As the saying goes, “The show must go on!” After a year without the arts, the region’s local theaters are welcoming guests back with open arms to kick off their fall seasons. From Broadway plays to the family-friendly Grinch musical, head to the theater this season to catch one of these outstanding performances.
Detroit ’67
Streaming through 9/16
Set to a sensational 1960s soundtrack, Dominique Morisseau’s powerful play dives into family struggles, race relations, and other relevant topics. Detailing the events of the 1967 Detroit riots, this play won the Edward M. Kennedy Prize for Drama Inspired by American History.
Jesus Christ Superstar
9/11–9/19
Nonprofit Fauquier Community Theatre is back this fall with a rendition of the smashing stage hit. This outdoor performance features local actors and a live orchestra bringing Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s classic 1970 musical to life.
Bright Star
9/15–10/31
Steve Martin and Edie Brickell wrote and composed this beautiful bluegrass Broadway show, inspired by a real event. Love, redemption, and heaps of self-reflection make this post-WWII-era story (with flashbacks to 1923) feel timeless. Warning: It’s ready to pull at the heartstrings.
Deaf Enlightenment & Arts Festival
9/23–9/25
Join in at the Kennedy Center for a three-day celebration highlighting deaf artists in the community. Co-hosted by the Visionaries of the Creative Arts and National Theatre of the Deaf, the event showcases talents using American Sign Language storytelling, dance, film, theater, and more. Register for this free event starting September 17.
Cartography
10/2
In a spectacular blend of visual arts, storytelling, and filmmaking, Cartography transports audiences into the shoes of refugees from all over the world. The performance is as interactive as it is evocative, pulling viewers into the experience with live sculpture creation on the George Mason Center for the Arts stage. And don’t miss the post-performance Q&A to see how the production was brought to life.
The Madness of Poe
10/11–10/31
Courtesy of the OG horror writer himself, this Synetic Theater performance weaves three of Edgar Allan Poe’s terrifying tales into one spook-tacular show. Prepare for thrills and chills alike.
Hadestown
10/13–10/31
“A love story for today … and always.” Hadestown weaves together two classic tales from Greek mythology, bringing the past into the present through a gorgeous, haunting musical. Witness the King of the Underworld’s love story for yourself at the Kennedy Center.
Alan Cumming & Ari Shapiro
10/15 & 10/16
In Och & Oy! A Considered Cabaret, Scottish actor Alan Cumming and NPR correspondent Ari Shapiro take their storytelling skills to the next level. The two team up in a cabaret performance that will “transport audiences to other worlds.”
Sistas the Musical
11/5–11/14
It’s all about family. Join a group of sisters who are unlocking the secrets of their grandmother and other Black women before her. Follow along as they trace the history of Black women through popular and powerful songs of the 20th century.
La Bohème
11/13 & 11/14
Virginia Opera returns to the stage with Giacomo Puccini’s La Bohème. Emotions run high in this timeless Italian tale as it follows a group of young Parisians who pursue lofty aspirations through their art.
Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical
11/23–12/5
Broadway is back with this Christmas classic. Sing along to timeless bops “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” and “Welcome Christmas” at the National Theatre.
Jane Lynch’s A Swingin’ Little Christmas
12/5
Jane Lynch (known for her roles on Glee and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) partners up with fellow comedian Kate Flannery (Meredith on The Office) for a musical comedy performance. The two will put a holiday twist on their classic cabaret show Two Lost Souls, guaranteeing plenty of laughs and tears.
The Improvised Shakespeare Company
12/7–12/19
No script, no rehearsal—not even a title to the performance they’ll eventually give in front of a crowd of people. The audience actually plays a key role in The Improvised Shakespeare Company’s set, providing suggestions that the group works off organically. The only thing they know for sure is that there will be plenty of “thous,” “thees,” and “thines” to go around.
Iphigenia: A New Opera
12/10 & 12/11
Operatic styles collide in this re-imagined tale based on the original myth. Mixing classical and jazz music as well as ancient times and the modern era, Iphigenia reveals the injustice of misogyny and patriarchal values.
Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations
12/15–1/16
This smashing Broadway hit details the journey of The Temptations through time, following their rock-and-roll history right into the Hall of Fame. This musical biography features jams from the R&B group like “My Girl,” “Just My Imagination,” “Get Ready,” and “Papa Was a Rolling Stone.”
The Ex Files
12/17
Sometimes, the hardest part of getting over a breakup is remembering all the good times that came before. That’s where playlists like “The Ex Files” come in—to remind us of the roller-coaster ride of love we just got off. Performed on stage by nine singers, these tunes take us back through journeys of love we just can’t escape.
Pretty Woman: The Musical
12/28–1/2
Love this iconic ’90s romance? You’ll love it even more on stage, with an incredible score and breathtaking dancing—not to mention the fact that it features that smashing Roy Orbison hit that inspired the movie in the first place. Walk on down the street to The National to grab your tickets today.
Feature image by Matthew Murphy
This story originally ran in our September issue. For more stories like this, subscribe to our monthly magazine.
