Stage

Published on September 11, 2008, 12:00am | Comments

AMERICAN CENTURY THEATER

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

· Dr. Cook's Garden -- Ira Levin's 1968 Broadway thriller about a small town that achieves perfection in an ultimately deadly way (now-10/4)
· Life with Father -- This 1939 chestnut is the longest-running play in Broadway history (11/25-12/7 and 1/8-1/25/09)
· An American Century Christmas -- Traces the most memorable dramatic and comic moments from 100 years of Christmas onstage, screen, radio and TV (12/10-1/4/09)
· Native Son -- Often written about but rarely produced, this 1941 drama examines the forces that turn a poor black man into a criminal and killer (4/14-5/9/09)
· Seascape -- Edward Albee's 1975 play answers an intriguing question: If an older couple on a beach holiday encountered a younger couple of sea monsters, what would they talk about? (7/30-8/22/09)

ARENA STAGE

202-488-3300
www.arenastage.org

· Resurrection -- The stories of several African-American men collide one evening in an unforgettable look at identity, relationships and human connections (now-10/5, Crystal City, 1800 S. Bell St.)
· Wishful Drinking -- Carrie Fisher is the life of the party in this autobiographical look at her Hollywood hangover (now-9/28, Lincoln Theatre, 1215 U St. NW)
· Citizen Josh -- Troubled by the election in 2004 and the health of American democracy, Josh Kornbluth came to the conclusion that perhaps voting is just not enough (10/9-10/26, Crystal City)
· Next to Normal - How does an almost-average family navigate today's over-stimulated and over-medicated world? In this darkly funny and haunting new musical by Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey, one suburban household confronts its past and its future (11/21-1/18/09, Crystal City)
· I Love a Piano -- A musical journey spanning seven decades of American history as seen through the perceptive and hopeful eyes of Irving Berlin (1/29-2/15/09, Lincoln Theatre)
· A Delicate Balance -- Edward Albee's 1967 Pulitzer Prize-winning drama revolves around a retired married couple living in a suburban neighborhood whose adult daughter returns home after a fourth failed marriage (2/6-3/15/09, Crystal City)
· Crowns -- Regina Taylor's popular musical returns (3/27-4/26/09, Lincoln Theatre)
· A Long and Winding Road -- Broadway and recording artist veteran Maureen McGovern brings her one-woman cabaret, performing music of The Beatles, Simon & Garfunkel and Bob Dylan, among others (3/31-4/12/09, Crystal City)
· Legacy of Light -- Local playwright Karen Zacarias' world-premiere drama is a time-traveling tale of discovery, both scientific and maternal. Directed by Molly Smith (5/8-6/14/09, Crystal City)
· Sweet Bird of Youth -- The classic drama by Tennessee Williams, directed by Tazewell Thompson (5/29-6/28/09, Lincoln Theatre)

BETHESDA THEATRE

7719 Wisconsin Ave.
Bethesda, Md.
301-657-7827
www.bethesdatheatre.com

Altar Boyz -- The comedic account of a struggling, Christian, boy band from Ohio. The Boyz -- intent on saving souls and raising spirits -- are on the last night of their ''Raise the Praise'' U.S. tour and determined to make the big time (10/2-11/2/09)

CATALYST THEATRE COMPANY

Atlas Performing Arts Center
1333 H St. NE
202-494-3776
www.catalysttheater.com

1984 -- George Orwell's masterpiece about a dystopian society (now-10/5)
· Roundheads and Peakheads -- Bertolt Brecht's take on Measure for Measure (2/11-3/15/09)
· Bruise Easy -- Single, pregnant, bitter Tess returns home to suburban hell, only to find that her mom is MIA and her loser brother has parked himself on the driveway (5/20-6/21/09)

