Stage

ADVENTURE THEATRE

Glen Echo Park
7300 MacArthur Blvd.
Glen Echo, Md
301-634-2270
adventuretheatre.org

Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse — Even Lilly has some bad days, but when you have movie star sunglasses and a purple plastic purse, how bad can it be? From the book by Kevin Henkes and adapted for the stage by Kevin Kling. Directed by Nick Olcott (9/23-10/31)

‘Twas The Night Before Christmas — A new children’s play by Tony-Award Nominated and Olivier Award Winning Ken Ludwig. Directed by Jerry Whiddon (11/18-1/2/12)

The Snowy Day — Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the first American picture book that featured an African-American child as the main character. The simple tale of a boy waking up to discover that snow has fallen during the night is brought to life in the magical world premiere (1/20-2/12/12)

Alexander And The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day — Book and lyrics by Judith Viorst, with music by Shelly Markham (3/2-4/9/12)

Five Little Monkeys — In this zany play, all in cumulative verse, five silly simian siblings insist on doing things their own way. It’s monkey mayhem (4/27-6/3/12)

If You Give A Moose A Muffin — In this sequel to If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, a moose will almost always be a bigger problem than a mouse. Directed by Jeremy Skidmore and starring Michael Russotto (6/22-9/2/12)

AMERICAN CENTURY THEATER

Gunston Theater II
2700 South Lang St
Arlington, Va.
703-998-4555
americancentury.org

The Country Girl — A crackling, complex mid-century drama about a troubled marriage complicated by the stresses of show business. By Clifford Odets (9/9-10/8)

Little Murders — Ellen Dempsey directs this mordant comedy produced at the peak of Sixties insanity by political and social satirist/cartoonist Jules Feiffer (1/13-2/11/12)

On the Waterfront — The stage version of Budd Schulberg’s screenplay for the movie classic concerns union violence and corruption on the New York docks. Directed by Kathleen Akerly (3/30-4/28/12)

Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All For You — Joe Banno makes his ACT directing debut with this hard-nosed comedy that skewers religion, dogma, and the Catholic Church. Cam McGee plays the title role (6/8-7/7/12)

Marathon ’33 — The acclaimed experimental play by actress/singer/dancer June Havoc, the real life ”Baby June” of Gypsy, recreating her harrowing years as a marathon dancer. A theatrical tour de force that combines music, dance, history and desperation in one of American Century Theater’s most ambitious productions. Directed by Jack Marshall with musical direction by Thomas Fuller (7/27-8/25/12)

ARENA STAGE

Mead Center for American Theater
1101 6th St. SW
202-488-3300
arenastage.org

Trouble in Mind — In 1957 on Broadway, battle lines are drawn within a newly integrated theater company preparing to open a misguided race play on the Great White Way. As personalities and prejudices collide, lead actress Wiletta Mayer has the chance to achieve her most glorious dream, but at what cost? E. Faye Butler stars (Now to 10/23, Kreeger)

The Book Club Play — A new work by Karen Zacarias (10/7-11/6, Kogod)

Equivocation — Set in London, 1605, Bill Cain’s high-stakes political thriller reveals the complexities of the truth and the terrible consequences of compromise (11/18-1/1/12, Kreeger)

You, Nero — As Rome collapses beneath Emperor Nero’s outrageous narcissism, a forgotten playwright tries to restore order through the art of theater. Pulitzer Prize finalist Amy Freed’s wild farce questions whether well-crafted drama and intellect are any match for decadence and bloodshed (11/25-1/1/12, Fichandler)

Red — Winner of six Tony Awards, including Best Play, Red depicts the brilliant and passionate painter Mark Rothko facing the biggest challenge of his career. A co-production with Chicago’s Goodman Theatre. Directed by Robert Falls and starring Edward Gero (1/20-3/4/12, Kreeger)

Elephant Room — Absurdist performance duo Rainpan 43 and magician Steve Cuiffo create a new theatrical event filled with magic and comedy (1/20-2/26/12, Kogod)

