Beth Newburger Schwartz News

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater is proud to partner with Nationals Park to host a free live simulcast of the Roundabout Theatre Company’s production of Toni Stone on Sunday, September 26 at 7:30 p.m.

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater announces the company for A Thousand Splendid Suns, adapted for the stage by Ursula Rani Sarma and based on the 2007 New York Times bestselling novel by Khaled Hosseini (Kite Runner). Set in 1992 in war-torn Afghanistan, this gripping story centers around a friendship that develops between two Afghan women following a tragedy. While facing insurmountable odds of a brutal and oppressive way of life, the two form an unlikely bond in a heart-rending fight for survival. Directed by Carey Perloff, A Thousand Splendid Suns runs January 17 - March 1, 2020 in the Kreeger Theater.

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater will host the 70th Anniversary Gala, presented by Ourisman Automotive Group, on Wednesday, May 13, 2020 at The Anthem (901 Wharf Street, SW) with Tony and Grammy Award-winning actress Heather Headley headlining the event. The evening includes a cocktail reception, three-course seated dinner and a one-night-only performance featuring a variety of Headley's beloved Broadway songs and personal selections.

Actor and performer Kathleen Turner headlined the Gala, with her one-woman cabaret. Arena Stage is excited to present the Beth Newburger Schwartz Award to Nina Totenberg, in recognition of her ground-breaking reporting in the broadcast world and her continual support of the arts.

Arena Stage Artistic Director Molly Smith and Executive Producer Edgar Dobie are pleased to recognize Lindsey Brittain Collins as an Emerging Leader at the 2019 Arena Stage Annual Gala. The Gala will be held on Tuesday, May 21, 2019 at the Mead Center for American Theater (1101 Sixth Street, SW).

Arena Stage Artistic Director Molly Smith and Executive Producer Edgar Dobie are pleased to announce Lavern Chatman, vice president of business development at EDJ Associates and Arena Board of Trustees member as the chairwoman, and Annie Simonian Totah, Armenian Assembly of America's Board of Trustees member and recipient of their 2018 Distinguished Humanitarian Award, as the honorary chairwoman of the 2019 Arena Stage Annual Gala

Arena Stage announces the presentation of the fourth annual Beth Newburger Schwartz Award to National Public Radio's Nina Totenberg, with actor and performer Kathleen Turner headlining the 2019 Arena Stage Annual Gala. The Gala will be held on Tuesday, May 21, 2019 at the Mead Center for American Theater

The D.C.-area premiere of Turn Me Loose, Gretchen Law's intimate, no-holds-barred drama about the extraordinary and explosive life of Dick Gregory, will receive an additional six performances during its run at Arena Stage. Under the direction of John Gould Rubin, Turn Me Loose now plays through October 21, 2018 in the Kreeger Theater.

Arena Stage will host a silent and live wine auction on Friday, October 26, 2018 at the Mead Center for American Theater (1101 Sixth St., SW). The event is helmed by Arena Stage Trustees Judith N. Batty, Gene Samburg and Beth Newburger Schwartz.

Continuing its cross-country tour, John Strand's critically-acclaimed political drama The Originalist, based on the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, is playing at 59E59 Theaters under the direction of Artistic Director Molly Smith July 14-August 19, 2018. The production recently celebrated opening night, check out the photos below!

Continuing its cross-country tour, John Strand's critically-acclaimed political drama The Originalist, based on the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, will play at 59E59 Theaters under the direction of Artistic Director Molly Smith.

Arena Stage Artistic Director Molly Smith and Executive Director Edgar Dobie recently presented the third annual Beth Newburger Schwartz Award to D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, as well as recognizing Jessica Stafford Davis as an Emerging Leader at the 2018 Arena Stage Annual Gala.

Arena Stage Artistic Director Molly Smith and Executive Director Edgar Dobie are pleased to announce that Broadway legend Maurice Hines will serve as the Master of Ceremonies and international touring artist and global humanitarian Mary McBride will headline the 2018 Arena Stage Gala honoring Mayor Muriel Bowser on Thursday, May 10, 2018 at the Mead Center for American Theater (1101 Sixth St., SW). As previously announced, the Gala features the presentation of the third annual Beth Newburger Schwartz Award to D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, and will recognize Jessica Stafford Davis as an Emerging Leader. The Gala is helmed by event chairs and Arena Stage Trustees Lavern Chatman and Maggie FitzPatrick.

Arena Stage Artistic Director Molly Smith and Executive Director Edgar Dobie are pleased to announce the presentation of the third annual Beth Newburger Schwartz Award to D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, as well as recognize Jessica Stafford Davis as an Emerging Leader at the 2018 Arena Stage Annual Gala. The Gala is helmed by event chairs and Arena Stage Trustees Lavern Chatman and Maggie FitzPatrick, and will be held on Thursday, May 10, 2018 at the Mead Center for American Theater (1101 Sixth St., SW).

Continuing its cross-country tour, John Strand's critically-acclaimed political drama The Originalist, based on the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, will play at 59E59 Theaters under the direction of Artistic Director Molly Smith.

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater kicks off the 2014/15 season with the world premiere of Morris Panych's The Shoplifters, a biting comedy about society's haves and have-nots and how much they might actually have in common. The Shoplifters runs through October 19, 2014 in the Kreeger Theater. BroadwayWorld has photos from the opening night festivities below!

Opening night for SMOKEY JOE'S CAFE-THE SONGS OF LEIBER AND STOLLER was last night (Thursday, May 8) at Arena Stage. Check out the photos below! The show runs April 25-June 8, 2014 in the Fichandler Stage.

Scroll down for photos from the opening night celebration for THE TALLEST TREE IN THE FOREST at Arena Stage in Washington, DC!

The Velocity of Autumn, a new two-character play from Cleveland-based playwright Eric Coble, opened last night at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater under the direction of Artistic Director Molly Smith and by special arrangement with HOP Theatricals, LLC. Check out a look back at the opening night festivities and arrivals below!

With the official opening of Eric Coble's dangerous new play The Velocity of Autumn tonight, September 18 at 8:00 p.m. at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater, the occasion marks Artistic Director Molly Smith's 25th project to direct for Arena Stage and is the first of three projects she will direct in the 2013/14 season, including Kathleen Turner in Mother Courage and Her Children and the world premiere of Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Lawrence Wright's Camp David.Building on 15 years with the company, Smith is steadfast in her focus on American plays and artists.