CENTER STAGE

700 N. Calvert St.
Baltimore, Md.
410-332-0033
www.centerstage.org

· The Matchmaker -- Thornton Wilder's timeless romantic comedy proves that money can't buy happiness, but a small dose of Dolly Levi can turn a skinflint into a Romeo and a hapless clerk into the King of Yonkers (now-10/12, Perlstone Theater)
· Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? -- The Edward Albee classic, directed by Ethan McSweeny (10/22-11/30, Head Theater)
· One-Man Star Wars Trilogy -- Charles Ross' tour de force solo performance recaps the three original Star Wars movies in a whirlwind of voices and sounds (12/9-12/21, Head)
· Caroline, or Change -- The award-winning musical with book and lyrics by Tony Kushner and music by Jeanine Tesori (12/10-1/18/09, Pearlstone)
· Fabulation or, The Re-education of Undine -- It's a long fall from high society to the projects, and downwardly mobile Undine has nowhere to go but home (1/28-3/8/09, Head)
· Tis Pity She's a Whore -- Classic revenge tragedy (3/11-4/5/09, Pearlstone)
· The Understudy -- In this comedy, a recently unearthed Kafka play starring a Hollywood action hero makes for an unlikely Broadway hit. And when the understudy shows up for rehearsal, what began as theater turns real in ways Kafka would find all-too familiar (4/24-5/24, Pearlstone)

CHARTER THEATRE

Theatre on the Run
3700 S. Four Mile Run Drive
Arlington, Va.
202-333-7009
www.chartertheatre.org

· This Perfect World -- By Chris Stezin. Directed by John Vreeke (9/12-10/12)
· Quartet -- By Richard Washer (1/9-2/8/09)
· Fat Gay Jew -- Starring Jim Helein, Renee Calarco and Mario Baldessari (4/24-5/24/09)

FOLGER THEATRE

201 E. Capitol St. SE
202-544-7077
www.folger.edu

Henry IV -- The king's rule is threatened by rebellion. His son Prince Hal must choose between carousing with Falstaff and his band of rogues or embracing his noble character and protecting the throne. Starring Rick Foucheux, Brian Hemmingsen, Tom Story and, as Falstaff, Delaney Williams (10/8-11/16)
· The Winter's Tale -- Suspecting his wife Hermione and his friend Polixenes of infidelity, King Leontes is driven to acts of jealous rage. Years later, a miraculous turn of events brings a chance for redemption. With Lawrence Redmond and Naomi Jacobson. Directed by Blake Robison (1/28-3/8/09)
· Arcadia -- This modern masterpiece by Tom Stoppard is part history, part mystery, calibrating the relationship between the past and the present in the lush setting of an English country house. Featuring Holly Twyford. Directed by Aaron Posner (5/5-6/14/09)

FORD'S THEATRE

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

A Christmas Carol: A Ghost Story of Christmas -- Adapted by Michael Wilson from the short story by Charles Dickens (12/2-12/28, Lansburgh Theatre, 450 Seventh St. NW)
· The Heavens Are Hung in Black -- The world premiere of a play commissioned by Ford's Theatre to honor not only Lincoln's birthday but also the grand reopening of Ford's Theatre after a year and a half of renovations. Playwright James Still explores the innermost reaches of Lincoln's mind as he struggles with the loss of his son Willie and the ultimate decision to release the Emancipation Proclamation (2/3-3/8/09)
· The Civil War -- Jeff Calhoun, creator of the hugely successful Big River and Shenandoah productions at Ford's Theatre, brings his imagination to bear on the greatest conflict this country has ever known. Music by Frank Wildhorn, book and lyrics by Wildhorn, Gregory Boyde and Jack Murphy (3/27-5/24/09)

GALA HISPANIC THEATRE

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

· The Aging of the Plum -- Abel Lopez directs this fantastic journey through the memories of two sisters who, with humor and tenderness, reveal three generations of women as they liberate themselves from a world bound by tradition (9/18-10/12)
· Martha Graham Cracker -- An evening of outrageous theater and live music. Dito van Reigersberg, of the renowned Philadelphia-based Pig Iron Theater Company, struts her/his alter ego in this hilarious drag cabaret inspired by great divas from Judy Garland to Elton John (12/12-12/13)
· The Best Judge, the King -- This powerful drama of honor and justice is considered one of Spanish playwright Lope de Vega's masterpieces, yet is rarely produced. When Galician peasants Sancho and Elvira's wedding plans are cancelled by feudal lord Tello, who wants Elvira for himself and cruelly violates her, the King disguises himself as a magistrate to personally see that justice is served. Directed by Hugo Medrano (1/29-2/22/09)
· The True Story of Coca-Cola in Mexico -- Two filmmakers travel to Mexico to document how American pop culture has invaded the Mexican way of life. Directed by José Carrasquillo (4/2-4/26/09)
· Mummy in the Closet -- In Mariano Vales' world-premiere musical commissioned by Gala, follow Eva Peron's corpse around the world as political puppeteers manipulate her legacy and corruption and intrigue reign (6/4-6/28/09)