Ah, Wilderness! — Kyle Donnelly directs Eugene O’Neill’s sweet-tempered, romantic comedy (3/9-4/8/12, Fichandler)

Long Day’s Journey Into Night — The darker side of O’Neill is represented in this Pulitzer Prize-winning classic (3/30-5/6/12, Kreeger)

The Music Man — Meredith Willson’s rousing musical features such timeless classics as “76 Trombones.” Directed by Molly Smith and starring Kate Baldwin (5/11-7/22/12, Fichandler)

Like Water for Chocolate — A World Premiere of a pre-Broadway musical based on the bestselling novel and steeped in the history and magic of Mexican folktales (6/8-7/29/11)

CONSTELLATION THEATRE

1835 14th St. NW
202-204-7741
constellationtheatre.org

Arms and the Man — George Bernard Shaw’s timeless classic comedy (10/20-11/20)

Blood Wedding — Two families in rural Spain are caught up in a cycle of murder and revenge (2/2-3/4/12)

The Love of the Nightingale — A king and queen watch a play within a play in a mythical land (5/3-6/2/12)

DOMINION STAGE

Gunston Arts Center
2700 S. Lang St.
Arlington, Va.
571-377-4697
dominionstage.org

Take Me Out — In Richard Greenberg’s play, Darren Lemming, the star center fielder of the world champion New York Empires comes out as gay and trouble ensues (10/7-23)

Dreamgirls — Anya Nebel directs and David Moretti produces Henry Krieger’s unforgettable musical (1/13-1/28/12)

November — David Mamet’s political satire, revolving around a Presidential incumbent’s declining chances for reelection. Sound familiar? (5/18-6/9/12)

FOLGER THEATRE

201 East Capitol St. SE
202-544-7077
folger.edu

Othello — One of Shakespeare’s finest tragedies, a dramatic story of manipulation and betrayal. Robert Richmond directs Owiso Odera and Ian Merrill Peakes as Othello and Iago. Costumes by William Ivey Long (10/18-11/27)

The Gaming Table — The thrills of the gaming table play out against the eccentricities of English manners in this stylish comedy by early-18th Century playwright Susanna Centlivre (1/24-3/4/12)

The Taming of the Shrew — Aggressive Petruchio takes on the headstrong Kate in Shakespeare’s quintessential battle of the sexes redefines the boundaries of love. The would-be couple are played by real-life couple Cody Nickell and Kate Eastwood Norris. Directed by Aaron Posner (5/1-6/10/12)

FORD’S THEATRE

511 10th St. NW
202-347-4833
fordstheatre.org

Parade — Ostracized for his faith and Northern heritage, Jewish factory manager Leo Frank is accused of murdering a teenaged factory girl the day of the annual Confederate Memorial Day parade. Alfred Uhry’s award-winning book and Jason Robert Brown’s haunting score illuminate a circus of conflicting accounts, false testimony and mishandled evidence in a town reeling with social and racial tension. A co-production with Theater J (9/23-10/30)

A Christmas Carol — Edward Gero returns to play Scrooge in Michael Wilson’s adaptation of the Dickens classic (11/18-12/31)

Necessary Sacrifices — In a work commissioned by Ford’s, playwright Richard Hellesen explores the two documented encounters between Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln during a period of national crisis. As Lincoln searches for a way to end slavery in the summers of 1863 and 1864, Douglass’s rhetoric and conviction challenges the president to envision a post-emancipation world. Together, the men imagine not only a unified nation but a society that brings truth to the Declaration of Independence’s assertion that ”all men are created equal.” Directed by Jennifer L. Nelson (1/20-2/12/12)

1776 — A buoyant musical about the forging of America’s democracy. Peter Flynn directs and Michael Bobbitt provides the choreography (3/9-5/19/12)

FORUM THEATRE

Round House Silver Spring
8641 Coleville Road
Silver Spring, Md.
240-644-1390
forumtd.org

