Arena Stage (Washington, D.C.)
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| Name | Arena Stage |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1950 |
| Location(s) | 1101 Sixth Street SW, Washington DC |
| Artistic director(s) | Molly Smith |
| Website | www.arenastage.org |
| Genre(s) | American Plays & Playwrights |
Arena Stage is a not-for-profit regional theater based in Southwest Washington, D.C. Its declared mission
"is to produce huge plays of all that is passionate, exuberant, profound, deep and dangerous in the American spirit. Arena has broad shoulders and a capacity to produce anything from vast epics to charged dramas to robust musicals. Our focus is on theater of the Americas; we produce American classics, premieres of new plays and contemporary stories. Our Arena is a forum, a coliseum, a place for audiences to argue, discuss and meet each other over the theatrical divide. At the center is art; all other programs thrive in concentric circles supporting the art."[1]
In the 60 years since its formation, its productions have received numerous local and national awards, including the Tony Award for best regional theater.
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[edit] History
The theatre company was founded in 1950. Its first home was the Hippodrome Theatre, a former movie house. In 1956, the company moved into the gymnasium of the old Heurich Brewery in Foggy Bottom, which was demolished to make way for the Theodore Roosevelt Bridge and the Kennedy Center. In 1960, they moved into their current location. The theater company's home is on the Washington, D.C. waterfront, at 1101 Sixth Street, SW.
One of the founders, Zelda Fichandler, was its artistic director from its founding through the 1990/91 season. Douglas C. Wager succeeded her for the 1991/92 through 1997/98 seasons. The current artistic director, Molly Smith, assumed those duties beginning with the 1998/99 season.[2]
Arena Stage was one of the first not-for-profit theaters in the United States and was a pioneer of the regional theater movement. Arena was the first regional theater to transfer a production to Broadway when The Great White Hope, which opened at Arena Stage in 1967, went on to Broadway with its original cast, including James Earl Jones and Jane Alexander. In 1973, it was also the first invited by the U.S. State Department to tour behind the Iron Curtain. In 1976, Arena Stage became the second theater outside of New York to receive a special Tony Award for theatrical excellence. (The first went to Robert Porterfield of the Barter Theatre in 1948.)[3]
[edit] Renovation 2008 - 2010
A major renovation of the facility was undertaken from 2008 through 2010. The designer is Bing Thom Architects of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. These renovations leave the Fichandler Stage and Kreeger Theater largely untouched, but involved demolition of the theaters' connecting structures, including lobbies and offices. The two remaining stages are surrounded by a glass curtain wall and incorporated into a larger building. This also contains a new smaller theater, called "The Kogod Cradle," intended for debuting experimental pieces. This new "black box theater" seats 200. The new building also includes an expansive central lobby and Next Stage, a cafe run by D.C. chef José Andrés.[4][5][6]
The entire complex has been re-named "Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater"[7] in honor of supporters Gilbert and Jaylee Mead. Beginning in October 2010, the company is performing at the Mead Center for American Theater a more-than $125 million, 200,000 sq ft (19,000 m2) building[8]on the DC waterfront.[9] The Mead Center resulted from a renovation of the prior 90,000 sq ft (8,400 m2) Arena Stage complex with the removal of the "Old Vat Room" performance space and offices. The Mead Center has three theaters:[5]
- The Fichandler Stage, a theater in the round seating 680.
- The Kreeger Theater, a modified thrust stage theater seating 514.
- The Kogod Cradle, an intimate theater with basket-weave permeable walls seating 200.[8]
The three theaters are connected by a large central lobby, and the Center includes restaurants, rehearal rooms, classrooms and offices.[5][9][8]
The new, three stage, $125 million, theater complex is now the second largest performing arts center in Washington, DC after the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
[edit] Notable Performers
Hal Miller David Connell Roz Cash
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "Arena Stage Mission Statement". The Arena Stage. http://www.arenastage.org/about/mission-statement/. Retrieved 27 February 2010.
- ^ Paller, Rebecca."From Alaska to DC With Arena Stage's New Director, Molly D. Smith" playbill.com, February 5, 1998
- ^ "1948 Tony Award Winners". BroadwayWorld. http://www.broadwayworld.com/tonyawardsyear.cfm?year=1948. Retrieved 2008-08-11.
- ^ Zongker, Brett. "DC's Arena Stage opens $135M home with big plans" boston.com, (Associated Press), October 28, 2010
- ^ a b c Russell, James.arena-stage-135-million-d-c-revamp-makes-concrete-sexy-james-s-russell.html "Arena Stage 135 Million DC Revamp Makes Concrete Sexy" bloomberg.com, October 27, 2010[dead link]
- ^ Bernstein, Fred A. Washington’s Fresh Coat of Greasepaint" New York Times, October 5, 2010
- ^ Marks, Peters."Arena Stage to Expand Its Season From Eight to 10 Plays This Fall",Washington Post April 10, 2008
- ^ a b c Marks, Peter (February 17, 2010). "A new First Act". Washington Post: p. C1. http://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/theaters/arena-stage-at-the-mead-center,1161217/critic-review.html.
- ^ a b Jones, Kenneth.Arena Stage Opens Its Doors to the World at Oct. 23 "Homecoming," With Alumni Stars" playbill.com, October 23, 2010
[edit] External links
38°52′38″N 77°01′13″W / 38.87722°N 77.02034°WCoordinates: 38°52′38″N 77°01′13″W / 38.87722°N 77.02034°W
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- Theatre companies in Washington, D.C.
- 1950 establishments in the United States
- Regional theatre in the United States
- League of Resident Theatres
- League of Washington Theatres
- Members of the Cultural Alliance of Greater Washington
- Theatres in Washington, D.C.
- Tony Award winners
- Performing groups established in 1950