GANYMEDE ARTS

202-390-1502
www.ganymedearts.org

· Ganymede Arts Festival -- Celebrating the GLBT artist featuring cabaret performances by Warhol superstar Holly Woodlawn and Justin Bond (of Kiki and Herb), play readings, dance performances in conjunction with The Washington Ballet and performances by The Mesmers and Tom Goss (9/26-10/4, Church Street Theatre, 1742 Church St. NW)
· After The Garden: Edie Beale at Reno Sweeney -- Recapturing the famous New Year's Eve 1978 when Little Edi Beale played NYC night club Reno Sweeney (Spring '09)
· Stonewall: 4 Decades of Landmark GLBT Plays -- Staged readings of Boys in the Band, Bent, Torch Song Trilogy and Angels in America (June '09)
· Les Liaisons Dangereuses -- Revival of the all-male hit (Summer '09)

THE IN-SERIES

202-204-7760
www.inseries.org

Mozart's Men -- An ''opera-musical'' that imagines what happens if the villains Don Giovanni and Count Almaviva are paroled from their indefinite stay in Hell and visit today's world and its women (9/21-9/29, Source Theatre, 1835 14th St. NW)
· Fall[en] Angels -- A dance, cabaret and art-song collaboration with The Washington Ballet Studio Company, directed and choreographed by Septime Webre, David Palmer and Jared Nelson (10/11-10/19, Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H St. NE)
· Puerto Rico, Mi amor -- A cabaret of songs, poetry and tropical rhythms exploring the mystery and the enchantment of Borinquen (11/7-11/16, GALA Theatre, 3333 14th St. NW)
· Orpheus in the Underworld -- Orpheus and Eurydice, married for years, both seek romance elsewhere. Pluto kidnaps Euridyce, and meddlesome Public Opinion persuades Orpheus to rescue her. Chaos ensues (1/17-1/25/09, Atlas)
· Berliner Kabarett -- An edgy cabaret of songs and satire from Germany between the World Wars by Weill, Hollaender and Brecht (4/4-5/2/09, Source)
· From U Street to the Cotton Club -- A Jazz-Age/Harlem Renaissance revue directed by KenYatta Rogers and Stanley Thurston (4/17-5/3/09, Source)

THE KENNEDY CENTER

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

Blanche and Beyond -- Adapted by Steve Lawson from the personal letters of Tennessee Williams, this one-man show starring Richard Thomas delves into the life of one of America's great playwrights (9/24-9/26, Terrace Theater)
· Broadway: Three Generations -- A celebration of three generations of Broadway songwriters with star-filled evenings in the newly renovated Eisenhower Theater, combining abridged concert versions of three representative musical classics: Girl Crazy, Bye Bye Birdie and Side Show (10/2-10/5, Eisenhower Theater)
· Barbara Cook's Spotlight: Betty Buckley -- Buckley has starred in such blockbuster musicals as Cats, Sunset Boulevard and Gypsy (not to mention as Carrie White's ill-fated gym teacher) (10/3-10/4, Terrace)
· The Shadow of the Glen & The Playboy of the Western World -- Two of John Synge's greatest works performed by Ireland's internationally acclaimed DRUID theater company (10/22-10/25, Terrace)
· Barbara Cook's Spotlight: Rebecca Luker -- Go grab an Original Cast Recording of The Secret Garden and you tell us if this woman doesn't have the sweetest voice ever to grace a Broadway stage (11/8, Terrace)
· Frost/Nixon -- This Tony-nominated play starring Stacy Keach recounts one of the most powerful television interviews of all time. How did British talk-show host David Frost elicit the apology the rest of the world was waiting to hear from former President Richard Nixon? (11/11-11/30, Eisenhower)

