Molly Smith News

Six D.C.-area playmakers have been selected to participate in the third installment of Playwrights' Arena, a year-long program that invites a small group of local theater makers to investigate their artistic process and develop their dramaturgical practice. The program is co-facilitated by Arena Stage Deputy Artistic Director Seema Sueko and Dramaturg Jocelyn Clarke, and participants convene once per month at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater.

A friendly reminder! Dear Evan Hansen, the new musical with a book by Obie Award-winner Steven Levenson, score by Tony Award nominees Benj Pasek & Justin Paul, and direction by three-time Tony Award nominee Michael Greif, begins performances on Broadway tonight, November 14, at the Music Box Theatre (239 W 45th St). Dear Evan Hansen will officially open on Sunday, December 4, 2016. 

There's something about a classic, standard musical that tugs at the heartstrings. Maybe it's the the swelling orchestra, the time-honored songs, or the amazement that an old love story can feel new again. Under the direction of Molly Smith at Arena Stage, Rodgers and Hammerstein's CAROUSEL is all of the above.

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater will present the American Artist Award to Tony and Emmy Award-nominated director and playwright Moises Kaufman. The award will be presented tonight, November 10, 2016 as part of the opening night celebration for the Rodgers & Hammerstein musical Carousel, directed by Artistic Director Molly Smith.

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater presents Carousel, directed by Artistic Director Molly Smith, with music by Richard Rodgers and book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. Featuring Musical Direction by Paul Sportelli and Choreography by Parker Esse, Carousel runs now through December 24 in the iconic in-the-round Fichandler Stage. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater presents Carousel, directed by Artistic Director Molly Smith, with music by Richard Rodgers and book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. Featuring Musical Direction by Paul Sportelli and Choreography by Parker Esse, Carousel runs now through December 24 in the iconic in-the-round Fichandler Stage. Click below to watch a brand-new trailer for the show!

Just last night, Tectonic Theater Project celebrated Tectonic At 25!, a benefit performance celebrating 25 years of groundbreaking theater. The star-studded evening, directed by Tectonic Theater Project founder Moises Kaufman and hosted by and starring two-time Academy Award winner Jane Fonda, took place at NYU Skirball Center for the Performing Arts (566 LaGuardia Place, New York, NY 10012). 

Theatre luminaries will gather on Monday, November 14, 2016, to honor award-winning playwright Sarah Ruhl with the 2016 Steinberg Distinguished Playwright Award, presented by The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust.

Arena Stage announces the 2016/17 programming for Actors Arena, a membership-based forum for professional D.C.-area actors.

Tectonic Theater Project has announced the performance lineup for Tectonic At 25!, a benefit performance celebrating 25 years of groundbreaking theater.

Every year hundreds of D.C.-area military families must spend the Thanksgiving holiday away from loved ones. In gratitude for their service, Arena Stage is inviting wounded warriors, service men and women and their families to a complimentary dinner and performance of the Rodgers & Hammerstein musical Carousel at the Mead Center for American Theater (1101 Sixth St., SW) on Friday, November 25. Since the first Military Thanksgiving in 2011, Arena Stage has served more than 1,000 military members and their families with the annual event.

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater presents Carousel, directed by Artistic Director Molly Smith, with music by Richard Rodgers and book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II.

(The) National New Play Network, the country's alliance of nonprofit theaters that champions the development, production, and continued life of new plays, celebrates an October filled with NNPN Rolling World Premieres (RWP), including Bars and Measures by Idris Goodwin at The Theatre @ Boston Court (playing until October 23); Pulp by Joseph Zettelmaier at Williamston Theatre (playing until October 23) and Know Theatre of Cincinnati (playing until October 27); Not Medea by Allison Gregory at Perseverance Theatre (playing in Juneau until November 6 and Anchorage November 11-20); Into the Beautiful North by Karen Zacarias at Central Works (playing until November 13); and Church and State by Jason Odell Williams at JCC CenterStage (Oct 22 - Nov 6).

Starting this week, Kate Rockwell will be making her Arena Stage debut as Carrie Pipperidge in the show that was named the 'Best Musical of the 20th Century' by Time Magazine, Rodgers & Hammerstein's Carousel.

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater presents Carousel, directed by Artistic Director Molly Smith, with music by Richard Rodgers and book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. Featuring Musical Direction by Paul Sportelli and Choreography by Parker Esse, Carousel runs October 28-December 24 in the iconic in-the-round Fichandler Stage. BroadwayWorld has highlights of the company in rehearsal below!

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater presents Carousel, directed by Artistic Director Molly Smith, with music by Richard Rodgers and book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. Featuring Musical Direction by Paul Sportelli and Choreography by Parker Esse, Carousel runs October 28-December 24 in the iconic in-the-round Fichandler Stage. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the leading couple in costume 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!

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater will present the American Artist Award to Tony and Emmy Award-nominated director and playwright Moises Kaufman. The award will be presented Thursday, November 10, 2016 as part of the opening night celebration for the Rodgers & Hammerstein musical Carousel, directed by Artistic Director Molly Smith.

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.