Kurt Hall News

Robert Schenkkan's The Great Society, the second half of the epic drama about President Lyndon Baines Johnson, makes its Washington, D.C. debut at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater, following the theater's critically acclaimed 2016 run of All the Way. Kyle Donnelly returns to Arena Stage to helm this political thrill ride that shines a bright, clear light on a pivotal moment in American history (New York Times). Chronicling LBJ's second term as he seeks to maintain his relationship with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and complete a raft of impossibly ambitious social policy projects, The Great Society runs February 2-March 11, 2018 on the Fichandler Stage.

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater presents The Pajama Game, directed by Alan Paul in his Arena Stage debut, with music and lyrics by Richard Adlerand Jerry Ross, and book by George Abbott and Richard Bissell. Featuring Musical Direction by James Cunningham and Choreography by Parker Esse, The Pajama Game runs now through December 24 in the iconic in-the-round Fichandler Stage. Check out a brand-new trailer for the show below!

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater presents The Pajama Game, directed by Alan Paul in his Arena Stage debut, with music and lyrics by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross, and book by George Abbott and Richard Bissell. Featuring Musical Direction by James Cunningham and Choreography by Parker Esse, The Pajama Game runs October 27-December 24 in the iconic in-the-round Fichandler Stage. BroadwayWorld has a peek at the company at their first rehearsal below!

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater announces the complete company for The Pajama Game directed by Alan Paul in his Arena Stage debut, with music and lyrics by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross, and book by George Abbott and Richard Bissell.

Although I never watched their program, I do remember that Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker were wildly known almost as much for their outrageous personalities and sartorial style as their devotion to preaching the gospel of Jesus. It is easy to see why the pair became an unlikely surrogate family for the two teenagers from Detroit raised on that same belief, as they rapidly became the hottest stars in televangical America. But for the naive siblings, especially BeBe, it's not an easy lesson learning how to reconcile the temptations of fame and fortune with the things he ultimately values more. It's a wildy funny yet emotional journey toward self-discovery, told with great music and outstanding performances by siblings Juan Winans and Deborah Joy Winans (the children of Carvin Winans, Sr. and Deborah Winans) who portray their aunt CeCe and uncle BeBe with the utmost respect, magical stage presence, and the most amazing vocal pipes!

Four intellectuals-a doctor, an actress, a psychologist and a neurobiologist studying the human brain's response to race-search for love, acceptance and identity in Lydia R. Diamond's comedy-drama Smart People, which makes its D.C. debut at Arena Stage. Set against the backdrop of Obama's 2008 election, Diamond's fiercely funny play explores the unavoidable nature of cultural bias. Deputy Artistic Director Seema Sueko makes her Arena Stage directorial debut with this "sexy, serious and very, very funny modern-day comedy of manners" (Variety). Smart People runs April 14-May 21, 2017 in the Kreeger Theater.

Four intellectuals - a doctor, an actress, a psychologist and a neurobiologist studying the human brain's response to race - search for love, acceptance and identity in Lydia R. Diamond's comedy-drama Smart People, which makes its D.C. debut at Arena Stage.

Arena Stage presents Lillian Hellman's Watch on the Rhine, winner of the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award for Best Play.

Arena Stage announces full casting for Lillian Hellman's Watch on the Rhine, winner of the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award for Best Play.

Joan Didion's one-woman drama THE YEAR OF MAGICAL THINKING, adapted from her 2005 bestselling memoir of the same title, just opened at Arena Stage. The production stars Academy Award and Tony Award nominee Kathleen Turner as Didion and is directed by Gaye TaylorUpchurch. The show runs now through Nov 20, 2016 at Arena Stage, and BroadwayWorld has a first look at Turner in action below!

Joan Didion's one-woman drama THE YEAR OF MAGICAL THINKING, adapted from her 2005 bestselling memoir of the same title, just opened at Arena Stage. The production stars Academy Award and Tony Award nominee Kathleen Turner as Didion and is directed by Gaye Taylor Upchurch. The show runs now through Nov 20, 2016 at Arena Stage, and BroadwayWorld has photos from the opening night festivities below!

Iconic stage and screen actress and Academy Award and Tony Award nominee Kathleen Turner returns to Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater to star in Joan Didion's one-woman drama The Year of Magical Thinking, adapted from her 2005 bestselling memoir of the same title.

Yesterday was the first rehearsal for Joan Didion's one-woman drama THE YEAR OF MAGICAL THINKING, adapted from her 2005 bestselling memoir of the same title, at Arena Stage. The production stars Academy Award and Tony Award nominee Kathleen Turner as Didion and is directed by Gaye Taylor Upchurch. The show runs Oct 7-Nov 20, 2016 at Arena Stage, and BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the team in rehearsal below!

As previously announced, iconic stage and screen actress and Academy Award and Tony Award nominee Kathleen Turner returns to Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater to star in Joan Didion's one-woman drama The Year of Magical Thinking, adapted from her 2005 bestselling memoir of the same title.

Arena Stage presents BORN FOR THIS: THE BeBe Winans STORY, the heartwarming true story of six-time Grammy Award-winning icon BeBe Winans' journey to fame. BORN FOR THIS, directed by celebrated director and playwright Charles Randolph-Wright (Motown The Musical), is a co-production with the ALLIANCE THEATRE in Atlanta, Ga., where the production ran April 13-May 15, 2016 prior to the Arena Stage production. The new musical, which officially kicks off Arena Stage's 2016/17 season, features original songs and Winans family hits, with a book by Randolph-Wright and Winans. BORN FOR THIS runs now through August 28, 2016 in the Kreeger Theater. BroadwayWorld has photos from the opening night festivities below!

Arena Stage announces the full cast and creative team for BORN FOR THIS: THE BEBE WINANS STORY, the heartwarming true story of six-time Grammy Award-winning icon BeBe Winans' journey to fame.

Arena Stage presents BORN FOR THIS: THE BEBE WINANS STORY, the heartwarming true story of six-time Grammy Award-winning icon BeBe Winans' journey to fame. BORN FOR THIS, directed by celebrated director and playwright Charles Randolph-Wright (Motown The Musical), officially kicks off Arena Stage's 2016/17 season, featuring original songs and Winans family hits, with a book by Randolph-Wright and Winans. BORN FOR THIS runs July 1-August 28, 2016 in the Kreeger Theater. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the company in rehearsal below!

Arena Stage announces the full cast and creative team for BORN FOR THIS: THE BEBE WINANS STORY, the heartwarming true story of six-time Grammy Award-winning icon BeBe Winans' journey to fame.

Robert Schenkkan's Tony Award-winning drama All the Way, about President Lyndon Baines Johnson's impassioned struggle to pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964, makes its Washington, D.C. debut at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater. Kyle Donnelly, who has directed more than 20 productions at Arena Stage, returns to helm this "sure-fire, action packed hit" (Huffington Post) about a country still reeling from the assassination of John F. Kennedy and the man tasked with calming the storm. Hailed as a "sensational night of theater" (NPR), All the Way runs April 1-May 8, 2016 in the Fichandler Stage.

The new drama SWEAT by Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage (Ruined; By The Way, Meet Vera Stark) comes to Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater following a critically-acclaimed debut at Oregon Shakespeare Festival as part of a co-commission between the two theaters. The play is directed by Nottage's longtime collaborator Kate Whoriskey and runs tonight, January 15, through February 21, 2016 in the Kreeger Theater. The company just kicked off rehearsals, and BroadwayWorld has photos below!