With 32 shows rehearsing for September openings, the 2019-2020 season is about to start in earnest and there are some awesome free celebrations going on.
Round House Theatre
Bethesda, MD
August 24
11:30am – 6pm
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With the completion of its massive makeover, Round House Theatre, out of house for much of last year, has returned home. This Open House will be your first chance to see the renovations which begin in the lobby, extend to a new bar and cafe and into the new Carol Sawyer Stage, with curved stage and viewing.
Open House activities include performances and readings, theatre games, improv and stage combat.
Food samplings, live music, special ticket offers and raffles and an arts and crafts area for all-ages.
At 6pm, the party continues with an exclusive preview of Jocelyn Bioh’s School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play.
Arena Stage
Washington, DC
August 24
1pm – 6pm
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Arena Stage celebrates its 70th anniversary season with a full day of live music, performance and family-friendly activities. The afternoon includes performances by Maurice Hines and Leo Manzari, live music, the Arena Stage Props sale from Anything Goes, Kleptocracy, South Pacific, Carousel, a wine and beer garden with lawn games, performances and food from Masala Art, Station 4 and more
Activities include storytelling, pony rides, face painting, jugglers, ribbon dancing, aerialist performances.
Imagination Stage
Bethesda, MD
Saturday, September 7
9:30am – 5pm
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This is the 40th anniversary season for Imagination Stage and they’re throwing a birthday party to thrill even their youngest patrons complete with free sample classes for ages 1 to Grade 5, costumed characters, tours, fun photo ops, a dance party, free performances of Balloonacy (RSVP opens Aug 26) and, of course, a birthday cake.
The Kennedy Center
REACH Pavilion Celebration
Starts Saturday September 7
9:30am-10pm
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The public’s first look at The Kennedy Center’s expanded campus of indoor and outdoor facilities. This celebration starts with a parade “to walk, march, and dance into the future curated by multi-disciplinary visual and performance artist Carrie Mae Weems, in collaboration with David Ross of The MusicianShip and Funk Parade.”
From there the celebration fans out to include nearly 500 free events (with timed-entry reservation, available here) over 16 days ending on September 22nd.
Theatre Week Kickoff Party
Saturday, September 7
Arena Stage
11am – 4pm
Theatre Week (September 10-29), the annual celebration of the new season hosted by theatreWashington featuring free events and deeply discounted tickets, will kickoff with a party at Arena Stage on September 7. Performances, giveaways, meet-and-greets with representatives from theatre companies large and small, and free food and drinks are all on the menu at this rousing celebration of the 2019-2020 theatre season. DC Theatre Scene will be there. Drop by our table to say hello.
Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Sunday, September 15
2pm – 4:30pm
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After being dark for the summer of 2019, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company is ready to re-open their newly renovated lobby space with their launch party Woolly: Fully Open featuring performances by local artists Uptown Boyz, an inter-tribal Powwow drum group, and Crank LuKongo, an Afro Go-Go Roots Music collective. Stop by for exclusive in-person discounts on subscriptions and tickets to Season 40 shows.
