Updated online performing arts offerings
During the pandemic, an overwhelming number of arts institutions are regrouping and finding ways to keep going virtually. The following list reflects current online events and activities announced by DMV arts organizations. This list was first published March 17, 2020, and has been continuously updated as information comes in. The most recent update was made at 3 PM on January 15, 2021.
1st STAGE
More event info is available at the 1st Stage website. 1st Stage is also offering courses for children, young adults, and adults, taught by experts in the field. Register on their website.
4615 THEATRE COMPANY
4615 Theatre Company presents 4615GO, which answers the questions: “How can we recapture the spirit of theatre in this strange time? How can we conjure the feeling of an irreplicable moment, the phenomenon when our heartbeats synchronize, or the stories that are shaped not just by the teller, but by the listener?” The company will offer you the spark of daring and innovation that defines their work through new forms: video games, telephone calls, tabletop games, interactive concerts and more.
It’s For You: A Phone Call – 1/29 – 2/27
Fridays at 7 PM and 9 PM and Saturdays at 2 PM and 4 PM
Written by and Starring Britt A Willis
Only 20 tickets available. Only ONE audience member per show.
4615 remounts another run of the highly beloved experience! Playwright Britt A Willis describes their audaciously intimate solo theatrical experience as “an approximately hour long one-on-one phone conversation with me, Britt. I play myself, you play yourself, and together we’ll talk about our environments, our feelings, and some poetry I just can’t get out of my head. We’ll also create a new poem together.” It’s For You feels like someone handing you the landline when unexpected phone calls were still an exciting thing, or that third hour in your first overnight conversation with a new crush.
Old Soul: A Story Concert – 2/11 – 3/7
Thursdays through Sundays at 8 PM
Written by and Starring Jordan Friend
Conjuring a smoky backroom concert in virtual form, Old Soul is a narrative concert of original songs, woven together by the harrowingly funny story of songwriter Jordan Friend’s “quarter-life crisis from Hell”. Engaging directly with small group audiences over video call, Friend brings soaring melodies and sharp lyrics to life in a unique setting that shatters the barriers created by online performance. A fusion of musical theatre, stand-up and a touch of mystery, the virtual presentation of Old Soul is like huddling around the piano for songs and stories on a dark winter night.
Dark City: A Video Game – April 2021
A PERFECT CITY. A PERFECT CRIME.
Before his big sister died, Judaa had it all: an education, job prospects, and a gorgeous apartment in Aeolus City’s hippest district. But in a matter of a year, everything was taken from him. Haunted by his sister’s murder, and frustrated by the city’s tepid response, he leaves altogether – trying to move on. But when an investigative journalist from an Indigenous tribe shows up on his door step, looking into his sister’s role at her former employer, the Aeolus Investment Organization, new revelations emerge. What did his sister know? And what is the AIO planning for the city’s future? From the shadowy underbelly of the city to the highest echelons of power, Judaa uncovers a scandal so massive that nearly everyone may have had a part to play in. Fusing a retro, “choose-your-own-adventure” interface with powerhouse storytelling by a team of theatre artists, Dark City is a bold new step, and a gaming experience for new and seasoned players alike. More information coming soon. Stay tuned.
Tabletop Tuesdays: An RPG/Improv – 1/12, 19, 26, and 2/2
8 PM EST
A wild blend of role-playing games and improv theatre, Tabletop Tuesdays is an all new live series from DC theatre artist and professional “Dungeon Master” Jon Jon Johnson. Tune in as Jon Jon and a rogue’s gallery of local theatre artists use popular tabletop games such as “Dungeons and Dragons” to conjure an epic, ongoing story based on the worlds of past 4615 productions. A delight for both fans of the genre, and anyone who enjoys watching storytellers create something new in real time, Tabletop Tuesdays is where 4615’s “Expanded Universe” will come to life before your eyes. STREAMING FREE.
Adventure Theatre MTC, ArtsCentric, 4615 Theatre Company, and Convergence Theatre are running the ongoing Quarantine Festival. During this live-streamed play festival, each theater hosts a 90 minute livestream on their Facebook pages, and all donated proceeds during the livestream will go directly to the playwrights. Q-Fest has already had three parts as of September 2020, and the next part will be held on a date TBA.
4615 Theatre company members are also offering a series of live online readings of short-form passion projects. They will hold live readings of plays on 4615’s Facebook page throughout the duration of this quarantine. Their first reading is available on their facebook video page. Check out the 4615 Facebook page for future readings, and please donate on their site.
ADVENTURE THEATRE MTC
Adventure Theatre is developing new musicals, commissioning new plays, and presenting an average of 2 hours of digital presentations a week. Check their website for details.
ArtsCentric, 4615 Theatre Company, Convergence Theatre & ATMTC are running the ongoing Quarantine Festival. During this live-streamed play festival, each theater hosts a 90 minute livestream on their Facebook pages, and all donated proceeds during the livestream will go directly to the playwrights. Q-Fest has already had three parts as of September 2020, and the next part will be held on a date TBA. ATMTC is also offering online classes. You can find more information on their website. Please consider making a donation.
AFRICAN-AMERICAN COLLECTIVE THEATRE
African-American Collective Theater (ACT) celebrated its 28th Anniversary with “OUT & ABOUT,” a two-week-long, online festival of LGBTQ+ themed, play readings. All productions are available to stream now – check their website for details.
AMAZING THEATRE COMPANY
AmaZing Theatre Company presents Torn starting on February 6. Torn is about activist Booker T. Washington and his rise to greatness, and captures the history, complexities, and nuances of the era. The show premieres February 6, 2021, and continues on Saturdays and Sundays from February 13 to 28. All performances are at 7 pm ET. Tickets are on sale at the AmaZing Theatre Company website.
