Anacostia Playhouse

Tickets

Back By Popular Demand!: Word Becomes Flesh

The puppets are in residence!

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Shows are free and are at 10:30 Saturday mornings on the following dates:
April 8
June 24
September 2
September 23
The Shakespeare for the Young puppet show, led by Annie Houston, will be performing at the Anacostia Playhouse through September! This theatrical company of puppeteers is dedicated to bringing Shakespeare to young children, ages 2 and up, through a fun and interactive experience. Their most recent production is “Midsummer Magic,” which tells the fairy story from Midsummer Night’s Dream. Annie and her gang are working on a new show that will premier later this year. All shows feature a workshop after the performance with song, movement and interactive play.

Unsaid by Jared Shamberger

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Unsaid is a brand new solo act written and performed by DC actor/director/playwright Jared Shamberger. Through a dozen different characters, he explores the nature of secrets and the messy, unpredictable, and sometimes comical effects of confession. Join Jared as he discovers if salvation can be found in the things we don’t say.

Dates:
August 25th, 8 pm
August 26th, 8 pm

Box Office- 7 pm
Doors Open- 7:30 pm

Click Here for Tickets!

Word Becomes Flesh

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With brutal honesty and raw physicality, Word Becomes Flesh is a series of letters from a young black man to his unborn son. The award-winning performing ensemble, director, and design team will return to Theater Alliance for this encore production that uses hip-hop, dance, and music to explore what it means to be a black man in the 21st century.

Word Becomes Flesh is being presented as part of the Words Becomes Action Festival, a series of new works from local artists, workshops, and conversations that articulate the diversity of the African-Diaspora, asks important questions, invite action, and incite change! Theater Alliance will partner with a number of nonprofits to provide our audience the resources to put words into tangible action and bring real change to our community!

Website:
https://theateralliance.com/portfolio/word-becomes-flesh/

Ticket:
https://theateralliance.secure.force.com/ticket#details_a0S0P000004KMOSUA4

WORLD PREMIER OF:The Very Last Days Of The First Colored Circus

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From the creators of last year’s Helen Hayes Awards recommended hit, “Chocolate Covered Ants,”Restoration Stage, Inc. returns with a redemptive new story of love, loss, and family set against the backdrop of the 1927 Charles County Fair.  Written by the 2016 Arena Stage Playwriting Fellow  Steven A. Butler, Jr. and directed by Courtney Baker-Oliver, “The Very Last Days of the First Colored Circus” is an epic story that you won’t soon forget. Butler’s intense and heartwarming drama about the plight of Black Entertainers in 1920’s America is laced with infectious musical performances and set in his rural hometown. This must see production showcases a rare moment in local African American history and is a love letter to the complicated lives, love, and loss of the forgotten Black circus performer. The show received rave reviews in its debut workshop presentation earlier this year.

“A hugely satisfying saga bursting with heart, humor, and song.” ~DC Metro Theatre Arts

“Musical sequence in the second act makes you sit up straight.” ~The Washington Post
“Butler has the grit and talent to go far.” ~DC Theatre Scene

THE PLOT:

“The Very Last Days of the First Colored Circus” tells the story of how Butler’s great-great grand parents Ollie Tyson and Ruby Dyson fell in love and settled in La Plata, Md. Interweaved into the intense drama is original and 1920’s music guaranteed to put you on the edge of your seats. As the performers navigate the struggles that Black performers had to endure in order to survive doing the art they loved, they persevere with noble dignity and remarkable courage.

“The Very Last Days of the First Colored Circus” is written by Steven A. Butler, Jr. and is directed by Courtney Baker-Oliver(Duke Ellington School of the Arts). Baker-Oliver and Christopher John have composed original songs. Wilkie Ferguson(Motown, the Musical) is the Musical Director. Raquis Petree (Set It Off, the Musical) is the Choreographer. Desire Dubose is the Assistant Director. Baker-Oliver, Butler, Suli Myrie and Rikki Howie Lacewell are producers.

