Edgar Dobie News

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater launches Power Plays, an ambitious initiative commissioning and developing 25 new plays and musicals from 25 writers over the course of the next 10 years. With Power Plays, Arena Stage focuses Washington, D.C.'s unique theatrical voice on politics and power, amplifying the theater's role as a national center dedicated to American voices and artists, located in the heart of the nation's capital.

Arena Stage Artistic Director Molly Smith and Executive Director Edgar Dobie are pleased to announce that two-time Tony and Emmy Award winner Bebe Neuwirth will headline the theater's 2017 exclusive benefit on Monday, May 1, 2017 at the Mead Center for American Theater (1101 Sixth St., SW).

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) today, 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.

Set sail on an epic adventure this holiday season with a dramatically reimagined production of Moby Dick. Adaptor and director David Catlin brings his daring new adaptation of the classic seafaring tale to Arena Stage, using bold trapeze and acrobatic work to bring to life Captain Ahab's harrowing quest for the legendary great while whale.

Atlantic Records and Dear Evan Hansen producer Stacey Mindich announced today that the Original Broadway Cast Recording of the new musical Dear Evan Hansen will be released on Atlantic Records this winter.

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. 

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

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.

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.

Set sail on an epic adventure this holiday season with a dramatically reimagined production of Moby Dick. Adaptor and director David Catlin brings his daring new adaptation of the classic seafaring tale to Arena Stage, using bold trapeze and acrobatic work to bring to life Captain Ahab's harrowing quest for the legendary great while whale.

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. The company just had their first rehearsal and BroadwayWorld has photos below!

Arena Stage Artistic Director Molly Smith and Executive Director Edgar Dobie, along with Zelda's family including sons Mark and Hal Fichandler, will host two public celebrations of Zelda's life on October 23 and 24, 2016 at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater (1101 Sixth St., SW).

There are people who eat and there are those who get eaten. This fall, Arena Stage serves up Lillian Hellman's The Little Foxes, a delicious drama about family greed and betrayal. Emmy Award winner and Golden Globe nominee Marg Helgenberger, known for her 12 seasons as Catherine Willows on CBS's CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, stars as Regina Giddens under veteran director Kyle Donnelly, who has directed more than 20 productions at Arena Stage. The Little Foxes runs September 23-October 30, 2016 in the Kreeger Theater. The company just kicked off rehearsals, and BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the meet & greet below!

There are people who eat and there are those who get eaten. This fall, Arena Stage serves up Lillian Hellman's The Little Foxes, a delicious drama about family greed and betrayal. Emmy Award winner and Golden Globe nominee Marg Helgenberger, known for her 12 seasons as Catherine Willows on CBS's CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, stars as Regina Giddens under veteran director Kyle Donnelly, who has directed more than 20 productions at Arena Stage. The Little Foxes runs tonight, September 23, through October 30, 2016 in the Kreeger Theater.

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater will kick off the company's Lillian Hellman Festival Friday, September 23 with the beginning of previews for The Little Foxes, starring Emmy Award winner Marg Helgenberger (CSI: Crime Scene Investigation).

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