Best Theaters in Washington DC

The Sidney Harman Hall is a majestic 774-seat theater in the heart of Washington DC and forms a part of the Harman Center of the Arts. Suitable for dance and music events, organizers can choose from the proscenium, thrust, semi-arena or bare stages, depending on the show. It is acoustically designed to suit dramas, plays and even live chamber music concerts. The venue along with the Lansburgh Theatre on the 7th Street is home to the Shakespeare Theatre Company.

This successful company is one of the top local theaters in the city. With a focus on new works and playwrights, Woolly Mammoth is regarded as an artistically adventurous theater with little fear of either controversy or experimentation. Washington audiences are especially fond of Woolly Mammoth's preview performances, which include discussions of the work with a generous pay-what-you-can policy. Other community-oriented programs include a number of projects designed for area youth-at-risk, teacher-enrichment and eight free public readings of new plays each year. Woolly Mammoth also runs a popular program of acting classes through its Theatre School.

Two theater companies, Theatre Conspiracy and Fraudulent Productions, have their home in this arts center in Adams-Morgan. With their offbeat and frequently controversial exhibits, both companies are known for experimental theater in the style of "off-off-Broadway." Theatre Conspiracy features cutting-edge feminist works with a focus on women and their roles in society. Plays by experimental but firmly established writers such as Peter Handke, Guenter Grass and Karel Capek have also been staged here.

Ford's Theatre, an iconic theater, is recognized as the place where President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated on April 14th, 1865. A century later, in January 1968, the theater was reopened again for a performance after being under the management of numerous government organizations, including the United States Department of War and the National Park Service. Also found within Ford's Theatre is a Lincoln Museum that displays artifacts from the assassination, including the gun Lincoln was shot with. Mementos from Lincoln's life are also on display.

The Atlas Performing Arts Center is a complete complex boasting theaters, studios, stages, dressing rooms, a café and a production space. With 60,000 square feet of space the center has its own theater and dance company, orchestra and choral group. It is housed in historic theater and is home to many art organizations too. It is definitely a place for performing arts to live and thrive in Washington DC.

Located inside Rock Creek Park, this amphitheater is a 4,200-seat outdoor concert venue. Located in a beautiful wooden setting and operated by the The National Park Service, it provides quality performances. A variety of musical concerts like jazz, country, reggae and rock are showcased here. The seats are very comfortable and the natural environment adds an interesting dimension to the events. Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles, B.B. King, The O'Jays, and Smokey Robinson are some of the famous artists who have performed here.

Tracing its history back to 1977, this intimate theater is well-known for hosting avant-garde performances from emerging theater artists. The theater changed hands in 2006, undergoing an extensive update to its facilities and today, is a prominent hotspot in the city's theater scene. From modern productions to dance recitals, Source offers something for everyone.

A part of the Folger Shakespeare Library, the Folger Theatre presents performances of the classic plays that are part of the library's collection. Of course there are performances of Shakespeare's plays, as well as productions of other classics written during the Elizabethan period. The space itself is very intimate, meaning that every seat in the house is a great one.

Since 1950, Arena Stage has been a primary player in the cultural life of Washington and one of the strongest regional theaters in the country. Its highly respected resident company performs a variety of stage productions, from Moliere to the Marx Brothers, as well as significant contemporary works. Arena Stage has three distinct venues: the "in-the-round" Fichlander Stage; the Kreeger with a proscenium stage and the Old Vat Room with a cabaret-style atmosphere. The theater is located near the southwest waterfront and several fine seafood restaurants.

With its grand Federal-style architecture, this theater occupies a prominent place along one of the most imposing sections of Pennsylvania Avenue, near the White House, the Willard Inter-Continental hotel and the Old Post Office. Broadway shows are featured here, both before and after their on-Broadway run. In addition to large-scale, high-visibility productions, the National Theatre offers special events. A popular children's program includes music, a variety of one-act plays, readings and dance. Many special programs are free and seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.

During the Harlem Renaissance, the U Street neighborhood in DC hosted many jazz greats of the age including Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Count Bassie and Washington's favorite son, Duke Ellington. The Lincoln, built in 1921, was renovated and reopened in 1993 as a nonprofit, multicultural arts venue. With a schedule packed with black pop, jazz and soul artists, Hispanic folk music, African dance ensembles, the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra series and the Gay Man's Chorus of Washington, this 1225-seat space is rarely quiet and always worth checking out. It was listed on the U.S National Register of Historic Places in the year 1993.

Built in 1924, the Warner has long been a respected part of downtown Washington’s bustling entertainment scene. Housed in an imposing building, the theatre draws Broadway enthusiasts from all around the country. The theatre’s intricately decorated vaulted ceilings and richly bedecked interiors contribute to its lavish rococo décor. A host of reputed theatrical productions add to the allure of the theatre, routinely inviting Washingtonians for a visual treat. Broadways, musicals, concerts and shows, no matter the event, Warner Theatre has got you covered for all.