rhine’ at Arena Stage: #3 Lucy Breedlove

Lucy Breedlove makes her professional debut playing the middle of three siblings in Lillian Hellman’s 1941 play Watch on the Rhine. In the childhood they are having, the bogeyman is all too real. Set...

Review: ‘Pippin’ at Act Two at Levine performing at Arena Stage

I have often heard Pippin described as a frivolous musical with silly little songs and a thin plot, but to me, Pippin has always told a remarkable and universal story: the story of the hero’s journey....

Meet the Three Young Actors in ‘Watch on the Rhine’ at Arena Stage: #1 Ethan Miller

Ethan Miller makes his Arena Stage debut playing one of the three children in Lillian Hellman’s 1941 drama Watch on the Rhine. It’s not what you’d call a kid’s show. Set in 1940, the play echoes with...

Review: ‘Dear Evan Hansen’ at The Music Box Theatre in NYC

This highly imaginative and moving musical was presented off Broadway by the Second Stage company in May of this year. It enjoyed a sold out run for a month, and was honored by a dozen awards for...

Spine: ‘Moby Dick’ Inside Jonah’s Whale at Arena Stage

“Jonah,” I said to myself as soon as I laid eyes upon the set of Lookingglass Theatre Company’s Moby Dick. Large, curved rib-bones thrusting upward, form a cradle: “It’s happening inside the whale.”...

Review: ‘Moby Dick’: A Co-Production with the Alliance Theatre and Southcoast Repertory at Arena Stage

A complex rigging of interlocking cables, ropes and steel clamps is harnessed by a skeletal steel structure. The structure is at once minimal and abstract, intricate and unambiguous, to suggest the...

Review: ‘Carousel’ at Arena Stage

Life happens. Rodgers and Hammerstein’s, Carousel, is a timeless interlude that explores the human spirit’s indomitable will to go forward no matter life’s circumstances. Director Molly Smith’s...

Arena Stage Holds an Open Reading of Zelda Fichandler’s Words This Sunday, October 23th from 2:00-7:00 p.m. and a Public Memorial Service This Monday, October 24th at 2:00 p.m.

Open reading of her words on Sunday, October 23 from 2:00-7:00 p.m. Public Memorial Service on Monday, October 24 at 2:00 p.m. Arena Stage’s Co-Founder and Founding Artistic Director Zelda Fichandler...

Review: ‘The Year of Magical Thinking’ at Arena Stage at The Mead Center for American Theater

Kathleen Turner is back at Arena Stage, and that is always good news for Washington theater-goers. Having starred in Mother Courage and her Children, and Red Hot Patriot: The Kick-Ass Wit of Molly...

A Celebration of Life for Zelda Fichandler This Sunday October 23rd From 2-7 PM and Monday, October 24th From 2-4 PM at Arena Stage

ARENA STAGE AND THE FICHANDLER FAMILY HOST A CELEBRATION OF LIFE FOR ZELDA FICHANDLER AT THE MEAD CENTER FOR AMERICAN THEATER Open reading of her words on Sunday, October 23 from 2:00-7:00 p.m. Public...

Review: ‘Tappin’ Thru Life’ at the Penn’s Landing Playhouse in Philadelphia, PA

About half the audience was standing and moving to the rhythm of the music. A few patrons remained in their seats and clapped while the Diva Orchestra played one last piece. There were no dancers on...

Review: ‘The Little Foxes’ at Arena Stage

The enduring popularity of Lillian Hellman’s The Little Foxes offers proof positive that themes of greed, racism, and misogyny continue to resonate with contemporary audiences. Though set in a small...

Chatting with Rupert Holmes About Landless’ Symphonic/Metal Version of his Musical ‘The Mystery of Edwin Drood’

He’s a triple threat! He’s won Tony awards for writing the book, score, and lyrics for his Tony award-winning Best Musical The Mystery of Edwin Drood, not to mention Tony nominations for the musical...

Review: ‘Heathers’ at Red Branch Theatre Company

High school can be rough on anyone, but in Heathers it’s murder. The well-mounted area premiere at Red Branch Theatre Company shows that the 1989 movie, which poked fun at making the grade in grade...

Co-Founder and the First Artistic Director of Arena Stage Zelda Fichandler Passes Away at Age 91

We received this sad news from Arena Stage. A pillar of our theater community has passed away. We send our condolences to the Arena Stage family and to Zelda’s family. And thank you Zelda for being...

Review: ‘Born for This: The BeBe Winans Story’ at Arena Stage

Family can be boon or bane for most of us. BeBe Winans’ bio musical, Born for This, raises common themes about family to extraordinary heights as it joyfully praises the power of kinship and the...

A Celebration of Life for Vincent Hill is on Monday, June 27th at 7:30 PM in The Fichandler Stage at Arena Stage

A CELEBRATION OF LIFE FOR VINCENT HILL MONDAY, JUNE 27, 2016 AT 7:30 P.M. IN THE FICHANDLER STAGE AT ARENA STAGE AT THE MEAD CENTER FOR AMERICAN THEATER From Arena Stage: The greater D.C. area lost a...

2016 ‘Man of the District’ on Monday, April 16th at 7 PM at Penn Social: Meet the Judges, Contestants, & Masters of Ceremony

2016 Man of the District Announces Featured Performer, Judges, and Contestants Monday, May 16th at 7 PM at Penn Social -801 E Street Northwest, in Washington, DC. BUY TICKETS HERE. Stage and film...