· Legally Blonde the Musical -- The D.C. premiere of the Broadway hit, which follows sorority star Elle Woods to the hallowed halls of Harvard Law School (12/16-1/11/09, Opera House)
· Barbara Cook's Spotlight: Jason Danieley & Marin Mazzie -- Celebrating 10 years together, Broadway's golden couple bring Valentine's Day to musical life (2/14/09, Terrace)
· Richard III: An Arab Tragedy -- In a world of tribal allegiances, family in-fighting and absolute power, the questions of leadership, religion and foreign intervention at the heart of Shakespeare's play take on powerful new meanings in a modern Arab-Islamic context (3/6-3/7/09, Terrace)
· Ragtime -- An all-new production of the Tony-winning musical based on E.L. Doctorow's novel set in turn-of-the-century New York. Book by Terrence McNally, music by Stephen Flaherty and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens (4/18-5/10/09, Eisenhower)
· The Color Purple -- Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning book by Alice Walker, it's the unforgettable story of a woman who finds the strength to triumph over adversity (7/1-8/2/09, Opera House)
· Spring Awakening -- Winner of eight 2007 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, the hit musical makes its D.C. premiere featuring an original score by Grammy-nominated recording star Duncan Sheik and Steven Sater. With Choreography by Bill T. Jones and direction by Michael Mayer (7/7-82/09, Eisenhower)

METRO STAGE

1201 N. Royal St.
Alexandria, Va.
703-548-9044
www.metrostage.org

Pearl Bailey...By Request -- In this new tribute, actor/singer Roz White, accompanied by a four-piece band, becomes Pearl Bailey as the audience is transported to a late-1940s nightspot (10/16-11/9)
· Isn't It Romantic -- Jimi Ray Malary performs from the songbooks of Jerome Kern, Rodgers & Hart and George & Ira Gershwin (11/20-12/21)
· Cool Papa's Party -- A 20th century musical odyssey through the eyes of the ''last great American hipster.'' Book and lyrics by Thomas W. Jones II. Original music by William Knowles (1/29-3/8/09)
· HEROES -- Three soldiers in a Parisian veterans' home pass the time with tales that are at once achingly funny and piercingly sad. Written by Gerald Sibleyras. Translated by Tom Stoppard. Directed by John Vreeke (4/22-5/17/09)

NATIONAL THEATRE

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

West Side Story -- A new production, directed by two-time Tony Award-winning librettist Arthur Laurents, featuring a restaging of the original Jerome Robbins choreography (12/15-1/17/09)
· A Chorus Line -- The singular sensation (3/10-3/22/09)
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OLNEY THEATRE CENTER

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

The Underpants -- Steve Martin brings his comic genius to this outrageous look at politics, sex and feminism. Directed by John Going (9/24-10/19)
· Peter Pan -- The Musical -- Yes, there's flying. Lots of flying. And fairy dust. Which is pretty much what accumulates underneath all of our beds, right boys? (11/19-1/4/09)
· Is He Dead? -- Authored by Mark Twain in 1897, this play was recently discovered and updated by David Ives. Jean-Francois Millet is a brilliant but unrecognized artist who can't sell a painting to save his life. With the help of his madcap bohemian friends, Jean decides to stage his own demise to revive sales. However, in order to keep an eye on his success, he re-emerges as his imaginary twin sister (2/11-3/8/09)
· King of the Jews -- This world premiere by Leslie Epstein explores the excruciating moral dilemma of the Judenrat, the group of Jewish officials in the ghettos of Europe who were forced to collaborate with the Nazis (3/18-4/19/09)
· Call of the Wild -- A musical based on the works of Jack London (4/8-5/3/09)
· The Millionairess -- George Bernard Shaw's comedy about class, sex and power. Directed by John Going (6/10-6/28/09)
· The Glass Menagerie -- The Tennessee Williams classic. Directed by Jim Petosa (6/24-7/26/09)
· Waste -- A play that has caused controversy

since its early-20th century release (it was banned in England by the Lord Chamberlain) (8/5-8/30/09)
· Night Must Fall -- A wickedly charming and attractive young man is hired as a live-in companion for an ailing woman residing in a small Essex town with her niece. When the news of a local murder is revealed, the alluring stranger becomes increasingly suspicious (9/23-10/18/09)
· Camelot -- The irresistible musical by Lerner & Loewe features the enduring ''If Ever I Would Leave You'' (11/18/09-1/3/10)

