DCist's October Theater Preview
October is here, and it's inevitable that local theater companies would try to haunt us with some spookier fare. Here's a look at who's obliging our more macabre sensibilities next month:
>> Don't tell Mom, well, anything about the babysitter? Studio Theatre has Marie Ndiaye's Hilda, a horror story about a mother's growing obsession over the woman she hires to care for her kids (Oct 5).
>> There's double, double, toil and trouble over at the Cramer Center, where VpStart Crow Productions stages Bell, Book and Candle, about a witch in love (Oct. 7).
>> New start-up the Meat & Potato Theatre Company explores the work of Edgar Allen with its Poe 2000, an updated medley of the former Baltimore resident's poetry and prose. Meat & Potato attempts to beef up Poe's fear factor by invoking everything from the Iraq war to hip-hop culture (Oct. 13).
>> Scena Theatre goes to hell with its production of Sartre's No Exit, where three individuals wreak havoc during the afterlife (Oct. 15).
>> And there's still time to see Synetic Theatre's production of Dracula, which the Post had mixed feelings about; it runs through Oct. 23.
Also this month:
- If Brian Stokes Mitchell's concert wasn't enough Gershwin for you, check out Porgy And Bess at the Washington National Opera (Oct. 29).
- Round House Theatre stages The Chairs, about a meeting of imaginary dignitaries (Oct. 14).
- A D.C. setting, an idealistic reporter, sexual tension and political intrigue? Sounds like a play for DCist. Arena Stage's Born Yesterday stages this screwball comedy (Sept. 30).
- Woolly Mammoth presents the campy Kiki & Herb: The Resurrection Tour for five shows (Oct. 20).
- Washington Shakespeare Company does Stoppard with Hapgood (Oct. 27).
- Olney Theatre is calling its Morning's At Seven the "original Desperate Housewives" (Oct. 5).
- Theater J has String Fever (Oct. 27).
- The premiere of You Are Here is at the H Street Playhouse
- And Patrick Cassidy follows in Donny Osmond's footsteps in an attempt to find a second career on Broadway as Joseph in the National Tour of the Lloyd Webber musical, at the Warner Theatre. (Oct. 18)
Still playing:
American Century Theater performs It Had To Be You through Oct. 8; GALA Theatre's I Love You, Doll and Woolly Mammoth Theatre's After Ashley both wrap Oct. 9; Signature's well-received production of Urinetown, which we enjoyed, has been extended through Oct. 16, and Studio's A Number and Catalyst's Metamorphosis close then, too; We found Round House Theatre's Camille compelling, and it plays until Oct. 17; Ford's Theatre presents Leading Ladies through Oct. 23; Shakespeare Theater's solid production of Othello is over Oct. 30.