For students, September spells back to school dread, but for theater lovers, it’s the happiest time of the year. D.C.-area theaters are opening their doors to begin their new seasons—and the offerings are plenty and piping hot. This month is very play-heavy with area premieres of plays from off-and on Broadway with some new works thrown in.
Doubt: Studio Theatre opens its season with the equal parts crowd-pleasing and challenging John Patrick Shanley hit play about faith and conscience. Area-favorite actress Sarah Marshall takes on the leading role of Sister Aloysius. The show begins September 4-October 6.
Love Sick: After its residency in multiple theaters around the area, Theatre J opens its season back in its newly renovated theater on 16th Street with a unique and lively area premiere of a musical based on the ancient poem Song of Songs. Set against a Middle Eastern-inspired score, this story follows a woman in a loveless marriage who begins a steamy affair. Directed by Tony-nominated phenom Christopher Renshaw (Broadway’s The King and I and London’s We Will Rock You), this production runs September 4-29.
Butterfly: INSeries, a D.C. theater and opera group, brings a re-telling of the beloved (if problematic) opera mainstay Madame Butterfly to Source Theatre. This production goes back to the structure of the original one-act David Belasco play that inspired the famous opera and attempts to strip away exoticism of Puccini’s famous opera, making for a good theatrical night out for opera fans and skeptics alike. From September 7-22.
Fairview: Woolly Mammoth opens its 2019-2020 season with a serious bang with the area premiere of the Jackie Sibblies Drury play that won the 2019 Pulitizer Prize for Drama. Directed by D.C.-area newcomer Stevie Walker-Webb, the play examines inner family tension in a gut-punch examination of current day racism. Runs September 9-October 6.
Jitney: Another August Wilson hit lands at Arena Stage as part of their season-long August Wilson Festival. The festival will not only include the show, but panel discussions throughout the year with notable playwrights, producers, and professors all invested in Wilson’s work. This production of Jitney ran on Broadway—where it won the 2017 Tony for Best Play Revival—and the Arena production will be the launching off point for its national tour. Catch Jitney on September 13-October 20.
School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play: The hit off-Broadway show makes its area debut as Round House Theatre reopens its newly-renovated doors for a new season. With an all-female cast and creative team, the play follows girls jockeying for status and spotlight at a Ghanian all-girls boarding school. The show runs September 18-October 13.
The Royale: Olney Theatre and 1st Stage partner together for the regional premiere of this energetic play based on the real-life story of Jack Johnson, the first African American boxing heavyweight champion. The show runs September 25-October 27.
West by God: The Keegan Theatre presents the world premiere of an original play by Brandon McCoy. The play takes place in small town West Virginia and explores intolerance and divisions between two families. McCoy (a native West Virginian) is a longtime D.C. theater actor, and his West by God is his latest in a long line of collaborations with director Jeremy Skidmore. After its D.C. run, the show will tour to West Virginia for the theater’s new KeeganConnects initiative. Catch West by God in our area September 27-October 20.
Fences: Ford’s Theatre is known for productions of true American classics, and this production of August Wilson’s examination of the American dream is no exception. Starring D.C. theater mainstays Craig Wallace and Erika Rose as Troy and Rose, this production is under the direction of Timothy Douglas (well-known for his history of directing Wilson’s work. Fences is also part of D.C. Public Schools’ 9th grade reading curriculum, and the theater is offering up to 30 free tickets for certain performances—email education@fords.org. Runs September 27-October 27.
