Press Play on DC Theatre

It’s easy to press play nowadays. We sit back on our couches, put our feet up – perhaps snuggled with our significant other – and press the button. Some of these “play” buttons are on our phones, console controllers, the space bar or, if you’re old-fashioned, a remote. While there’s no shame in sitting in front of a screen, there’s still something magical about seeing actions in front of your face. The experience goes beyond HD, no matter how large your screen. So while you’re contemplating whether to use Hulu, Netflix or Amazon Prime, think beyond the living room and venture out to one of your local theaters. Don’t know what to see? Here are some of On Tap’s top picks for the 2016-2017 season.

SEPTEMBER
The Little Foxes
Greed is one of the many roots of all evil, a motivation which makes seemingly good people take drastic measures to better themselves through money or power. The Little Foxes is all about greed, as it focuses on three siblings battling for control of their local cotton mill. Family members plotting against family members in an all-out conquest for resources, the performance will give audiences an opportunity to watch up-close representation of calculating efforts to backstab and other various devious schemes. The show stars two-time Emmy Award winner Marg Helgenberger, famous for her work in CSI as Regina Giddens. Edward Gero will act opposite of the television notable, and believes the classic play is relevant for the audiences of today: “It’s a great American melodrama with a backstabbing family, and it feels very contemporary. It’s instructive about the way in which we live.” The show runs from September 23 to October 30, and tickets start at $55. Check the website for first-come, first-served Pay Your Age tickets for the 30 and under crowd. Post-show discussions will be held on October 11, 12, 18, 26 and 27.   Arena Stage: 1101 6th St. SW, DC;www.arenastage.org

OCTOBER
The Long Way Around
As an integral part of the Women’s Voices Theater Festival, The Long Way Around is a tale about the “free-spirited” Addie, who is faced with making a tough decision on whether to move to the big city of Chicago, where she can live freely as a lesbian, or to remain shackled to her parents’ zip code coupled with a dishonest relationship with her husband Nathan. When faced with any move, people typically build a pros and cons list, but this play is meant to evoke the very difficult questions faced by members of the LGBTQ community when faced with life-altering decisions, with any finality undoubtedly leaving someone unhappy. The play is the spawn of Julia Starr, a senior at Stanford University, where she serves as executive producer of Ram’s Head Theatrical Society. She has gathered a number of accolades in her young career, including awards from Columbia College Chicago and Scholastic. The show runs from October 9 to 25; tickets are $25.  The Highwood Theatre: 914 Silver Spring Ave. #102, Silver Spring, MD; www.thehighwoodtheatre.org

NOVEMBER
A View from the Bridge
The title A View from the Bridge sounds ominous. Perhaps that was intended, as this play directed by internationally celebrated Ivo Van Hove is a passionate tale of family, love and duplicity, set in 1950s America. The narrative follows Eddie Carbone, a man infatuated with his 17-year old niece Catherine. When she develops a relationship with another man outside of their family, Carbone becomes unhinged in a dangerous manner. Kennedy Center is presenting this play in association with the Center Theatre Group in Los Angeles, and Douglas Baker, the group’s producing director, expects people to get goosebumps: “Thrills and chills. This production will leave you gasping for breath.” The show runs from November 18 to December 3. Ticket prices range from $45-$119.  The Kennedy Center: 2700 F St. NW, DC; www.kennedy-center.org

DECEMBER
Titanic: The Musical
James Cameron’s 1997 film has been dissected and discussed at length since Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet’s gut-wrenching performances as Jack and Rose, respectively. With almost 20 years of retrospective takes, the film has been replayed on TV, re-released and adapted. One of the latter is the Tony Award-winning best musical, Titanic: The Musical, which comes to the DMV in December. If you ever watched the film and thought, “Why doesn’t Leo sing more?” then this is essentially your chance to have those waning ideas become a vivid reality, minus DiCaprio, as he’s likely hurting his body in some inconceivable manner in an attempt to pick up another acting accolade. Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer plans to plop audiences in the middle of this unyielding love story, while giving attendees a 180-degree taste of the most famous cruise ship in history. Performances run from December 13 to January 29; check website for ticket details and information about $22 and $40 ticket opportunities. Discussion nights on January 4 and 10.  Signature Theatre: 4200 Campbell Ave. Arlington, VA; www.sigtheatre.org

JANUARY
Hooded: Or Being Black for Dummies
Art is often a representation and reflection of the time from which it was spawned. Whether it be a critique or an accurate depiction through different mediums, any particular piece can offer some information – either subtly or overtly – about the society its creator was dealing with. Terrance Arvelle Chisholm’s Hooded carries this same weight, as it follows the stories of Marquis and Tru, two different people who come in contact while being detained in a holding cell. The production is described as a dark comedy about growing up black in America, discussions of the Trayvon Martin case and being black on a privileged college campus. According to his bio, Chisholm uses theater as a filter in how he sees the world, and his interests revolve around exploring the African American experience. The Mosaic Theatre show runs from January 25 to February 19. Tickets cost $30-$60, and $20 for theatergoers 30 and under.  Atlas Performing Arts Center: 1333 H St. NE, DC; www.atlasarts.org

