Charles County The Guide

Arts


Adventure Theatre
Glen Echo Park
7300 MacArthur Blvd.
7300 MacArthur Blvd.
Glen Echo, Md., 20812
301-320-5331 Fax: 301-320-3108
Email: adventuretheatre@starpower.net
Web site: www.adventuretheatre.org

Since 1952, this organization has presented professional live theater, classes and theatrical arts workshops, all for children and families.

Arena Stage
1101 Sixth St. SW
Washington, DC, 20024
Box office: 202-488-3300 Administration: 202-554-9066
Web site: www.arenastage.org

A longtime fixture on the Washington theater scene, Arena has three stages. The Fichandler Stage, Kreeger Theater and Old Vat Room have 816, 514 and 120 seats, respectively.

Carter Barron Amphitheatre
Rock Creek Park
16th Street and Colorado Avenue NW
16th Street and Colorado Avenue, NW
Washington, DC, 20011
202-426-0486 Tickets: 202-397-7328
Email: rocr_carter_barron@nps.gov
Web site: www.nps.gov/rocr/cbarron

The National Park Service owns this outdoor venue for the performing arts.

Center for the Arts
George Mason University
Route 123 and Braddock Road
George Mason University
Fairfax, Va., 22030
703-993-8888 Fax: 703-993-8650
Web site: www.gmu.edu/cfa/

The center offers music, theater and dance by local and internationally recognized performers.

Charles County Arts Alliance
Mail: PO Box 697
White Plains, Md. 20695
Office: 10250 La Plata Dr.
United Way Building
Mailing Address: PO Box 697
La Plata, Md., 20646
301-392-5900 Fax: 301-392-5698
Email: info@charlescountyarts.org
Web site: www.charlescountyarts.org

Office address: 10250 La Plata Dr., La Plata. Arts Alliance office hours: 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays.

Manages four galleries where artists display works: the Commissioners' Wing in the Charles County Government Building, the United Way House and the Richard R. Clark Senior Center, all in La Plata, and the offices of Morgan Stanley in Waldorf. Exhibitions are changed monthly.

Chesapeake Bay Floating Theatre
Indian Head Center for the Arts
PO Box 1098 (mail)
4185 Indian Head Hwy.
Indian Head, Md., 20640
301-743-3040
Email: info@floatingtheatre.org
Web site: www.floatingtheatre.org

An intimate 100-seat theater that re-creates the experience of the James Adams Floating Theatre, a barge that traversed the Chesapeake Bay in the early 1900s.The Indian Head theater company offers musical, comedy and dance productions as well as readings and other artistic endeavors, including outreach programs and theater labs.

Children's Theatre
2515 N. Randolph St.
Arlington, Va., 22207
703-548-1154
Email: info@encorestage.org
Web site: www.encorestage.org

This organization aims to introduce young people to all aspects of theater. It presents five perfomances a year produced by children, for children, and offers school-year classes and summer workshops for children and adults.

Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center
University of Maryland
Route 193 (University Boulevard)
and Stadium Drive
Route 193 (University Boulevard) and Stadium Drive
College Park, Md., 20742
301-405-2787
Web site: www.claricesmithcenter.umd.edu

This 318,000-square-foot performing arts center on the campus of the University of Maryland features six performance halls, which 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 Theatre 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.

Classika Theatre
4041 S. 28th St.
Arlington, Va., 22206
703-824-6200 Fax: 703-824-4827
Email: info@classika.org
Web site: www.classika.org

Productions are geared to family audiences, with the goal of involving children in theater arts at an early age.

DAR Constitution Hall
1776 D St. NW
Washington, DC, 20006
202-628-1776 Box office information: 202-638-2661
Web site: www.dar.org/conthall/default.cfm

This is the largest concert hall in the District. It is owned by the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Fine Arts Center
College of Southern Maryland
8730 Mitchell Rd.
8730 Mitchell Rd.
La Plata, Md., 20646
301-934-7828 301-870-3008
Email: BxOffc@csmd.edu

The center, on the La Plata campus of the College of Southern Maryland, hosts gallery exhibitions and stage productions.

Ford's Theatre
511 10th St. NW
Washington, D.C., 20004
Box office: 202-347-4833 Fax: 202-347-2561
Email: onstage@fordstheatre.org
Web site: www.fordstheatre.org

Plays and musicals are still presented in this historic theater where President Abraham Lincoln was shot.

Imagination Stage
4908 Auburn Ave.
Bethesda, Md., 20814
301-961-6060
Email: info@imaginationstage.org
Web site: www.imaginationstage.org

This family arts center provides professional theater and arts education for children.

John F. Kennedy Center
for the Performing Arts

2700 F St. NW
Washington, D.C., 20566
202-467-4600 800-444-1324
Web site: www.kennedy-center.org

The Kennedy center offers music, dance and theater performances and is home to the National Symphony Orchestra. Other affiliated groups include 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, Theater Chamber Players, Vocal Arts Society and Young Concert Artists. Daily performances on the Millennium Stage at 6 p.m. are free.

