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 8 PM on December 17, 2020.

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
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 28^th 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.

AMERICAN POPS ORCHESTRA
The American Pops Orchestra hosts Drag Out the Holly: A Holiday Drag Extravaganza at 9 PM on December 19! The show features performances by RuPaul’s Drag Race contestants Alexis Michelle, Jujubee, and Peppermint, as well as NYC queen Lagoona Bloo, joined by singer-songwriter Bright Light Bright Light and Pennsylvania Representative Brian Sims to perform their own spin on holiday classics with The American Pops Orchestra. Tune in for an evening hosted by Luke Frazier, APO’s Music Director and Founder, featuring classic holiday songs from “Santa Baby” to “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”. Drag Out the Holly” will be broadcast free of charge and we appreciate your contributions that allow us to continue creating content and shows like “Drag Out the Holly”. APO is partnering with LGBTQ+ organizations for this broadcast not only to enjoy an evening of much needed holiday cheer, but to use this performance as an opportunity to promote organizations working for equality across our country.

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
ASC is currently presenting socially-distanced outside productions. They will also be available for online viewing in partnership with Marquee TV.

AMERICAN UNIVERSITY
AU has 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 An Independent Claus through December 31! It’s a holiday comedy strictly for the adults. Mrs. Claus has had enough! She spills the beans to her marriage counselor about a certain jolly old elf, who knows just who’s naughty and nice. This virtual production is by Jackob G. Hofmann and directed by John Morogiello. Starring Grace Brockway, Terence Heffernan, Alyssa Sanders, and Cristen Stephansky. You can find all show information on their website.

BMR is also 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. 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 December 19 at 7 PM on YouTube. There will be an amazing array of artistes performing new versions of favorite numbers from Music Hall and pantomime, as well as stellar performances of holiday music. You won’t want to miss 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 will be invited to sing along as our full cast joins together from here and away 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]t.

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 is offering the following virtual events in December.

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. The uplifting multimedia production featuring string, brass, woodwind and percussion instruments will premiere Thursday, December 17th at 7 p.m. EST on www.encorecreativity.org and on Encore’s YouTube channel and Facebook page. Viewing is free and available until January 16, 2021.

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
Christmas with the Folger Consort will be presented virtually and will be available on-demand through January 5. For its annual holiday concert, the Folger Consort rejoices with a mix of Yuletide favorites. The rippling counterpoint of J.S. Bach’s Wachet auf (Sleepers Wake), composed during his time in Leipzig, is heard alongside Michael Praetorius’s wonderful setting of the same 16^th-century Advent text from a century earlier. Complementing the joyous German holiday fare are Christmas classics from the English and American traditions, including festive carols by 18th-century American choral composer William Billings. With vocal quartet, winds, strings, and continuo.

FORD’S THEATRE
Ford’s Theatre partners with WAMU 88.5 FM to present a one-hour radio play adaptation of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol, featuring acclaimed Washington actor Craig Wallace as Ebenezer Scrooge. WAMU 88.5 FM will broadcast the play on December 25, 2020, at noon ET. The radio play is available to Ford’s Theatre Members now via the Ford’s Theatre website, www.fords.org/carol-radio.

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 presents their famous Holiday Show, streaming from December 5 – 20. This year, GMCW brings you 75 minutes of holiday hits from over the years, plus many never-before-seen virtual performances, some new dance numbers from 17th Street Dance, new music from all of our vocal ensembles and the GenOUT Youth Chorus, plus a virtual holiday sing-a-long and much more! Streaming on demand from December 5 at 7PM ET to December 20 at 11:59 PM ET. Tickets: $25. After placing your ticket order, you will receive an email with a link to watch the concert at your convenience during that period. One ticket allows viewing on one device. Video can be viewed more than once on the same device for 48 hours after the first viewing. 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.

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 premieres its Zoom Play Festival December 18–20. Twenty-seven student actors in grades 6–12, divided among three plays, will perform live via Zoom and streamed over YouTube. Each play will be performed twice, on the following schedule. 

The Outsiders
Adapted by Christopher Sergel | Based on the novel by S.E. Hinton
Friday, December 18 at 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, December 20 at 3:00 p.m.

She Kills Monsters
By Qui Nguyen
Friday, December 18 at 9:00 p.m.
Saturday, December 19 at 9:00 p.m.

The Wolves
By Sarah DeLappe 
Saturday, December 19 at 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, December 20 at 5:00 p.m.

Tickets and more information about the plays are available online.

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.org.

They are also streaming their production of Blue (ages 1-5) for any sized donation. You also can find Imagination Stage Brain Breaks on their Facebook live, a Build Your Own Castle Model video on their site, and Imagination Challenges on their Facebook Watch page. Please consider making a donation to help keep these programs going.

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 has announced that they will host An Irish Carol on demand this season! This year marks the 10th anniversary, and to commemorate and celebrate this milestone, they have assembled the original cast and artistic team. This new filmed version is in production this month, and will be available for on demand viewing Dec 24-31, with pre-ordering available now! Find more about the team and pre-order tickets here.

Keegan also 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
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 hosts their Holiday Concert Happy Holidays on December 19. The winners of the 2020 Outstanding Young Artist Competition will be featured in this performance, which will bring 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. The concert will be available to enjoy from home, and gives our listeners the opportunity to support the arts and young talent! 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 hosts The Olney Home Hour: Seasons of Joy on December 18 at 8 PM. No one does the holidays better than Olney Theatre, so it’s natural that they are the focus of the premiere digital episode. Gather round the digital hearth for an evening of songs, smiles, and the joy of the holiday season. Starring the Olney Home Hour Players: Jessica Ball, Jay Frisby, Eleasha Gamble, and Bobby Smith.

