The play’s the thing, as William Shakespeare would say, and over the next few weeks plays and musicals will be aplenty for Northern Virginia theatergoers. Whether you’re a fan of comedy or drama, traditional or experimental, young or old, there will be something on the stage that you’ll want to see.
January has already seen a handful of shows that are currently performing—Craving for Travel, Heathers: The Musical, The Fantasticks, [title of show] and La Cage Aux Folles—but you can still be on-hand for opening night at any of these shows:
Winnie-the-Pooh
Jan. 17-March 2
Everybody’s favorite teddy bear must help his friends, Eeyore, Rabbit, Piglet and the rest in the Hundred Acre Wood as they deal with a number of exciting and memorable adventures in this musical adaptation from the Riverside Center’s Children’s Theatre. // Riverside Center for the Performing Arts: 95 Riverside Parkway, Fredericksburg; $14
Superior Donuts
Jan. 18-Feb. 2
From Tracy Letts, the Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, Superior Donuts follows Arthur Przybyszewski, a burnt-out hippie owner of a Chicago doughnut shop who gets a spark of life from a new employee, Franco Wicks, a charismatic and aspiring author who has a past that could come back and bite both of them. // Reston Community Center’s CenterStage: 2310 Colts Neck Road, Reston; $28
Much Ado About Nothing
Jan. 18-Feb. 3
In this classic Shakespeare comedy, Benedict and Beatrice can’t stand each other, but through the manipulations of their friends they each begin to believe that the other has feelings for them. Trouble arises when the impish Don John makes plots of his own. // Dr. A.J. Ferlazzo Building: 15941 Donald Curtis Drive, Woodbridge; $15
Peter Pan
Jan. 18-Feb. 3
Everybody knows the story of Peter Pan and his adventures in Neverland with the Lost Boys, Wendy Darling and Captain Hook, but this adaptation from the Vienna Theatre Company changes things up from Peter to Petra Pan. // Vienna Theatre Company: 120 Cherry St. SE, Vienna; $14
Ain’t Misbehavin’
Jan. 23-March 10
A Tony Award-winning musical featuring the music of Thomas “Fats” Waller, Signature favorites Nova Y. Payton, Kevin McAllister and Iyona Blake will belt Waller favorites like “The Joint is Jumpin’,” “Honeysuckle Rose,” “Handful of Keys” and more. // Signature Theatre: 4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington; $40-$109
Three Sistahs
Jan. 24-Feb. 24
Gospel, rhythm & blues, bebop and funk are the soundtrack to this story, an adaptation of Anton Chekhov’s Three Sisters, as a trio of siblings talk about the promise of their futures as well as the pain and regret of the past. // MetroStage: 1201 N. Royal St., Alexandria; $55
The Phantom Tollbooth
Jan. 26-27
Playing at both the Hylton Performing Arts Center and George Mason’s Center for the Arts, Norton Juster’s classic children’s story is brought to life in this stage adaptation, following Milo as he discovers a fantastical world where he must help its strange and unusual inhabitants. // Hylton Center for the Performing Arts: 10960 George Mason Circle, Manassas & George Mason Center for the Arts Concert Hall: 4373 Mason Pond Drive, Fairfax; $15 (adults), $10 (children)
Cyrano
Feb. 6-March 10
A brilliant poet and brave soldier, Cyrano de Bergerac still lacks the confidence to win the heart of his beloved Roxanne because of his infamous nose. When his friend Christian begins to fall for Roxanne, Cyrano agrees to help him court her by writing love letters supposedly from Christian. // Synetic Theater: 1800 S. Bell St., Arlington; $15-$50
The Wolves
Feb. 7-24
NextStop Theatre cast this Putlizer Prize-nominated story of a high school girls soccer team with all age-appropriate, aspiring local actresses. The play takes place during the girls’ daily soccer warm-ups, revealing the inner machinations of their world. // NextStop Theatre: 269 Sunset Park Drive, Herndon; $35-$60