AMERICAN POPS ORCHESTRA
The American Pops Orchestra and PBS have released a very special performance on streaming. Maestro Luke Frazier and APO present a new take on Ella’s classic 1960 holiday album, Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas with Vanessa Williams, performed in its entirety by a stellar lineup of artists. Filmed in front of a small, socially-distanced live audience under strict COVID-19 mitigation procedures at the Meridian International Center in Washington, D.C., “Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas with Vanessa Williams” featured performances by Grammy and Tony Award-winner Dee Dee Bridgewater (joining APO from New Orleans); Broadway and jazz vocalist Carmen Ruby Floyd; Broadway star and recording artist Morgan James; Grammy and Tony Award nominee Norm Lewis; and celebrated recording artist Nova Y. Payton. The program also featured performances by its host, the multi-Grammy, Emmy and Tony Award-nominee Vanessa Williams. All performers were joined by The American Pops Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Luke Frazier.
APO also connects through APO UNITED, a series of intimate cyber concerts from past artists, highlights from APO instrumentalists, instructional yoga videos with Dan Carter, and playlists of positivity by Maestro Luke Frazier. Follow @theamericanpops. Find out about all events on their website. And please donate to APO here.
AMERICAN SHAKESPEARE CENTER
American Shakespeare Center has become a dual citizen of the physical and digital worlds. Celebrated by the Wall Street Journal—”these webcasts effortlessly convey the joyous experience of watching Shakespeare performed in Blackfriars Playhouse…let ASC take your mind off your troubles as you commune at home with theater’s supreme genius.” Current titles include A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Othello, Twelfth Night, and A Christmas Carol. Select one, or get a package!
A Christmas Carol: Need a little more Christmas Spirit? Marley, the three Christmas ghosts, and Tiny Tim are all back to take Scrooge on the ride of his money-grubbing life once again.
Twelfth Night: Shipwrecked Viola is in love with Orsino… who is in love with Olivia … who is in love with Cesario … who is secretly Viola disguised as a man. In a world turned upside down, what could possibly go wrong (or right?).
Othello: If truth has lost its meaning, how long can love survive? Evil is everywhere in Shakespeare’s great tragedy of racism and jealousy, as the love of Othello and Desdemona is destroyed by envy, and fact is twisted by innuendo. You’ll find yourself on the edge of your seat as the deadly machinations unfold.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream: ASC’s New-Orleans-flavored production of Shakespeare’s magical comedy wades into a bayou of masked hobgoblins, enchanting nymphs, and imps who sing the blues.
AMERICAN UNIVERSITY
American University Senior Theatre Capstone presents A Call for a New Federal Theatre Project from January 22–23, 2021 at 7:30 p.m. EST. The inspiration: A subsidized, socially-conscious American theatre’s ambitions, tensions, struggles, and victories. The events:
• An online interactive collection of original research projects.
• Live virtual performances/talkbacks of new and adapted works.
Tickets for the live virtual performances: http://ow.ly/2ePO50D5H8I
Upcoming Events:
The Pliant Girls: February 19-20 | Friday & Saturday | 7:30 PM
When 50 bloodied sisters strive to justify their actions following the wedding day murder of their arranged husbands-to-be, an intimate tale of freedom, sexual politics, and redemption unfolds. At times heartbreaking and humorous, Meghan Brown’s incisive look at contemporary sisterhood is further explored through the lens of the graphic novel aesthetic in this new production directed by AU guest artist Ameenah Kaplan. Kaplan is an actress and producer who appeared in the original Broadway cast of Stomp and on The Office and Grey’s Anatomy, and she is the resident director of Disney’s The Lion King.
Gallery 2021: February 26-27 | Friday & Saturday | 7:00 p.m. EDT
AU Dance Program’s graduating dance majors present an evening of creative research projects that tour the galleries of the AU Museum, live-streamed directly to you. Presentations include talks, performances, and films surrounding embodied approaches towards agency, colorism, temporality, and space. Audiences will be able to ask questions during the post-show conversation with the artists and collaborators. Get tickets here.
AU has also made made over sixty films available to stream from the DC Environmental Film Festival. You can find more information about all events on their website. Questions? Call (202) 885-ARTS or email auarts at american.edu. To stay up to date on performances and events, join the AU Arts mailing list and follow on Facebook and Twitter.
ARENA STAGE
You can find info about all Arena Stage events on the Arena Stage website. Please donate to the Roaring Back Fund to help Arena recover from the shutdown.
ARLINGTON ARTS CENTER
AAC is offering multiple workshops, classes, and activities for kids on their website.
ARTSCENTRIC
Adventure Theatre MTC, ArtsCentric, 4615 Theatre Company, and Convergence Theatre are running the ongoing Quarantine Festival. During this live-streamed play festival, each theater hosts a 90 minute livestream on their Facebook pages, and all donated proceeds during the livestream will go directly to the playwrights. Q-Fest has already had three parts as of September 2020, and the next part will be held on a date TBA.
ARTS ON THE HORIZON
Visit artsonthehorizon.org/fall-classes to register.
BALTIMORE CENTER STAGE
You can find info about any online events on the Center Stage website.
BALTIMORE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
The BSO has created the BSO OffStage online platform. Visit their website and social media platforms for more information.
BEST MEDICINE REP
Best Medicine Rep is streaming Roaring, Stories I May Not Tell, I Know Jack, and their 4th Annual New Plays/New Voices Festival. Performances of all four plays are available on YouTube.
