The Georgetowner 2025 Spring Theater Guide
By • April 9, 2025 0 202
THIS MONTH ONLY …
Irish arts organization Solas Nua presents readings of “The Frederick Douglass Project” by Psalmayene 24 and Deirdre Kinahan, about Douglass’s 1847 journey to Ireland, at the Fillmore School, 1801 34th St. NW (April 11 and 12).
Closing this weekend: The Keegan Theatre’s world-premiere production of Priyanka Shetty’s one-woman show “#Charlottesville,” based on the notorious “Unite the Right” rally, directed by Yury Urnov; Theatre Alliance’s production of Kareem Fahmy’s women’s basketball play “American Fast,” directed by Reginald L Douglas at the Westerly, 340 Maple Drive SW; and “Godot Scena” — “Waiting for Godot” performed by an Irish cast at CulturalDC’s Source Theatre — presented by Scena Theatre (through April 13).
The lineup for Round House Theatre’s fourth Bonnie Hammerschlag National Capital New Play Festival (free tickets, reservations required): “Baby Shower Katie” by Beth Hyland, directed by Jessica Fisch (April 10 and 12); “PIN.” by Sam Mueller, directed by Caitlin Sullivan (April 11 and 13); “Indian Princesses” by Eliana Theologides Rodriguez, directed by Miranda Cornell (April 17 and 19); and “Proximity” by Harrison David Rivers, directed by Paige Hernandez (April 18 and 20).
Hugh Bonneville of “Downton Abbey” is playing Uncle Vanya in Conor McPherson’s adaptation of Chekhov’s sad and comic family drama, directed by Shakespeare Theatre Company Artistic Director Simon Godwin in Harman Hall (through April 20).
Did somebody say “Shakespeare”? The Little Theatre of Alexandria is making “Much Ado About Nothing” (through April 19). Ride farther out in the Commonwealth for “King Lear” (through April 19) and “The Comedy of Errors” (through April 20), then celebrate the Bard’s birthday at a festival of “workshops, wonders & Shakespearean shenanigans” at the American Shakespeare Center in Staunton (April 21 to 27).
Also at ASC: Louisa May Alcott’s “Little Women,” adapted by Erin Riley (through April 19). Leapin’ lizards! Another little woman, named Annie, is onstage this month at The National Theatre (April 11 to 20).
At Theater J, Synetic Theater co-founder Paata Tsikurishvili is directing “The Immigrant,” based on Charlie Chaplin’s silent comedy (April 11 to 27).
Atlas Performing Arts Center resident partner Mosaic Theater Company is presenting Erika Dickerson-Despenza’s “Cullud Wattah,” about the Flint water crisis, directed by Danielle A. Drakes (through April 27).
Back in Maryland: the mother of a troubled teen confronts the local librarian in the world premiere of Sharyn Rothstein’s “Bad Books,” directed by Round House Artistic Director Ryan Rilette; and Matilda Feyiṣayọ Ibini’s “Sleepova,” about four Black British teens, is at Olney Theatre Center, directed by Paige Hernandez (through April 27).
OPEN OR SOON TO OPEN AND PLAYING ON …
Larissa FastHorse’s comedy, “Fake It Until You Make It,” directed by Michael John Garcés at Arena Stage, focuses on the rivalry between “Wynona, the Native American proprietor of N.O.B.U.S.H., and River, her white counterpart at Indigenous Nations Soaring” (April 3 to May 4).
Ford’s Theatre is presenting the Alan Menken musical “Sister Act,” directed and choreographed by Jeff Calhoun (through May 17). Playing across the river at Signature Theatre: Lin-Manuel Miranda’s pre-“Hamilton” show “In the Heights,” directed by James Vásquez (through May 4) and, soon, “Hedwig and the Angry Inch,” John Cameron Mitchell’s “queer anthem cult classic,” starring Sawyer Smith and directed by Ethan Heard (April 15 to June 22). Discussion Nights for “Hedwig” are May 20 and June 4; Pride Nights are June 6 and 20.
Another world premiere: “Sucede Hasta en las Mejores Familias/Choke” by Emilio Infante at GALA Hispanic Theatre, directed by Rebecca Aparicio (April 24 to May 18).
COMING IN MAY …
In jukebox musical “Head Over Heels,” by Jeff Whitty of “Avenue Q,” adapted for Broadway by James Magruder, “Our Lips Are Sealed” is sung by Musidorus, Philoclea, Pamela, Mopsa and Pythio (not Charlotte, Belinda, Gina, Kathy and Jane). Get the beat, as directed by Allison Arkell Stockman, at Constellation Theatre Company (May 1 to June 1).
