Opening This Month
January 2 through 26, Washington Stage Guild has the local premiere of The Old Masters, Simon Gray’s play about an art critic and an art dealer who meet outside Florence early in Mussolini’s regime.
January 8 through 19, Forum Theatre presents Meena’s Dream, a new play by Anu Yadav about a young Indian-American girl who asks for supernatural help when her mother is gravely ill.
At Studio Theatre January 8 through February 23, David Muse directs Tribes, British playwright Nina Raine’s comedy/drama about a young deaf man at odds with his family over the best way to communicate.
Synetic Theater takes on Twelfth Night as the latest work in its Silent Shakespeare series. Company cofounder Irina Tsikurishvili stars as Viola. January 9 through February 16.
January 10 through February 16 at Arena Stage, Daniel Beaty stars in The Tallest Tree in the Forest, a show by Beaty about actor/singer and civil-rights activist Paul Robeson. Tectonic Theater Project’s Moisés Kaufman directs.
At the Anacostia Playhouse January 11 through February 2 is The Gin Game, Donald L. Coburn’s Pulitzer-winning play about a couple who make friends in a nursing home. Playhouse owner Adele Robey stars.
Constellation Theatre Company presents Scapin, an adaptation of Molière’s comedy about the scheming servant of a wealthy man. At Source January 16 through February 16.
January 16 through March 2, Shakespeare Theatre presents The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde. Keith Baxter directs.
Rorschach Theatre stages Glassheart, Reina Hardy’s contemporary spin on the story of Beauty and the Beast. January 17 through February 16.
Maurice Hines, who until recently was starring in his own show at Arena, directs Ella Fitzgerald, First Lady of Song at MetroStage, a show he also conceived and choreographed. January 23 through March 15.
At Ford’s Theatre, Jeff Calhoun (Newsies) directs Violet, a musical adaptation of Doris Betts’ The Ugliest Pilgrim, about a disfigured young woman who travels to Tulsa to be healed. January 24 through February 23.
Keegan Theatre presents The Best Man, Gore Vidal’s play about two political candidates going head to head during primary season. January 25 through February 22.
At the Kennedy Center January 28 through February 16 is Peter and the Starcatcher, a Peter Pan prequel adapted from a 2004 novel by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson. The show won five Tony Awards in 2012.
January 28 through March 9, the Folger stages Richard III, Shakespeare’s account of the monarch’s path to the throne and his short-lived reign. Drew Cortese stars.
January 29 through February 23, Olney Theatre presents How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, which won the Tony Award for Best Musical in 1961.
January 29 through February 23, Natsu Onoda Power directs David Henry Hwang’s Yellow Face at Theater J. The show explores notions of race, culture, and identity.
Last Chance
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum closes at Shakespeare Theatre January 5. Our review.
Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner closes at Arena Stage January 5. Our review.
The Apple Family Plays close January 5 at Studio Theatre. Our review.
Elf the Musical closes at the Kennedy Center January 5. Our review.
The Pajama Men: Just the Two of Each of Us closes January 5 at Woolly Mammoth. Our review.
Edgar and Annabel closes at Studio Theatre January 12. Our review.
Our Suburb closes at Theater J January 12.
The King and I closes at Olney Theatre January 12.
Flashdance—the Musical closes at the Kennedy Center January 19. Our review.
Gypsy closes at Signature Theatre January 26. Our review.
Other Events
January 6 and 13, NT Live screens Frankenstein from the National Theatre in London, starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller in alternate roles on both dates.
January 17 through 19, the In Series and the Washington Ballet Studio Company join forces for La Vie En Rose, a show celebrating French culture from Berlioz to Edith Piaf.
Performer Natascia Diaz performs in two cabaret shows at Strathmore January 25.
