The Kennedy Center Sets 15th Annual PAGE TO STAGE New Play Festival Lineup
By: BWW News Desk Aug. 18, 2016
The Kennedy Center hosts its 15th annual Page-to-Stage New Play Festival from Saturday, September 3 to Monday, September 5, 2016, featuring more than 50 theaters from the D.C. metropolitan area, all with a mission to produce and support new work.
"Over its impressive 15-year tenure at the Kennedy Center, the Page-to-Stage New Play Festival has become a burgeoning social event for the D.C.-area theater community, and a live workshop for audiences and local writers to actively share, collaborate, and create new ideas," said Robert Van Leer, Senior Vice President of Artistic Planning. "We look forward to seeing what creative new ways this year's talented art-makers choose to engage with the topics of the time, and remain committed to cultivating new artistic works within the D.C. and Baltimore Metro communities."
Hitting historical events, current topics, and imaginations of our future, Page-to-Stage's participants are actively engaged in the regional, national, and international conversations of our time. Their work digs into a spectrum of topics that intrigue and inspire them, and showcases the diversity of the city itself. From fresh participants like Monumental Theatre Company and The Law Theater Project, to established regulars including Venus Theatre Company and African-American Collective Theater, Page-to-Stage presents art by and for arts and culture lovers of all ages.
In celebration of the festival's 15th anniversary, the Kennedy Center's Atrium and Roof Terrace will be transformed into a café and beer garden for the duration of the festival. In partnership with Restaurant Associates, beer, wine, and spirits will be served at a special reduced price. Additionally, there will be a karaoke after-party taking place inside of the Atrium on Saturday, beginning at 9 p.m. On Labor Day, the Atrium will serve free hotdogs, chips, and soda beginning at noon on a first-come, first-served basis, while supplies last.
For the most recent up-to-date schedule, visit the festival website.
PERFORMANCE CALENDAR:
Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Doors open 30 minutes prior to the start of each performance. Seating is limited and subject to availability.
"All ages" readings are specified in the listings below. All other events are not aimed at children and likely have adult language and themes. Age recommendations have been determined by the company.
Schedule and artists subject to change.
Saturday, September 3, 2016
AFRICAN ROOM
Unexpected Stage Company: What Difference Does It Make? Written by Deb Margolin, directed by Christopher Goodrich, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Written by OBIE Award winner and founding member of Split Britches Theater Company Deb Margolin, What Difference Does It Make? is a tragicomic human cartoon located in a telephonocracy-a land where the telephone company's Board of Directors has created its constitution and rules the world. The main characters, Myrtle and Arnold Schmidt, are struggling to reconcile different views on the importance of their own status as fictional characters, and hence the very meaning of their lives. Followed by post-performance discussion. Comedy. Adults only.
The Indian Ocean Theatre Company: A Theist, written and directed by John Sowalsky, 2:30-3:35 p.m. A full-length absurdist comedy which questions the existence of God. The perfect antidote for those who found The God Delusion too strident and God's Not Dead too trite. There are no easy answers, only cheap laughs. Followed by post-performance discussion. Comedy. All ages.
Unknown Penguin: Anatomy of an Infidelity, written and directed by Patrick Flynn. 5:30-7:30 p.m. Famed British broadcaster and science historian James Burke presents the audience with a test in perception. Ryan Hollander commits an infidelity of unknown severity against his wife Cindy Malatesta with a coworker during a party. We never meet the couple in question or know for certain what happened. Instead we follow two couples who know Ryan and Cindy: Julia and Frank, an unmarried but cohabitating D.C. power-couple and Becca and Amelia, a married "average" couple (Becca's an assistant, Amelia's a teacher). The couples all react to the infidelity differently but with a level of moral certainty that is then tested when their significant other does not automatically reinforce their views. Their relationships and views of morality are tested as the characters intertwine and interact. Presented in a Thornton Wilder-meets-BBC documentary style. Followed by post-performance discussion. Drama. Ages 13 and up.
FAMILY THEATER
Pallas Theatre Collective: Crazy Mary Lincoln, written by Jan Tranen & Jay Schwandt, directed by Tracey Elaine Chessum, 2-4 p.m. A new musical exploring the First Family following the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. Mary and Robert Todd grapple with grieving Lincoln and a very new dilemma-does a president belong to the family, or does he belong to the ages? Followed by post-performance discussion. Musical. All ages.