 

“The Very Last Days of the First Colored Circus” runs October 19– November 12, 2017 at the Anacostia Playhouse (located at 2020 Shannon Place, SE, Washington DC  20020).

 

Tickets are $45-55, subject to change and based on availability, plus applicable fees.

 

For tickets and additional information on The Very Last Days of the First Colored Circus and Restoration Stage, Inc. please contact 202-714-0646 or visit www.restorationstage.org

Heart & Soul of Magic

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The stage is empty, slow jazz fanfares as two gentlemen appear. One, delicately materializing money out of the air. The other engages the audience with sleight of hand. The magicians play off each other in a comedic dance of mystery. Throughout the show objects will appear, secrets will be revealed and minds will be blown by these two talented men, Ran’D Shine & George Bradley. They are “The Heart & Soul of Magic”.

About two Gentlemen:

Named the 2016 Magician of the Year, Ran’D Shine is known for a “Different Kind of Deception.” His psychological engaging illusions and sleight of hand has amazed audiences in over 20 countries and hundreds of American cities.  He was even invited to perform at the 44th Presidential Inauguration in Washington, DC. He was also featured on the CW network’s Penn & Teller: Fool Us,  was seen on The BET Network., and he’s one of few Magicians to perform on Guantanamo Bay Military Base in Cuba. Over the past few years Ran’D has become one of the MOST sought after magicians in the industry.

 

For more than 20 years George Bradley has used his talents, including close-up, parlor, and stage magic to delight audiences. George strives to give you a night you won’t forget! The Magic of George Bradley has provided evenings full of amazement and fun for all types of events. He has performed all over the US, London, the UK, Milan, Italy, and for two presidential inaugural balls. With a touch of comedy in his acts, George takes performance to the new level!

 

 

There will be two shows for your enjoyment!

Kids Show: 5 pm, $10

Adult Show: 8 pm, $25

Click Here to get Tickets Now

Videos of Ran’D and George’s work is available on Youtube.

Ran’D: Learn More

George Bradley: Learn More

Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill!

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Starring Anya Nebel !

Directed by Tom Flatt
 
Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill, a play with music by Lanie Robertson, takes place in South Philadelphia in March 1959. Billie Holiday is performing in a run-down bar, during one of her last performances four months before her death in July 1959. She sings, accompanied by Jimmy Powers on the piano, and also tells stories about her life.

Lady Day originally premiered in 1986 at the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia, and played both Off-Broadway and on Broadway.

Musical numbers, performed by Ms. Nebel and a live combo, include these and more:
Anya Randall Nebel  has been a professional actress regionally, nationally, and internationally for the past 25 years. In 2004, she launched Winters Lane Productions (named after the street where her grandmother’s house stood) with the dream of bringing her theatre company to the Metropolitan Area to share and train the next generation of actors in the art of the craft of acting. She also assists with the programming at Anacostia Playhouse where she has both taught, produced and done costume design.
Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill opens at the Anacostia Playhouse on July 15 and runs through August 6
Thursday–Saturday at 8pm, Saturday and Sunday at 3pm
Tickets: $40 general / $30 East of the river, Seniors, Students
Look out for our Special Benefit Fundraising performance Sunday, July 30th 
Tickets and after party with food and entertainment: $80

World Premiere! Still Life with Rocket by Mollye Maxner

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Still Life with Rocket

Conceived and directed by Mollye Maxner

June 8—July 2, 2017

With Etta’s death rapidly approaching, her grown children return home, reviving the wild, reckless, and brutal games of their youth. But when long-buried secrets are resurrected, the games become battles that threaten to tear the family apart. A raucous new performance event that blends theater, dance, and art installation, Still Life with Rocket delves into the fragmenting mind of a dying matriarch and the strength of the family she created.

June 8—July 2, 2017

Anacostia Playhouse

2020 Shannon Pl. SE

 

A Theater Alliance commission, Still Life with Rocket is a non-traditional theater piece. Audience will enter performance space at timed intervals in small groups. Seating is limited. See our website to learn more and secure your timed entry.