Mad Forest — On the eve of the Romanian Revolution, and under the eternal watch of the secret police, two families (one poor and one wealthy) struggle to retain their friendship. By Caryl Churchill (9/22-10/15)

The Language Archive — Julia Cho’s prize-winning play asks whether love is a universal language or, like Esperanto, just a well-intentioned dream (2/16-3/10/12)

The Illusion — Tony Kushner freely adapted this work from Pierre Corneille’s L’illusion comique. Mitchell Hebert directs (5/24-6/16/12)

GALA HISPANIC THEATRE

3333 14th St. NW
202-234-7174
galatheatre.org

¡Ay, Carmela! — Carmela and Paulino, a vaudeville comedy duo, have fallen into the hands of Franco’s fascists troops during the Spanish Civil War. Forced to put on a performance, they rehearse their show — flamenco songs, the paso doble, and bizarre comedy routines. But as heels and castanets clatter, their own intriguing story unfolds. By José Sanchis Sinisterra. Directed by José Luis Arellano-García (Now to 10/9)

Anna in the Tropics — The arrival of a new ”lector” at a 1929 Cuban cigar factory in Ybor City, Florida becomes a catalyst amongst the workers. Forbidden passions are unleashed in this Pulitzer prize winning play about the transformative power of literature in a landscape that pits old traditions against changing economic realities. By Nilo Cruz. Directed by José Carrasquillo (2/9-3/4/12)

i put the fear of mexico in ’em — A humorous and complex work that explores stereotypes and challenges notions of boundaries, safety and identity. Directed by Abel Lopez (4/11-4/29/12)

Puerto Rico…¡fuá! — A hilarious and satirical take on the most notorious times in history of the island and the development of today’s ”Boricua,” Carlos Ferrari’s musical was an instant hit in Puerto Rico when it first opened. Hugo Medrano directs (6/7-7/1/12)

THE IN SERIES

Various Locales
202-204-7760
inseries.org

Love Potion #1 — Director Nick Olcott sets his hip English adaptation in a D.C. high school in the 1950s (10/15-10/29, Gala)

Arlen Blues & Berlin Ballads — The songs of Irving Berlin and of blues-and-jazz great Harold Arlen defined what America played and sang and danced to for much of the 20th century. Directed by Abel Lopez (12/3-12/11, Atlas)

Barber & Barberillo — In Samuel Barber’s 10-minute pocket-opera A Hand of Bridge, two couples play cards and share their inner thoughts. Barbieri’s light opera The Little Barber of Lavapies features romantic intrigue and uproarious hijinks (1/7-1/22/12, Source)

From Shuffle to Show Boat — A mix of music from 1920s black musicals, operetta tunes, and blues, jazz and Tin Pan Alley selections (2/24-3/4/12, Atlas)

…de mi Corazon latino — A Latin-American songbook celebration featuring Mexican tenor Jesus Daniel Hernandez, mentored by Placido Domingo himself (4/13-4/21/12, Source)

Idomeneo — One of Mozart’s early operas (6/9-6/17, Atlas)

KEEGAN THEATRE

Church Street Theatre
1742 Church St. NW
703-892-0202
keegantheatre.com

The Crucible — Arthur Miller’s classic portrait of one man’s struggle toward grace is set in the scorching context of the 17th-Century Salem witch trials. Directed by Susan Marie Rhea (10/22-11/19)

An Irish Carol — Set in a Dublin pub, this world premiere by Matthew Keenan is a homage to Dickens’ classic — told as only the Irish can. Directed by Mark A. Rhea (12/3-12/31)

Laughter on the 23rd Floor — One from Neil Simon’s autobiographical period, the comedy is based on the playwright’s experience as a writer for Sid Caesar’s Your Show of Shows (1/21-2/18/12)

Twelve Angry Men — A roomful of jurors deliberate after hearing the arguments in a seemingly open-and-shut case. As prejudices are tested and evidence weighed, the entire jury is forced to look past the show of the courtroom to unearth the shocking truth (3/3-3/25/12)

