Jason Arnold News

One of the capital's most beloved annual traditions, the Shakespeare Theatre Company (STC) Free For All, and one of William Shakespeare's most beloved plays, A Midsummer Night's Dream, are coming together for a major milestone: Free For All's 25th anniversary. Ethan McSweeny directs a revival of his 2012-2013 STC production, which will run September 1-13 at Sidney Harman Hall (610 F Street NW).

It's quite easy to root for the success of the National Children's Theatre if this inaugural production is indicative of the kind of work it will bring to our community.

Imagination Stage's Musical Theatre Conservatory will perform Urinetown, an acclaimed musical satire, May 15-17, 2015 in the Christopher and Dana Reeve Theatre. Urinetown's book and lyrics are written by Greg Kotis, with music and lyrics by Mark Hollmann.

Tonight before a crowd of 1,200 theatre-makers and theatre-lovers at the historic Lincoln Theatre, theatreWashington celebrated excellence on Washington stages at the 2015 Helen Hayes Awards. The awards celebration was a night of excitement and surprise as 57 Washington theatre artists, theatres, and ensembles received honors in 47 categories for their outstanding accomplishments during the 2014 theatre season. Scroll down for the full list of winners!

One of the country's most prestigious cultural honors, The Helen Hayes Awards recognizes and celebrates excellence in professional theatre throughout the Washington metropolitan area. theatreWashington will host The 2015 Helen Hayes Awards ceremony tonight, April 6, 2015 at the historic Lincoln Theatre.

Imagination Stage's teen performance ensemble will perform Into the Woods, the hit musical, this weekend, March 6-8, 2015 on The Lerner Family Theatre stage. Into the Woods, a magical story which intertwines our favorite fairytale characters, features an original story by James Lapine with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim.

Imagination Stage's teen performance ensemble will perform Into the Woods, the hit musical, March 6-8, 2015 on The Lerner Family Theatre stage. Into the Woods, a magical story which intertwines our favorite fairytale characters, features an original story by James Lapine with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim.

Little Red Riding Hood's adventure to grandma's house has taken a toe-tappin' twist down south just in time for Mardi Gras. At Adventure Theatre MTC, the whole family can enjoy a festive celebration with Petite Rouge: A Cajun Red Riding Hood. Based on Charles Perrault's classic fairy tale and adapted from the book by Mike Artell and Jim Harris, Petite Rouge takes audience's on a musical journey into the swamps of Louisiana. Directed and choreographed by Adventure's own Michael J. Bobbitt, this show is a delight for all ages.

Tonight before a crowd of 150 theatre makers and theatre lovers, theatreWashington announced the nominees for the 2015 Helen Hayes Awards. One of the country's most prestigious cultural honors, The Helen Hayes Awards recognizes and celebrates excellence in professional theatre throughout the Washington metropolitan area. Watch the full announcement below, and scroll down for the list of nominees!

Adventure Theatre MTC in Glen Echo is kicking off its 63rd season with a triumph.

Imagination Stage, in Bethesda, has scored yet another home run with its production of THE BFG, adapted by David Wood, OBE, from Roald Dahl's children's novel, and directed by Kathryn Chase Bryer and Eric J. Van Wyck. Parents will find themselves laughing along with their kids at Dahl's and Wood's irreverent humor, including an extended riff on the biologically impolite results of reversing the direction of the bubbles in soda pop. The more mature members of the audience will chuckle at the modern cultural references. This production is a must-see.

Imagination Stage is the new home of Giant Country in The BFG (Big Friendly Giant), a play based on the book by Roald Dahl and adapted by David Wood. Co-directed by Imagination Stage's Associate Artistic Director Kathryn Chase Bryer and Eric J. Van Wyk of Viterbo University, The BFG integrates puppetry, rich visuals, and imaginative storytelling as Sophie and the Big Friendly Giant go on a magical journey to save the children of England. Scroll down for a first look at the cast onstage!

The Welders present their first production, Allyson Currin's The Carolina Layaway Grail, a post-modern comedy about a world peopled with sorcerers, sidekicks, villains, and incompetent bureaucrats.

Tony winning composer performs and conducts SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD with the Young Artists of America.

The Welders announce the full company and creative team for their first production, Allyson Currin's The Carolina Layaway Grail, a post-modern comedy about a world peopled with sorcerers, sidekicks, villains, and incompetent bureaucrats.

This twist on a classic holiday song, provides a fun-filled time for children.

At the end of the day, PETER PAN AND WENDY is a great family show with some solid acting and design work. It's another victory for Imagination Stage.

Bethesda becomes Neverland this summer, as Imagination Stage presents Peter Pan and Wendy, a swashbuckling adventure with audience participation. Directed by Kathryn Chase Bryer, it is a story in which two young heroes must decide if growing up is really all that bad.

Is there any better place to celebrate the Fourth of July than the Nation's Capital? If you're in town for the fireworks and concert on the Mall, consider popping into one of our local theatres. This month's MUST-SEES include The Capital Fringe Festival and Hip-Hop Festival, pirates, a high-flying nanny, a supreme trio, a boar with a flapjack, a crazy one-man Lord of the Rings, those loveable Tony Award-winning puppets, lots of plaid, a household of singing sisters, Stew's 'strange' score, and a concert version of a Rodgers and Hart classic musical. There's something for everyone in July on our DC area stages.

Arena Stage presents the world premiere of Daniel Beaty's Resurrection, a drama with a unique blend of music, poetry and dance. A co-production with Connecticut's Hartford Stage, Resurrection explores the interwoven lives of six African-American men struggling to make a living and to make their lives worth living. Beaty dazzled Arena audiences last summer with sold-out performances of his award-winning solo show Emergency (formerly Emergence-SEE!). He now returns to Arena with his first ensemble production-a talented cast of six actors led by director Oz Scott (director of Broadway's original for colored girls... and the Goodman Theatre's recent premiere The Ballad of Emmett Till). The production harmonizes with an innovative score by Daniel Bernard Roumain (DBR), a Haitian-American composer who blends classical violin with piano and bass. To keep the interplay between text and score dynamic, Roumain's original score will be musically styled live each performance by his collaborator Elan Vytal a.k.a. DJ Scientific. Resurrection runs August 29-October 5, 2008 at Arena Stage in Crystal City. The press opening performance is Thursday, September 4 at 8:00pm.