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With unique plays and intimate venues, the U Street corridor, Shaw, and Logan Circle have plenty of cultural experiences to choose from.
In the 1930s and 1940s, U Street was known for its classy theaters and jazz clubs. Throughout its history, U Street, known as the "Black Broadway," has witnessed iconic musicians such as Duke Ellington and Ella Fitzgerald perform in historic venues like the Howard Theatre. After decades of decline following the 1968 riots, the neighborhood has been revitalized,gentrifying at lightning speed while retaining a diverse mix of multiethnic young professionals and older, working-class African Americans. U Street resident and Associate Justice of the Supreme Court Sonia Sotomayor has said, "U Street is the East Village." At night, the neighborhood's club, bar, and restaurant scene comes alive. During the day the street scene is more laid-back, with more locals than tourists occupying the distinctive shops.
This multifaceted theater company, one of the city's busiest, produces an eclectic season of contemporary European and offbeat American plays in four spaces: the original Mead and Milton theaters, the newer 200-seat Metheny Theatre, and the experimental Stage 4.
Opened in 1910, the Howard Theatre continues to be a draw in Washington, D.C. Initially a venue to highlight African American artists, the Howard Theatre now hosts diverse performances, from '80s hard rock by Sebastian Bach of Skid Row to old-school hip-hop by Slick Rick to Puerto Rican reggae by Cultura Profética. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974, it has also hosted many American musical icons, from Duke Ellington to Ella Fitzgerald, in its intimate space. The theater closed in 1970 and reopened in 2012 after an extensive remodel.
The Lincoln Theatre is a historical venue from 1922, back when Washington natives Duke Ellington and Pearl Baily were joined by the likes of Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Nat King Cole, and Louis Armstrong. Today, the 1,200-seat theater presents modern musical artists, including Kendrick Lamar, Hozier, and Billy Idol, as well as comedic performers like Demetri Martin, Tig Notaro, and Ilana Glazer.
Cabaret, experimental chamber opera, and Spanish musical theater (also known as zarzuela) are among the hallmarks of this company founded in 1982. Performances are held at Source, GALA Hispanic Theater, and the Atlas Performing Arts Center.
This company performs neglected classics as well as contemporary literary plays in the Undercroft Theatre of Mount Vernon Place United Methodist Church. In recent years, they have produced lesser-known works by Oscar Wilde and George Bernard Shaw. Contemporary plays such as Tryst by Karoline Leach and David Marshall Grant's Pen are also offered.
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