Arena Stage

This article is about the theatre in Washington, D.C.. For the stage type, see Theatre in the round.
Arena Stage

Theatre Logo
Formation 1950
Type Theatre group
Purpose American Plays & Playwrights
Location
Artistic director(s)
 Molly Smith
Website arenastage.org

Arena Stage is a not-for-profit regional theater based in Southwest, Washington, D.C. It was a pioneer in 1950 of the Regional Theater Movement.

It is located at a theatre complex called the Mead Center for American Theater since its opening in 2010 after extensive renovation; this included construction of a third small theater in a complex with two stages: one a theatre in the round and the other a proscenium style. The Artistic Director is Molly Smith and the Executive Producer is Edgar Dobie. It is the largest company in the country dedicated to American plays and playwrights.[1]

It commissions and develops new plays through the American Voices New Play Institute. Established in 1950, the company now serves an annual audience of more than 300,000.[1]

Its productions have received numerous local and national awards, including the Tony Award for best regional theater.

History

The theatre company was founded in Washington, DC in 1950. Its first home was the Hippodrome Theatre, a former movie house. In 1956, the company moved into the gymnasium of the old Heurich Brewery in Foggy Bottom; the theater was nicknamed "The Old Vat". The brewery was demolished in 1961 to make way for the Theodore Roosevelt Bridge and the Kennedy Center.[2]

In 1960, the company moved into its current building complex, which was built for them. The theater company's home is near the Washington, D.C. waterfront on the Potomac River, at 1101 Sixth Street SW.

One of the founders, Zelda Fichandler, was its artistic director from its founding through the 1990/91 season. Douglas C. Wager succeeded her for the 1991/92 through 1997/98 seasons. The current artistic director, Molly Smith, assumed those duties beginning with the 1998/99 season.[3]

Arena Stage was one of the first not-for-profit theaters in the United States and was a pioneer of the Regional Theater Movement. Arena was the first regional theater to transfer a production to Broadway; its The Great White Hope, which opened at Arena Stage in 1967, went on to Broadway with its original cast, including James Earl Jones and Jane Alexander in the lead roles. In 1973, it was the first regional theater invited by the U.S. State Department to tour behind the Iron Curtain. In 1976, Arena Stage became the second theater outside New York to receive a special Tony Award for theatrical excellence. (The first went to Robert Porterfield of the Barter Theatre in 1948.)[4]

Renovation 2008 - 2010

A major renovation of the facility was undertaken from 2008 through 2010. The architect was Bing Thom Architects of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada who contracted Fast + Epp consulting engineers to design the main columns for the building.[5] The Fichandler Stage and Kreeger Theater were largely untouched, but the theaters' connecting structures were demolished, including lobbies and offices. The two stages are now surrounded by a glass curtain wall and incorporated into a larger building.

A third, new small theater was added in the renovation, called "The Kogod Cradle," for new and developing productions. This new space seats 200. The new building includes an expansive central lobby and the Catwalk Cafe.[6][7][8][6][9]

The entire $135 million complex has been renamed "Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater" in honor of supporters Gilbert and Jaylee Mead.[10][11] Arena Stage re-opened for the season in October 2010; the capacity of its three theatres follows:

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater. Photo by Nic Lehoux, courtesy Bing Thom Architects.

The three theaters are connected by a large central lobby, and the Center includes a restaurant, rehearsal rooms, classrooms, production shops, and offices. For the first time in the company's history, all staff and operations are under one unifying roof.[8][11][12][13] The three-stage theater complex is now the second-largest performing arts center in Washington, DC, after the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.[14]

Current season's productions

2015-2016 Season[15]

Notable Performers

Notable events

The Washingtonian magazine, as part of its 50th anniversary commemoration, identified the Arena Stage's production of The Great White Hope as one of "50 Moments That Shaped Washington, DC".[16]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Putting the American Spirit in the Spotlight". Arena Stage. Retrieved 2012-06-15.
  2. ↑ Peck, Garrett (2014). Capital Beer: A Heady History of Brewing in Washington, D.C. Charleston, SC: The History Press. p. 126. ISBN 978-1626194410.
  3. ↑ Paller, Rebecca."From Alaska to DC With Arena Stage's New Director, Molly D. Smith", Playbill: Arena Stage, February 5, 1998
  4. ↑ "1948 Tony Award Winners". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved 2008-08-11.
  5. ↑ http://www.structuremag.org/article.aspx?articleID=1397
  6. 1 2 Bernstein, Fred A. "Washington’s Fresh Coat of Greasepaint", New York Times, 5 October 2010
  7. ↑ Zongker, Brett. Associated Press, "DC's Arena Stage opens $135M home with big plans", Boston.com, 28 October 2010
  8. 1 2 Russell, James.arena-stage-135-million-d-c-revamp-makes-concrete-sexy-james-s-russell.html "Arena Stage 135 Million DC Revamp Makes Concrete Sexy", bloomberg.com, 27 October 2010
  9. ↑ BWW News Desk. "Arena Stage Updates Concessions and Dining Options with Catwalk Cafe", broadwayworld.com, 10 August 2011
  10. ↑ Marks, Peters."Arena Stage to Expand Its Season From Eight to 10 Plays This Fall",Washington Post 10 April 2008
  11. 1 2 3 Marks, Peter (February 17, 2010). "A new First Act". Washington Post. p. C1.
  12. ↑ Jones, Kenneth.Arena Stage Opens Its Doors to the World at Oct. 23 "Homecoming," With Alumni Stars" playbill.com, October 23, 2010
  13. ↑ McDonough, Kathleen."Arena Stage: So Nice to Have You Back Where You Belong!", DCMetroMagazine.com
  14. ↑ Zongker, Brett."DC's Arena Stage opens $135M home with big plans" boston.com, October 28, 2010
  15. ↑ Pressley, Nelson. "Nottage play and new rock musical among Arena Stage’s 2015-16 offerings" "The Washington Post", February 12, 2015
  16. ↑ "50 Moments That Shaped Washington, DC". Washingtonian Magazine. 30 September 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.

External links

Coordinates: 38°52′38″N 77°01′13″W / 38.87722°N 77.02034°W / 38.87722; -77.02034

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