Safe Streets Arts Foundation: Holocaust Images and the Poetry, Art and Music of American Prisoners, written by 30 American prisoners, directed by Argentilhia Boechat, 8-10 p.m. Multimedia presentation showing Holocaust period Jewish family films and Nazi propaganda films while the poetry, art, and music of American prisoners is presented live. Followed by post-performance discussion. Variety. Adults only.
ISRAELI LOUNGE
Ally Theatre Company: Clover, written by Laura Rocklyn and Ty Hallmark, directed by Ty Hallmark, 11 a.m.-12:20 p.m. Gilded Age-era Washington socialite Clover Adams strives to remain calm while coping with her beloved father's death and the possible philandering of her husband. As the story unravels, he discovers darker forces that brew through her family line finally catch Clover in their grasp. Followed by post-performance discussion. Drama. Ages 13 and up.
Catholic University of America MFA Playwrights: Short pieces by CUA MFA Program Students, written and directed by Rebecca Dzida and Garret Milton, 2:30-4:30 p.m. Myth, Faith, and Folklore: Catholic University's playwrights tackle subjects from millennials to virgin birth. Variety. Ages 13 and up.
Rapid Lemon Productions Inc.: The 12th Annual Variations Project, written by D.C. Cathro, Audrey Cefaly, Shelby Chapman, Kevin Costa, Joe Dennison, Kevin Kostic, Michal Roxie Johnson, Justin Lawson Isett, Kimberley Lynne, and Nancy Murray, directed by Lance Bankerd, 7:10-8:10 p.m. The Variations Project-the mid-Atlantic region's original 10-minute play festival-returns for 2016 with Variations on Blame. Followed by post-performance discussion. Variety. Ages 13 and up.
MILLENNIUM STAGE NORTH
City Kids Theatre: Cashall Alley Kids Kick It Old School, written by Ray Ficca and Raya Kenney, directed by Ray Ficca, 11-11:40 a.m. The kids of Cashell Alley procrastinated on a group project for Ms. Henry's history class. At the 11th hour a spring thunderstorm knocks out the power (and internet access) in their Georgetown neighborhood and they have to do some
real-time history gathering so they don't fail or miss their championship wiffle ball game! Followed by post-performance discussion. Family. All ages.
Words Beats & Life: Flattops and F-words, written by Star Johnson, directed by Desiree Springer, 3:30-4 p.m. A love letter to the mothers of Hip Hop, Flattops and F words is a Hip Hop musical that takes us through a day in the life of three young black women in D.C. who meet at a fundraiser for a jailed local activist who is awaiting trial for shooting and killing a police officer. And it's all set to funky, pulsing, '90s Hip Hop beats. The show tackles hard questions about women's place in the Black Lives Matter movement, teeny weeny afros, colorism, and the lack of intersectionality in white feminism (the f word). The action is set to music played by an onstage DJ. Followed by post-performance discussion. Musical. Ages 13 and up.
Playwrights Group of Baltimore: USA 2017, written and directed by members of the Playwrights Group of Baltimore, 7:30-8:50 p.m. How will the events of 2016 change us? What will our nation look and feel like next year? We don't know either, but it's fun to imagine! The Playwrights Group of Baltimore presents a set of 10-minute play prognostications designed to provoke and delight. Followed by post-performance discussion. Variety. Ages 13 and up.
Millennium Stage South
The Highwood Theatre: The Students' Arts Collaborative, Developed by students from The Highwood Theatre and Loiederman Middle School for the Creative and Performing Arts, 1-2 p.m. Students from The Highwood Theatre and Loiederman Middle School for the Creative and Performing Arts present a collection of short scenes, monologues, songs, and previews of the upcoming season. Followed by post-performance discussion. Variety. All ages.
Pinky Swear Productions: Over Her Dead Body, written by John Bavoso, directed by Ryan Maxwell, 6-7:10 p.m. Sing a song of murder, forget the lady's name. Toss her in the water, try not to take the blame. Play a lilting melody on bones and flaxen hair. But they're awake and coming back for you so gentlemen, beware. Over Her Dead Body: A Bluegrass Benediction comes to you fresh from winning the audience awards for Best Musical and Best Overall Show (out of more than 100 shows) at the 2016 Capital Fringe Festival. Musical. Ages 13 and up.
ROOF TERRACE RESTAURANT
Strand Theater Company: Exit Pluto, written by Amy Bernstein, directed by Elena Kostakis, 12:30-1:45 p.m. Betty believes that by running her bakery like a fortress constantly under siege, she will stave off what she fears most and understands least: change. But change is a hungry beast, knocking at the door, and not even the fortress can withstand the pounding. Followed by post-performance discussion. Drama. All ages.