ROUND HOUSE THEATRE BETHESDA

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

How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents -- A sexy, sensual and wildly theatrical adaptation of Julia Alvarez's acclaimed best-selling novel (9/17-10/12)
· Alice -- Lewis Carroll's beloved story comes to life in an inventive, magical new production adapted and directed by Mary Hall Surface (11/26-12/28)
· Eurydice -- In an emotionally powerful yet funny play, Sarah Ruhl (The Clean House) retells the myth of Orpheus from the perspective of his beloved Eurydice. Starring Mitchell Hébert (2/4-3/1/09)
· One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest -- Playing crazy to avoid prison work detail, the brash Randle P. McMurphy is sent to the state mental hospital for evaluation. Gleefully rebellious, he wins friends among the inmates and instigates insurrections against the tyrannical Nurse Ratched. Jerry Whiddon directs (4/1-4/26/09)
· A Sleeping Country -- Gregg Henry directs the area premiere of Melanie Marnich's humorous but poignant play about facing one's fears and knowing the difference between not sleeping and being truly awake (5/27-6/21/09)

ROUND HOUSE THEATRE SILVER SPRING

8641 Colesville Rd.
Silver Spring, Md.
240-644-1100
www.roundhousetheatre.org

The X-Plays Edition 7: Decision '08 -- An evening of short political plays based on the prevailing issues and events of one of the most consequential presidential races in recent history (11/1-11/2)
· Perfect/Finite -- Helen Hayes Award-winner Will Gartshore assembles an hour-long musical scrapbook of unforgettable moments, missed opportunities and temporary thrills (11/10 & 11/17)
· Cautionary Tales for Adults and The Many Adventures of Trixie Tickles -- Two unconventional mini-musicals: First, an unhinged librarian teaches several unsuspecting adults about the injustices of life. Next, a high-strung children's TV star learns her own valuable lessons -- like ''being pretty is all that matters'' (11/28-11/30)
· Tooth of Crime -- Taffety Punk exploits Sam Shepard's play about a rock star/mob boss/political pawn (1/13-1/25/09)
· Dracula -- Directed, designed and performed by area high school students (3/13-3/22/09)

SHAKESPEARE THEATRE COMPANY

202-547-1122
www.shakespearetheatre.org

Romeo and Juliet -- David Muse stages this poetic masterwork as Shakespeare would have, with men playing all of the roles (now-10/12, Harman Hall, 610 F St. NW)
· The Way of the World -- William Congreve's comedy of manners sends up courtship and marriage. Michael Kahn directs one of the finest comedies of the Restoration era, with an all-star cast including Veanne Cox, Floyd King, Andrew Long and Nancy Robinette (9/30-11/16, Lansburgh Theatre, 450 Seventh St. NW)
· Twelfth Night -- A shipwreck separates twins Viola and Sebastian, but tragedy quickly turns to comedy when they wash up in a land turned upside-down by love. Rebecca Bayla Taichman directs (12/2-1/4/09, Harman Hall)
· The Dog in the Manger -- A master of Spain's Golden Age, Lope de Vega explores love, fidelity and class with wry humor. Directed by Jonathan Munby (2/10-3/29/09, Lansburgh)
· Ion -- Greek playwright Euripides crafts a remarkable romance of loss and reconciliation. Euripides' plot twists and turns with jealousy and revenge before culminating in a reunion scene of deep tenderness and pathos. Directed by Ethan McSweeny (3/10-4/12/09, Harman Hall)
· Design for Living -- Filled with Coward's trademark sparkling wit, the comedy follows three glamorous bohemians as they fall in and out of love with each other. Michael Kahn directs (5/12-6/28/09, Lansburgh)
· King Lear -- Tony Award-winner Robert Falls directs Stacy Keach in the title role of this, the greatest of all Shakespearean tragedies (6/16-7/19/09, Harman Hall)