Working the musical — Stephen Schwartz (Wicked) adapted his musical about what it means to work from the book by Studs Terkel (4/14-5/13/12)

Spring Awakening — Inspired by Frank Wedekind’s controversial 1891 play about teenage sexuality and society’s efforts to control it, the piece features a sensational rock score by Duncan Sheik (6/2-7/8/12)

Cuchullain — Aaron can’t pay his drug dealer and won’t get a soul-numbing job — so he dares to take on the welfare state in this dark and comic ride from Irish playwright Rosemary Jenkinson (6/9-7/1/12)

August: Osage County — Tracy Letts’ family saga won the 2008 Pulitzer Prize for drama. Directed by Mark Rhea (7/28-8/26/12)

KENNEDY CENTER

2700 F St. NW
202-467-4600
kennedy-center.org

Two Dogs’ Opinion on Life — The National Theatre of China presents this improvisational, avant-garde comedy, a story of two brother dogs who leave their hometown for the city to pursue their dreams (9/20-21, Terrace)

Les Miserables — A new 25th anniversary production of the sumptuous, unforgettable musical, featuring all new staging and scenery inspired by the paintings of Victor Hugo (9/28-10/30, Opera House)

Top Restaurant — Beijing People’s Art Theatre brings this popular 1988 piece set in a restaurant and revolving around Peking Duck (9/30-10/2, Eisenhower)

Norman — Film, dance, music and theater collide in this tribute to filmmaker Norman McLaren (10/6-8, Eisenhower)

Billy Elliott the Musical — Elton John penned the tunes for this 2009 Tony Award-winning musical, based on the film (12/13-1/15/12, Opera House)

ANN: An Affectionate Portrait of Ann Richards — This one-woman show about the late Texas politician is a showpiece as well for its star, Holland Taylor (12/17-1/15/12, Eisenhower)

La Cage aux Folles — The much-heralded, richly intimate revival of the spectacular Jerry Herman musical. Starring George Hamilton and Christopher Sieber (1/17-2/12/12, Eisenhower)

Gypsies — The love, tensions and conflicts of Gypsies in the Hungarian countryside are chronicled in this electrifying work from the famed Katona Jozsef Theatre company (3/15-3/17/12, Eisenhower)

Come Fly Away — A tribute to the music of Frank Sinatra from the great choreographer Twyla Tharp (4/18-4/29/12, Eisenhower)

Pal Joey — A new Kennedy Center production of the Rodgers & Hart classic, directed by Christopher Ashley and featuring such classics as “Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered” (6/2-7/1/12, Eisenhower)

Memphis — The 2010 Tony-winning musical about a white radio DJ who, in the 1950s, tries to help a black club singer make it big (6/12-7/1/12, Opera House)

The Addams Family — The world of Gomez, Morticia and Lurch are brought to life in this dark, comic musical (7/10-7/29/12, Opera House)

METRO STAGE

1201 North Royal St.
Alexandria
703-548-9044
metrostage.org

Savage in Limbo — John Patrick Shanley’s brutal classic (Now to 10/16)

A Broadway Christmas Carol — Michael Sharp directs Kathy Feininger’s cross between the Dickens classic and parodies of classic show tunes (11/17-12/18)

Josephine Tonight — Maurice Hines directs and choreographs this musical biography of legend Josephine Baker. With music by Wally Harper (1/26-3/18/12)

Be Careful! The Sharks Will Eat You! — Jay Alvarez recounts his family’s gripping escape from Cuba in 1964 in this one-man show (4/4-4/22/12)

Playing Sinatra — A brother and sister share an unhealthy obsession for Ol’ Blue Eyes (5/10-6/17/12)

NATIONAL THEATRE

1321 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
202-628-6161
nationaltheatre.org

Jersey Boys — The much-anticipated return Washington, D.C., engagement of the Tony, Grammy and Olivier Award-winning hit musical that tells the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons (11/10-1/7/12)

