The company of Step Afrika!’s Magical Musical Holiday Step Show at Arena Stage. Photo by Jati Lindsay By Southwester Staff After two straight years of sold-out runs, the world-renowned step troupe Step Afrika! returns to Arena Stage with their Magical Musical Holiday Step Show. The festive “step-stravaganza” will run December […]
Arena Stage Opens World Premiere Adaptation of Agatha Christie’s Death on the Nile
By Sheila Wickouski A recent cartoon in the New Yorker magazine shows a Sherlock Holmes character asking a group at a house party when he would be invited for a visit when there was not a murder. This is something that another famous fictional detective, Hercule Poirot, could well ask […]
Triple Serving of American Theater Takes the Stage at Arena
Actor John Leguizamo as Nelson in “The Other Americans” at Forest Laundromat. Courtesy of Tony Powell By Sheila Wickouski From fairy tales of genies granting three wishes to the circus with three rings, ‘good things come in threes’ is a familiar saying. This season, Arena Stage presents a triple treat, with […]
Theater Alliance Takes Up Residence in Southwest
The Theater Alliance will present its current season at The Westerly. Courtesy of Theater Alliance By Southwester Staff Theater Alliance, which was founded in 1993 as a community theater and became a professional company in 2001, will present its new season from a first-floor space in The Westerly, located at […]
Arena Stage Kicks Off New Season with Tony-Award Winning Production of Jaja’s African Hair Braiding
Yetunde Felix-Ukwu. Courtesy of Arena Stage By Sheila Wickouski On September 6, a new era will begin at Southwest’s Arena Stage. The first season programmed by new Artistic Director Hana S. Sharif will launch with the Tony-award winning comedy Jaja’s African Hair Braiding. Written by celebrated Ghanaian-American playwright Jocelyn Bioh, […]
Arena Stage Announces New Season, First Lineup Under New Artistic Director
By Southwester Staff Arena Stage announced the ten shows that will comprise its 2024-2025 season, the first led by Artistic Director Hana S. Sharif. The company’s 74th season will feature a mix of new works and reimagined classics, including six world-premiere productions and collaborations with some of the nation’s leading […]
Hana S. Sharif Takes The Helm As Arena Stage Artistic Director
Hana S. Sharif. Photo by Chesire Isaac. Courtesy of Arena Stage. By Sheila Wickouski In April 2023, Arena Stage announced that Hana S. Sharif, a theater veteran with decades of experience at regional theaters including Hartford Stage, Baltimore Center Stage and The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, would step in […]