SIGNATURE THEATRE

4200 Campbell Ave.
Arlington, Va.
703-820-9771
www.sig-online.org

Ace -- A tale of triumph, transcendence, humor and heart as seen through the prism of a child's eyes. Music and lyrics by Robert Taylor and Richard Oberacker. Directed by Eric Schaeffer (now-9/28, The Max)
· The Lieutenant of Inishmore -- Martin McDonagh's witty, ironic and wild look at the hypocrisy of violence. Directed by Jeremy Skidmore (9/23-11/16, The Ark)
· The Little Dog Laughed -- Holly Twyford stars in this risqué comedy from Douglas Carter Beane (To Wong Foo...). The story follows the adventures of a movie star who could make it big if it weren't for one teensy-weensy problem -- his hard-driving agent can't seem to keep him in the closet (1/13-3/8/09, The Ark)
· See What I Wanna See -- A musical about lust, greed, murder, faith and redemption, the show is based on three short stories that unfold like a Japanese screen painting. Music and lyrics by Michael John LaChiusa. Directed by Matthew Gardiner (4/7-5/31/09, The Ark)
· Giant -- Adapted from the American classic by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Edna Ferber (Showboat). Epic in vision and scope, swept with passion and violence, touched by humor and sorrow, it's the powerful story of a Texas rancher and his Virginia-born wife as they face increasing challenges in their marriage and family. Music and lyrics by Michael John LaChiusa. Directed by Eric Schaeffer (4/28-5/31/09, The Max)

STUDIO THEATRE

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

The Road to Mecca -- Athol Fugard's drama about art and adversity. Starring Tana Hicken and Holly Twyford. Directed by Joy Zinoman (now-10/12, Mead Theatre)
· Grey Gardens -- Behind the closed doors of a dilapidated mansion, alongside 50 cats and piles of rubbish, live two bizarre and beautiful women who just happen to be the cousins of a Kennedy. Directed by Serge Seiden (11/12-12/21, Metheny Theatre)
· Blackbird -- David Muse directs this drama by Scottish playwright David Harrower (12/3-12/21, Milton Theatre)
· The Seafarer -- Four Irish mates play a Christmas Eve poker game with the devil. By Conor McPherson. Starring Edward Gero, Philip Goodwin and Floyd King (1/14-2/22/09, Mead)
· Stoop Stories -- Gifted writer and performer Dael Orlandersmith comes to Washington to premiere her latest solo show (3/20-4/5/09, Milton)
· Rock'N'Roll -- Master playwright Tom Stoppard takes a tender, imaginary journey through the life he might have led if he had returned to his native Czechoslovakia. Starring Ted van Griethuysen. Directed by Joy Zinoman (4/22-5/31/09, Metheny)
· Radio Golf -- The culmination of August Wilson's ambitious 10-play cycle covering every decade of the 20th century (5/20-6/28/09, Mead)
· The Year of Magical Thinking -- After the death of her husband and daughter, Joan Didion distilled her grief into an astonishing memoir. Her adaptation of that razor-sharp work features a single actress and Didion's unforgettable prose (6/17-7/5/09, Milton)

STUDIO SECONDSTAGE

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

A Beautiful View -- Acclaimed playwright Daniel MacIvor direct his latest play, both a mysterious comedy and a powerful love story, following two women through their tumultuous, 30-year relationship (10/8-11/4, Stage 4)
· The Receptionist -- The lady behind the front desk goes from cheery to chilling in Adam Bock's surreal and hilarious comedy (2/25-3/22/09, Stage 4)
· Fucking A -- A bloody, modern riff on The Scarlet Letter, as only Suzan-Lori Parks could do it -- with wicked poetry, biting comic songs and unforgettable style. Directed by Keith Alan Baker (7/15-8/9/09, Stage 4)

SYNETIC THEATER

The Rosslyn Spectrum
1611 N. Kent St.
Arlington, Va.
703-824-8060
www.synetictheater.org

Host and Guest -- Two men, one Muslim and one Christian, befriend each other despite their cultures' long-standing hatred (9/26-11/9, Rosslyn Spectrum)
· Dante's Divine Commedy -- Delving into the core of Dante's original work, this modern retelling will bring the Italian classic to life in a way never seen before (2/6-3/21/09, Spectrum)
· Lysistrata -- Synetic brings its unique blend of movement, dance, text and music to Aristophanes' political satire (4/9-4/26, Spectrum)
· A Midsummer Night's Dream -- Synetic's fourth installment of its ''Silent Shakespeare Series'' (5/28-6/15/09, Kennedy Center)