Strand Theater Company: Net Worth, written and directed by Bari Hochwald, 2:30-3:45 p.m. Net Worth takes the audience on a journey of humor, money management and self-reflection as they attend a workshop on personal finances sponsored by the Lions Club of Cleveland, OH. Moving quickly back and forth between teaching in the present and reliving the memories that each subject evokes, our character finds the strength to declare independence from her "Liabilities" and understand the values of her "Assets." Followed by post-performance discussion. Comedy. Ages 13 and up.
FRESHH Inc. Theatre Company: Name Calling, written by Goldie Patrick, directed by Candis Jones, 6-6:50 p.m. What do most girls want to be when they grow up? A lawyer? A teacher? A Goddess?! Name Calling dissects the marginalization of women in their common daily encounters. From grocery shopping to going to work to intimate relationships with lovers, the main character is haunted by the advances, harassment, and stereotypes that plague her. No one seems to know her real name, not even her closest friends. Until the day she can take no more of the rest of the world telling her who she must be, and she must decide how to fight to rename herself. The way she decides to fight surprises everyone, including herself. Followed by post-performance discussion. Drama. Adults only.
Pinky Swear Productions: Mighty Storms, Strange Seas, and the Metro, written by Natalie Piegari, JoAn Cummins, and Brittany Alyse Willis, 8:30-10 p.m. Samples of three works-in-progress from Pinky Swear Productions' resident playwrights: Three stories where the everyday rubs up against the supernatural, the sublime, and the surreal. In Safe As Houses, by Natalie Piegari, a violent storm brings more than just wind and rain as a patchwork family struggles to survive disasters...natural and otherwise. In Abarat, by JoAn Cummins-adapted from the novel by Clive Barker-a young woman must journey through a group of fantastical islands peopled by monsters friend and foe. In Use All Available Doors, by Brittany Alyse Willis, every strange and wonderful Metro story happens at once on a single dreamlike trip down the Red Line. Followed by post-performance discussion. Musical. All ages.
RUSSIAN LOUNGE
Initiative Student Theatre: Question. No Answer, written by Maggie Hirst, Derek Martin, and Hunter Mass, directed by Bonnie Newton, Maggie Hirst and Gabi Wright, 11:30-12:45 p.m. Initiative Student Theatre presents three disquieting one-act plays guaranteed to make you question your ideas about everything from sexual assault on college campuses to coming out and maybe even sexually confident grandmas. Variety. Adults only.
The Kennedy Center's VSA and Accessibility Program: VSA Playwright Discovery Competition 2016. Written by Lukia Artemakis, Ella Brett-Turner, Sophia DuRose and Kaitlyn O'Malley; Emma Filosa, Elijah Gaines and Jaleel Lindsay; Andrew Projansky, and Brad Weatherford, directed by Lori Hudson Wolter, Gregg Wiggans, and Kevin Thorne II, 3-4:15 p.m. Seven award-winning short plays from high school students across the county written on the theme of living with a disability. Followed by post-performance discussion. Drama. Ages 13 and up.
Tonic Theater Company: Dahlia, written by P. Seth Bauer, directed by Kelsey Phelps, 6-7:50 p.m. Based on actual events: Young Josh struggles with the evidence, published by his Uncle Steve, that his Grandfather George Hodel is the murderer in the unsolved Black Dahlia murder case. Followed by post-performance discussion. Drama. Adults only.
SOUTH ATRIUM FOYER
Seventh Street Playhouse: A Musical Medley, written by Anthony E. Gallo & Composed by John Ward, Beatrix Whitehall, Margaret Bagley, Grant Bagley, and directed by Beatrix Whitehall, 12-1 p.m. A medley of musical pieces from four musicals: Lincoln and God, Vandergrift!, Peggy, and David: The Bluegrass Musical. Followed by post-performance discussion. Musical. All ages.
The Essential Theatre: The Bloodless Jungle, written by Peter Lawson Jones, directed by S. Robert Morgan, 2:45-4:15 p.m. An up-and-coming local politician, Ethan St. John is a sitting President's handpicked, Skull & Bones Society-style choice to receive national support in a run for Congress. His success would solidify the President's and his party's power on the House floor. Will the diligence and dedication that endeared St. John and his wife to his local constituents be enough to sustain him? Will the political machine and unrelenting glare of the media crush his dream? This play offers a compelling lesson for every politician and citizen about the limits of friendship when political stakes are elevated. Considering the heightened rancor that characterizes politics today, the story can be torn from the headlines of any news publication. Followed by post-performance discussion. Drama. Ages 13 and up.
