Photo by Kevin H.
With Christmas fast approaching, you’re running out of time to find a thoughtful gift before you end up at Target on December 24 trying to decide between socks and a puzzle. Today we present gifts for the local theater nerd.
>>IMPROV CLASSES: Comedy classes can be serious business. If your giftee has their sights set on being asked to join a specific improv group, odds are good they’re already taking classes with that troupe, or saving up to do so, as that can be one of the best ways prospective new members can show off their comedy bona fides. If they have no specific group in mind, or if you’re just looking for general fun and mayhem, there are lots of improv groups in D.C. that offer classes. Our pick? Washington Improv Theater, or WIT, puts on some of the most innovative shows around and offers tiered classes from basic to advanced. Eight sessions of an intro-level class runs at $275.
>>ACTING CLASSES::Again, finding the right theater company for your theater nerd is key. For a fan of the classics or aspiring Shakespearean thespian, Studio Theater also offers a blend of classes you could build an entire curriculum with, or quick weekend workshops that go for $150 each.
Of course, not every theater fan is also an aspiring actor, and for many, a ticket to see an exciting upcoming show is the ideal holiday gift. Many theaters in the area allow you to buy open-ended tickets or gift certificates to see whichever show your giftee chooses in a specific season. How to pick the right theater? We recommend checking out our list of the best theaters in the area in several different categories. Here is a very small selection of some of the venues that have special offers or discounts on open-ended tickets:
>>WOOLLY MAMMOTH SIX PACK: Woolly’s pack of six tickets really stands out because of its flexibility. Your giftee can choose to spend one or two tickets on each remaining show in Woolly’s 35th season, or bring along five friends to one show, or any other combination they can think of. The pack of six tickets costs $240, discounted down to $150 for those 30 and under.
>>SPOOKY ACTION TWO-SHOW PASS Spooky Action is one of the smaller acting companies around, but they produce dream-like, larger-than-life shows that you can see on the cheap — really cheap. Right now you can get a pass to see the last two shows of their 2014-2015 season starting at $35.
>>THE KENNEDY CENTER: The gift shop here might be your best bet if you’re looking for a theater gift that won’t fit into an envelope; there’s also still a tiny amount of time (until December 19) that you can order from their shop online and get guaranteed shipping before Christmas. Yes, it’s already a little late for Hanukkah, but there’s still time to visit the physical location. You can pick up anything from swag relating to shows that have visited this season we might recommend something relating to the very ill-fated Side Show, which is closing down its Broadway run only weeks after debuting), or general theater-related or holiday-related (cough, The Nutcracker cough) gifts.
>>That’s right, cheapskates, with little effort you can spend a small amount of money on a gift and not even have to claim that it counts for more because it’s something you made for them with love (because you don’t even have to make it for them). Forum Theater has an intriguing new show/walking tour/podcast where you can hop on Metro or stroll around the National Mall and listen to an unfolding story. While it’s suggested that you pay-what-you-can, there’s an option to download the tour for free.