Upcoming Events:
Prepping for Widowhood: March 5 – 28, 2021
Four retired women, tired of their weekly bridge game, decide to give online dating a try. Unfortunately, the pickings are slim. How does a person move on without dishonoring the one you’ve lost? Directed by Catherine Aselford. You can find all show information on their website. Please consider making a donation to Best Medicine Rep online.
BRAVE SOUL COLLECTIVE
Brave Soul Collective makes its 2020 return with the premiere of an all new virtual production, Question Marks – which specifically tackles the current state of affairs in the US, with the murders of black people at the hands of police and the overall need to address anti-blackness, systemic racism and police brutality. Join BSC as they unveil this collection of timely, raw, thought-provoking performance pieces which all beg for answers to one piercing, imperative question – HOW DID WE GET HERE? This show is available to stream on their website.
THE BRITISH PLAYERS
Unable to cross the pond for the holidays? Missing puddings, pies, panto, and poetry? The British Players have just the solution – the Online Pandemic Holiday Spectacular! Join them for a holiday variety show on YouTube. There’s an amazing array of artistes performing new versions of favorite numbers from Music Hall and pantomime, as well as stellar performances of holiday music, demonstrations of traditional holiday fare, reminiscences of holidays past, and wonderful recitations of classic holiday messages. We have a cheeky chappie, a chairman, chefs and children! And everyone is invited to sing along to ring in the holiday season with some popular carols.
CHAMBER DANCE PROJECT
Chamber Dance Project’s newest film is available to stream on their website. Keep an eye on their website for details, or call 202-499-2297 for more information. Please consider an online donation to Chamber Dance Project.
CITYDANCE
CityDance has transferred its intensives online. To learn more about CityDance’s online programming, contact Megan Piluk, CityDance Senior Manager of External Relations, at [email protected].
THE CENTER FOR THE ARTS AT GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY
GMU’s Center for the Arts has announced plans for its 2020-2021 virtual season. Programming will be added on an ongoing basis and features digital concerts from guest artists, releases of previously recorded content, behind-the-scenes conversations with artists, and more. You can find the full details on their website.
THE CLARICE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
The Clarice will be producing online performances. You can watch online when they are available via their Vimeo site.
CONVERGENCE THEATRE
Adventure Theatre MTC, ArtsCentric, 4615 Theatre Company, and Convergence Theatre are running the ongoing Quarantine Festival. During this live-streamed play festival, each theater hosts a 90 minute livestream on their Facebook pages, and all donated proceeds during the livestream will go directly to the playwrights. Q-Fest has already had three parts as of September 2020, and the next part will be held on a date TBA.
CREATIVE CAULDRON
Creative Cauldron is streaming Cinderella’s Dream, the Movie for a limited time! One of the most well-known fairytales ever written, Cinderella will get a 21st century twist from our Learning Theater Ensemble. All your favorite characters are there—sort of. We’ve got the Evil Stepmother and her daughters, the Handsome Prince (or…is he?), a Fairy helper (or two), and adorable animal sidekicks – but in our story, Cinderella has a thing or two to say about her destiny. Told with original music, this production is sure to bring enchantment. For just $15, you can rent this fantastical, funny film to stream from the comfort of your home. Check the website for more details.
CC also has classes for adults and children available online. They are holding virtual camps. You can find more details on their website, and please consider making a donation to Creative Cauldron.
DANCE PLACE
Dance Place event info is on their website. Please consider supporting Dance Place with a donation at their website.
THE EDGE OF THE UNIVERSE PLAYERS 2
All details about Edge of the Universe Players 2 events can be found on their website.
THE EDUCATIONAL THEATRE COMPANY
ETC has started Collaborative Classroom, an online learning program for children. ‘Silly Storytellers’ and ‘Around the World’ classes are open for registration now on the ETC site. They are also offering a virtual camp meet n’ greet.
ENCORE STAGE & STUDIO
Encore is offering theatre classes for ages 3 through 18 using a combination of live classroom interactions via the Zoom platform and prerecorded instructional videos. Enrollment is available online on the Encore site. Encore’s staff is teleworking diligently to create a welcoming and nurturing virtual space for their students and families. Encore premiered a “Live with Encore” series on Instagram Live to preview their upcoming virtual programs and connect families with teaching artists. Encore is also offering free Parent & Me classes for students ages 6 months – 5 years through its social media platforms.
ENCORE UNIVERSITY: CREATIVITY FOR OLDER ADULTS
Encore Creativity for Older Adults hosts a virtual holiday choral concert, Joy!, in collaboration with AARP, streaming on YouTube. Viewing is free and available until January 16, 2021. The uplifting multimedia production featuring string, brass, woodwind and percussion instruments is entertaining for all ages. www.encorecreativity.org
In addition, the company hosts Encore Chorale’s joyous performance of the Hallelujah Chorus as a part of two WETA Arts specials this December for all to enjoy. Encore Chorale is one of 14 Washington, D.C.-area choral ensembles to be featured in Washington Voices: Songs of the Season, and Washington Voices: Choir Celebration. As part of both programs, WETA television channels will broadcast a previous performance of the “Hallelujah Chorus” from Handel’s Messiah, one of the most beloved choruses in all the oratorio repertoire. As many as 450 singers from Encore’s choral programs in Virginia, Maryland, Washington, D.C. and New York City took the stage at Concert Hall at Encore’s 13th annual holiday concert at the Kennedy Center. The shows will also be available to stream online. Visit www.weta.org/arts for more information.