THEATRE J

1529 16th St. NW
202-777-3210
www.theaterj.org

· Without You I'm Nothing -- Twenty years later, Sandra Bernhard's diatribe on the state of modern culture still burns bright and smart (now-9/28)
· Honey Brown Eyes -- In two kitchens, two soldiers recover a little of what they've lost during the war. A world premiere by Stefanie Zadravec (10/22-11/30)
· Sholom Alecheim: Laughter Through Tears -- A world-premiere play with music written and performed by Theodore Bikel (12/17-1/11/09)
· The Accident -- A fatal accident leaves a Chinese foreign worker dead and no one to accept responsibility (2/4-3/8/09)
· Dai (Enough) -- In her one-woman show, Iris Bahr (Curb Your Enthusiasm) presents a colorful world of a Tel Aviv café and the lives of 11 inhabitants from every strata of Israeli society only minutes before a terrible calamity (1/14-1/18/09)
· The Rise and Fall of Annie Hall -- A hungry librettist has a great idea and the moxie to pull it off. But complications ensue as he betrays his loved ones securing the rights to Woody Allen's famous film (4/16-5/24/09)
· The Seagull on 16th Street -- D.C.'s 16th Street provides the setting for a journey back to the Russian countryside in Chekhov's tale of love and loss. Starring Alexander Strain, Naomi Jacobson, Jerry Whiddon and J. Fred Shiffman. Directed by John Vreeke (6/17-7/19/09)

WARNER THEATRE

513 13th St. NW
202-783-4000
www.warnertheatre.com

· Tyler Perry's The Marriage Counselor -- The story of how, in the end, ''love conquers all'' (or makes you smarter). Starring Palmer Williams Jr., A.T. Grayson, Tony Grant and Tamar Davis (9/16-9/21)
· Menopause The Musical -- Set in a department store where four women meet by chance, Jeanie Linders' musical includes 25 re-lyricized tunes from the '60s and '70s and culminates with a salute to women who are experiencing The Change (9/24)
· The Wizard of Oz -- A spectacular celebration of the iconic 1939 MGM film, this elaborate stage production comes complete with munchkins and flying monkeys (12/2-12/7)
· Avenue Q -- Sesame Street for adults. The 2004 Tony Award winner for Best Musical returns, puppets intact (2/10-2/15/09)
· A Bronx Tale -- Chazz Palminteri brings 18 characters to vivid life in this gripping tale of a rough childhood on the Bronx streets. The one-man show, based on the movie, is directed by four-time Tony Award-winner Jerry Zaks (2/24-3/8/09)
· Jesus Christ Superstar -- Ted Neely, who originated the role of Jesus on Broadway and played him as well in the movie version, returns in this new revival of the Andrew Lloyd Webber classic (3/17-3/22/09)
· Rent -- Jonathan Larson's bohemian musical hit may have recently closed on Broadway, but it's still traveling the country -- and with two of the original Broadway cast members: Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp (5/26-5/31/09)

WASHINGTON SHAKESPEARE CO.

601 S. Clark St.
Arlington, Va.
703-418-4808
www.washingtonshakespeare.org

· PEACE -- A Tennessee landowner rides a hot-air balloon to Mt. Olympus only to find the place trashed by War, who has declared Peace an enemy combatant (now-9/28)
· All's Well that Ends Well -- Joe Banno directs the frothy Shakespearean comedy (11/6-12/7)
· The Cherry Orchard -- Chekhov's masterpiece is the last play to be performed in WSC's home for 13 seasons, The Clark Street Playhouse (1/15-2/15/09)
· Small Craft Warnings -- A rarely performed classic by Tennessee Williams, the play is set in a bar -- and in this case, will take place in an actual bar in Adams Morgan. Directed by Jay Hardee (4/9-5/10, Chief Ike's Mambo Room, 1725 Columbia Rd. NW)

