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Arena Stage, Washington, DC

Photo: Duane Lempke, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

Theatre & EventsDate NightRainy-Day Pick

Arena Stage

1101 Sixth St SW · Washington, DC

Why you should go…

Arena Stage has produced theater in Washington since 1950 and focuses on American plays and playwrights. The Mead Center, designed by Bing Thom Architects, wraps three theaters under one glass skin: the 680-seat Fichandler Stage in the round, the 510-seat Kreeger Theater and the 202-seat Kogod Cradle. The closest Metro stop is Waterfront on the Green Line. In 1976 it became the first theater outside New York to receive a special Tony Award.

  • #live theater
  • #american plays
  • #musicals
  • #theater in the round
  • #performing arts

Good to know

General theatre & events guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • Curtain time is firm

    Latecomers are commonly held at the back until a scene break, so build in a buffer.

  • Study the seating chart

    Price and sightline vary a lot within the same house. A few rows back can be the better seat.

  • Rush and lottery seats exist

    Many venues release same-day tickets at a discount if you are flexible about where you sit.

  • Arrive with time to spare

    Parking, bag check, and finding your row all take longer than you think on a full house.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Arena Stage, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Tours
    Date Night

    City Cruises Washington DC

    $25–$50

    Watch the monuments glow from the Potomac on narrated sightseeing, brunch, and dinner cruises from The Wharf.

    Steps awaySwitch it up: Tours

  • Attractions
    Family Favorite

    International Spy Museum

    $25–$50

    Crack codes, adopt a cover identity, and squeeze through ductwork at the world's largest espionage museum.

    0.5 mi awaySwitch it up: Attractions

  • Museums
    Iconic

    Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum

    Free

    Touch a moon rock and stand under the Spirit of St. Louis at the world's most-visited aviation museum, always free.

    0.8 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Theatre & Events
    History Buff

    Ford's Theatre

    Under $25

    Stand in the theatre where Lincoln was shot, then cross the street to the Petersen House where the story ended.

    1.4 mi awayMore like this

  • Theatre & Events
    Date Night

    Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts

    Free

    Catch a summer concert at the open-air Filene Center or a children's show in the woods at the only national park for the performing arts.

    14 mi awayMore like this

  • Theatre & Events
    Date Night

    Toby's Dinner Theatre

    $50+

    An in-the-round dinner theatre in Columbia serving a full meal alongside professional musical productions.

    25 mi awayMore like this