OLNEY THEATRE CENTER

2001 Olney-Sandy Spring Road
Olney, Md.
301-924-3400
olneytheatre.org

Witness for the Prosecution — An adaptation of Agatha Christie’s short story (9/28-10/23)

The Sound of Music — Olney solves that Maria problem with a large-scale production (11/16-1/1/12)

You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown — Based on the comic strip Peanuts, the musical has a timeless, innocent quality — and a handful of show stopping numbers (“Suppertime,” “Happiness”) (2/22-3/18/12)

The 39 Steps — Four actors play over 150 in this comedic adaptation of Hitchcock’s famous thriller. In it, a suave, somewhat bored Englishman who naively agrees to date a mysterious woman he meets at the theatre and finds himself in a world of spies and adventures. (4/18-5/14/12)

Sleuth — A wealthy mystery novelist invites his wife’s lover to his elegant, yet isolated country estate for a game of cat and mouse. We won’t spoil the surprise for those who’ve never seen it, but even if you know whodunit, Sleuth remains one of the best thrillers ever conceived for the stage (6/13-7/12/12)

Little Shop of Horrors — Fun with singing man-eating plants (8/1-8/26/12)

The Royal Family — Filled with conflict and chaos, this lively drama brings smiles to those who relate to the dysfunction of family life (9/26-10/21/12)

Cinderella — The Rodgers and Hammerstein take on the enchanting fairy tale (11/14/12-1/6/13)

REP STAGE

10901 Little Patuxent Parkway
Columbia, Md.
443-518-1500
repstage.org

Or — Liz Duffy Adams’ 2009 Off-Broadway hit touches on the free love of the 1660s and is based on real life playwright Aphra Behn and her romantic romps through Restoration England. Directed by Michael Stebbins (Now to 9/18)

The Poe Show — Tony Tsendeas, a nationally recognized interpreter of Edgar Allan Poe’s writings, shares words and works by the master of the macabre (10/21-24)

Barrymore — Actor John Barrymore rents a Broadway theatre in 1942 — one month prior to his death — as he prepares to make a comeback to the stage. By William Luce. Starring Nigel Reed (10/26-11/13)

Holidays on Ice — David Sedaris’ caustic holiday essays are brought to life. ‘Tis the season for pessimism (12/16-19)

Yellowman –Dael Orlandersmith’s 2002 Pulitzer Prize finalist for drama details the relationship between Eugene, a fair-skinned black man, and Alma, a dark-skinned black woman, as they struggle with issues of intraracial prejudice, domestic violence, and young love. Directed by Kasi Campbell (2/8-2/26/12)

Las Meninas — Set in the court of France’s Louis XIV, Lynn Nottage’s drama is an irreverent and incisive reconsideration of the historical scandal involving Queen Marie-Therese and a unique gift from Africa (4/18-5/6/12)

ROUND HOUSE THEATRE

4545 East-West Highway
Bethesda, Md.
240-644-1100
roundhousetheatre.org

Fahrenheit 451 — Bradbury’s masterpiece about a future without books comes chillingly to life in an adaptation by the legendary author himself (Now to 10/9)

ReEntry — An unflinching look at the lives of Marines returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. Based on interviews with privates and colonels, combat vets and clerks, and one particularly memorable family. Directed by KJ Sanchez (10/18-30)

Pride and Prejudice — Jane Austen’s world of desperate spinsters, determined bachelors, nosy neighbors, embarrassing relatives, and a smarmy cad or two is brought to life in this adaptation directed by Blake Robison (11/23-12/31)

Next Fall — This award-winning play by Geoffrey Nauffts weaves a tale about two men in love, two parents in denial, and two friends on speed dial (2/1-2/26/12)

Crown of Shadows: the wake of odysseus — A gripping, modern take on The Odyssey uses contemporary language and leanings to paint a chilling portrait of the family the warrior leaves behind. A World Premiere written by Jason Gray Platt. Directed by Blake Robison (4/11-5/6/12)

Double Indemnity — When hard-boiled Walter Huff meets femme fatale Phyllis Nirlinger, the wife of one of his wealthy clients, he quickly realizes that she wants to get rid of her husband — and decides to help her do it. An adaptation of the legendary novel by James Cain (5/30-6/24/12)

SHAKESPEARE THEATRE COMPANY

Harman Center for the Arts
610 F St. NW
Lansburgh Theatre
450 7th St. NW
202-547-1122
shakespearetheatre.org

The Heir Apparent — David Ives adapts Jean-Francois Regnard’s 1708 masterpiece. Starring Floyd King and directed by Michael Kahn (Now to 10/23, Lansburgh)

Fela! — The story of legendary Nigeran musician Fela Kuti, directed and choreographed by Bill T. Jones (Now to 10/9, Harman Hall)

The Boys from Syracuse — Based on Shakespeare’s Comedy of Errors, this Rodgers and Hart musical includes such well-known songs as “Falling in Love with Love” (11/4-6, Harman Hall)

Krapp’s Last Tape — John Hurt stars in Beckett’s masterpiece about a man who annually records a tape recounting his past year (11/29-12/4, Lansburgh)

Much Ado About Nothing — Ethan McSweeny directs Shakespeare’s frothy comedy (12/25-1/1/12, Harman Hall)

Two Gentlemen of Verona (a rock opera) — With a book by John Guare and music by Galt MacDermot (Hair), this infrequently staged musical was a big hit of the ’70s (1/27-1/29/12, Harman Hall)

The Two Gentlemen of Verona — Shakespeare’s earliest romantic comedy centers on a love triangle. Directed by P.J. Paparelli (1/17-3/4/12, Lansburgh)

Petrushka — Puppeteer Basil Twist brings his 2001 work of puppetry and magic to involving the tragic love story of three puppets at a Russian carnival (3/16-3/25/12, Lansburgh)

Strange Interlude — Michael Kahn directs Eugene O’Neill’s controversial, Pulitzer Prize-winning drama about love and deception (3/27-4/29/12, Harman Hall)

The Servant of Two Masters — Carlo Goldoni’s magical comedia dell’arte masterpiece. Directed by Christopher Bayes (5/15-7/1/12, Lansburgh)

The Merry Wives of Windsor — Stephen Rayne directs this classic Shakespearean comedy centering around the romantic foibles of Falstaff (6/12-7/15/12, Harman Hall)

SIGNATURE THEATRE

4200 Campbell Ave.
Arlington, Va.
703-820-9771
signature-theatre.org

The Hollow — A chilling musical reinterpretation by Matt Conner of the classic thriller The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Directed by Eric Schaeffer (Now to 10/16, Max)

The Boy Detective Fails — A detective tries to solve the murder of his younger sister. Music and lyrics by Adam Gwon and direction by Joe Calarco (Now to 10/16, Max)

Sweet Tea: Black Gay Men of the South — E. Patrick Johnson’s one-man show based on his critically-acclaimed book explores the southern black gay community (Now to 10/9, Ark)

Saturday Night — A 1953 hidden gem by Stephen Sondheim, the show will get a concert staging (10/29-30, Max)

A Second Chance — A World Premiere of an new musical about finding love when you are least looking for it (11/15-12/11, Ark)

Hairspray — Robert Aubrey Davis will take on the role of Edna Turnblad in this production of the effervescent musical by Marc Shaiman. Eric Schaeffer directs (11/21-1/29/12, Max)

Really Really — Paul Downs Colaizzo’s new drama pushes the edges and embraces the harsh reality of today’s youth. Directed by Matthew Gardiner (1/31-3/25/12, Ark)

Brother Russia — A World Premiere musical by John Dempsey and Dana Rowe, directed by Eric Schaeffer, about a comically fourth-rate Russian theatre troupe that sets up its tents in the countryside and wows the local farmers with rock-fueled adaptations of Tolstoy and Dostoevsky (3/6-4/15/12, Max)

God of Carnage — Yasmina Reza’s play about upper-middle-class Brooklyn couples meet to discuss an incident of playground violence between their sons won the 2009 Tony for Best Play (4/10-6/24/12, Ark)