FEBRUARY
King Charles III
Old English is a tough style to tread through, no matter how good the material. Even when plunging into classics such as Romeo and Juliet, it can be a real pain to sift through the words to get to the heart of the subject matter. However, there exists a gleaming charm in the language, as it represents a time before our own, and makes us rethink the way we structure prose and conversation. Shakespeare Theatre Company (STC) is undertaking the task of creating a contemporary work with the Shakespearean blank verse, creating a marriage of our buzzing modern world and the methodical syntax of the legendary playwright with Charles III. Set in the present, the queen has suddenly died and Prince Charles takes the throne with no idea how to rule. The play is an exploration of British democracy, and another tale of its most famous household. The show runs from February 7 to March 12. Tickets start at $44, and discounts are available for the under 35 crowd. Young Prose Night (YPN) tickets (complete with libation and post-performance party) are available for $25, and YPNs for this performance are on March 1 and 10.  STC’s Sidney Harman Hall: 610 F St. NW, DC;www.shakespearetheatre.org

MARCH
Ragtime
Before jazz, there was a ragtime: a sound with various rhythms that was easy to dance to. The genre has been incorporated and kept alive by numerous jazz musicians, and in the Tony-Award winning musical of the same name. Ragtime, based on E.L. Doctorow’s novel, follows three families reaching for the American dream at the birth of the 20th century. While the show is a beacon of optimism, it also tackles the struggles people face when leaping over hurdles on the track toward the pursuit of happiness. “I hope our production stimulates conversation and incites action,” Director Peter Flynn says. “If audience members from both sides of the aisle come away saying, ‘That reminds me of…’ or ‘I need to talk to…’ then we’ve done our job.” Along the way, attendees will be serenaded by music pulsating with pure energy and melodic vocals. Ragtime runs from March 10 to May 20; check website for ticket details, and for information about the Under 35 discount.  Ford’s Theatre: 511 10th St. NW, DC;www.fords.org

APRIL
Pike St.
Natural catastrophes are largely unavoidable; the crushing winds or enormous waves crashing down on unsuspecting, ill-prepared cities or towns is a terrible phenomenon. Whether it be hurricanes on the coast or tornadoes in the Southwest, people all over the country – and world – face battles with mother nature from time to time. Though these are largely disastrous, sometimes these encounters force people to band together and battle the elements. “[Hurricane Sandy] made me think about what neighbors do for neighbors in situations like these,” says playwright Nilaja Sun of her upcoming piece Pike St. “[The play] was born, and it’s an actual street there, so it’s a love letter to the Lower East Side and a love letter for those who band together in neighborhoods that might be forgotten.” The narrative centers around a mother working to keep her daughter’s respirator alive with a looming hurricane threatening to pull the plug, as well as a host of other neighbors. The show runs from March 27 to April 23; tickets start at $20. Check website for details on 30 and under tickets.  Woolly Mammoth Theater: 641 D St. NW, DC; www.woollymammoth.net

MAY
The Arabian Nights
Originally titled One Thousand and One Nights, the collection of Middle Eastern folk tales has experienced an abundance of success with countless adaptations of what is affectionately known as The Arabian Nights. What began as a collection of stories from various authors has transformed into a revamped stage performance coming to the Constellation Theatre. “ The Arabian Nights is a great night out with something for everyone, from bawdy humor to steamy drama, [and] breathtaking visual design, dancing and live music,” says Allison Arkell Stockman, the show’s director. This is a callback performance for the company, as 10 years ago this show put them on the map, so come and enjoy the litany of stories originally penned centuries ago. The show runs from May 4 to June 4. Tickets cost $20-$45; check website for pay-what-you-can ticket information. Constellation Theatre Company: 1835 14th St. NW, DC;www.constellationtheatre.org

JUNE
Rent
This rock musical took the theater community by storm with its first Broadway production in 1996, with melodic strums and an accurate depiction of the tough lives artists lead while attempting to follow their dreams. In 1997, the show came to the National Theatre, and now it’s back in town for the 20th anniversary tour. “For the past 20 years, Rent has touched the lives of audiences around the world, from Broadway to regional productions to high school auditoriums,” says producer Stephen Gabriel. “We’re thrilled to introduce a new generation to this timeless story of love, friendship and community.” While the “starving artist” motif is perhaps a bit trite at this point, this Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning show strives to prove that people can overcome fear to maintain hope in the spirit of creativity. The show runs from June 20 to 25. Check the website for ticket information and details about Broadway at the National performances through the $25 ticket lottery.  National Theatre: 1321 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, DC; www.thenationaldc.org

JULY
Carmen
Undoubtedly one of the most well-known operas, Carmen was first performed in Paris in 1875. To say the opera has enjoyed a long shelf life is an understatement, as the narrative is still passed around worldwide and represented in various mediums. The story of an ill-fated love triangle and the dangers of love are relatable, as most people experience some level of melancholy in dealing with the occasionally unpredictable aspects of love. With that said, it’s no surprise that Synetic Theater is taking a stab at the attractive subject matter, as the theater usually produces interesting takes on timeless classics. If you’re into watching how feelings can turn into scenarios with high stakes, this is definitely an adaptation worth catching. The show runs from July 19 to August 13. Regular tickets are $35 and up; check the website for more information. Synetic Theater: 1800 S. Bell St. Arlington, VA; www.synetictheater.org

AUGUST
Big Fish
We’ve all overexaggerated when reciting our conquests. The act isn’t exactly lying, rather a simple inflation or two to enhance the tale for our listeners. We likely learn this type of self-editing from our families, as most have heard unique stories from an elder family member. This idea of deciphering the absolute truth and the artificially inflated is a major plot point in Big Fish. The play follows Edward Bloom, a traveling salesman, who captures the imagination of his audiences with captivating retellings of his life – but his son isn’t so sure about the authenticity behind his father’s words. The play is chock-full of heart and humor, and serves as a reminder of how important our family is to us. The show runs from August 5 to September 2. Tickets cost $45-$55. Keegan Theatre: 1742 Church St. NW, DC; www.keegantheatre.com