Round House Theatre

By Michael O'Sullivan
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, Sept. 11, 2009

Performing out of its six-year-old theater in downtown Bethesda, Round House features a 400-seat space notable for its wide stage (best viewed, for lovers of good set design, from the balcony). The satellite black box in Silver Spring is, according to artistic director Blake Robison, a "community arts center that we curate on behalf of the community." (Look for resident-company Forum Theatre's ambitious two-part "Angels in America," opening there Oct. 4.) Known for often provocative adaptations of literary works, Round House can't be dismissed as a purveyor of bland, suburban entertainment, Robison says. "We are not a comfort-food theater."

Where to eat? Bethesda is awash with restaurants, but the nearby RiRa Irish Pub (301-657-1122; http://www.rira.com) and the Daily Grill are favorites with the theater's actors and staff (301-656-6100; http://www.dailygrill.com).

Concession-stand fare: Limited fare: sweet and savory snacks; nonalcoholic drinks.

Tickets: $25 to $60.

Getting there: The Bethesda main stage is one block from the Bethesda Metro station. Theater parking is also available for $4 in an underground garage (entrance on Waverly Street, across from the theater) with direct elevator access to the theater.

Season spotlight: Washington-born playwright Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa's modernized -- and surprisingly racy -- adaptation of Oscar Wilde's 1891 novel "The Picture of Dorian Gray" (through Oct. 4) is "a classic example of what we do best," Robison says.