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Summer Is Officially Beginning to Be Canceled

See you next time, Hamilton? Your guide to the latest cancellations and postponements.

Photograph by Jeff Elkins
Coronavirus 2020

About Coronavirus 2020

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The arrival of coronavirus cleared spring calendars in Washington, and now, summer events are going on hold, too—many until 2021. Here’s a status update on the events of the season:

This list will be updated.

9:30 Club

Status: Mixed

There are shows scheduled for this summer, but some have been cancelled or postponed, as well as select 9:30 Club Presents at U Street Music Hall events. Chicano Batman on June 27 is postponed and Third Eye Blind on July 13 is cancelled. Visit the venue’s website for show-by-show details.

The Anthem

Status: Mixed

Some events at the Wharf concert hall are continuing as scheduled. DC Jazz Fest, originally scheduled for June 21, is canceled. Tegan and Sara on August 22 is postponed to a later date. Signature Theatre’s production of Mamma Mia! is still slated for June 25 to July 5. Check the website for updates.

Arena Stage

Status: Scheduled

As of now, the 2020/2021 season is still scheduled to begin July 3, with productions of Toni Stone, Celia and Fidel, Catch Me If You Can, and more before year’s end.

The Birchmere

Status: Canceled, Postponed

The Alexandria music hall has cancelled or rescheduled all shows through June 10. Check the website for details on specific shows.

Capital Jazz Fest

Status: Postponed

Originally scheduled for June 5 to June 7, the annual festival is postponed to a not-yet-announced date.

Capital Pride Celebration

Status: Postponed

Capital Pride Alliance postponed June events, including the Capital Pride Parade and Capital Pride Festival.

DC Jam

Status: Canceled

The 4th of July festival, organized by the Foo Fighters, is canceled.

Folger Shakespeare Library Events 

Status: Postponed

The production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and “Shakespeare’s Playhouse,” the theater’s summer collaboration with the National Building Museum, are postponed until July and August 2021. The Tempest, a collaboration with Round House Theatre, was originally scheduled for November 2020; it’s now slated for April 2021. Check Folger’s website for further details.

Ford’s Theatre Events

Status: Canceled

The theater has canceled all public events through June 30 and the national historic site is closed indefinitely.

Imagination Stage

Status: Postponed

The children’s theater institution is closed until further notice. Performances of Metamorphoses and the Annual Children’s Festival are postponed. New dates have not been announced.

Kennedy Center Events 

Status: Canceled

The Kennedy Center is postponing all performances and events scheduled through August 9, including:

  • Hamilton, scheduled to play at the Opera House from June 16 to September 20
  • The National Symphony Orchestra’s Beethoven at 250 performances celebrating the composer’s birthday from May 28 to June 14
  • All National Symphony Orchestra concerts
  • Shear Madness, originally scheduled to run through June 7
  • The Second City: One State, Two State, Red State, Blue State, originally scheduled from June 13 to July 26
  • The Hollies: The Road Is Long Tour, originally scheduled for July 21
  • A Monster Calls, originally scheduled from July 21 to August 9

New dates have not been announced. Kennedy Center facilities remain closed.

Library of Congress Events

Status: Canceled

All public events at the Library are canceled until July 1. Library of Congress facilities also remain closed.

Lincoln Theatre

Status: Mixed

Cancellations at the U Street theater are event specific. Russell Brand on May 28 is cancelled and the Walk of the Earth show on August 22 is postponed. Check the venue’s website for details on specific shows.

National Building Museum Events 

Status: Canceled, postponed

All public events are canceled through the end of September. The annual Summer Block Party installation, a collaboration with Folger Shakespeare Library featuring performances of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, is rescheduled for July and August 2021. Children’s programming series Summer Camp will return in 2021.

National Capitol Barbecue Battle

Status: Virtual

Fire up your laptops, BBQ fans: The June festival is going virtual.

National Gallery of Art Events 

Status: Canceled

The museum has canceled all public events through September 7, including its Jazz in the Garden summer music series.

National Memorial Day Parade

Status: Canceled

Originally scheduled for May 25, the annual parade down Constitution Avenue has been canceled.

#NSFW Festival

Status: Postponed

All performances featured in Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company’s first summer festival are postponed. Originally scheduled for July 14 to August 2, new dates for the body positive festival have not been announced.

Rolling to Remember

Status: Canceled

Last year marked Rolling Thunder’s final ride, replaced by motorcycle demonstration Rolling to Remember. Instead of riding through DC on Memorial Day Weekend, organizers are asking motorcyclists to ride 22 miles in their own communities on May 24.

Smithsonian Folklife Festival

Status: Postponed

The 2020 festival, originally scheduled for June 24 to 28 and July 1 to July 5, is postponed. A new date has not been announced.

Washington Ballet 

Status: Postponed

The dance company has pushed off its June production of Swan Lake; it’s now scheduled for May 2021. Dates for 2020/2021 shows are still being worked out.

Washington Performing Arts  

Status: Canceled, postponed

All performances through June 7 are cancelled. The following events have been postponed:

• The Anacostia River Festival is rescheduled for August 9.
• The premiere of Christopher Tin’s To Shiver the Sky is rescheduled for August 21.
•Experiential performance Black Love Experience is rescheduled for August 29.
• New dates have not been announced for the rescheduling of “Live at The LINE featuring SongRise” and the “Politics & Art District of Creativity” event.

The venue is announcing their 2020/2021 season on June 15.

Wolf Trap 

Status: Canceled*

The Vienna performing arts center has canceled all shows in the 2020 summer season. Select performances are postponed and rescheduled for 2021. Check the venue’s website for updates and information on specific shows.

*This operating status has been updated.

 

 

 

 

Daniella Byck
Lifestyle Editor

Daniella Byck joined Washingtonian in 2022. She was previously with Outside Magazine and lives in Northeast DC.