Things have changed and continue to change with Covid-19. So be sure to call ahead of time before visiting any theatres to make sure they are actually open and you can go. Washington, DC has many different performance options. In this article we will discuss some of those that you and your family can enjoy while you are on your visit to the great area of Washington, DC. If you are going to be using a tour guide, they too can fill you in on many of the options for those who enjoy the finer arts.
DC Theatre Scene
The John F. Kennedy Center For the Performing Arts
The Kennedy Center presents and produces a wide range of work, from cutting edge performances to international productions to Broadway shows. While the Kennedy Center may be best recognized by its Opera House, the complex actually holds nine presenting spaces. If you want a taste of everything and not just one genre of show this is the place for you to go visit. They hold close to 2,000 performances a year, which is a pretty large variety. The venue often attracts big Broadway names, as well as top notch national tours.
Arena Stage
Audiences looking to engage with their theatre. The company has a legacy of producing thought-provoking playwrights—like Pulitzer Prize winners Ayad Akhtar and Paula Vogel. Arena often hosts events, panels, talkbacks, and more to instigate conversations between audiences and artists. They also invest in musical theatre, with about one new musical a year and intimate productions of classics. The Arena Stage like to make you and their performers feel cozy and comfortable, they say it creates a more peaceful atmosphere for all involved, which does not sound like a bad idea.
Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
This theatre is not for those who are faint of heart, and who do not enjoy a bit of controversy. Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company asks its artists and audiences to engage with the world in unexpected and often challenging ways. The theatre employs an affiliated company of artists committed to its culture of provocation, and who embrace plays that take risks with both style and content. If you like big ideas and thinking outside of the box you will enjoy taking the time to visit!
Signature Theatre
This one is perfect for you if you have a family. If you are into adventure and music! Signature’s company has a mission to “invent and reinvent” with its season of offerings. Artistic director Eric Schaeffer has said inventions are world-premiere musicals and plays, while the reinvention comes from taking shows and bringing a new life or perspective to them—often including boundary-pushing design conceived and built on site. some of Signature’s most notable productions include its new version of Titanic, which is aiming for Broadway; Chita Rivera and George Hearn in The Visit; and the world premieres of Sheryl Crow’s musical Diner and James Lapine’s play Mrs. Miller Does Her Thing.