Bucharest Inside the Beltway: Andy Is Missing, written by Star Johnson, directed by Tim Abrams, 6:30-7:05 p.m. After surviving a traumatic incident, Andy becomes an agoraphobic who hasn't left her home in two years. One day, without telling anyone she steps out of her front door and starts walking and keeps walking, discovering more about herself and what's become of the world every step of the way. Followed by post-performance discussion. Musical. All ages.
Bucharest Inside the Beltway: Colombo Calling - a play from Sri Lanka, written by Cristina Bejan, directed by Alex Mihali 7:30-9 p.m. Having recently received a Ph.D. from Cambridge, Karthi returns to Colombo for the first time in 22 years. Facing discrimination and racism even as a visitor, Karthi learns what it means to be Tamil in 2006 Sri Lanka. Followed by post-performance discussion. Drama. Ages 13 and up.
SOUTH OPERA TIER LOUNGE
The Washington Rogues: Pillowtalk, and other parts of speech, written by Natalie Piegari, directed by Ryan S. Taylor, 4:30-6:30 p.m. Romance in the 21st century is like a game of sexy Tetris. Pillowtalk, and other parts of speech is a series of interconnected comic vignettes following a group of contemporary young people through relationships across the spectrum of gender and sexuality. A comedy about new love, lost love, and love reignited, told in the language created between two people. And sometimes more. Followed by post-performance discussion. Comedy. Adults only.
Scena Theatre: Illegal Helpers, written by Maxxi Obexer, directed by Robert McNamara, 8:30-10 p.m. A documentary play that deals with the plight of the "illegal helpers" who seek to provide aid and shelter to the migrants-even though it is against the law. A powerful look at a contemporary tragedy that threatens to engulf Western Europe. A sharp look at those who help-and those who callously sit by doing nothing. Followed by post-performance discussion. Drama. All ages.
TERRACE GALLERY
First Draft at the Rose Theater Company: Ginnungagap, written by Keith Bridges, directed by Leslie Kobylinski, 12-1:50 p.m. This exhilarating new play is based on Norse Mythology's term for the "primordial void," "the yawning gap" described as the bottomless beginning of the abyss that was all there was prior to the beginning of the cosmos and into which the cosmos will collapse again. The play follows one man's devastating loss and his struggle to discover the truth about the power of love and human connection. Followed by post-performance discussion. Drama. Ages 13 and up.
Brave Soul Collective: TENFOLD: An Evening of Brave Soul Performances, written by Thembi Duncan, Stanley Z. Freeman, Josette Marina Murray, Jared Shamberger,
Alan Sharpe, and Monte J. Wolfe, directed by Thembi Duncan, Josette Marina Murray, Jared Shamberger, Alan Sharpe, and Monte J. Wolfe, 4-6 p.m. In honor of Brave Soul Collective's 10-year anniversary as a vital arts, education, and outreach organization dedicated to HIV/AIDS outreach & prevention as well as issues affecting the lives of Black LGBTQ people through the performing and healing arts, this "theatrical mixed bag" of monologues and short scenes focuses on a host of hot button issues, including: HIV/AIDS prevention, homophobia, mental health, relationships, sex, gender identity and racism-all within the scope of life "and...the unknown." Followed by post-performance discussion. Drama. Adults only.
African-American Collective Theater: More Than a Mouthful, written and directed by Alan Sharpe, 8-10 p.m. African-American Collective Theater returns, racy as ever, with this tease of its 25th Anniversary Season-another sexy sampler of subversively silly, slyly salacious and even sporadically serious, short plays chronicling life in the black gay community. Followed by post-performance discussion. Drama. Adults only.
Sunday, September 4, 2015
MILLENNIUM STAGE NORTH
Synetic Theater: Dante's Inferno, written and directed by Paata Tsikurishvili, 6-6:45 p.m. A physical theater interpretation of Dante's Inferno through a combination of physical warm-up and excerpts of Synetic's choreography. Followed by post-performance discussion. Drama. Ages 13 and up.
Monday, September 5, 2015
AFRICAN ROOM
Nu Sass Productions: The Veils, written by Hope Villaneuva, directed by Clare Schaffer, 11 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Splitting time between the present wedding planning between Mel and her family, and Mel's time in Afghanistan, The Veils explores the experiences of a soldier coming to terms with being a part of two very different worlds and a woman who isn't sure who she is or what she wants anymore. Followed by post-performance discussion. Drama. Ages 13 and up.
Nu Sass Productions: Oedipus Regina, written and directed by Angela Kay Pirko, 12:50-2:05 p.m. The story has been told and retold, yet once again the Muses gather to try and claim the tale each for their own. Love, death, sorrow, and sacrifice; the damnation of a family as you've never heard it before. Followed by post-performance discussion. Drama. Ages 13 and up.
Playwrights Collaborative: Collaborative Shorts 2016, written and directed by members of Playwrights Collaborative, 3:30-5 p.M. Short plays dealing with current issues. Variety. Ages 13 and up.
The Welders: Girl in the Red Corner, written by Stephen Spotswood, directed by Amber Paige McGinnis, 6-7:45 p.m. When Halo signs up for mixed martial arts lessons, she thinks it might make a good hobby. Her trainer thinks she's a lightweight. Her mother and sister think it's just plain weird. Very quickly she learns that life inside the cage and outside the cage are disturbingly similar. And that the only way to survive either is to fight. Drama. Ages 13 and up.
The Welders: A Welders 2.0 Showcase of New Work, written by The Welders, directed by KenYatta Rogers, 7:45-9:30 p.m. Meet the second generation of The Welders, a D.C.-based playwrights' collective. The Welders are committed to passing on the organization to future generations of D.C. playwrights. This showcase, following the full-length presentation of Stephen Spotswood's Girl in the Red Corner (slated for production fall 2016), will give audiences a chance to get to know the other six playwrights of Welders 2.0 through original ten-minute plays and excerpts. Drama. Ages 13 and up.
ATRIUM
Monumental Theater Company: Wendy, written by Gretchen Midgley and John Henderson, directed by Walter Ware III, 1-2 p.m. Many years after the Peter Pan story has come to a close, a grown Wendy Darling finds her daughter, Jane, on the brink of growing up herself. It takes reliving the magical events of her past for Wendy to rediscover the bittersweet wonders of childhood, growing up, and imagination, and to realize it is her daughter's turn to live the same adventure. Journey second to the right and straight on till morning with Wendy. Musical. All ages.
Forum Theatre: Selections from Forum (Re)Acts, 8-9:15 p.m. (Re)Acts is a community-minded event used to develop immediate artistic responses to current events and pressing topics and to create safe space for progressive conversations. This collection will include pieces from Forum's last three (Re)Acts performances-(Re)Acts: #BlackLivesMatter; (Re)Acts: #RefugeeCrisis; and (Re)Acts: #Orlando. With these topics still overwhelming both our international and domestic conversations, Forum will revive a mix of pieces that feel just as raw, relevant, and worthy of exploration as they did in their original performance.
FAMILY THEATER
Crash of Rhinos: The Lost Chapter of Peter Pan, written by Paul Reisman, directed by Matthew McGhee, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. After returning from Neverland with her brothers and her newly adopted Lost Boy siblings, Wendy doesn't see Peter Pan again until she's grown up with a child of her own. But where was Peter Pan during all those years? What had he been doing and why did he wait until that particular moment to return? Followed by post-performance discussion. Adventure. All ages.
Istijmam presented by Center Stage: Et'teffah/The Apples, written by Abdelkader Allolua, directed by Jamil Benhamamouch, 6-7:15 p.m. Istijmam, a collaborative of theater makers from Oran, Algeria, moves outward from the manifestos of Brecht and Grotowski to repopulate the halga, Algeria's town square, and renew populist traditions of improvisation and physical interaction. A U.S. premiere, Et'teffah/The Apples foregrounds the repression and sectarian schisms that consumed Algeria during the Dark Decade of the 1990s. This gritty, intimate production, full of dark humor and barbed observation, bears witness to Algeria's shadowed past and confronts the complex destiny of the present day. Drama. Ages 13 and up. Presented in collaboration with the U.S. State Department Center Stage program.