Xanadu — Matthew Gardiner takes the helm of this zany send-up of the 1980 film. With book by Douglas Carter Beane and music and lyrics by ELO’s Jeff Lynne (5/8-7/1/12, Max)

STUDIO THEATRE

1501 14th St. NW
202-332-3300
studiotheatre.org

The Habit of Art — Benjamin Britton is having trouble with his latest opera, and seeks out his collaborator, poet W. H. Auden, after a twenty-five year separation in Alan Bennett’s newest play. Starring Ted van Griethuysen, Paxton Whitehead and Randy Harris. Directed by David Muse (Now to 10/16, Metheny)

Lungs — In a time of global anxiety, terrorism, and erratic weather, a couple tries to face their future in Duncan Macmillan’s chamber drama (9/28-10/16, Milton)

The Golden Dragon — A kaleidoscopic look at a globalized world by Roland Schimmelpfennig, one of Germany’s most innovative and adventurous writers. Five actors cross age, race, and gender to play fifteen characters in this vicious, poetic, and surprisingly moving investigation of how intertwined our lives really are (11/2-12/11, Mead)

Bust — Lauren Weedman performs her one-woman show, a mostly autobiographical play based on her experiences working as a volunteer advocate in a Southern California prison for women (11/30-12/18, Stage 4)

Time Stands Still — A gritty and compelling story from Pulitzer Prize-winner Donald Margulies, questioning whether certain desires and images can ever really be erased. Starring Holly Twyford (1/4-2/12/12, Metheny)

Astro Boy and the God of Comics — A highly visual, retro-sci-fi performance about the 1960s animation series Astro Boy and its creator Osamu Tezuka. The high/low-tech multimedia extravaganza, featuring on-stage drawing, interactive video, and 1960s-style animation is being created for Studio 2ndStage (2/15-3/11/12, Stage 4)

Sucker Punch — Kinetic, comedic, and emotionally bruising, Roy Williams’s masterwork blasts open the experience of being young, black, and ambitious in 1980s London (2/29-4/8/12, Mead)

The Big Meal — The arc of a family’s experience from a single restaurant table at a chain restaurant (4/25-5/20/12, Milton)

Bachelorette — Ten years out of high school, three unhappy friends show up not-quite-invited to their classmate’s luxe hotel room the night before her wedding and chaos ensues (5/23-7/1/12, Mead)

The Animals and Children Take to the Streets — A charming, ghoulish, and otherworldly little show from acclaimed London company 1927 (6/13-7/1/12, Metheny)

Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson — Keith Alan Baker directs this rowdy and irreverent musical that imagines President Andrew ”Old Hickory” Jackson as a rock star (7/11-8/5/12)

SYNETIC THEATER

Crystal City
Arlington, Va.
800-494-8497
synetictheater.org

Macbeth— A revival of the company’s silent, award-winning Macbeth (Now to 10/2)

Othello — A revival of the company’s silent, award-winning Othello (10/19-11/6)

Romeo and Juliet — A revival of the company’s silent, award-winning… well, you get the picture (11/25-12/23)

Genesis Reboot — Ben and Peter Cunis penned this paly in which a lone angel ponders the question, what would happen if everything started over? (2/9-3/4/12)

A Light in the Darkness — A decadent, surreal and blasphemous mixture of physical theatre, mime and modern dance from the Czech Republic (3/8-3/25/12)

The Taming of the Shrew — The latest in the company’s signature “Silent Shakespeare” series (3/31-4/22/12)

Home of the Soldier — This World Premiere text-based play commemorates the heroism of our armed forces (5/23-7/1/12)

THEATRE J

1529 16th St. NW
800-494-8497
theaterj.org

Imagining Madoff — Unrepentant Ponzi-schemer Bernard Madoff sets the record straight from his prison cell, recounting an all-night study session with Holocaust survivor, poet, and investment client, Solomon Galkin. Featuring Rick Foucheux, Mike Nussbaum and Jennifer Mendenhall (Now to 9/25)

