Looking for a great Washington DC theater venue, but find your brain smoking over the abundance of choices? Save the drama for your night out!
Here are eight outstanding Washington DC theater options:
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
Offering old-world grandeur at affordable prices, the Kennedy Center is the premier Washington DC theater location to attend performances. It is home to an array of live art performances, including the Washington National Opera, the National Symphony Orchestra, and the Suzanne Farrell Ballet. Ticket prices vary based on the event and seating. If you’re 18-40, signing up for the BravO programBravO program will grant you special discounts. A limited number of specially priced tickets are also available for certain events, catering toward full-time students, seniors 65 and over, enlisted military, the permanently disabled, and those with fixed low incomes. Ticket subscriptions (the equivalent of season tickets for you sports fans) are also available. Love a freebie? The Millennium Stage offers free performances daily. The Kennedy Center is located at 2700 F Street NW.
National Theatre
The majority of touring Broadway shows are performed at National Theatre, from “Spamalot” to “Mamma Mia!” and “Les Miserables”. Pricing for upcoming performances varies based on event and seating. Group sales and ticket subscriptions are available, as well as a ticket lottery, allowing patrons the opportunity to snag up to two $25 tickets with the best available seating two hours prior to each show time. The National Theatre is located at 1321 Pennsylvania Avenue NW.
Folger Theatre
Folger Theatre at the Folger Shakespeare Library features visiting companies performing Shakespearian titles in their beautiful Elizabethan Theatre. Though a little on the pricier side, this venue offers subscriptions and discounted tickets through the Folger Box Office for students, teachers, military, seniors, and groups, as well as an array of free events. During your visit, don’t forget to tour the exhibition hall before curtain and pack a picnic for the Elizabethan gardens when the show is over. The Folger Theatre is located at 201 East Capitol Street SE.
Imagination Stage
Just outside of Washington DC theater limits, this Bethesda theater is a fantastic choice for attending performances with your children. Featured performances are free of violence and profanity, making them a good fit for little eyes and ears. Tickets are affordably priced in the $10-25 range, with great group discounts. The Imagination Stage is located at 4908 Auburn Avenue in Bethesda.
Capitol Hill Arts Workshop
The Capitol Hill Arts Workshop (CHAW) offers the biggest Washington DC theater steal, with $15 tickets and shows featuring resident performers presenting Shakespearean transformations. CHAW is located at 545 7th Street SE.
Studio Theatre
Studio Theatre is an intimate venue, known for its fresh, funny, and provoking contemporary plays. Moderately priced tickets help keep your checkbook out of the red. Check out their upcoming performances for pricing and rates. Studio Theatre is located at 1501 14th Street NW.
Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
The Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company is nationally recognized for its new, edgy, quality work. Past shows include “One Man Star Wars”, “America: All Better!”, and “Famous Puppet Death Scenes”. Prices start at $35 for current shows, or just $20 for students and patrons under 30. Military, police, and firefighters qualify for a 10% discount on up to four tickets. In addition, the Woolly offers Pay-What-You-Can tickets for the first two performances (usually Monday and Tuesday) of every production, sold two hours prior to showtime. The Woolly Mammoth is located at 641 D Street NW.
Source Theatre
Home to Washington Improv Theater, Source Theatre serves as a home for a variety of Washington DC theater troupes. Check out their broad array of shows, including hilarious improvisations performed on elaborate sets of other productions. Ticket prices vary based on performances. Check out the calendar for upcoming events. The Source Theatre is located at 1835 14th St NW.
It’s time to stop sitting on the couch watching Netflix every weekend. Get out into the Washington DC theater scene and enjoy a little culture with your entertainment for a change. There you go – put down the remote – slowly…. slowly… Good job!
Photo by Wally Gobetz, Kate Mereand-Sinha, dctourism, Imagination Stage Flickr, Matt, thisisbossi, Matt Woolner, thisisbossi
Suzy S.