ISRAELI LOUNGE
University of Maryland - Department of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies: Goldfish, written by Shupin Yang, directed by Olivia Brann, 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Goldfish explores the theme of love and family setting in a one-child household in contemporary China. The play features on the family relationship of Xiao-Zhong, a young governor who follows his mother's will, even for marriage with Ya-Ting. Two days before the wedding, Xiao-Zhong decides to contact his cousin Yi, whom his mother has forbid him to see. Yi, who has been studying abroad, pays him an unexpected visit and asks him to validate his forged college certificate. Xiao-Zhong helps Li-Yi while Ya-Ting warns him to stay away from Yi. However, an anonymous post about Yi's illegal act puts Yi in the danger of being prosecuted. Will Xiao-Zhong go against his mother and wife to help his cousin? Will he succeed in fixing the relationship with his "brother"? Followed by post-performance discussion. Drama. Ages 13 and up.
University of Maryland - Department of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies: B.W.A. (Black Woman's Anonymous), written and directed by Whitney Geohagan and April Monu, 1-1:30 p.m. This piece explores what it means to be an African American woman in the 21st century, addressing the deep-seated issues these women face. Followed by post-performance discussion. Drama. Ages 13 and up.
Doorway Arts: A Minute in Presidential History, written by Lindsay Adams,
John Bavoso, Patricia Connelly, Rich Espey, Chema Pineda Fernandez, Rich Espey, Patrick Gallagher Landes, Annalisa Dias Mandoly, Warren Perry, and Lauren Jane Redmond, and directed by Matt Ripa, 3-4:30 p.m. Enjoy this theatrical hall of presidents as local playwrights tackle each president one minute at a time. Comedy. Ages 13 and up.
The Law Theater Project, in collaboration with the Rainbow Theatre Project: The IMHO Series 1 Trilogy, featuring Justice Disordered, written by Dr. Samantha M. McDermitt, directed by Christopher Janson, 6-7 p.m. Have you ever wondered what goes on, behind the closed doors of the U.S. Supreme Court's Conference Room, where no records are kept and cases are decided which affect all our lives? Come with us now to Justice Disordered, an accurate, and highly charged tour by First Class "fly-on-the-wall" and watch a very tight case discussed and decided by the nine Justices! Forget legalese! They speak from their "guts," and their views often "crash" into their fellows'. Justice Disordered is Supreme Court drama at its best in one act, focused on very current, cutting-edge, gender discrimination issues. No law school required! Followed by post-performance discussion. Drama. Ages 13 and up.
MILLENNIUM STAGE NORTH
Faction of Fools: Classics Made Foolish - The Threequel, adapted and directed by Paul Reisman, 1-4 p.m. D.C.'s award-winning Fools are back in the factory exploring a physical take on scenes from beloved classics replete with their celebrated brand of comedy and high-flying spectacularity. The audience will get a window into this unique process, including the live- workshopping of a scene and a question-and-answer session. Followed by post-performance discussion. Comedy. All ages.
MILLENNIUM STAGE SOUTH
Arts on the Horizon: Adventures with Mr. Bear, written and directed by Ryan Sellers, 11-11:25 a.m. The wonder and magic of a child's imagination are brought to life in this charming nonverbal production. One cozy winter afternoon, a young girl and her favorite stuffed animal, Mr. Bear, play a game of hide-and-seek which evolves into a series of exciting adventures. Together, they embark on a journey of endless possibilities-all from the comfort of her playroom! Cuddle up with your favorite stuffed animal friend and join us for a sneak peek at this work in progress. Best for ages 2-5. Followed by post-performance discussion. Family-friendly. All ages.
FRESHH Inc. Theatre Company: Just how black?, written by Gianina Lockley, directed by Goldie Patrick, 3-4 p.m. This one-woman show revisits conversations that challenge, accept, and reject the notion that blackness can be defined or (inter)nationally agreed upon. Just how black? uses multimedia to examine the intersections of race, class, ethnicity, and gender, and its impact on our identity. Followed by post-performance discussion. Musical. Ages 13 and up.
Tonic Theater Company: Strings, written by Carole Bugge, directed by Stevie Zimmerman, 8-9:30 p.m. Loosely riffing on a real-life train ride in which American physicists Burt Ovrut and Paul Steinhardt and English physicist Neil Turok tweaked the Big Bang theory, changing it forever. En route from Cambridge to London, the fictional trio discusses science, explores old jealousies and infidelities, and is visited by famous dead scientists Isaac Newton, Marie Curie, and Max Planck. Followed by post-performance discussion. Drama. Ages 13 and up.
ROOF TERRACE RESTAURANT
Venus Theatre Company: Juliana, written by Vanda, directed by Deborah Randall,
12-2 p.m. The Juliana Project, based in New York City, is a group of actors and one writer who monthly perform Vanda's novel, Juliana at The Duplex nightclub. It is about LGBT life in 1940s New York City. Drama. Ages 13 and up.
