Community Guides
On Stage: Performance Venues, Theaters and Theater Companies Around the Region
Thursday, April 26, 2007; Page T40
Performance Venues
Center for the Arts
George Mason University
Route 123 and Braddock Road
Fairfax 22030
703-993-8888
Fax: 703-993-8650
The center offers music, theater and dance by local and internationally recognized performers.
Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center
University of Maryland
Route 193 (University Boulevard)
and Stadium Drive
College Park 20742
301-405-2787
http:/
This 318,000-square-foot performing arts center on the campus of the University of Maryland features six performance halls that vary in size from a 100-seat laboratory theater to a 1,100-seat concert hall. It is home to the university's School of Music and the theater and dance departments, and it hosts performances by world-renowned artists in chamber and early music, world music, jazz, dance and theater. Community artists and schoolchildren are also featured in the center's programs and performances.
Mansion at Strathmore
10701 Rockville Pike
North Bethesda 20852
301-581-5200
Part of the Montgomery County-sponsored Strathmore arts center, situated on a Beltway-accessible 11-acre expanse on Rockville Pike in North Bethesda. The Mansion houses a 100-seat "acoustically superb" music room, exhibition spaces, an outdoor concert pavilion and sculpture gardens, a tea room and gift shop.
Merriweather Post Pavilion
10475 Little Patuxent Pkwy.
Columbia 21044
410-715-5550
Fax: 410-715-5560
http:/
An outdoor concert venue designed into a 40-acre woodland setting by architect Frank Gehry. It is midway between Washington and Baltimore. Lawn and pavilion seating can accommodate an audience of more than 15,000.
Music Center at Strathmore
5301 Tuckerman Lane
North Bethesda 20852
301-581-5100
A 1,976-seat concert hall and education center. Performances include nationally known acts playing folk, blues, pop, jazz, show tunes and classical music. Resident artistic partner organizations (BSO, WPAS, National Philharmonic, Strathmore Presents, Levine School of Music, CityDance Ensemble and the Maryland Classic Youth Orchestra) present performances in the Concert Hall and classes in the Education Center.
Nissan Pavilion
7800 Cellar Door Dr.
Bristow 20136
703-754-6400
The performing arts venue has a capacity of 25,000.
Patriot Center at George Mason University
4500 Patriot Circle
Fairfax 22030
703-993-3000
The 10,000-seat arena hosts GMU basketball games, commencement ceremonies, performances and special events.
Round House Theatre Bethesda
4545 East West Highway
Bethesda 20814
240-644-1100
Fax: 240-644-1101
roundhouse@roundhousetheatre.org
http:/
A 400-seat theater in downtown Bethesda featuring premieres, current works and contemporary adaptations of the classics, with emphasis on literature-based, language-rich plays. The Round House also offers student matinees, a theater school, an arts day camp and other programs.
Verizon Center
601 F St. NW
Washington 20004
202-628-3200
Home of the National Basketball Association's Washington Wizards, the National Hockey League's Washington Capitals, the Women's National Basketball Association's Washington Mystics and college basketball's Georgetown Hoyas. Hosts other sporting events, concerts and family shows.
Wolf Trap Foundation
For the Performing Arts
1645 Trap Rd.
Vienna 22182
Ticket sales: 877-965-3872
Information: 703-255-1900
The Wolf Trap Foundation presents a full range of performing arts and arts-in-education programs, including the Wolf Trap Opera Company and the Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning Through the Arts and includes two performance spaces, the Filene Center, at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, and the Barns at Wolf Trap.
Theaters and Theater Companies
Arena Stage
1101 Sixth St. SW
Washington 20024
Box office: 202-488-3300
Administration: 202-554-9066
TTY: 202-484-0247
Arena Stage specializes in American theater. Two main stages include the Fichandler Stage, with 816 seats, and the Kreeger Theater, which has 514 seats.
Carter Barron Amphitheatre
Rock Creek Park
16th Street and Colorado Avenue NW
Washington 20011
202-426-0486
Tickets: 202-397-7328
http:/
The National Park Service owns this outdoor venue for the performing arts.
DAR Constitution Hall
1776 D St. NW
Washington 20006
202-628-1776
Box office: 202-638-2661
Events: 202-628-4780
http:/
The 1929 landmark building, which was constructed for the annual convention of the Daughters of the American Revolution, is the largest concert hall in the District, seating 3,700.
Ford's Theatre
511 10th St. NW
Washington 20004
Box office: 202-347-4833
Fax: 202-347-2561
Group sales: 202-638-2367
Group sales fax: 202-638-1001
Administration: 202-638-2941
Administration fax: 202-347-6269
Plays and musicals are still presented in this historic theater where President Abraham Lincoln was shot.
