With the school year already in full swing, the theater scene in the District has also hit the ground running. Throughout the early fall, several theaters are staging popular classic dramatic and comedic works for all audiences to enjoy.
The timeless masterpiece "The Taming of the Shrew" will be playing at Sidney Harman Hall through Saturday, Sept. 12 as part of the Shakespeare Theatre Company's Free For All event. "The Taming of the Shrew" tells the love story of Katherine and Petruchio (and is actually the basis for the plot of the teen hit "10 Things I Hate About You"). The box office passes out two tickets per person the day of the performance to those standing in line two hours before the play begins. The tickets are free, but you have to get there pretty early in order to get a seat, as they do run out quickly.
Fans of classics with a twist will enjoy hitting the Rosslyn Spectrum Theater for their performances of "A Midsummer Night's Dream." Running from Thursday, Sept. 17 to Saturday, Oct. 10 in Arlington, Va., the Synetic Theater presents their wordless adaptation of the Shakespeare classic. Synetic Theater produces unique performances at a variety of venues around the city. Keep an eye out for their silent production of "Dracula," picking up on the vampire craze, coming up in October.
For a more risqué Shakespeare experience, catch Taffety Punk Theatre Company's all-girl rendition of "Measure for Measure," directed by Lise Bruneau. It tells the story of a promiscuous city that is taken over by an even worse governor, providing a world where ethics and gender are questioned while sexuality runs amuck. The play runs Sept. 18 through Oct. 10 at the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop on 545 Seventh St., S.E.
Taffety Punk will also be presenting a sneak peak of area-native Richard Byrne's new play, "Burn Your Bookes," on Sept. 6 as a part of the Page-to-Stage Festival. The festival takes place at the Kennedy Center at 2700 F St., N.W., adapting Taffety Punk's sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll approach to alchemist Edward Kelley's quest for the Philosopher's Stone.
If one man's quest for the Philosopher's Stone isn't enough, catch Shakespeare Theatre Company's presentation of "The Alchemist" at Lansburgh Theatre at 450 Seventh St., N.W. from Oct. 6 to Nov. 22. The play centers around three con men and their marks in plague-era London.
If you're looking for something lighter, you can stop by the National Theatre to see Billy Crystal's autobiographical play, "Billy Crystal: 700 Sundays," running from Sept. 8 through Sept. 17. Tickets range from $42 to $177. In this rendition of his life story, Crystal acts out a bevy of characters that influenced him growing up in New York and throughout his career.
Those seeking more of an international outing should stop by the GALA Hispanic Theatre Sept. 17 through Oct. 11 to catch a showing of "LÃ?ºcido/Lucid." Directed by José Carrasquillo, the play is in Spanish with English subtitles. The performance tells the story of a young man who tries to escape his dysfunctional reality through even more ridiculous dreams. Tickets range in prices from $20 to $45 at the theater on 3333 14th St., N.W.
You can reach this staff writer at cmoore@theeagleonline.com.