EMBRACING ARLINGTON ARTS
Embracing Arlington Arts will be producing several Theater/Arts Management Education podcasts that will feature experts in the industry who will impart wisdom, offer advice and offer best practices. This show is a component of the weekly podcast “Embracing Arlington Arts Talks,” highlighting artists, dancers, directors, and dignitaries each week. Available here and on most podcasting services. Please consider making a donation to EAA online.
EVERYMAN THEATRE
Everyman Theatre will stream QUEENS GIRL: Black in the Green Mountains, starring their newest resident company member Felicia Curry. Single tickets for at-home access are on sale now by clicking here or calling 410.752.2208. At-home viewing access information will be sent to subscribers and single ticket buyers soon. At-home access starts November 30.
You can also access tickets for Queens Girl in the World (featuring Dawn Ursula) and Queens Girl in Africa (featuring Erika Rose).
In addition, the Queens Girls artists conversation, Queens Girl: An Inside Look, featuring playwright Caleen Sinnette Jennings, Director Paige Hernandez, and the three actors who portrayed the title character, is available.
FACTION OF FOOLS THEATRE COMPANY
All Faction of Fools events details will be available through their facebook page.
FOLGER SHAKESPEARE LIBRARY: STREAMING CONTENT
December features lots of free, virtual theater events, including insightful interviews, amazing play readings, artsy scavenger hunts, and star-studded galas. Plus, theater-goers in some parts of the country can check out in-person experiences and productions. Here’s a look at what the Folger’s theater partners are up to this month. Where to Watch Shakespeare
Folger has compiled this helpful list of all the classic films now available for free on streaming services. They have made a free streaming video of their 2008 production of Macbeth available at the Folger website – please donate if you can.
THE FOLGER CONSORT
Folger Consort event info is on their website.
FORD’S THEATRE
Ford’s Theatre event info is available on their website. In addition, Ford’s is offering virtual play readings. You can watch the readings on their website, Facebook Live, YouTube or Twitter.
GAY MEN’S CHORUS OF WASHINGTON DC
The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington DC event info is on their website. For more information, visit GMCW.org Join GMCDC for more online shows. All info is available on their website.
GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY
GMU’s new online platform Mason Arts at Home offers a diverse array of curated virtual programming. You can find more details on the GMU website.
GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY DEPT OF PERFORMING ARTS
You can find info about Georgetown’s online events on their facebook page.
GAC is presenting some online readings. Check their website for details.
HAPPENSTANCE THEATRE
Mark Jaster and Sabrina Mandell of Happenstance Theatre are posting a series of comedic videos featuring the characters Diz and Izzy on their website and their Facebook page. Jaster and Mandell’s sense of humor and whimsy is the perfect balm for shaken nerves. Check them out and have a laugh!
IMAGINATION STAGE
Imagination Stage is now streaming The Snow Queen online through February 28. In this adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s famous winter fairy tale, a powerful friendship is put to the test as four narrators bring to life the story of Gerda and Kai, life-long best friends whose relationship is broken by the unfeeling Snow Queen. Can Gerda save Kai before his heart is frozen solid? Imagination abounds in this magical story of courage, wit, and unshakable resilience! This is a live interactive prequel story, where kids will be able to join characters from the story of The Snow Queen on Zoom on a pre-show journey that sets the stage for the play. Zoom prequel performances are designed to be exclusive and interactive – only 12 families are admitted at each performance. A private link and password to view a filmed professional theatre performance of The Snow Queen, to be enjoyed after the prequel workshop from the comfort of your own home!
Imagination Stage is also offering classes online with a full selection of creative and interactive experiences. Families interested in registering can learn more and sign up online at imaginationstage.org or by contacting the Registrar at registration@imaginationstage.
THE IN SERIES
INSeries is also doing what they can to bring lively entertainment and activities from their stable of incredible artists. Offerings feature digital opera, including their season opener Butterfly, now available. You can request access via a form online. They also recently released Here Be Sirens – request access via a form here. They have also launched Cocktail Concerts. Hosted and curated by the performers themselves, they celebrate the power of music and the arts to transcend circumstances and unite creators and audiences in spite of distance. Be delighted and comforted by favorite tunes old and new right from the home of your favorite artists. In addition, The INSeries blog has new podcasts coming out all the time. Access the newest episode on their website. As Rigoletto was unable to move forward, the cast has made videos available in order to raise funds. You can view “Quarantetto” or “Send In the Clowns” online now. If you can, please consider making a donation to the Rigoletto Artist Compensation Fund online.
JANE FRANKLIN DANCE
Jane Franklin Dance has performances available on Demand. Stop by the website for shows from Capital Fringe, Atlas INTERSECTIONS Festival, spoken word, and visual art collaborations, as well as lively family-friendly performances.
JFD has also launched the “Keep Artists Employed” Artist Support Fund to help offset the loss of income due to cancelled rehearsals, residencies, after school programs, projects and performances. 100% of the proceeds goes directly to artists.
JOE’S MOVEMENT EMPORIUM
Joe’s has online classes available in yoga, tap, and belly dance. You can find out info about all classes on their website.
THE KEEGAN THEATRE
The Keegan Theatre hosts Family Story Corner as part of PLAY-RAH-KA, also has online opportunities for young people of all ages to be creative and have fun with theatre and storytelling from home! PRK has always been rooted in helping young people discover their authentic voices and express themselves creatively. During this period of quarantine and isolation from friends and arts influences, PRK seeks to provide opportunities for young people to use their imagination, practice creative play, and create a world with friends across the digital sphere. LEARN MORE ABOUT PRK. If you have questions about Keegan PLAY-RAH-KA or any of these online opportunities, please email [email protected]
THE KENNEDY CENTER
The Kennedy Center will present Matthew Bourne’s Romeo and Juliet starting on February 19.
Audiences can discover a wide range of at-home programming through the Kennedy Center at Home website. Arts Across America, a collaboration with arts organizations from coast to coast, the series will present 20 weeks of free, online programming available on Facebook Live, YouTube, and on their website, five days a week at 4 p.m. ET.
New York Times best-selling author and illustrator Mo Willems has filmed 15 episodes of LUNCH DOODLES, available on the Mo Willems page of the Kennedy Center website.
Digital Stage brings you extraordinary performances from the Kennedy Center’s stages and beyond, with new releases daily. Millennium Stage lives on with online encore performances – an archive of hundreds of past performances can be accessed through the Kennedy Center website. And for the millions of students, parents, and teachers looking for ways to learn and grow at home, Kennedy Center Education offers informative and engaging Digital Learning resources.
Couch Concerts help inspire, uplift, heal, and bring the performing arts from the homes of artists into homes across the country and around the world during these difficult times. For 23 years, Millennium Stage has brought free performances to audiences in person at the Center and virtually through a livestream. The Kennedy Center will now stream concerts direct from artists’ homes on the Kennedy Center website at 4 p.m. ET every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday while the Center remains closed, due to COVID-19.
To access the livestream or for more information and the latest Couch Concerts schedule, visit the Couch Concerts page of the Kennedy Center website.
MARYLAND ENSEMBLE THEATRE
MET is offering access to a database of scripts from past productions, along with an opportunity to rent videos from their vault.
MISSING LINK
Missing Link presents Between Acts, an immersive theater podcast. Each episode sets the stage for your imagination to freely venture through the works of newfound playwrights—from dramas to comedies and everything in-between. The show was launched today with the release of two episodes; subsequent episodes will be released on a bi-weekly basis.
MONUMENTAL THEATRE COMPANY
Check their website for any online event details.
MOSAIC THEATER COMPANY
Mosaic hosts Mosaic Alive, a virtual public programming platform where homebound community members can engage with Mosaic artists, scholars, and local thinkers on Mondays and Fridays. Explore themes, topics, and literature via engaging conversations and in-depth discussions. You can find more details on the Mosaic Alive website.
NATIONAL CHAMBER ENSEMBLE
National Chamber Ensemble will be streaming their Holiday Concert Happy Holidays on YouTube. The winners of the 2020 Outstanding Young Artist Competition feature in this performance, which brings the finest classical masterpieces and holiday favorites together for the whole family – including works by Dvorak, Bach, Strauss, Mozart and more. Outstanding Young Artist Award – string competition winners will perform, as well as other talented young guest artists. NCE is also streaming their concert Vivaldi: The Remarkable Four Seasons online on YouTube.
NATIONAL PHILHARMONIC
In the weeks to come, National Philharmonic will post short pieces recorded by its musicians on social media. The program “Musical Notes” taps into cellist Yo-Yo Ma’s call that musicians – of all levels – around the world join him in offering “Songs of Comfort”. View Musical Notes here: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube.
NEW ORCHESTRA OF WASHINGTON
NOW will produce a new array of content, designed to foster empathy, explore intellect, build friendships, and create the version of society that we want to live in, even when we are apart. Offerings include artist music recommendations, artist spotlights, guided meditations, and living room concerts as well as streamed archived shows. Check it out on their website, and please consider making a donation.
NEXTSTOP THEATRE COMPANY
NextStop will produce Digital Matinees every Saturday at 2 PM, where they will share fun and exciting updates, interview artists, and answer questions on all things NextStop. Each episode will be approximately 15-20 minutes long. Look for the link in a future post on our Facebook page, join their email list, or watch their site for details.
OLNEY THEATRE CENTER
Olney Theatre Center features Music Mondays on their Facebook page, with various musical guests playing virtual sets. You can find info about all Olney Theatre Center events on their website.
OPERA NOVA
Opera Nova is now streaming the concert Celebrating African-American Opera Singers: Past and Present online on YouTube.
PEACE MOUNTAIN THEATRE COMPANY
Peace Mountain Theatre Company presents The Other on January 24 at 4 PM. This one-act play tells the tale of four kids, lost in the woods and scared, not knowing which way to turn. Caught in a rainstorm, they discover a small shack nearby, but the problem is – there are strange voices, strange sounds coming from within. Should they seek shelter at this place? Stay where they are? What should they do? More importantly, what would YOU do if you were in their shoes? If it were YOU and your friends? When the performance is over, you will have the opportunity to tell the actors what to say, what to do. How would you tell the story? Did the actors make the right decision? Is there a “right” course of action? This performance is your chance to be the director, the writer, or the actor; the ideas are all yours. Observe how the play changes as new ideas are incorporated into the script. [Parents and Grandparents: This story is perfect for children from elementary school age through early teens. PMTC invites you to watch this performance with your children and to work with them in formulating their ideas for restructuring the play.]
PMTC’s Laurie T. Freed, a registered drama therapist, will guide thespians in the audience as they interact with the play’s actors. She holds Master’s degrees in both Theatre and in Drama Therapy and has taught theatre performance for children from 5 through 17, as well as college-age students. She was Director of Education for Adventure Theater and Director of Iris, a special-needs program for Imagination Stage. Laurie is also a well-known stage actor and director, as well as the Artistic Director for Peace Mountain Theatre Company.
Please consider donating to PMTC. This will help them to continue producing the quality productions that have been a trademark over the years. To stay up-to-date on the latest PMTC activities, check out Peace Mountain Theatre Company’s website, Facebook and YouTube.
PIPELINE PLAYWRIGHTS
You can find more info about all events on their website.
POINTLESS THEATRE
Pointless Theatre is streaming shows on their Vimeo page, including King Ubu – a new translation of Ubu Roi, a play that has been sticking its tongue out at politics, war, and theatre orthodoxy since its premiere in 1896. Hilarious, violent, and absurd, King Ubu promises audiences lowbrow humor, ludicrous language, and full-bore puppet carnage all wrapped up into a funhouse take on Macbeth and the classical tragedy. You can watch here.
They are also offering Canterbury. In this delightfully raunchy puppet adaptation of Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales, a handful of medieval drunkards share their wild and wonderful tales of the Middle Ages, accompanied by live musicians. Come raise a glass in the name of promiscuity, puppets and pints. You can find more info on PT’s Vimeo site.
PROLOGUE THEATRE
Prologue Theatre has launched FOREWORD: A New Works Series. Each month through March 2021, a creative team will come together for two weeks to workshop a playwright’s new play, culminating in a virtual reading. There will also be a series of conversations to pair with each monthly new play workshop. Register to attend here: https://www.prologuetheatre.org/foreword-series-registration.html
Monsters of the American Cinema by Christian St. Croix
Friday, January 15, 2021
8pm EST
The Whole Shebang by Jason Odell Williams
Friday, February 12, 2021
8pm EST
Webster’s Bitch by Jacqueline Bircher
Friday, March 12, 2021
8pm EST
You can find all the rest of Prologue’s offerings on their website.
RESTON COMMUNITY PLAYERS
RCP hosts a month-long concert series of gratitude called RCP Gives Thanks, sharing the talents of some of RCP’s performers and generating donations for RCP and other local non-profit organizations in the Reston area. Each night at 8pm, RCP will be going live on their Facebook page. You’ll hear uplifting stories of gratitude as well as beautiful performances from some of RCP’s most prolific and memorable performers of past and present.
ROUND HOUSE THEATRE
Round House Theatre presents the Adrienne Kennedy Festival. Hailed as “American theatre’s greatest and least compromising experimentalist” (New York Times), Adrienne Kennedy is one of the most prolific and widely studied living playwrights. Since bursting onto the scene in 1964 with Funnyhouse of a Negro, Kennedy’s enthralling lyrical dramas have influenced generations of storytellers, from Suzan-Lori Parks to Robert O’Hara, Shonda Rhimes to Jeremy O. Harris. Despite her outsized influence, three Obie Awards, and induction into the Theater Hall of Fame, Adrienne Kennedy is not a household name. This festival is a celebration of why she should be. Round House shines a light on four deeply personal stories from Kennedy’s astonishing body of work with four weeks of virtual theatrical experiences and dynamic conversations, offering audiences the opportunity to discover Kennedy’s singular voice—a startling mix of the surreal with the all too real.
He Brought Her Heart Back in a Box
By Adrienne Kennedy | Directed by Nicole A. Watson
Now streaming on demand
Buy tickets | Learn more
Sleep Deprivation Chamber
By Adam P. Kennedy and Adrienne Kennedy | Directed by Raymond O. Caldwell
Now streaming on demand
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Ohio State Murders
By Adrienne Kennedy | Directed by Valerie Curtis-Newton
Now streaming on demand
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Etta and Ella on the Upper West Side
By Adrienne Kennedy | Directed by Timothy Douglas
Now streaming on demand
Buy tickets | Learn more
HT has also launched Round House at Your House, a new slate of free digital programming that includes weekly livestreamed interviews with celebrated playwrights, Theatre Education Challenges for three different age groups, and cocktail-making classes from Round House’s Fourth Wall Bar & Café. They are also streaming Homebound, an original webseries that explores life under Stay-at-Home orders in the Nation’s Capital. The ten-episode series is available to stream on their YouTube channel. Please consider making a donation to Round House Theatre online.
SCENA THEATRE
You can find all info about Scena Theatre events on their website.
SHAKESPEARE THEATRE COMPANY
A video of Emma Rice’s musical treat Romantics Anonymous is available to STC subscribers, donors, and paying audience members. More details are available on the STC site.
STC Teaching Artists have adapted their fall curriculum to reach students in an online format with 12-16 students. In the belief that theatre provides an essential place for creativity, learning, and human connection, STC is offering Classes online at a reduced rate of $149. Further tuition assistance is available.
Shakespeare Hour LIVE is an online tour through every corner of the Shakespeare universe. Each week, Artistic Director Simon Godwin and Resident Dramaturg Drew Lichtenberg will examine the world of Shakespeare by discussing two plays from the Shakespearean canon which speak to each other thematically, dramaturgically, and historically. Special guests and friends of the STC extended family will also drop by.
SIGNATURE THEATRE
Signature presents SigWorks: Monday Night Play Readings, an initiative that highlights and supports the work of DMV and regional playwrights. Performances include One-Shot on February 8, 2021 and Light on April 5, 2021. This series is an opportunity for playwrights, actors, directors, and patrons to explore new plays in a fun and informal environment. To learn about other SigWorks programs, visit their website.
You can also catch up with talented artists in The Signature Show. They have recently released the seventh episode of this free biweekly half-hour digital experience featuring performances by acclaimed artists, interviews, celebration of new musical voices and memories of Signature’s past and a glimpse into its future. Episode 7 features an interview with choreographer James Alsop, a conversation on collaboration with Tony Award winners Kathleen Marshall and Derek McLane, a performance from Jesus Christ Superstar’s Natascia Diaz and Vincent Kempski, the entire cast of the postponed production of Hair singing “The Flesh Failures (Let the Sunshine In)” and concludes with a Halloween performance from Tracy Lynn Olivera. All episodes can be found on Signature Theatre’s YouTube Channel @sigtheatre (YouTube.com/sigtheatre). View Episode 7 of The Signature Show at http://bit.ly/sigshow7 – Watch for a new show every other Thursday on their YouTube channel. Please consider making an online donation to Signature.
SILHOUETTE STAGES
Check the Silhouette Stages website for all event details.
SILVER SPRING STAGE
Silver Spring Stage presents Ada and the Engine 1/15 – 2/6. At age 18, Ada Byron is fixated on mathematics, music, and the legacy of her absent, infamous father poet Lord Byron. When she meets Charles Babbage — whose conception of the Difference Engine was a critical first step towards the computer — the two begin a long intellectual partnership, with suppressed romantic undercurrents. Ada’s mother works hard to keep her daughter from a marriage of passion to a man significantly older that is sure to provoke scandal and pushes her to marry Lord Lovelace instead. Over time, Ada still finds a way to provide critical insights into the would-be Engine and playwright Lauren Gunderson gives us a glimpse of another woman from history whose life and contributions have been kept out of our public consciousness. In addition, SSS will host a home-streaming rental of the stage’s 2019 production of Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest, coming soon.
SOLAS NUA
Solas Nua’s events are all listed on their website. Please consider making a donation.
SPOOKY ACTION THEATER
Spooky Action’s offerings are available on their website.
STEP AFRIKA!
All event info is available on the Step Afrika! website.
STRATHMORE
From weekly live streamed music concerts and family jam sessions to virtual book clubs and art gallery tours, Strathmore has transitioned to find ways to connect audiences with the arts and with each other online. Live from the Mansion is a virtual concert series that brings inspiring music and insightful conversation together in the Mansion at Strathmore. Each week, host Christylez Bacon joins us for performances in a variety of genres and helps us get to know some of the best artists from the DC area—all from Strathmore’s renowned Artist in Residence program. Tune into Strathmore’s Facebook page Wednesdays at 7:30pm to catch the premiere of each episode. For more info on all programs, please visit the Strathmore website or their facebook page.
STUDIO ACTING CONSERVATORY
Studio Acting Conservatory offers online classes. This semester features classes on Irish playwrights and new workshops on the art of drag, executive public speaking, foundations of musical theater, self-taping for auditions, and devising theater today. Follow this link for info on Classes.
STUDIO THEATRE
Studio Theatre is currently streaming Kings by Sarah Burgess for a limited time. Newly elected congresswoman Sydney Millsap arrives in DC armed with her ideals and sense of duty, and refuses to play by the rules of special interests—or her own party. Kate’s a lobbyist who backs winners. The two collide in the audio adaptation of the lacerating comedy Studio produced just after the last midterms. As the dust settles from the 2020 elections, Kings is a shrewd look at where power really sits in our government. Listen to Kings here. This production is free, but please consider making a donation on the Studio website.
Studio is also streaming I Hate it Here, written and directed by Ike Holter. An anthem for our time, I Hate it Here looks at the ways people do (and don’t) deal with a world on the brink of explosion. Commissioned by Studio to create an audio work, award-winning Chicago writer Ike Holter brings his sharp humor to the complexities of stepping into a new decade with the odds already stacked against your favor.
SYNETIC THEATER
All Synetic productions can be found on the Synetic site.
THEATER J
Theater J presents the Israeli Theater Collection, an exclusive collection of filmed Israeli theater productions with English-language captions. The collection runs the range of Israeli theater, from the acclaimed Gesher Theater to independent projects, each with its own unique story, style, and view of Israeli culture and society. These productions were filmed pre-COVID and represent some of the breadth and diversity in both content and aesthetics of contemporary Israeli theater. Each can be rented for home viewing, exclusively through Theater J. The collection promises to keep growing, as we’re in constant discussion with Israeli theaters and producers about adding more plays for you to enjoy. So come back often, spread the word, and enjoy some of the wide and diverse range of the Israeli theater.
Offerings include:
The Dybbuk – Gesher Theater
Whistle, My Mother Was Mengele’s Secretary – Hadar Galron
Revolutionaries’ Wives – Ensemble Aspamia
Passing the Love of Women – Beit Lessin Theater
The Rain and the Wind – Nephesh Theatre and Haifa Theatre
It Sounds Better in Amharic – Nephesh Theatre
Theater J is also offering a variety of online classes taught by awesome Theater J artists. Classes start on staggered dates. Check out all the offerings on their website.
Yiddish Theater Lab is Theater J’s on-going initiative dedicated to preserving and reviving the forgotten literature of the Yiddish Theater. Join them as directors and playwrights uncover and re-interpret nearly-forgotten Yiddish classics in new English language readings, workshops, commissions, and eventually productions. See their website for details.
TONIC THEATER COMPANY
Tonic Theater Company has a full slate of digital offerings available, free of charge.
Keeping Live Theatre Alive, a series of brief readings by stars from theater, film, and TV, that will continue for the next several months. The readings bring the arts to people’s homes to highlight the importance of keeping local theater alive. The first installments include Tony Shalhoub, Kim Brockington, Dan Lauria, and Alfred Molina, among others.
Saturday, December 19, Tonic will feature David Bryan Jackson in R. Buckminster Fuller: The History (and Mystery) of the Universe, by D.W. Jacobs. Look for an event on Tonic’s facebook page.
