Good theater in DC?
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Anonymous
| I’m new to the area and new to theater but want to explore. Any recommendations not Kennedy Center welcome. I’m interested in less Hollywood, more classic. |
Anonymous
| You are probably looking for Shakespeare Theater and the Folger then. Unfortunately for your taste, most of the best theater in DC is newer offerings. |
Anonymous
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The order of this list is in no way related to ranking or quality, it's just what comes into my head as I type. And there are MANY small companies, professional and some excellent amateur ones too, dotted all over the place. Don't limit yourself to DC only, look in VA and MD as well.
Shakespeare Theater Company. Does more than Shakespeare. Has in recent years added one musical per season, usually. We're season ticket holders so if you have questions, ask me. Their Academy company (their professional training program) is doing two plays this summer between the main seasons. STC has two theaters, about two blocks apart, by the way, so be sure you know which theater to go to if you're new to them. Folger Theater. Located at the Folger Shakespeare Library, excellent productions, does non-Shakespeare that I'd call classically adjacent, as well as Shakespeare. Arena Stage. Has had a mission for years to do only American plays and musicals, if that matters to you. Round House Theater. In Bethesda, not DC, but absolutely worth the drive. Fantastic productions, and a small auditorium with no bad seats so views are great. Studio Theater. I haven't been to Studio in a while but they're extremely well regarded. Signature Theater. In Arlington just off of I-66, easy to reach. Top-notch, specializes in musicals and winning heaps of awards for musicals! Woolly Mammoth. Tends toward new plays, if you want only traditional familiar plays they're not for you -- but I suggest you try them. Some smaller companies to be sure to check out: WSC Avant Bard; Silver Spring Stage (not a professional theater but I've seen some very good productions there); Constellation Theater; Ford's Theater (sticks to quite standard plays and traditional fare like "Christmas Carol" each year but that's cool). I"m blanking on some others! This site https://theatrewashington.org/ has some listings and theater news. |
Anonymous
Newer plays =/= "Hollywood" so I"m not quite sure what OP means by no Hollywood. To me that would mean avoiding the showy, blockbuster traveling musicals based on movies, but I love new plays. OP, do you go for all types of plays or just "classic" as in "classical"? |
Anonymous
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Studio and Woolly Mammoth are my favorites, but my tastes definitely lean in the contemporary direction.
Also wanted to mention Broadway at the National - it's wildly expensive for what you get, but worth looking into if you want to see some classics. |
Anonymous
| There is so much. STC, Folger, Studio, Arena Stage, Signature, 1st Stage, Roundhouse, NextStop, Synetic, Olney, Keegan, Ford's, Mosaic, Constellation ... |
Anonymous
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DC overtook Chicago years ago in abundance of theatre offerings. It really is a huge theatre town and it directly correlates between the amount of money to support it and level of education of the community.
It’s a great thing. |
Anonymous
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OP here. Thank you! So excited for these new adventures.
What I mean by Hollywood should have been Broadway hits. That’s how little I know of theater. I’ve seen lion King, Chicago and Mean Girls and enjoyed them but would like more of a traditional experience of which I’m not familiar with. I’ll check out these suggestions. Thank you again! |
Anonymous
Me again. “Traditional” is probably the wrong word. Just less showing dancing, more angst 
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Anonymous
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If budget is a concern, I always liked Silver Spring Stage when I lived in DC. I also really enjoyed a production of the Tempest that I saw at Round House Theater in 2022.
Don't forget to look out for high school and university productions. Sometimes they are really well done. |
Anonymous
| Take the train or bus to NYC. There is nothing like Broadway. I have seen shows at most DC Theaters. Fine but not great. Its like flying first class (Broadway) vs. Coach (DC Theaters). |
Anonymous
| Don’t forget training institutions with theater emphasis - Catholic U, American U and Duke Ellington HS all have great (and inexpensive) performances. |
Anonymous
Mmmmm....no. Not sure how long ago this PP saw shows in DC, or what PP's preferences are, but this area -- not only DC but MD and VA as well -- has an incredible amount of outstanding theater of all types. And you can see quite a few shows here for the cost of transportation plus ticket price (and possibly hotel) for seeing just one show on Broadway. BTW, PP, there's a lot more to NY theater than just Broadway, too. Maybe revisit DC theaters and also see some off-Broadway and nowhere-near-Broadway shows next time you go to NYC. Don't fret, OP, you're in a theater town with tons to offer and the highest quality. We just saw "Top Dog/Underdog" at Round House and "Metamorphoses" at the Folger and "Matchbox Magic Flute" at Shakespeare Theater Company, OP. You cannot get three productions more different from each other anywhere. And each was excellent and thought-provoking. And OP, I think I forgot to mention one more theater earlier: Theater J, in DC. Check them out too. |
Anonymous
Excellent idea! Adding: Shakespeare Theater Company has a graduate degree program jointly with GWU and they perform in a great space, in a converted church next to part of the GMU campus. Cheaper tickets for professional performances. |
Anonymous
| I actually think Broadway at the National Theater feels the closest to Broadway. Yes, NYC is NYC, but there is still good theater in this area. |