Edgar Dobie News

Arena Stage Artistic Director Molly Smith and Executive Director Edgar Dobie are pleased to announce that Broadway legend Maurice Hines will serve as the Master of Ceremonies and international touring artist and global humanitarian Mary McBride will headline the 2018 Arena Stage Gala honoring Mayor Muriel Bowser on Thursday, May 10, 2018 at the Mead Center for American Theater (1101 Sixth St., SW). As previously announced, the Gala features the presentation of the third annual Beth Newburger Schwartz Award to D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, and will recognize Jessica Stafford Davis as an Emerging Leader. The Gala is helmed by event chairs and Arena Stage Trustees Lavern Chatman and Maggie FitzPatrick.

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.

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater will present the American Voice Award to Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) on Thursday, February 8, 2018 as part of the opening night celebration for Robert Schenkkan's political drama The Great Society. Beginning at 6:00 p.m., the evening will include a cocktail reception in the Bank of America Lower Lobby, seated dinner in the Molly Smith Study, the 8:00 p.m. opening night performance of The Great Society in the Fichandler Stage and post-show dessert reception in the Grand Lobby. The seated dinner will feature the presentation of the American Voice Award to Senator Lisa Murkowski.

Arena Stage Artistic Director Molly Smith and Executive Director Edgar Dobie are pleased to announce the presentation of the third annual Beth Newburger Schwartz Award to D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, as well as recognize Jessica Stafford Davis as an Emerging Leader at the 2018 Arena Stage Annual Gala. The Gala is helmed by event chairs and Arena Stage Trustees Lavern Chatman and Maggie FitzPatrick, and will be held on Thursday, May 10, 2018 at the Mead Center for American Theater (1101 Sixth St., SW).

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater announces the world-premiere musical production of Dave by three-time Tony Award winner Thomas Meehan (Annie, Hairspray, The Producers), Tony Award nominee Nell Benjamin (Mean Girls, Legally Blonde) and Pulitzer Prize and two-time Tony Award winner Tom Kitt (Next to Normal, If/Then). The world-premiere engagement is produced by special arrangement with Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures, Doshudo Productions and Larger Than Life. Inspired by the Academy Award-nominated American political comedy film, Dave will run July 13-August 19, 2018 in the Kreeger Theater.

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater will host its first ever Camp Arena Stage Open House today, January 13, 2018 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Mead Center (1101 Sixth St., SW). Featuring sample workshops and classes taught by Camp staff, and an opportunity to have all of your Camp questions answered, this day of programming will give prospective campers and parents an opportunity to experience a taste of Camp Arena Stage. This event is FREE and children ages 8-15 are welcome to participate in sample workshops and classes. No reservations are required.

Mary Kathryn Nagle's daring new work Sovereignty makes its world premiere at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater.

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater announces four additional commissioned playwrights as a part of Power Plays, an ambitious initiative commissioning and developing 25 new plays and musicals from 25 writers over the course of 10 years. Playwrights Kenneth Lin, Craig Lucas, Eduardo Machadoand Theresa Rebeck join previously announced commissioned playwrights with projects underway, including Nathan Alan Davis, Eve Ensler, Aaron Posner, Sarah Ruhl and John Strand.

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).

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater will host a special post-show conversation with Gloria Steinem on Sunday, January 28 following the 7:30 p.m. performance during the run of Mary Kathryn Nagle's world premiere Power Play Sovereignty.

Registration is now open for Camp Arena Stage and the Arena Stage Academy's Musical Theater Training Company summer programs.

Click below to watch the stars of Arena Stage's 'The Pajama Game,' 'Nina Simone: Four Women' and Hal Linden from 'The Price' wish you Happy Holidays!

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 invited wounded warriors, service men and women and their families to a complimentary dinner and performance of the musical comedy The Pajama Game at the Mead Center for American Theater (1101 Sixth St., SW) on Friday, November 24. Scroll down for photos!

A special edition coffee table book from Pasek, Paul, and Steven Levenson, Dear Evan Hansen: through the window is available via Grand Central Publishing today, November 21.

Dear Evan Hansen producer Stacey Mindich, in conjunction with Atlantic Records, Grand Central Publishing and Melcher Media, has announced that a limited-edition 12 vinyl picture disc (and accompanying digital track) and an all-access behind-the-scenes look at the Tony Award Winning Musical, Dear Evan Hansen: through the window, will be released this month.

Hillary Rodham-Clinton dropped in on Broadway's Dear Evan Hansen tonight, and caught some face time with the cast and the show's Tony-winning star, Ben Platt, before he concludes his run the musical next musical.

Mary Kathryn Nagle's daring new work Sovereignty makes its world premiere at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater.

Celebrating the life and music of Nina Simone, one of America's most iconic singers and civil rights activists, Christina Ham's provocative musical journey Nina Simone: Four Women makes its East Coast debut at Arena Stage. Set in the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, in which four little girls lost their lives in 1963, Ham uses Simone's song 'Four Women' as the framework to explore the songstress' shift from artist to artist-activist.

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater will host its first ever Camp Arena Stage Open House on Saturday, January 13, 2018 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Mead Center (1101 Sixth St., SW). Featuring sample workshops and classes taught by Camp staff, and an opportunity to have all of your Camp questions answered, this day of programming will give prospective campers and parents an opportunity to experience a taste of Camp Arena Stage. This event is FREE and children ages 8-15 are welcome to participate in sample workshops and classes. No reservations are required.

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater will present the American Artist Award to Tony and Emmy Award-winning actor Hal Linden who is currently performing in Arthur Miller's The Price in Arena Stage's Kogod Cradle.