After The Fall — Arthur Miller’s most personal play explores one man’s quest to make peace with history, both his own and the tumultuous world around him. Directed by Jose Carrasquillo. With Mitchell Hébert and Jennifer Mendenhall (10/26-11/27)

The Religion Thing — Mo and Brian are a picture-perfect D.C. couple. But when Mo’s best friend Patti announces she’s found Jesus and is putting her own career on hold, Mo must take a closer look at the harder truths surrounding her own marriage. A World Premiere Comedy by Renee Calarco. Directed by Joe Calarco. Featuring Will Gartshore (1/4-1/29/12)

Electile Dysfunction: The Kinsey Sicks For President! — Subtitled “Because Sometimes It’s Hard Being a Republican,” this is the official launch of theyKinsey Sicks’s campaign to become the first Dragapella Beautyshop Quartet to win the Republican nomination for President (2/4-2/19/12)

New Jerusalem: The Interrogation Of Baruch De Spinoza — The return of Theater J’s 2010 hit production, a literate, suspenseful retelling of the story of the 1656 interrogation of philosopher Baruch De Spinoza. By David Ives (2/29-4/1/12)

The Whipping Man — In 1865, two newly-freed slaves and the son of their former master — a Jewish Confederate soldier who has retreated to the burnt remains of his home and celebrate an unconventional Passover Seder (4/18-5/20/12)

The History of Invulnerability — David Bar Katz’s play looks at the Jewish creator behind the legend of Superman (6/6-7/8/12)

WASHINGTON IMPROV THEATER

Source
1835 14th St. NW
202-204-7770
washingtonimprovtheater.com

Fall Into Wit! — Our premiere comic improv troupe presents a series of shows from all six of its ensembles. Includes the popular iMusical (Now to 10/8)

Harold Night — Each Tuesday is a demonstration and experimentation in the world-famous long form technique, Harold (Tuesdays through 9/27)

Classes throughout the fall (check the website for schedule)

WSC AVANT BARD

Artisphere Black Box
1101 Wilson Blvd.
Arlington, Va.
703-418-4808
wscavantbard.org

Happy Days — Jose Carrasquillo directs Samuel Beckett’s masterpiece (Now to 9/28)

The Mistorical Hystery of Henry (I)V — A one-evening adaptation of Shakespeare’s history plays Henry IV, Parts One and Two. Adapted and directed by Tom Mallan (11/3-12/4)

Les Justes — A new adaptation of Albert Camus’s eerily relevant exploration of politically-motivated violence (2/9-3/11/12)

Spring Rep. 2012 — The Greek masterpiece The Bacchae by Euripides is paired with Sam Shepard’s The Tooth of Crime — an interesting rotating rep if ever there was (5/10-7/1/12)

WOOLLY MAMMOTH

641 D St. NW
202-393-3939
woollymammoth.net

A Bright New Boise — In the parking lot of a mega craft store in Idaho, someone is summoning the Rapture. John Vreeke directs this comedy by Samuel D. Hunter (10/10-11/6)

Spoiler Alert: Everybody Dies — Chicago’s The Second City pays a visit with their unique brand of off-the-wall improve humor in this World Premiere (12/6-1/8/12)

Civilization (all you can eat) — Six hungry city-dwellers scramble for sustenance in this scathing satire of American enterprise and ingenuity by Jason Grote. Directed by Howard Shalwitz (2/13-3/11/12)

Arias With a Twist — When aliens abduct a large drag queen and drop her in a teeny Garden of Eden, will she have room to fall from grace? Cabaret sensation Joey Arias and Obie Award-winning puppeteer Basil Twist team up to tell the tale (4/4-5/6/12)

Mr. Burns, a post-electric play — In Anne Washburn’s vision of post-apocalyptic America, survivors invent a new entertainment industry from the ashes of the old. Steven Cosson directs and J. Michael Friedman provides music for this World Premiere (5/28-7/1/12)