Molly Smith News

Anthony Giardina's Off-Broadway smash hit THE CITY OF CONVERSATION, about a Georgetown political hostess, makes its Washington, D.C. debut at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater. Following his direction of the 2014 world premiere at Lincoln Center Theater, Tony Award winner Doug Hughes returns to direct this political drama spanning three decades, from Carter's presidency through the Reagan era and ending with Obama's inauguration. THE CITY OF CONVERSATION runs January 29-March 6, 2016 in the Fichandler Stage.

Arena Stage and the American Alliance for Theatre and Education (AATE) will host the Devise and Conquer Symposium January 8-10, 2016, a hands-on symposium to explore a variety of approaches to devising original theater. The three-day event brings together arts educators and professional artists from across the country for three days of interactive workshops, discussions and performances in Washington, D.C. at the Mead Center for American Theater.

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. Hailed by The New York Times as an 'extraordinarily moving drama' that 'brims with the kind of ripe, richly imagined life associated with the work of the great August Wilson,' the play is directed by Nottage's longtime collaborator Kate Whoriskey and runs January 15-February 21, 2016 in the Kreeger Theater.

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater announces three projects that have been selected for the 2015/16 Kogod Cradle Series as part of the American Voices New Play Institute. Focused on the development of new plays and devised work by artists from the Greater Washington, D.C. area and around the country, this series of readings and workshops invites artists and audiences to actively explore the new work development process.

Fresh off its world-premiere run in Minneapolis, Children's Theatre Company's new production about an 11-year-old spelling prodigy comes to Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater. The show is adapted for the stage by veteran playwright Cheryl L. West (Arena's Pullman Porter Blues, Jar the Floor), who partners with celebrated director Charles Randolph-Wright (director of Broadway's Motown and an inaugural resident playwright with Arena Stage, where he premiered his play Love in Afghanistan). AKEELAH AND THE BEE runs now through December 27, 2015 in the Kreeger Theater, and BroadwayWorld has photos from the opening night festivites at Arena Stage below!

Clutch productions has announced that it will present EVERY GOOD GIRL DESERVES FUN - AND OTHER MISREMEMBERED THINGS, a new dark comedy written by Heidi Armbruster about prolonged adolescence running into early onset Alzheimer's, from December 2nd through December 20th at Walkerspace, 46 Walker Street, in Manhattan.

Molly Smith directs her 30th production as Artistic Director of Arena Stage with a gritty and relevant take on the Tony Award-winning musical OLIVER!, blending the chaotic worlds of 19th-century Victorian London with 2015 London. OLIVER! runs now through January 3, 2016 in the Fichandler Stage at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater. BroadwayWorld has photos from the opening night festivities below!

Consider yourself invited to the theatrical event of the holiday season. Charles Dickens' unforgettable characters burst to life in the Tony Award-winning musical, Oliver! Artistic Director Molly Smith (Fiddler on the Roof) blends the chaotic worlds of Victorian London with 2015 London to infuse a modern edge to the classic story about an innocent orphan living amongst double-dealing thieves and conmen. Bursting with jubilant songs, including 'You've Got to Pick a Pocket or Two,' 'Consider Yourself,' 'Where is Love?' and the scrumptious 'Food, Glorious Food,' Oliver! serves up a musical feast for the eyes and ears that will have every theater-lover calling out for 'More!'

Arena Stage Artistic Director Molly Smith moves the action to current day to emphasize the similarities of poverty in the London of Charles Dickens' London and today.

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater will present the American Voice Award to Congressman Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) tonight, November 12, 2015 as part of the opening night celebration for the Tony Award-winning musical OLIVER!.

The play submission gates were thrown open on November 1 when the Table|Room|Stage (T|R|S) new play development program at Artists Repertory Theatre began accepting submissions for the new Oregon Play Prize.

With over 50 million copies sold worldwide, John Gray's 1992 NY Times Best-Seller, Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus is one of the most read self-help books in the world, helping men and women enrich their personal relationships. Celebrated playwright Eric Coble (Broadway's The Velocity of Autumn) has adapted Gray's principles into a hysterical and inspiring night of theatre called … Men are from Mars -- Woman are from Venus LIVE!  

After traveling the country for the past two years, MEN ARE FROM MARS - WOMEN ARE FROM VENUS LIVE! is making its Off-Broadway debut, it began performances on October 22; and will open this weekend on November 7 running through November 29, 2015 at New World Stages (340 West 50 Street).

When cast as a flamboyant 1930s fashion industry tastemaker, Carson Elrod knew exactly which role model to emulate.

Inspired by the family-friendly productions of Oliver!, which runs through January 3, 2016, and Akeelah and the Bee, running November 13-December 27, 2015, Arena Stage will host two special educational events for D.C.-area students ages 3-15 in November. Both events take place onsite at the Mead Center for American Theater (1101 Sixth St., SW).

Artistic Director Jackie Maxwell and the Shaw Festival announce principal casting and the creative teams for the 2016 playbill. The 2016 season features new and core ensemble members and beloved returning artists celebrating Ms. Maxwell's final season and 14-year tenure at The Shaw.

Trinity Rep continues Season 52 Rebels, Renegades and Pioneers with Wendy Wasserstein's Pulitzer Prize-winning comedy, The Heidi Chronicles, directed by Vivienne Benesch. Performances run December 3, 2015 through January 3, 2016.

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater, Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen and At-Large Councilmember Elissa Silverman, will work with more than 10 career resources non-profit agencies for the sixth D.C. Career Fair, today, October 30 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Mead Center (1101 Sixth St., SW/Waterfront Metro).

Molly Smith directs her 30th production as Artistic Director of Arena Stage with a gritty and relevant take on the Tony Award-winning musical OLIVER!, blending the chaotic worlds of 19th-century Victorian London with 2015 London. Smith's new in-the-round staging infuses a modern edge to the classic musical about an innocent orphan thrown into the dark world of double-dealing thieves and conmen, highlighting the disparity between classes and dangerous life on London's streets today. Featuring a remarkable score including 'You've Got to Pick a Pocket or Two,' 'Consider Yourself,' 'Where is Love?' and 'Food, Glorious Food,' OLIVER! runs tonight, October 30, 201, through January 3, 2016 in the Fichandler Stage at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater. Scroll down for a peek at the cast in costume below!