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Free Performance Tonight at 7:30 pm

The Way Dogs Do , a 10 character murder mystery incorporating dance, video, and live music. .At the Embassy of Austria,3524 International Court, N.W., Washington, DC.  Reservations required. Call 202-895-6776 or rsvp@austria.org.
For more discounts, click here.

Slate thinks Washington is a Second-Rate Theatre City.  What do you think?

Slate, an online magazine which specializes in telling people how to think about politics and culture, has done President-elect Obama the favor of telling him how he should think about Washington, D.C. - his new home. And, in a stunningly economical move, Slate, rather than surveying the current state of Washington culture, simply recycles the advice it gave to President Clinton in 1993 - with “glaringly dated references edited out”, Slate assures us.

Here’s what Slate says about Washington theatre, then and now:

“The theater is still second-rate at best.”

Hmmm? (more…)

Hugh Panaro in Les Miserables

Hugh Panaro, Broadway’s renowned Phantom in Phantom of the Opera earned him critical raves, opens the ArtSpeak! season with an evening of entertainment, songs, and conversation, this Wednesday, November 5 at 7:30 pm (more…)

Landless Theatre is throwing out a costume challenge to its audiences coming to see its show about the zombie rock band Diamond Dead on Halloween: best costume - and they are the judges of that - wins $100.  Diamond Dead is being reprised from its Capital Fringe debut for two 10:30 pm performances only: Fri & Sat, Oct 31 & Nov 1 at Warehouse Theatre, 1017 7^th Street NW. Tickets: $15. Order on the site.

Meanwhile, Landless’ President Harding Is a Rock Star opens at DCAC tonight and runs through Nov 30.

Beginning tonight, and extending over these last few days running up to the Nov 4 presidential election, XX (eXtreme eXchange) and Georgetown University -  are presenting their examinations, not of the candidates, but of the voters themselves. (more…)

Naomi Jacobson, the chameleon-like character actor whose work in such diverse pieces as A Bridge Too Far, Maria/Stuart, Dead Man’s Cell phone and State of the Union has won her widespread Washington critical acclaim, has been awarded a Lunt-Fontanne Fellowship by the Ten Chimneys Foundation, the Foundation announced yesterday. (more…)

We are sad to report that the Firebelly Production of Mr. Marmalade due to open in October, has been cancelled. While there were several reasons, including illness within the cast, Firebelly producer Barbara Walthall told us, the final decision to cancel was made clear by an email received yesterday.  The flegling company was told their funding from the state of Virginia, which had already been pledged for the second half of their season, would be reduced by 82% due to state cutbacks. (more…)

by Lorraine Treanor

 1st Stage, a new professional theatre company has debuted in the Spring Hill/Tysons area and in its own brand new theatre space. Had they consulted economists, the 1st Stage group of friends might not have proceeded with plans to take on the responsibility of building a new theater space in a climate of economic downturn. (more…)

Today  on the League of Washington Theatre’s website,  3500 free tickets were swooped up by theatre enthusiasts within 25 minutes, all part of the third annual Free Night of Theater. So while the free seats are gone, there are still some very good deals to be had on the site. The offers range from $5 off to 50% off for sixteen upcoming productions.  Click here to check out these FNOT discounts.

Twenty four professional companies in the area are offering 3500 free tickets as part of the national Free Night of Theater 2008, sponsored here by the League of Washington Theaters.

Tickets go on sale this Wednesday, October 1^st at noon. Those online may place only one order (for no more than 2 tickets) per person. If this year is anything like previous years, most seats will be gone in the first 15 minutes, so the best strategy is to decide on your top choices - information is below - (more…)