Lincoln Theatre
1215 U St. NW
Washington, D.C., 20009
202-328-6000 Tickets: 202-397-7328
Email: dbrown@thelincolntheatre.org
Web site: www.thelincolntheatre.org

Opened in 1922 as a theater and performance hall for African American audiences and now renovated and restored, it is a 1,250-seat venue that hosts a variety of performances.

Lisner Auditorium
George Washington University
730 21st St. NW
730 21st St. NW
Washington, D.C., 20052
202-994-6800 Fax: 202-994-6906
Email: lisner@gwu.edu
Web site: www.lisner.org

The 1,500-seat venue hosts music, theater and dance performances.

Mansion at Strathmore
10701 Rockville Pike
North Bethesda, Md., 20852
301-581-5200
Web site: www.strathmore.org

Part of the Montgomery County-sponsored Strathmore arts center, situated on a Beltway-accessible 11-acre expanse in Rockville. 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.

Mattawoman Creek Art Center
Smallwood State Park
Off Route 224
Off Route 224
Marbury, Md., 20658
301-743-5159
Web site: www.mattawomanart.org

Gallery offers monthly exhibitions and studio rentals and has a gift shop. Normal operating hours: 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Fridays through Sundays. Admission is free.

Merriweather Post Pavilion
10475 Little Patuxent Pkwy.
Columbia, Md., 21044
410-715-5550
Email: info@merriweathermusic.com
Web site: www.merriweathermusic.com

An outdoor concert venue designed into a 40-acre woodland setting by architect Frank Gehry. It is located midway between Washington and Baltimore. Lawn and pavilion seating can accomodate an audience of more than 15,000.

Mount Vernon Community Children's Theatre
1900 Elkin St., Suite 270
Alexandria, Va., 22308
703-360-0686
Web site: www.mvcct.org

Children's shows are performed at Carl Sandburg Middle School, 8428 Fort Hunt Rd., in the Alexandria area of Fairfax County.

Music Center at Strathmore
5301 Tuckerman Lane
North Bethesda, Md., 20852
240-581-5100
Web site: www.strathmore.org

A 1,976-seat concert hall and education center. Perfomances include national acts playing folk, blues, pop, jazz, show tunes and classical music. Its six 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.

National Theatre
1321 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, D.C., 20004
202-628-6161 Tickets: 800-447-7400
Email: dbm@nationaltheatre.org
Web site: www.nationaltheatre.org

This historic theater features music, stage productions and a summer cinema series.

Olney Theatre Center
2001 Olney-Sandy Spring Rd.
Olney, Md., 20832
Box office: 301-924-3400 Administrative offices: 301-924-4485
Web site: www.olneytheatre.org

Offering 20th century American classics, new works, and reinterpretations of classics and musicals. Located in rural Montgomery County and accessible to theatergoers in Washington, Baltimore and Frederick.
The Olney Theatre opened in July of 1938 with summer-only productions, and is now significantly expanded, presenting shows year-round on four stages: The New Mainstage, capacity 429; The Historic Mainstage, capacity 445; the Mulitz-Gudelsky Theatre Lab, capacity 150-200; and the outdoor Root Family Stage at Bill's Place, capacity 250.

Port Tobacco Players
PO Box 2030
La Plata, Md., 20646
301-932-6819 Fax: 301-934-6813
Email: info@ptplayers.com
Web site: www.ptplayers.com

The community theater troupe performs five to seven shows on the main stage in downtown La Plata and many road productions with its Encore and Encore Kids touring companies. The Port Tobacco Players Theater at 508 E. Charles St. in La Plata recently completed the first phase of a long-term renovation and expansion project.

Publick Playhouse
5445 Landover Rd.
Cheverly, Md., 20784
301-277-1710 TTY: 301-277-0312
Web site: www.pgparks.com/places/artsfac/publick.html#movies

This county-owned theater offers a variety of performing arts for all ages as well as a monthly Saturday movie with live entertainment for children.

Puppet Co.
7300 MacArthur Blvd.
Glen Echo, Md., 20812
301-320-6668
Web site: 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.

Round House Theatre Bethesda
4545 East-West Highway
Bethesda, Md., 20814
240-644-1100 Fax: 240-644-1090
Email: roundhouse@roundhousetheatre.org
Web site: www.roundhousetheatre.org

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, arts day camp and other programs.

Shakespeare Theatre
450 Seventh St. NW
Washington, D.C., 20004
202-547-1122 TTY: 202-638-3863
Web site: www.shakespearetheatre.org

The theater has a resident troupe.