Venus Theatre Company: The Ravens, written by Alana Valentine, directed by Deborah Randall, 2:10-4 p.m. The Ravens is a riveting drama about Kira, a trying-to-be-ex-sex worker in Kings Cross, Sydney, Australia. When she receives a large victim's compensation payout, her friend Mark, who once saved Kira's life and feels that he is "owed" by Kira, moves back into her life and her flat. But a chance meeting with Nina, a young social work student working at the local chocolate shop, seems like it might give Kira the courage and support she needs to finally get the violent Mark out of her life. An encounter with one of Nina's old age clients at a nursing home focuses Kira's determination but can she get out alone or can she take her friend Nancy, who is working at the Honey Spot strip club and brothel but living in a dominating lesbian relationship? As an evocative radio play, The Ravens won the 2015 BBC International Radio Writing Award from the BBC World Service. As a stage play, it is a visceral, provocative work of fierce insight and compassion for womens' struggle out of violence. Drama. Ages 13 and up.
Arcturus Theatre Company: Indian Summer, by Gregory S. Moss, directed by Ross Heath, Monday, 5-7:10 p.m. When a young man stays with his bereaved step-grandfather for a few months, he becomes entangled in a love triangle with two of the other young residents of the Rhode Island oceanside town in this comic tragedy... or is it a tragic comedy? Drama. Ages 13 and up.
Factory 449: Made You Ugly, written by Elan Zafir, directed by Rick Hammerly, 8:30-9:30 p.m. One man's relationship with love, failure, and the fight to connect. The story of a father's exploration of sex, death, science fair projects, and the holocaust...fast cars, bedtime stories, Neil Sedaka, losing everything you love, and the unpaved road back to that little boy you call "son." Followed by post-performance discussion. Drama. Adults only.
RUSSIAN LOUNGE
All of the Above: A Very Present Presence, written and directed by Ann Timmons, 12:30-2:20 p.m. When daily pressures become too much for Alice, she flees her home and almost-grown children to enjoy the solitude of the family farmhouse retreat. Her plan to have time to sort things out is thwarted, however, by a surprise visitation from a "spirit guide" who used to be her Great Aunt Nell. With Nell, Alice takes a journey through memory and history, and learns that her problems spring from sources deeper than she imagined. Followed by post- performance discussion. Comedy. Ages 13 and up.
ABG Playwrights and Thelma Theatre: Around the Snake Turn, by Patricia Connelly,
4-6 p.m. Baaba, a woman living in a small African village, questions its religious traditions after her son is accused of rape and she is expected to turn over her daughter to become a sexual slave to the high priest to atone for her son's alleged crime. As Baaba fights to save her children from their fate, she finds herself caught in a struggle between a changing world and one that's holding on to its old ways to preserve its cultural past. Followed by post-performance discussion. Drama. Ages 13 and up.
LiveArtDC: Clara Bow Project, written by Alia Faith Williams, directed by Heather Whitpan, 7:30-8:45 p.m. The rise and fall of the original "It Girl" of the 1920s, Clara Bow. Followed by post-performance discussion. Drama. Ages 13 and up.
SOUTH ATRIUM FOYER
Bowie State University - BSU Theatre: Red Solo, written by Jeremy Keith Hunter, directed by Charles H. Franklin IV, 2-3:40 p.m. The recipe is simple: strength, intelligence, bravery. For Heath, a young artist discovering himself, this requires adherence to strict standards instilled in him by his alpha father: hard work, womanizing, and absolute control. Torn between expectation, promise, and fame, Heath must come to terms with the man he is and the one he wants to be. Followed by post-performance discussion. Drama. Adults only.
American Ensemble Theater: Character Building, by Booker T. Washington; adapted and directed by Martin Blank, 5-6 p.m. A one-man musical for middle, high school, and adult audiences adapted from Dr. Washington's inspirational talks given to his students at Tuskegee University. Musical. All ages.
NextStop Theatre: Still Alive, written by Jonathan Coulton and Ricky Drummond, directed by Ricky Drummond, 7-8:10 p.m. A new musical featuring the music of Jonathan Coulton. The show follows scientist Jon as he fights to survive zombie and robot apocalypses. Musical. Adults only.
