Washington, D.C.
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The complete guide to theater, dance, performance art, and visual arts in the nation's capital. Curated descriptions, honest recommendations, one click to tickets.
Now Playing
8 shows
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Imagining Shakespeare: Mythmaking and Storytelling in the Regency Era
Oct 4 – Aug 2
If you're interested in literary history, Romantic-era aesthetics, or how canonical works get reinterpreted by different generations, this is essential. It's less essential for those seeking straightforward character studies or plot illustrations, but valuable for anyone curious about the visual culture surrounding Shakespeare and the politics of artistic adaptation.
Closing Soon
OCTET
Jan 14 – Feb 22
This is essential viewing for anyone exhausted by their own relationship with technology—especially if you're skeptical that theater can say something original about the subject. If you prize intimate, ideas-driven work over spectacle and find Logan Circle's independent theater scene refreshing, *Octet* justifies your faith in Studio Theatre's artistic vision.
Chez Joey
Jan 30 – Mar 15
This is essential viewing for those drawn to character-driven drama with psychological depth—particularly audiences interested in stories about performance and identity that avoid easy sentimentality. If you're looking for spectacle or uplifting narrative arcs, look elsewhere; if you appreciate productions that sit with uncomfortable truths about ambition and loss, Arena Stage's intimate Southwest Waterfront setting makes this a worthwhile investment.
The World to Come
Feb 3 – Mar 1
This is for audiences who prize character work and understated emotional truth over plot mechanics. If you're drawn to plays about overlooked populations and find beauty in small moments, you'll connect here. Skip this if you need broad comedy or dramatic fireworks—the rewards are in observation and nuance.Advertiser Creative / Image
Pendry Washington D.C.
The Wharf's new luxury hotel. Book a pre-theater stay with complimentary champagne & waterfront views.
Special Theater Packages →
On Beckett
Feb 11 – Mar 15
If you've always found Beckett's reputation for bleakness a barrier to entry, Irwin's physicality and genuine warmth might be your gateway. Skip this if you want conventional narrative momentum, but if you appreciate watching a master performer think through complex ideas in real time, this is essential.
NOTHING UP MY SLEEVE
Feb 11 – Mar 15
Ideal for viewers who appreciate craft and technical mastery as entertainment, and who enjoy being intellectually engaged by *how* they're being deceived. Skip this if you prefer traditional narrative or need emotional catharsis; seek it out if you're fascinated by the mechanics of perception and want to experience genuine astonishment in a live setting.
THE BONNIE HAMMERSCHLAG NATIONAL CAPITAL NEW PLAY FESTIVAL
Feb 11 – Mar 15
Seek this out if you're interested in where theater is heading rather than where it's been. This is essential for playwrights, theater professionals, and audiences who want to engage with new work before it becomes canonized elsewhere—expect unpolished edges alongside genuine discoveries.
On View: Mandy Cano Villalobos
Feb 20 – Apr 5
This is essential for viewers who appreciate conceptual rigor and aren't looking for decorative art. If you're interested in how contemporary artists engage with colonialism, environmental justice, or the politics of domestic space, this will reward close looking. Skip it if you prefer work that declares its meaning upfront.