Prices:

Adult – $40
Senior/Student/Military – $30

See website for group and Radical Neighboring discounts

Online: www.theateralliance.com

Phone: 202.241.2539

Now open! Theater Alliance’s Mnemonic

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Fiercely relevant to today’s turbulent political climate, Theater Alliance’s production, Mnemonic, uses physically driven storytelling and 21st century technology to reveal a shared humanity in a world that is always moving—by choice or circumstance.

Praised as “a compelling tale for the era of the global village” (Variety), this groundbreaking show—which was created and originally devised by the British theater company Complicite and directed by Simon McBurney—has been updated to reflect American touchstones and world events.

Mnemonic brings to life several interrelated stories. The narrative moves from the journey of a modern woman, Alice in search for her long-lost father in Eastern Europe, to her partner Virgil whom she suddenly left nine months ago, to the discovery of a 5,000 year-old iceman and an investigation into his mysterious fate. These stories will be woven together with vivid movement led by Colin Hovde and Dody DiSanto—director of the Center for Movement Theater and a teaching protégé of Jacques Lecoq himself—alongside expressive visuals from projections designer Patrick W. Lord.

Mnemonic features Scenic Design by Tony Cisek, Lighting Design by William K. D’Eugenio, Sound Design by Matthew M. Nielson, Costume Design by Danielle Preston, and Properties by Alex Vernon.

CAST

Virgil – Carlos Saldaña
Alice – Teresa Spencer
Ensemble – Jon Reynolds
Ensemble – Vanita Kalra
Ensemble – Elena Day
Ensemble – Jonathan Martin*
Ensemble – Michael Burgos
*Member Actor’s Equity Association

Mnemonic will run at:

Anacostia Playhouse
2020 Shannon Place SE
Washington, DC 20020

From March 16 to April 9: Thursday–Saturday at 8 PM; Sunday at 3 PM

TICKETS

Tickets for Mnemonic are available at www.theateralliance.com or by calling 202.241.2539.

Click here for tickets

Full-Price Adult $ 40 (no online ticketing fees)
Student/Student/Military $ 30 (no online ticketing fees)

Group Sales: Groups of 10 or more qualify for group discounts. Please call 202.241.2539 for more information or contact the box office at info@theateralliance.com

Doo Wop Wed Widing Hood ”Wides“ on stage!

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With over 20 local youth on stage, the Playhouse is proud to present Doo Wop Wed Widing Hood, a rollicking 50s musical based on, who else, Little Red Riding Hood. But this one has Big Green Riding Hood, Medium Purple Riding Hood (sisters, of course), a fairy godmother, lords and ladies, a king and queen… oh, and a Big Bad Wolf! You have to see it to believe it. The music is straight out of the fifties so get out your best Fonzie and Greased Lightning apparel and jitterbug on over to cheer on our young performers. There are only five performances so get your tickets early.

Doo Wop Wed Widing Hood is directed by Maryam Foye

Music Direction: Daniel Flores and Quae Simpson
Set Design: Mary Procter
Lighting Design: John Alexander
Costume Design: Anya Nebel
Stage Manager: Jared Shamberger
Assistant Stage Manager: Edwin Brown III

Performances are Thursday-Saturday April 20-22 at 7pm. Saturday and Sunday April 22 and 23 at 2pm.

Click here for tickets

LSS Universal Presents Love and Therapy

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It was the perfect life; the perfect relationship. At least it was during the first 3 years of marriage.

But what happens when one couple’s marriage takes a turn for the worse? The misunderstandings and lack of communications lead Terry and Tasha Owens down a path of emotional distress.

Contemplating the idea of filing for divorce, Terry convinces Tasha to attend marriage counseling to try and save their marriage one last time. Therapist Blair Barnette digs deep and discovers the root of the issue, helping this troubled couple with understanding what they thought was wrong, turns out to be just right.

Premiering live at The Anacostia Playhouse on Friday April 28th at 8 p.m. and Saturday April 29th at 1 p.m., 3 p.m. (SOLD OUT), 5 p.m., and 8 p.m. For more information and additional show dates, click here.

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