John F. Kennedy Center
For the Performing Arts
2700 F St. NW
Washington 20566
202-467-4600
800-444-1324
The Kennedy Center offers music, dance and theater and is home to the National Symphony Orchestra. Other affiliated groups include the Washington National Opera, Washington Performing Arts Society, Washington Ballet, Choral Arts Society of Washington, Master Chorale of Washington, Washington Chorus, Greater Washington Society of Association Executives, Vocal Arts Society and Young Concert Artists. Daily performances at 6 p.m. on the Millennium Stage are free.
Lincoln Theatre
1215 U St. NW
Washington 20009
202-328-6000
Tickets: 202-397-7328
http:/
Opened in 1922 as a theater for African American audiences, this restored 1,250-seat venue hosts a variety of performances.
Lisner Auditorium
George Washington University
730 21st St. NW
Washington 20052
202-994-6800
Fax: 202-994-6906
The 1,500-seat venue hosts music, theater and dance performances.
National Theatre
1321 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington 20004
202-628-6161
Tickets: 800-447-7400
http:/
This historic theater, seating 1,676, features music, stage productions and a summer cinema series.
Olney Theatre Center
2001 Olney-Sandy Spring Rd.
Olney 20832
Box office: 301-924-3400
Administrative offices: 301-924-4485
Fax: 301-924-2654
Offering 20th-century American classics, new works and interpretations of classics and musicals. In rural Montgomery County and accessible to theatergoers in Washington, Baltimore and Frederick.
The theater opened in July 1938 with summer-only productions and now presents shows year-round on four stages: New Mainstage, capacity 429; Historic Stage, capacity 445; Mulitz-Gudelsky Theatre Lab, capacity 150-200; and the outdoor Root Family Stage at Bill's Place, capacity 250.
Shakespeare Theatre
450 Seventh St. NW
Washington 20004
202-547-1122. Toll free: 877-487-8849
TTY: 202-638-3863
Fax: 202-638-3869
http:/
The 451-seat theater has a resident troupe.
Warner Theatre
1299 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Suite 111
Washington 20004
Ticketmaster: 202-397-7328
Fax: 202-783-0204
Theater: 202-783-4000
The theater, with a capacity of 1,847, offers performances by national and international recording artists as well as theatrical, dance and television presentations.
Children's Theater
Adventure Theatre
Glen Echo Park
7300 MacArthur Blvd.
Glen Echo 20812
301-320-5331
Fax: 301-320-3108
info@adventuretheatre.org
www.adventuretheatre.org
Since 1952, this organization has presented professional live theater, classes and theatrical arts workshops for children and families.
Classika Theatre
4041 S. 28th St.
Arlington 22206
703-824-6200
Fax: 703-824-4827
703-824-0660
classika@classika.org
www.classika.org
Productions are geared to family audiences, with the goal of involving children in theater arts at an early age. Studio is at 2788 S. Arlington Mill Dr., Suite 110.
Encore Stage & Studio
2515 N. Randolph St.
Arlington 22207
703-548-1154
info@encorestage.org
www.encorestage.org
This organization aims to introduce young people to all aspects of theater. Five performances a year produced by children and for children take place in the Children's Theatre. Young Actors Studio offers school-year classes and summer programs. Act III presents summer workshops for teenagers 15 and older, and for adults.
Imagination Stage
4908 Auburn Ave.
Bethesda 20814
301-961-6060
Box office: 301-280-1660
info@imaginationstage.org
www.imaginationstage.org
This family arts center provides professional theater and arts education for children.
Mount Vernon Community Children's Theatre
1900 Elkin St., Suite 210
Alexandria 22308
703-360-0686
Fax: 703-360-9722
mvcct@verizon.net
www.mvcct.org
Children's shows are performed at Carl Sandburg Middle School, 8428 Fort Hunt Rd., in the Alexandria area of Fairfax County.
Publick Playhouse
5445 Landover Rd.
Cheverly 20784
301-277-1710
TTY: 301-277-0312
www.pgparks.com/places/artsfac/publick.html
This county-owned theater offers performing arts for all ages as well as a monthly Saturday movie accompanied by live entertainment for children.
Puppet Co.
7300 MacArthur Blvd. (at Goldsboro Road)
Glen Echo 20812
301-320-6668
www.thepuppetco.org
Founded in 1983, this theater for children presents puppetry as an art form. Hand puppets, rod puppets, body puppets, marionettes and shadow puppets are used in fully staged productions.