Olney also 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
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 streams A Very Pointless Digital Holiday Spectacular every Thursday through NYE. It’s Christmas Eve at the North Pole, and Santa’s elves are off the clock and ready to cut loose! Join Mrs. Claus and her co-hosts Dick & Stuffy in this NSFW Pointless reprise. Live-streaming from the comfort of your own elf cabin, featuring new Special Guests from the North Pole every week. Pants optional, cheer required*. Recommended for Elves 13+. Find out more on their website.

Pointless is also streaming shows on their Vimeo page. Their most recent offering is 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
Buy tickets | Learn more

Ohio State Murders
By Adrienne Kennedy | Directed by Valerie Curtis-Newton
Streaming on demand beginning DEC 5, 2020 at 7:00 pm ET
Buy tickets | Learn more

Etta and Ella on the Upper West Side
By Adrienne Kennedy | Directed by Timothy Douglas
Streaming on demand beginning DEC 12, 2020 at 7:00 pm ET | World Premiere
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 is planning several upcoming productions:
Monologues of Black Authors, produced and directed by Jacqueline Youm, and featuring monologues by Marvin Bowser, Dominique Brown, Emmanuel Catalan, Fergie Fergusson-Vaux, Steve Langley, Kanika Savoy, Melvin Smith, and Youm, as well as a monologue by Yvonne Paretzky performed by Letha Remington, is available for on-demand rental now.

The first episode of Oma’s Bedtime Stories for Big Peoples, “How the Camel Got His Hump,” is available for on-demand rental now. Madame Yurina Babushka, known as Oma, imparts her motherly wisdom while reading bedtime stories to all who will listen. Hear stories from Hans Christian Andersen, Brothers Grimm, Rudyard Kipling, and more. Oma will delight you with her insights on life and these timeless tales.

Stuck at home for the holiday season and worried you’ll miss your annual Scrooge fix? The Stage, in cooperation with Talking Fish Podcasts, will soon premiere A Christmas Carol in a serialized radio-play format, with several installments between early December and the night of the ghostly visits.

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. And the first month of the new year will offer Lauren Gunderson’s Ada and the Engine, directed by Jon Jon Johnson. The show opens in virtual performance on January 15, 2021.

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!
Step Afrika! offers online shows and panels. You can find more info on their 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.

In addition, Studio and emcee Psalmayene 24 (Psalm) will welcome Kamilah Forbes as the featured guest on the final Psalm’s Salon virtual event of the year on December 17, 2020 at 5 p.m. Forbes is a proud Howard University graduate, Executive Producer at the iconic Apollo Theater, and an entertainment industry trailblazer who is famously bringing the work of Ta-Nehisi Coates to stage and screen. Her stage adaptation of Between the World and Me was just released on HBO; it was also just announced that she will produce a film version of Coates’s latest bestseller, The Water Dancer, for MGM. Events are free and streamed live on Studio Theatre’s Facebook and YouTube pages.

SYNETIC THEATER
All Synetic productions can be found on the Synetic site.

THEATER J
Theater J is 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
Two time Grammy award winners The Washington Chorus present A Candlelight Christmas, recorded at The Music Center at Strathmore, and livestreamed online. A beloved tradition for over 30 years, TWC reimagines its annual Candlelight Christmas concert in a beautifully produced show filmed live at the Music Center at Strathmore with socially distanced performances, guest soloists, and carol sing-alongs. Presented in one hour with no intermission featuring members of The Washington Chorus with organ, bells, soloists, our guest “Side by Side” high school chorus from Duke Ellington School of the Arts, and much more.
Collaborators:
– The Washington Chorus, under Artistic Director Eugene Rogers
– Organist Paul Byssainthe Jr.
– Duke Ellington School of the Arts Chorus (Dr. Monique Holmes-Spells, conductor)
– Soprano Nicole Joseph
– A new carol commissioned for TWC by composer J. David Moore
The concert will be held on Friday, Dec. 18, 7:30 pm, Saturday, Dec. 19, 7:30 pm, and Sunday, Dec. 20, 3:00 pm. The show will also be available for on-demand streaming until December 31. All tickets just $15 each, and available at thewashingtonchorus.org now.

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’ 38th Christmas Revels, a DC holiday tradition, has been transformed into a 4-month “Season of Reveling” that celebrates fall holidays from many cultural traditions. On December 20 they will premiere the highlight of this series, the Winter Solstice Revels, a live, virtual, participatory holiday celebration for all ages. The event will then be available for on-demand viewing from 12/23-1/6. They will also present several other “Season of Reveling” virtual events, including a series of menorah lightings with members of the Revels community from 12/10-17, and a Santa Lucia Festival on 12/13. Click here for more details.

More programming is available on their website. Events also include the monthly Community Sing on the 21^st 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 hosts This is Who I Am from Dec 5 – Jan 3rd. This world premiere play will be performed and broadcast live online from actors’ kitchens. Separated by continents, an estranged father and son reunite over Zoom. From their respective homes in Ramallah and New York City, they recreate a cherished family recipe and struggle to bridge the gap between them, one ingredient at a time. Told through the intimacy of a video call with humor and humanity, Amir Nizar Zuabi’s new play explores the unpredictable nature of grief and the delicacy of family connection across geographical and generational divides. Woolly also has more events and classes. You can get all info on their website.

YOUNG PLAYWRIGHTS’ THEATER
Young Playwrights’ Theater hosts online events and classes – all details are available online.