Review: ‘Dear Evan Hansen’ at Second Stage Theatre in NYC

In the rush of incoming Broadway and off/Broadway productions mid-season, I somehow missed the 2nd Stage mounting of this original and quite remarkable new musical by a new trio of writers. Dear Evan...

Review: ‘Disgraced’ at Arena Stage

If you think we are over-saturated with passionate discussions of race, gender, nationality, and religion during this chaotic election year — think again. There is still much to be probed, and...

Review: ‘All the Way’ at Arena Stage

Lyndon Baines Johnson, popularly known as “LBJ,” was one of our best presidents, and also one of our worst. Truly a study in contrasts, he could evince both strength and weakness at the same time. LBJ...

Looking Back at ‘Elevate’ at Take the Stage Performance Company

I can’t stop thinking about the best time I had in the theatre so far this year-spending it with 26 of the most talented singers and dancers, and some terrific musicians, at Elevate at Take the Stage...

In the Moment: A Look at Jack Viertel’s “The Secret Life of the American Musical: How Broadway Shows Are Built”

Revealing the concealed underpinnings and durable structures of American musicals is no easy undertaking. Let alone covering and analyzing the past seven decades of musical theater history. But,...

Review: ‘The Lion’ at Arena Stage

Award-winning singer-songwriter and guitarist Benjamin Scheuer electrified Arena Stage’s Arlene and Robert Kogod Cradle last night, debuting his one-man musical, The Lion. Affable, handsome and...

A Report on ‘Sanctuary (An American Psalm)’ at Arena Stage

There is a moment when Director and performer John Moletress and Jocelyn Kuritsky are dancing on stage left. Caridad Svich is singing her original song “Low Valley” on stage right. As the dancers...

Review: ‘SWEAT’ at Arena Stage

Permit me this before my actual review of Lynn Nottage’s bold, brave play SWEAT which is receiving a splendidly searing, raw, and real production at Arena (Co-commissioned with the Oregon Shakespeare...

Review: ‘American Idiot’ at Act Two @ Levine by Laura Marshall

Great punk music paired with edgy, mature performances and soaring orchestration rocked the house in the Kogod Cradle at Arena Stage last weekend. The pre-professional program from Act Two @ Levine,...

DCMetroTheaterArts: Best of 2015 #10: Best Performances in a Musical in Professional Theatres and Special Awards

The staff of DCMetroTheaterArts is honored to announce that their 2015 Best Performances in Musicals in Professional Theatres honors go to: Best Actor in a Musical Andrew Lloyd Baughman as Sweeney...

Act Two at Levine Students Perform Excerpts From ‘American Idiot’ for Broadway Performer Tony Vincent

Musician and Broadway actor Tony Vincent visited the students of Act Two at Levine’s Pre-Professional Program for a master class on their upcoming production of American Idiot that will run from...

‘Akeelah and the Bee’ at Arena Stage

How do you spell T-E-R-R-I-F-I-C S-H-O-W? Those of us with Millennial-generation children are used to the intensity of youth sports, like football, lacrosse or soccer, being played outdoors on a turf...

‘Oliver!’ at Arena Stage

From its opening number, Arena Stage’s innovative new production of Lionel Bart’s Oliver! is bursting with excitement and emotion. Director Molly Smith has stripped the classic musical based on...

The Women’s Voices Theater Festival ‘Erma Bombeck: At Wit’s End’ at Arena Stage

A Wonderful “Mom-ologue” Many Baby Boomers’ earliest memories were of their stay-at-home mothers laughing at a risque line in an Erma Bombeck column, carefully cutting the column out – then glaring at...

Jeff McCarthy on Playing Fagin in Arena Stage’s ‘Oliver!’

I was so excited when I heard that Jeff McCarthy had landed the role of Fagin in Arena Stage’s upcoming production of Oliver!, so I jumped at the opportunity to catch up with him while he was in...

Playwright Karen Zacarías on ‘Destiny of Desire’ at Arena Stage

There’s a lot of laughter coming from the cheering audiences at Destiny of Desire, now playing through October 18th in The Kreeger Theater at Arena Stage. Prolific Playwright Karen Zacarías tells us...

La-Ti-Do! Begins Performances at Bistro Bistro Tonight at 8 PM with Chris Sizemore and National Broadway Chorus & American Pops Orchestra

Come see La-Ti-Do’ new venue at Bistro Bistro 1727 Connecticut Ave, in NW Washington, DC TONIGHT AT 8 PM La-Ti-Do presents Helen Hayes Award winner Chris Sizemore and members of The National Broadway...

Big Changes at La-Ti-Do! New Venue and Partnering with Arena Stage & Shakespeare Theatre Company

La-Ti-Do’s Fall 2015 Season & Special Events Announcement Produced by La-Ti-Do DC A part of the weekly La-Ti-Do series from October – December 2015 FALL for some of Washington, DC’s best and brightest...

The Women’s Voices Theater Festival ‘Destiny of Desire’ at Arena Stage

DC playwright Karen Zacarías’ world-premiere musical comedy Destiny of Desire is a delightfully soapy mix of magic realism and situation comedy – so sit back in this bubble bath of great storytelling...

Update: The March on Washington for Gun Control Presents “26 Pebbles” on Monday, August 24th at 8 PM at Arena Stage

Monday, August 24, 2015 at 8 PM At Arena Stage-In the Kogod Cradle 1101 6th St., SW in Washington, DC 20024 Price: $20. Tickets are available at the Arena Stage Sales Office, by phone 202-488-3300, or...