In January, Tonic will present Shakespeare Theatre Company favorite Ted van Griethuysen in a discussion with Tonic artistic director Kurt Elftmann, as the veteran actor reflects on acting Shakespeare, including his one-man Hamlet.
Tonic will also continue its programming in advance of its planned production of Reykjavik, by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Richard Rhodes, in May of 2021. The Makers: Reykjavik is a series of discussions about the Cold War and its legacy of nuclear weapons, features artists in conversation with the diplomats, policymakers, scientists, and others who shaped Cold War history. The Road To Reykjavik, the podcast is also available now.
Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to Tonic here.
TOO MUCH DAMN THEATER
All online offerings are available on their facebook page.
TRANSFORMATION THEATRE
All information about their readings is available on the Transformation Theatre website.
URBANARIAS
UrbanArias is now streaming The Roost, a sexy comedy about expecting parents in lock-down. All info is available on the website. They are also offering free livestreams of their previous operas. You can view more details on the UrbanArias site.
THE WASHINGTON CHORUS
All event info is available at thewashingtonchorus.org.
WASHINGTON IMPROV THEATER
WIT is providing live streamed videos of their improv shows on their site. You can also check their Classes page for updated online offerings.
The Broken Bones is Washington Improv Theater’s featured ensemble. Based on your gnarly injury story, watch a new online improv show every Thursday at 6pm. We’ve all been hurt, perhaps by a hidden patch of ice, a sick collision while scoring the winning goal, or a very public breakup at your 28th birthday party. The Broken Bones will perform an improvised comedy show based on your gnarliest injury —and we will all heal together through comedy. Share your gnarly injury story via message on Facebook or Instagram @brokenbonesdc – To support Washington Improv Theater please donate at witddc.org/give
WASHINGTON PERFORMING ARTS
Washington Performing Arts has announced Home Delivery Plus, a new online series of performances and companion experiences beginning in early 2021. Home Delivery Plus offers a variety of paid/ticketed digital packages that feature international, national, and local artists streamed in live or newly recorded performances; companion educational resources and activities; and “backstage” experiences offering a window into the artistic process. Prompted by this time of coronavirus, the series is nevertheless designed with the digital future of the performing arts in mind—as a complement to (not a replacement for) traditional live, in-person performance. At such point in the series as local health authorities and venue hosts judge it is safe for live audiences to gather for physically distanced performances, patrons may be welcomed to purchase separate tickets to attend in person, even as the digital programming continues. Find out more on the WPA website.
WASHINGTON STAGE GUILD
Washington Stage Guild event info is available on their website.
WASHINGTON REVELS
Washington Revels programming info is available on their website. Events also include the monthly Community Sing on the 21st of every month. Participation is free, and more details are at www.RevelsDC.org.
WE HAPPY FEW
We Happy Few Productions brings you Sherlock Holmes: The Adventure of the Dancing Men starting on January 15th. Presented as an audio drama, the mystery will be accompanied by a mail-out experience that puts you on the case with the famous detectives. Examine the clues, read the dossiers, and step into the world of Sherlock Holmes and his partner Dr. John Watson as they take on one of their most dangerous and intriguing cases. When drawings of dancing men begin to appear mysteriously at Ridling Thorpe Manor, what first appears to be a practical joke becomes more serious, and ultimately more deadly. Sherlock and Watson must crack the code, catch the killer, and untangle a dangerous secret before it’s too late. See their website for more details, and to order now.
WHF also brings you four tales of terror spread over two audio broadcasts. In the first episode, enjoy the festival spirit as long as you dare with The Masque of the Red Death and The Cask of Amontillado. Episode two will take you to dark, confined spaces – both physical and mental – with The Tell-Tale Heart and The Premature Burial. Rent A Midnight Dreary Audio Drama here.
THE WELDERS
Keep in touch with The Welders on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
WOLF TRAP
Wolf Trap is offering local students a chance to have their turn in the spotlight with Wolf Trap Virtual Stage. In addition, Wolf Trap Opera has launched a new streaming platform that includes a video of their 2017 production of Rossini’s The Touchstone, a 2019 version of Ariadne auf Naxos, and an audio recording of the 2018 performance of Bernstein’s Songfest in collaboration with the National Orchestral Institute + Festival, and their friends at Naxos. Please consider making a donation to Wolf Trap.
WOOLLY MAMMOTH THEATRE COMPANY
Woolly Mammoth is a partner for the Under the Radar Festival, running now through 1/17! This popular and highly anticipated festival of The Public’s winter season will include artists from across the US and around the world, including Chile, Iran, and the UK. Curated by UTR Festival Director Mark Russell, this year’s free Under the Radar Festival will feature a robust lineup of digital livestream and streaming on-demand performances, as well as the return of the Under the Radar Symposium: A Creative Summit. Under the Radar 2021 will feature an exciting mix of innovative artists including 600 HIGHWAYMEN, Javaad Alipoor, Inua Ellams, Trinidad González, Alicia Hall Moran, Piehole, and Whitney White and Peter Mark Kendall. “The artists in this year’s Under the Radar Festival answer the unprecedented challenges of this time with fearlessness and heart,” shared Under the Radar Festival Director Mark Russell. “We have created a festival where presence is necessary—the elusive communal magic that is theater will come through even if you are facing a screen, on the phone, or in your room. These are unique productions, some of them made just for the festival. Immediate, international, and vibrant, the 2021 Under the Radar artists point to a future theater that embraces innovation and transformation.”
YOUNG PLAYWRIGHTS’ THEATER
Young Playwrights’ Theater hosts online events and classes – all details are available online.