Studio Theatre transforms into a Detroit jazz club in 1949 in Dominique Morisseau’s “Paradise Blue,” directed by Raymond O. Caldwell (May 1 to June 8).
Still summering in Stanton? Catch Jane Austen’s “Sense and Sensibility” at the American Shakespeare Center, adapted by Emma Whipday with Brian McMahon and directed by Jemma Alix Levy (May 1 to Aug. 2). Also out that way: “Footloose: The Musical” at NextStop Theatre Company in Herndon (May 8 to June 8).
A treat for foreign film buffs, among others: the world premiere of Julia Izumi’s “Akira Kurosawa Explains His Movies and Yogurt (With Live & Active Cultures!)” at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, directed by Aileen Wen McGroddy (May 4 to June 1).
The Keegan will celebrate WorldPride DC 2025 with a production of William Finn’s Tony-winning 1992 musical “Falsettos,” in which Marvin leaves his wife and son to be with his lover Whizzer (May 10 to June 15). On May 18: a matinee with childcare and a post-show talkback. On May 30: a Young Professionals Happy Hour.
At Folger Theatre in the expanded Folger Shakespeare Library, Mei Ann Teo will direct “Twelfth Night” (May 13 to June 22).
“We Are Gathered” at Arena is a queer love story by Tarrell Alvin McCraney, the screenwriter of “Moonlight” (May 16 to June 15).
In “Senior Class,” a world premiere (book and lyrics by Melvin Tunstall III, music by Greg Dean Borowsky and Tunstall) directed by Amy Anders Corcoran at Olney, two high schoolers dream up their own “Pygmalion” musical after “My Fair Lady” is canceled (May 16 to June 22).
Soak up some “authentic New Jersey vernacular” in the Best Musical-winning show “Kimberly Akimbo” at The National (May 20 to June 1).
As if the “Scottish play” isn’t frightening enough, Shakespeare Theatre Company will give audiences a charge with Emily Burns’s adaptation of “Frankenstein” in the Klein Theatre (May 27 to June 22).
Celebrities: Can’t live with ’em, can’t live without ’em. At Round House, Rob Ruggiero directs Rajiv Joseph’s “King James,” about two fans of a certain Cleveland Cavalier (May 28 to June 22). In Brent Askari’s “Andy Warhol in Iran” at Mosaic, directed by Serge Seiden, the Pop portraitist is taken hostage (May 29 to June 29).
NEW IN JUNE …
Also timed for WorldPride: Woolly Mammoth’s “Pride Plays,” a festival of six shows in development, plus community events (June 3 to 6).
The American Shakespeare Center will greet summer with (go figure) “The Winter’s Tale” (June 5 to Aug. 2).
“The Murder at Haversham Manor” is “The Play That Goes Wrong” at The Little Theatre of Alexandria, directed by Frank D. Shutts II (June 7 to 28).
June musicals: “Les Misérables” in The Kennedy Center Opera House (June 11 to July 13); “A Wrinkle in Time,” a world premiere at Arena (June 12 to July 20); “Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations” at The National (June 17 to 22); and a “cabaret-style immersive musical” at GALA, “Botiquín de Boleros de Columbia Heights” by Venezuelan Rubén León (June 11 to 29).
“Wipeout” at Studio Theatre — by Aurora Real de Asua, directed by Danilo Gambini — has been described as “a septuagenarian surf comedy” (June 18 to July 27). And we meet a Korean immigrant family in Toronto in “Kim’s Convenience” by Ins Choi, directed by Aria Velz at Olney (June 25 to July 27).
FOR THE KIDS …
Presented by Discovery Theater in the Smithsonian’s Ripley Center: “Mother Earth & Me” (April 29 and 30), “Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” (April 23 to 25) and “Jojo’s Backyard Safari” (May 28 to 30).
Oh, what a “Charlotte’s Web” director Clancy Yovanovich will weave at Adventure Theatre MTC in Glen Echo Park. Joseph Robinette adapted the E. B. White classic (April 25 to May 25).
In “Dory Fantasmagory” at Bethesda’s Imagination Stage — John Glore’s adaptation of Abby Hanlon’s book, with music by Deborah Wicks La Puma — Dory tries to get her family’s attention with the help of fairy godfather Mr. Nuggy and monster-friend Mary (June 18 to Aug. 3).
FINALLY …
What could be more appropriate than “Shear Madness” in The Kennedy Center Theater Lab (through Oct. 5)?
