When you think of Washington, D.C., does theater spring to mind? If not, you may be in for a pleasant surprise. While much attention is given to Washington, D.C.'s status as the national capitol and seat of world power, the city has also attained prestige as a regional and national center for the arts.
Originally planned as a cultural playground for the country's political elite, Washington, D.C. continues to foster a vibrant and varied performing arts community. With dozens of theaters and playhouses operating year-round, visitors to D.C. can find live productions to attend on practically every evening of the year. From the upscale to the affordable, the traditional to the experimental, the scripted to the improvisational, the city offers a spectrum of performances representative of theater arts throughout the country.
The John F. Kennedy Center of Performing Arts (the Kennedy Center), opened in 1971, has been home to many of the city's biggest theater events. In addition to hosting major symphony, opera, and ballet performances, the Kennedy Center holds a regular schedule of plays, both musical and otherwise. It's known for staging large, ambitious touring shows with exquisite production values, such as The Phantom of the Opera and The Lion King. However, it also hosts classics like Waiting for Godot, international productions, and innovative new works. Plus, if you're in D.C. during the holiday season, the Kennedy Center hosts some of the city's most exciting seasonal entertainment.
Known as the "theater of Presidents," the National Theatre has inhabited its original location since its founding in 1835. Located within a short walking distance from the White House and the National Mall, today's National Theatre hosts Broadway musicals, comedies, and special cinema presentations. For many, the most rewarding aspect of seeing a show there is the experience of sitting in a theater which has been attended by almost every President since Andrew Jackson. Plus, the theater's stage has been trod by countless legendary performers, including Ethel Merman, John Barrymore, Vivien Leigh, and Laurence Olivier. The theater is also said to be haunted by the ghost of John McCullough, an actor who was supposedly murdered backstage in the mid-1800s. Whether or not you believe such tales, the storied history of the theater alone makes it worth a visit.
Another well-known venue, Ford's Theatre, became infamous after actor John Wilkes Booth shot and killed audience member President Abraham Lincoln in 1865. Following the assassination, the theater closed down and the building was put to other uses. Restoration of the theater began in the 1960s, and it finally reopened in 1968. Now, in honor of its solemn history, the theater's stated mission is to stage productions that would have been appreciated by President Lincoln himself. Its plays celebrate the continued promise of America.
Another renowned D.C. theater is the Arena Stage. Founded in 1950, the company has been a pioneer of the regional theater movement, as well as the largest not-for-profit, professional theater in the area. Its three stages have hosted countless famous actors and regional performers. Productions include everything from musicals to comedies, to epic dramas. Their production season runs from September to July, and their holiday season performances usually provide interesting alternatives to traditional holiday stage productions. For example, their December, 2007 production of Christmas Carol 1941 is a World War II-era, American adaptation of the Dickens holiday classic.
The smaller, more edgy Woolly Mammoth Theater Company has established a reputation as the city's most groundbreaking theater company. Opened in 1978, the company fosters the creativity of the nation's most talented new and established playwrights, directors, and actors. Recent productions include the quirky Martha, Josie, and the Chinese Elvis; She Stoops to Comedy, a modern homage to Elizabethan theater; and the surreal Dead Man's Cell Phone. Located in the historic 14th Street neighborhood, the Wooly Mammoth is deeply involved in community programs, directing a portion of its profits to these ends. So, for a unique theater experience that helps a good cause, the Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company is a great place to spend an evening.
Two other venues working in positive ways with the D.C. community are the Atlas Performing Arts Center and the H Street Playhouse. Hosting performances by the African Continuum Theatre Company, Theater Alliance, the Essential Theatre Company, Capital Renaissance Theatre, and many others, these two venues help give local and regional artists theatrical legs on which to stand. Located in Northeast D.C.'s H Street corridor, a formerly thriving neighborhood devastated by riots in 1968, both organizations were founded in part to help revitalize the community.
For a taste of local hip-hop culture, check out Washington, D.C.'s annual Hip-Hop Theater Festival. The festival presents local, national, and international productions that address issues of today's urban youth, with a hip-hop flair. Providing a venue for stories rarely told in the theater world, the festival nurtures innovation by young artists and provides thought-provoking material for viewers of all stripes. You don't need to be a fan of hip-hop music to enjoy the performances. The annual festival, which parallels related events in San Francisco and New York City, takes place in July.
Finally, for Shakespeare lovers, two theater companies agree that "the play's the thing." The Shakespeare Theatre Company performs classic plays in the Harman Center for the Arts, located on 7th Street NW. Meanwhile, the award-winning Folger Shakespeare Theatre stages performances of Shakespearean favorites and modern plays inspired by the Bard. Affiliated with the Folger Shakespeare Library, this Elizabethan-style theater is located blocks away from the U.S. Capitol.
Thanks to these and other theater companies, your visit to the Capital City can be enriched by the magic of the stage. Theatergoers will find Washington, D.C. a vital theater town, with world-class productions among the country's best.