SOUTH OPERA TIER LOUNGE
GPC PRODUCTIONS: Shoah Business, written by Jennie Berman Eng, directed by Bridget Grace Sheaff, 2:30-4:30 p.m. NYU Screenwriting student Ivy is tasked with writing a Holocaust screenplay. As she investigates a Mercedes Benz Holocaust labor camp for women, and begins to write about it, she soon discovers writing historical fiction is a great responsibility and carries hefty emotional weight. When she is offered a production deal, Ivy must decide if the requested edits that come along with the deal are worth compromising a true story. Drama. Adults only.
1st Stage: Eat It Too, written by Jennifer Barclay, directed by Johanna Gruenhut, 6:30-8:10 p.m. Brett, a thriving Hollywood actress, returns to her hometown to wreak the most horrific kind of revenge. A dark comedy where the American dream meets the American nightmare. Followed by post-performance discussion. Drama. Ages 13 and up.
TERRACE GALLERY
Baltimore Playwrights Festival: Selections from various productions, by Siegmund Fuchs, David Zax, Robert Bowie, Sharon Goldner, Seth Freeman, and Andrea Markowitz; directed by John Wilson, Barry Feinstein, Miriam Bazensky, and Ryan Haase,
12:30-2:30 p.m. The Baltimore Playwrights Festival has brought its audiences intriguing original plays by Maryland and D.C. authors for 35 years. This time you'll see scenes from six plays ranging from a hilarious and poignant gay support group in the closet (literally and metaphorically) to a riveting story of war correspondent abducted by the Taliban, from a biting satire toying with the notion that Anne Frank is indeed alive and well, to a corrupt businessman's farcical legal team, and from a young man arrested for offending the community with a word (and what a word) on a sign to the 1960s answer to All in the Family. Variety. Ages 13 and up.
Naked Theatre Company: ClickB@it, directed by Rachel Murray and Kevin Place,
4-4:45 p.m. An ensemble-driven, vignette-style show inspired by internet "click bait" and "viral" phenomena, ClickB@it will examine how these elements shape media, permeate social development, and exacerbate news headline 'numbness'-all delivered with a fun, pop-y, sketch sensibility. Followed by post-performance discussion. Comedy. Adults only.
Georgetown University Program in Theater and Performance Studies: Appalachian Nightingale, written by Olivia Duff, directed by Anita Maynard-Losh, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Set in the contemporary mountains of eastern Kentucky, Appalachian Nightingale re-stages the Philomena myth (two sisters, one man, a broken song) in a world that sounds like a tough banjo. Followed by post-performance discussion. Drama. Adults only.
THEATER LAB
Rorschach Theatre: Forgotten Kingdoms, written by Randy Baker, directed by Shirley Sertosky, 1:30-3:30 p.m. On a small island in Indonesia, a wooden house balances on stilts over a churning sea. In this house, Reverend David Holiday tries to convert a skeptical young local whose fate has become improbably intertwined with his own. At stake this night is the life of the young man's father, the future of this island's ancient culture, and the happiness of an American family caught between worlds. As the night turns into morning, the fate of David's haunted young son becomes the biggest question of all. Drama. Ages 13 and up.
Mosaic Theater Company of DC: Hooded, or Being Black for Dummies, written by Tearrance Arvelle Chisholm, directed by Serge Seiden, 6:30-8:30 p.m. This irreverent world premiere comedy set in Achievement Heights, Maryland follows Marquis, a book-smart prep schooler and Tru, a street-savvy drop-out from inner-city Baltimore. Their worlds overlap in a holding cell where both are being detained. Tru observes that Marquis seems to have lost his "blackness" and pens a how-to manual entitled Being Black for Dummies, assuming the role of professor, courtship counselor, and Hip Hop advisor. Marquis returns to school ready to make his mark as he and Tru continue to butt heads, debate, and ultimately prove that Nietzsche and 2pac were basically saying the same thing. Followed by post-performance discussion. Comedy. Adults only.
Page-to-Stage is FREE and open to the public. No tickets required. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Seating is limited and subject to availability. Doors open 30 minutes prior to the start of each performance. There is no free parking for free events.
Need a lift? The FREE Kennedy Center Shuttle, the Center's link to Metro's Foggy Bottom/George Washington University Metro station (blue/orange/silver lines), departs every 15 minutes from 9:45 a.m. to midnight, Monday-Friday; 10 a.m. to midnight, Saturdays; noon to midnight, Sundays; and 4 p.m. to midnight on federal holidays. Free parking is not available when attending free events.
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