Southern Maryland Concert Band
PO Box 2595
Waldorf, Md., 20604
571-633-9180
Web site: www.geocities.com/Vienna/2102/

An all-volunteer, nonprofit, community-based ensemble of adult and student instrumentalists dedicated to performing concert-quality band music for audiences in Southern Maryland.

Warner Theatre
1299 Pennsylvania Ave. NW Suite 111
Washington, D.C., 20004
Ticketmaster: 202-397-7328 Fax: 202-783-0204
Email: admin@warnertheatre.com
Web site: www.warnertheatre.com

The theater offers performances by national and international recording artists as well as theatrical, dance and television presentations.

Wolf Trap National Park
for the Performing Arts

1551 Trap Rd.
Vienna, Va., 22182
Ticket sales: 877-WOLFTRAP Information: 703-255-1900
Web site: www.wolftrap.org

Wolf Trap is a national park for the performing arts.

Arts Organizations

Adventure Theatre
Glen Echo Park
7300 MacArthur Blvd.
7300 MacArthur Blvd.
Glen Echo, Md., 20812
301-320-5331 Fax: 301-320-3108
Email: adventuretheatre@starpower.net
Web site: www.adventuretheatre.org

Since 1952, this organization has presented professional live theater, classes and theatrical arts workshops, all for children and families.

Imagination Stage
4908 Auburn Ave.
Bethesda, Md., 20814
301-961-6060
Email: info@imaginationstage.org
Web site: www.imaginationstage.org

This family arts center provides professional theater and arts education for children.

Puppet Co.
7300 MacArthur Blvd.
Glen Echo, Md., 20812
301-320-6668
Web site: 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.

Music

Southern Maryland Concert Band
PO Box 2595
Waldorf, Md., 20604
571-633-9180
Web site: www.geocities.com/Vienna/2102/

An all-volunteer, nonprofit, community-based ensemble of adult and student instrumentalists dedicated to performing concert-quality band music for audiences in Southern Maryland.

Performance Venues

Center for the Arts
George Mason University
Route 123 and Braddock Road
George Mason University
Fairfax, Va., 22030
703-993-8888 Fax: 703-993-8650
Web site: www.gmu.edu/cfa/

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
Route 193 (University Boulevard) and Stadium Drive
College Park, Md., 20742
301-405-2787
Web site: www.claricesmithcenter.umd.edu

This 318,000-square-foot performing arts center on the campus of the University of Maryland features six performance halls, which 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 Theatre 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, Md., 20852
301-581-5200
Web site: www.strathmore.org

Part of the Montgomery County-sponsored Strathmore arts center, situated on a Beltway-accessible 11-acre expanse in Rockville. 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, Md., 21044
410-715-5550
Email: info@merriweathermusic.com
Web site: www.merriweathermusic.com

An outdoor concert venue designed into a 40-acre woodland setting by architect Frank Gehry. It is located midway between Washington and Baltimore. Lawn and pavilion seating can accomodate an audience of more than 15,000.

Music Center at Strathmore
5301 Tuckerman Lane
North Bethesda, Md., 20852
240-581-5100
Web site: www.strathmore.org

A 1,976-seat concert hall and education center. Perfomances include national acts playing folk, blues, pop, jazz, show tunes and classical music. Its six 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.

Publick Playhouse
5445 Landover Rd.
Cheverly, Md., 20784
301-277-1710 TTY: 301-277-0312
Web site: www.pgparks.com/places/artsfac/publick.html#movies

This county-owned theater offers a variety of performing arts for all ages as well as a monthly Saturday movie with live entertainment for children.

Round House Theatre Bethesda
4545 East-West Highway
Bethesda, Md., 20814
240-644-1100 Fax: 240-644-1090
Email: roundhouse@roundhousetheatre.org
Web site: www.roundhousetheatre.org

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, arts day camp and other programs.

Wolf Trap National Park
for the Performing Arts

1551 Trap Rd.
Vienna, Va., 22182
Ticket sales: 877-WOLFTRAP Information: 703-255-1900
Web site: www.wolftrap.org

Wolf Trap is a national park for the performing arts.

Theater Companies

Children's Theatre
2515 N. Randolph St.
Arlington, Va., 22207
703-548-1154
Email: info@encorestage.org
Web site: www.encorestage.org

This organization aims to introduce young people to all aspects of theater. It presents five perfomances a year produced by children, for children, and offers school-year classes and summer workshops for children and adults.

Classika Theatre
4041 S. 28th St.
Arlington, Va., 22206
703-824-6200 Fax: 703-824-4827
Email: info@classika.org
Web site: www.classika.org

Productions are geared to family audiences, with the goal of involving children in theater arts at an early age.