WOOLLY MAMMOTH

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

Maria/Stuart -- Jason Grote's comedy features company members Naomi Jacobson and Sarah Marshall (now-9/14)
· MacHOMER -- Virtuosic performer Rick Miller delivers 85 percent of the Bard's original text of Macbeth delivered by over 50 familiar voices from The Simpsons (10/8-10/12)
· Boom -- A grad student's personal ad lures a randy journalism coed to his subterranean lab, where he studies fish sleep cycles for signs of the apocalypse. Starring Sarah Marshall and Kimberly Gilbert (11/3-11/30)
· Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind -- An underground Chicago favorite, this long-running late-night hit returns to Woolly with brand new material. The eccentric Neo-Futurists race against the clock to perform 30 miniature plays in 60 minutes (12/15-1/4/09)
· Hell Meets Henry Halfway -- The famed Pig Iron Theatre Company of Philadelphia transforms a gothic mystery into an orgiastic celebration of nihilism (2/2-3/1/09)
· Antebellum -- The romance of Hollywood movies and Berlin cabarets collides with history's harshest cruelties as a forbidden love transcends the bounds of time, race and religion. By Robert O'Hara. Directed by Chay Yew (3/30-4/26/09)
· Fever/Dream -- Howard Shalwitz directs a cast including Kimberly Gilbert, Michael Willis and Kate Eastwood Norris in a raucous reinvention of Pedro Calderón de la Barca's Life is a Dream (6/1-6/28/09)

WASHINTON IMPROV THEATER

Source
1835 14th St. NW
202-315-1318
www.washingtonimprovtheater.com

· POTUS Among Us (now-9/27)
· Seasonal Disorder -- Skewering the holidays (12/4-12/27)

COMMUNITY THEATERS

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THE ARLINGTON PLAYERS

3501 Second St. S.
Arlington, Va.
703-549-1063
www.thearlingtonplayers.org

· A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum -- Sondheim's Roman romp (now-10/4)
· Cat on a Hot Tin Roof -- The Tennessee Williams classic (1/30-2/14/09)
· Follies -- Sondheim's epic musical masterpiece (4/17-5/2/09)

THE FOUNDRY PLAYERS

1500 16th St. NW
202-332-3454
www.foundryplayers.com

The Heidi Chronicles -- Wendy Wasserstein's masterpiece (11/7-11/23)
· The Odyssey -- Rick Chafe's adaptation of Homer's epic poem includes many of the same characters from the classic, but the language and storytelling techniques are updated (2/13-3/1/09)
· Rabbit Hole -- Winner of the 2007 Pulitzer Prize for Best Drama, David Lindsay-Abaire's play tells the story of a family who must move on after the loss of their 4-year-old (5/1-5/17/09)

SILVER SPRING STAGE

10145 Colesville Rd.
Silver Spring, Md.
301-593-6036
www.ssstage.org

· Dinner with Friends -- Finding out why marriages and relationships work is explored in this warm and moving Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Donald Margulies (9/26-10/19)
· Third -- A feminist professor seeks to find out whether a jock student plagiarized a paper. By Wendy Wasserstein (11/7-11/30)
· Arms and the Man -- George Bernard Shaw's satirical anti-war play (1/9-2/1/09)
· A Bad Friend -- Set in the 1950s McCarthy era, the theme of finding one's own true voice and civil rights echoes as strongly as ever in Jules Feiffer's play (2/20-3/15/09)
· columbinus -- The 1999 massacre at Columbine High School finds this provocative exploration of alienation and social pressure America's high schools by Stephen Karam and P.J. Paparelli (4/3-4/26)
· As Bees in Honey Drown -- Douglas Carter Beane's comic romp (5/15-6/7/09)
· The Mousetrap -- Agatha Christie's eternally-popular murder mystery (6/26-7/26/09)

RESTON PLAYERS

2310 Colts Neck Rd.
Reston, Va.
703-476-4500
www.restonplayers.org

Forbidden Broadway -- Gerard Alessandrini's hilarious send-up of Broadway musicals (11/8-11/23)
· Brooklyn Boy -- With poignant, sparkling dialogue, the Pulitzer Prize-winning Donald Margulies spins a tale of a writer, who finds his newfound celebrity tinged with loneliness (1/23-2/7/09)
· The Full Monty -- Reston bares it all with this musical hit featuring a book by Terrence McNally (3/6-3/28/09)
· Laughing Stock -- A ''virtuoso farce'' and truly affectionate look at what genuinely holds a theater company together. By Charles Morey (5/1-5/16/09)