The Georgetowner’s 2024 Holiday Theater Guide
By • November 13, 2024 0 17
LAST CHANCE THIS MONTH …
It’s still Spooky Season at The Keegan Theatre, where “The Woman in Black” haunts Eel Marsh House on Nine Lives Causeway in Stephen Mallatratt’s adaptation of Susan Hill’s gothic novel, directed by Josh Sticklin (through Nov. 17).
Try on some wearable tech at Eaton House, 1201 K St. NW, courtesy of Solas Nua (“new light” in Irish). Directed by James Riordan, “Ar Ais Arís,” a VR experience from Galway-based Brú Theatre, is paired with James Elliott’s “Summertime,” directed by John King, from Dublin-based collective Murmuration, in which Stash and Steve’s romance plays out via headphones (through Nov. 17).
“Ar Ais Arís.” Photo by Julia Dunin. Courtesy Solas Nua.
The Benhamou family is shaken by an antisemitic attack in “Prayer for the French Republic,” directed by Theater J Artistic Director Hayley Finn at the Edlavitch DC Jewish Community Center. Set in Paris, Joshua Harmon’s play asks: “Where are we safe?” (through Nov. 24).
John Leguizamo is a Colombian American laundromat owner in Arena Stage’s world-premiere production of the Bogotá-born comedian and actor’s “The Other Americans,” directed by Ruben Santiago-Hudson. Content warning: “This production … portrays a mental health crisis and an act of self-harm” (through Nov. 24).
The voices of caregivers and medical professionals are woven into Mosaic Theater Company’s “The Art of Care,” conceived and directed by Derek Goldman in partnership with Georgetown University’s Laboratory for Global Performance and Politics. The show, at the Atlas Performing Arts Center, features music composed and performed live by Exum, lead djembe player of the “Black Panther” films (through Nov. 24).
Courtesy Mosaic Theater.
“I know a place … ain’t nobody cryin’ … ain’t nobody worried.” It’s Signature Theatre, where “I’ll Take You There” tells the story of Stax Records, birthplace of the “Memphis Sound.” Sean-Maurice Lynch directs, with music director De’Anté Haggerty-Willis (through Nov. 24).
Tots can’t wait for Turkey Day? Discovery Theater’s “Grandma’s Thanksgiving Visit,” at the Smithsonian’s Ripley Center, is just right for ages 3 to 6 (Nov. 19 to 21).
OPEN OR OPENING SOON AND PLAYING ON …
Starting tonight, Studio Theatre takes audiences back to college-town Ohio in the midst of second-wave feminism. David Auburn’s “Summer, 1976,” directed by Vivienne Benesch, stars Kate Eastwood Norris as an artist and Holly Twyford as a faculty wife (Nov. 13 to Dec. 22).
Next up, two adrenaline rides from Arena Stage: “Data,” by Matthew Libby, a Silicon Valley thriller directed by Margot Bordelon (through Dec. 15); and Agatha Christie’s “Death on the Nile,” adapted by Ken Ludwig and directed by Artistic Director Hana S. Sharif (Nov. 23 to Dec. 29).
Exclusively for Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, the Second City, improv troupe extraordinaire, has dreamed up a “Black Excellence Review” called “Dance Like There’s Black People Watching.” Rob Wilson directs (through Dec. 22).
In the expert hands of Signature Artistic Director Matthew Gardiner: Stephen Sondheim’s “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,” with a book by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart. Music direction is by Jon Kalbfleisch. The run includes Discussion Nights on Nov. 19 and Dec. 11, ASL Interpretation on Nov. 21 and Pride Night on Dec. 6 (through Jan. 12).
Tastes of Broadway: The National Theatre counts to “Six” like this: “Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived” (through Dec. 1); and winter’s the perfect time to let it go with Disney’s “Frozen” at Olney Theatre Center, directed by Sesame Street’s Alan Muroaka (through Jan. 5).
One for the kids in the Kennedy Center Family Theater: a shark named “Finn” comes of age in a world-premiere musical by Chris Nee, Michael Kooman and Christopher Dimond, directed by Adrienne Campbell-Holt and choreographed by Billy Bustamante (Nov. 23 to Dec. 22).