Theater Troupes

Chesapeake Bay Floating Theatre
Indian Head Center for the Arts
PO Box 1098 (mail)
4185 Indian Head Hwy.
Indian Head, Md., 20640
301-743-3040
Email: info@floatingtheatre.org
Web site: www.floatingtheatre.org

An intimate 100-seat theater that re-creates the experience of the James Adams Floating Theatre, a barge that traversed the Chesapeake Bay in the early 1900s.The Indian Head theater company offers musical, comedy and dance productions as well as readings and other artistic endeavors, including outreach programs and theater labs.

Port Tobacco Players
PO Box 2030
La Plata, Md., 20646
301-932-6819 Fax: 301-934-6813
Email: info@ptplayers.com
Web site: www.ptplayers.com

The community theater troupe performs five to seven shows on the main stage in downtown La Plata and many road productions with its Encore and Encore Kids touring companies. The Port Tobacco Players Theater at 508 E. Charles St. in La Plata recently completed the first phase of a long-term renovation and expansion project.

Theaters and Theater Companies

Arena Stage
1101 Sixth St. SW
Washington, DC, 20024
Box office: 202-488-3300 Administration: 202-554-9066
Web site: www.arenastage.org

A longtime fixture on the Washington theater scene, Arena has three stages. The Fichandler Stage, Kreeger Theater and Old Vat Room have 816, 514 and 120 seats, respectively.

Carter Barron Amphitheatre
Rock Creek Park
16th Street and Colorado Avenue NW
16th Street and Colorado Avenue, NW
Washington, DC, 20011
202-426-0486 Tickets: 202-397-7328
Email: rocr_carter_barron@nps.gov
Web site: www.nps.gov/rocr/cbarron

The National Park Service owns this outdoor venue for the performing arts.

DAR Constitution Hall
1776 D St. NW
Washington, DC, 20006
202-628-1776 Box office information: 202-638-2661
Web site: www.dar.org/conthall/default.cfm

This is the largest concert hall in the District. It is owned by the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Ford's Theatre
511 10th St. NW
Washington, D.C., 20004
Box office: 202-347-4833 Fax: 202-347-2561
Email: onstage@fordstheatre.org
Web site: www.fordstheatre.org

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, D.C., 20566
202-467-4600 800-444-1324
Web site: www.kennedy-center.org

The Kennedy center offers music, dance and theater performances and is home to the National Symphony Orchestra. Other affiliated groups include 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, Theater Chamber Players, Vocal Arts Society and Young Concert Artists. Daily performances on the Millennium Stage at 6 p.m. are free.

Lincoln Theatre
1215 U St. NW
Washington, D.C., 20009
202-328-6000 Tickets: 202-397-7328
Email: dbrown@thelincolntheatre.org
Web site: www.thelincolntheatre.org

Opened in 1922 as a theater and performance hall for African American audiences and now renovated and restored, it is a 1,250-seat venue that hosts a variety of performances.

Lisner Auditorium
George Washington University
730 21st St. NW
730 21st St. NW
Washington, D.C., 20052
202-994-6800 Fax: 202-994-6906
Email: lisner@gwu.edu
Web site: www.lisner.org

The 1,500-seat venue hosts music, theater and dance performances.

Mount Vernon Community Children's Theatre
1900 Elkin St., Suite 270
Alexandria, Va., 22308
703-360-0686
Web site: www.mvcct.org

Children's shows are performed at Carl Sandburg Middle School, 8428 Fort Hunt Rd., in the Alexandria area of Fairfax County.

National Theatre
1321 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, D.C., 20004
202-628-6161 Tickets: 800-447-7400
Email: dbm@nationaltheatre.org
Web site: www.nationaltheatre.org

This historic theater features music, stage productions and a summer cinema series.

Shakespeare Theatre
450 Seventh St. NW
Washington, D.C., 20004
202-547-1122 TTY: 202-638-3863
Web site: www.shakespearetheatre.org

The theater has a resident troupe.

Warner Theatre
1299 Pennsylvania Ave. NW Suite 111
Washington, D.C., 20004
Ticketmaster: 202-397-7328 Fax: 202-783-0204
Email: admin@warnertheatre.com
Web site: www.warnertheatre.com

The theater offers performances by national and international recording artists as well as theatrical, dance and television presentations.

Venues

Olney Theatre Center
2001 Olney-Sandy Spring Rd.
Olney, Md., 20832
Box office: 301-924-3400 Administrative offices: 301-924-4485
Web site: www.olneytheatre.org

Offering 20th century American classics, new works, and reinterpretations of classics and musicals. Located in rural Montgomery County and accessible to theatergoers in Washington, Baltimore and Frederick.
The Olney Theatre opened in July of 1938 with summer-only productions, and is now significantly expanded, presenting shows year-round on four stages: The New Mainstage, capacity 429; The Historic Mainstage, capacity 445; the Mulitz-Gudelsky Theatre Lab, capacity 150-200; and the outdoor Root Family Stage at Bill's Place, capacity 250.

© 2006 The Washington Post Company