Special Offer: All participants who register for this tour by September 18 will receive a complimentary registration to the September 23 Spotlight on DC's Stages in-person program. Further information will be shared with qualifying registrants via email in mid- to late September.
Home to a vibrant theater scene, the Washington area offers opportunities for theater lovers to experience world-class productions, from grand-scale to intimate stages. Join local guide Lynn O’Connell for her second tour of the region’s theaters to explore five additional venues, meeting key players who make the magic happen.
Get the show on the road at Tony Award–winning Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company. Artistic Director Maria Manuela Goyanes, the first woman of color to run a major D.C. theater, discusses Woolly Mammoth’s groundbreaking and boundary-pushing show selections and community programming.
Head south to another Tony Award winner, Arlington’s Signature Theatre, where artistic director Matthew Gardiner previews what to expect onstage in the coming months. After a boxed lunch at the theater, step onto the set of an upcoming production for a backstage tour and a sneak peek at the performance.
The afternoon kicks off with a tour of Joe’s Movement Emporium, a space for artists to facilitate community-led change in Mount Rainier, Maryland, with executive director Brooke Kidd. At this multidisciplinary arts center, participants are treated to a facility tour, a glimpse of the studios, and a short performance from one of the resident artist partners. Next, visit GALA Hispanic Theatre and meet with executive director Rebecca Medrano, who founded the theater with her late husband in 1976. Learn about how they built up one of the most well-known Hispanic theaters in the country and their innovative approach to the challenges of setting up a space in Washington, D.C.
The day is a wrap at Spooky Action Theater, where artistic director Elizabeth Dinkova and Gillian Drake, New Works in Action program director, discuss their newest show, Cracking Zeus, over a light reception.
Know Before You Go
- The tour departs by motorcoach from downtown Washington, DC. Content delivered by the study leader on the way to the destination is an integral part of the study tour experience. Meeting the group once the tour is en route is discouraged.
- Tour participants meet at and leave by bus from Holiday Inn Capitol at 550 C St., S.W. (corner of 6th and C Sts.). No fringe pick-up.
- Note: Tickets to Spooky Action Theater’s Saturday, Sept. 28, performance of Cracking Zeus at 7:30 p.m. are available on a first-come, first-served basis at a discount for Smithsonian Associates members. Please call the theater box office for more information and to purchase tickets and mention this program.
General Information
- Registration for this tour will end by 2 p.m. ET on September 27, 2024.
- Smithsonian Associates is a mask-friendly environment. Please feel free to bring and wear a mask at any time during a tour, both for your safety or the safety of others.
- As we aim to move away from single use water bottles, guests are strongly encouraged to get in the habit of bringing their own reusable water bottle on tour.
- For additional tour information:
