A Black man in an army uniform stands his ground atop Tulsa’s Standpipe Hill, bearing witness to the destruction and desecration of Tulsa’s Greenwood District — but other forces, both friendly and hostile, conspire to remove him. A play in conversation with Tulsa, Oklahoma’s 1921 race massacre, The High Ground offers a complex portrait of what it means to root, to resist and to proceed from devastation.
Virginia National Ballet presents “Life in the Fast Lane”: three riveting contemporary ballets to iconic musical selections that will have you on the edge of your seats! First on the program is Ravel’s “Bolero”, followed by “Bohemian Rhapsody”, ending with Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons”, with a twist. VNB’s award winning Artistic Director Rafik Hegab has choreographed all three works, which will be danced with athleticism and aplomb by VNB’s group of international professional dancers. “Bolero” is Ravel’s most famous composition, with a repeated melody that builds with different orchestration at each phrase, ending in a powerful climax. “Bohemian Rhapsody” features many of Queen’s greatest hits and some deep tracks. Prepared to be rocked! And lastly, Vivaldi’s Four Seasons will take you on a journey with its powerful rhythms and famous musical phrases, with some selections rewritten by contemporary composer Max Richter. VNB is the 2022 Winner of The Best of Prince William in 3 categories: Best Performing Arts Company, Best Choreographer, and Best Dance School.
Three Black queer men sit in an ethereal waiting room inviting audiences to join them in a whimsical theatrical experiment that is equal parts harrowing, hilarious, and hopeful. Inspired by his own HIV diagnosis and the resilience of the LGBTQ+ community, award-winning playwright Donja R. Love shines an honest light on the people behind the statistics in this “defiantly life-embracing” (The New York Times) new play.
When American conflict photographer Mia wakes up in her ex-girlfriend’s Istanbul apartment, she doesn’t recall how she got there but the contents of her camera might. A cross-cultural, time-shifting journey ensues as Mia pieces together the details of her past and wrestles with the costs of her profession. A heartfelt and suspenseful new play from award-winning dramatist Mona Mansour (Mosaic’s The Vagrant Trilogy), Unseen implores audiences to look deeper into the photographs of war and see the souls at stake.
Eric, a classical pianist, and Bilal, a jazz musician, are brothers by blood, united through a love of music but separated by prison bars. When Bilal’s trial reveals hidden secrets and unexpected truths, the young men are forced to ask whether their love, and music, can withstand betrayal? Inspired by true events, award-winning playwright and breakbeat poet Idris Goodwin’s acclaimed Bars and Measures is a moving play with music that reflects on faith, family, and politics with equal parts imagination and intensity.
PLAYING BURTON is a fascinating one-man show about the storied life of international star of stage and screen, Richard Burton. This play offers a penetrating look at the notorious actor’s life—from growing up in an impoverished mining community in South Wales to becoming one of the greatest performers of his generation. PLAYING BURTON is an intense and personal look at his lifelong achievements as an artist, his passionate, yet tempestuous love affair with Elizabeth Taylor, and his tragic, yet public battle with alcoholism. The lyrical, poetic text is a soulful exploration of fame, ambition, and identity told from the perspective of the megastar who experienced it all. Acclaimed actor Brian Mallon (Gods and Generals and Gettysburg), reprises the role of Burton with expertise. In 2005, he performed this play at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe to great accolades. Mallon also played this role in NYC, LA and Cardiff. His fluency in Welsh provides genuine authenticity, as that was Burton’s first language. Don’t miss this powerful drama by DC’s premier international theatre company.
Inspired by Gayle F. Wald’s book Shout, Sister, Shout!, this new musical tells the story of Sister Rosetta Tharpe—one of America’s most influential rock, R&B and gospel crossover singers and guitarists. Ambitious, courageous and uncompromisingly public, Tharpe became a pioneer of the women’s movement for racial and sexual equality and musical legend who redefined the national and international music scene in the 1930s and 40s and beyond. Dive into Cheryl L. West’s spirited, authentic and emotionally charged story about a charismatic music forerunner and the authentic roots of rock-and-roll.
Join the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future as they lead the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge on a journey of transformation and redemption. Originally conceived by Michael Baron, this music-infused production captures the magic and joy of Dickens’s Yuletide classic. Acclaimed actor Craig Wallace returns to play Ebenezer Scrooge in a production heralded as a “rich visual and vocal treat” (TheaterMania) and “infectiously jolly” (The Washington Post).
CATS, the record-breaking musical spectacular by Andrew Lloyd Webber that has captivated audiences in over 30 countries and 15 languages, is now on tour across North America! Audiences and critics alike are rediscovering this beloved musical with breathtaking music, including one of the most treasured songs in musical theater—”Memory”. Winner of 7 Tony Awards® including BEST MUSICAL, CATS tells the story of one magical night when an extraordinary tribe of cats gathers for its annual ball to rejoice and decide which cat will be reborn. The original score by Andrew Lloyd Webber (The Phantom of the Opera, School of Rock, Sunset Boulevard), original scenic and costume design by John Napier (Les Misérables), all-new lighting design by Natasha Katz (Aladdin), all-new sound design by Mick Potter, new choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler (Hamilton) based on the original choreography by Gillian Lynne (Phantom) and direction by Trevor Nunn (Les Misérables) make this production a new CATS for a new generation!
TWB presents this beloved, time-traveling fairy tale. In an illustrious kingdom from long ago, iconic fairytale characters, opulent and imaginative sets and costumes, and classical ballet will light up The Kennedy Center.
The world’s greatest entertainers unite for a spellbinding and incredible holiday production – A MAGICAL CIRQUE CHRISTMAS! Experience the enchantment of Christmas as Magical Hostess Lucy Darling takes you through an evening of dazzling performers and breathtaking cirque artists, accompanied by your favorite holiday music performed live. Get into the spirit of the season with this merry treat that’s perfect for the entire family. A MAGICAL CIRQUE CHRISTMAS opens December 16, 2022 and is a theatrical event recommended for all ages. Children under 4 are not permitted in the theatre. The show runs approximately 2 hours.
After 25 years, CHICAGO is still the one musical with everything that makes Broadway shimmy-shake: a universal tale of fame, fortune, and all that jazz, with one show stopping song after another and the most astonishing dancing you’ve ever seen. No wonder CHICAGO has been honored with 6 Tony Awards®, 2 Olivier Awards, a Grammy®, and thousands of standing ovations. As we celebrate our 25th anniversary — you’ve got to come see why the name on everyone’s lips is still…CHICAGO.
NEW JACK CITY LIVE will be a mirror image of the emotion and grit that immediately turned New Jack City into instant, movie magic. It takes place in the same metropolis-Harlem, NY where drug kingpin Nino Brown takes over a housing project and transforms it into a fortress-like crack house. Nino and his gang, the Cash Money Brothers, will ply their trade with total impunity– one crime family will still be bonded by blood and forged together through friendship. Set to the soundtrack of some of the most quintessential songs from the film, NEW JACK CITY LIVE will give audiences across the nation an opportunity to relive all their favorite, intense, heart-pounding moments from the blockbuster movie as they experience classic theater storytelling as shared through the culturally astute lens of four-time national championship playwright and NAACP Trailblazer Award recipient, Je’Caryous Johnson. NEW JACK CITY LIVE will open November 10, 2022 and is a theatrical event recommended for ages 18 and up. No one under 12 admitted. The show runs approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes, including one intermission.