Opening in Harman Hall on Thanksgiving weekend: Shakespeare Theatre Company’s production of Tom Stoppard’s “Leopoldstadt,” directed by Carey Perloff, which follows a Jewish family over six decades — from Viennese assimilation to the aftermath of the Holocaust (Nov. 30 to Dec. 29).
The capital’s annual Dickens-fest begins as always with Michael Wilson’s adaptation of “A Christmas Carol” at Ford’s Theatre, starring Craig Wallace as Scrooge. Michael Baron’s original direction has been recreated by Director of Artistic Programming José Carrasquillo. The full-scale production features original music by Josh Schmidt and choreography by Shea Sullivan (Nov. 21 to Dec. 31).
Paul Morella’s solo adaptation of “A Christmas Carol: A Ghost Story of Christmas” is an annual highlight of the Olney Theatre Center season. This year, Michael Russotto will step into the four dozen roles while Morella recuperates from a medical event (Nov. 29 to Dec. 29).
Then there’s “A Hanukkah Carol, or Gelt Trip! The Musical,” a world premiere at Bethesda’s Round House Theatre, directed and choreographed by Marlo Hunter, in which millennial influencer Chava Kanipshin is visited by the ghost of social media star Mimi Marley. The music is by Aaron Kenny, the lyrics by Rob Berliner and the book by Berliner and Harrison Bryan (Nov. 20 to Dec. 22).
COMING IN DECEMBER …
“Spirit!” said Scrooge, “show me no more!” Ah, but we’re far from done, Ebenezer …
The Little Theatre of Alexandria presents Donna Ferragut’s adaptation of “A Christmas Carol,” directed by Sarah Hardy (Dec. 7 to 21); and Matthew J. Keenan’s “An Irish Carol,” set in a Dublin pub, returns to The Keegan Theatre, directed by Founding Director Mark A. Rhea. On the Keegan calendar: a Young Professionals Happy Hour on Dec. 13, an Onsite Matinee With Child Care on Dec. 15, Pub Nights on Dec. 20 and 27 and a Post-Show Holiday Concert by Kingman Island Quartet on Dec. 21 (Dec. 4 to 31).
In Series rolls out a circus version of Giuseppe Verdi’s “Rigoletto” with a new English text by Bari Biern. Artistic Director Timothy Nelson directs, with music direction by Emily Baltzer (Dec. 7, 8, 14 and 15 at the Edlavitch DC Jewish Community Center; Dec. 11 and 12 at Baltimore Theatre Project).
Though Folger Theatre’s “Romeo and Juliet” has closed, the Romeo-less musical “& Juliet,” in which our heroine survives to love again, comes to the Kennedy Center Opera House (Dec. 17 to Jan. 5). And holly holy: The National Theatre welcomes “A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical” (Dec. 3 to 8).
Family shows abound. Adventure Theatre MTC presents Ken Ludwig’s “’Twas the Night Before Christmas” at Glen Echo Park, directed by Patrick Flynn (Dec. 6 to Jan. 5). Nearby, at Bethesda’s Imagination Stage: “Petite Rouge: A Cajun Red Riding Hood,” based on the book by Mike Artell, illustrated by Jim Harris. Nathaniel P. Claridad directs, with zydeco music and lyrics by Joan Cushing (Dec. 11 to Feb. 8).
Along with its annual “Seasons of Light” celebration of holiday festivals from around the world (Dec. 2 to 20), Discovery Theater goes the fairy-tale route with “Little Red and the Gingerbread Man” (Dec. 18 and 19).
Kipling’s “Jungle Book” pounces into the Kennedy Center Terrace Theater in a Washington National Opera adaptation co-directed by Artistic Director Francesca Zambello and Brenna Corner. The production features music by Kamala Sankaram, a libretto by Kelley Rourke and Bollywood-style dancing by Indian dance company Taal (Dec. 13 to 15).
More animals — a hyena, a zebra, an orangutan and a Royal Bengal tiger — arrive at the Kennedy Center by boat for “Life of Pi” in the Eisenhower Theater (Dec. 17 to Jan. 5). Meanwhile, at “Shear Madness” in the Theater Lab, feel free to take another stab at whodunit.
