For 'Judas' Actors, a Rewarding Trial

Two years ago, the university's own drama program had grown so much larger and busier that there was not enough theater space left for non-student productions. So, except for its brief First Light Festival readings of new plays each year, TFA has been dark.

Now, First Light has been folded into the Mason Festival and will feature "Dirty Pictures" by D.W. Gregory, about a physically challenged woman in love with her boss, and "Death of the Fourth Estate" by Kerry Gildea, in which two aging journalists recall the 1960s.

The first local production of "Mariela in the Desert" by Karen Zacarias ("The Book Club Play," "The Sins of Sor Juana") will be directed by Nick Olcott. The Washington-based Zacarias has revised the play and restored cuts made in Chicago, where it had its world premiere in 2005 at the Goodman Theatre. Set in Mexico in the age of Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo, "Mariela" is a meditation on giving one's life to one's art, or at least to one's spouse, the artist.

"Two-Bit Taj Mahal," by TFA founder and George Mason professor Paul D'Andrea, will be staged by Heather McDonald. Inspired by a real-life crime, it is about townsfolk who conspire to murder the local bully, even as he seems about to be transformed by love.

In addition, actors hired and rehearsed by TFA will appear with the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra in "Ellis Island: The Dream of America" performing excerpts from the Ellis Island Oral History Project. On June 21, marathoners can see "Love's Comedy," an opera with a libretto by TFA Artistic Director Rick Davis and a score by Kim D. Sherman, plus just about everything theatrical in the festival. "The real die-hards could put in a 12-hour day if they wanted to," Murray says.

Although he thinks "this summer festival is going to be TFA's life for a while," Murray and Davis have hopes of more. Davis, who is a vice provost at George Mason's College of Visual and Performing Arts, expects the new theatrical venues in the Washington area to have a positive effect in Fairfax. "The thing that drives theater construction is civic pride," he says.

Ever the practical managing director, Murray adds: "In order to be sustainable, we need 400 seats-plus. We need a real theater space."

"Our goal is to eventually return to a season of plays," he says. ". . . But right now, we just want to get back in the game."

Follow Spot

· Arena Stage will hold a free open house and season preview May 30 at 7:30 to acquaint theatergoers with its second temporary venue, at the Lincoln Theatre on U Street NW. The company already is using space in Crystal City during renovation of its Southwest building. Artistic Director Molly Smith will take questions and present staged readings. Call 202-488-3300 to reserve seats.