The National Theatre DC

05/30/2026

We can't get over the record-breaking crowds who took in concerts by 123 Andrés earlier this month! Catch some snaps of this dynamic duo in action, and follow them on social media to see where they're headed next.

05/28/2026

The National Theatre Foundation seeks an enthusiastic individual to provide critical support for our education and community programs. If you love working with artists and audiences to create transformational performing arts experiences, this could be a job for you! This is a part-time role with an hourly rate of $20-$22, contingent upon experience. Click the link below to learn more.

By joining us, you will be part of a passionate team dedicated to renovating and preserving our historic facility, fostering cultural connection, and participating in our positive work culture. Come grow with us and contribute to a legacy of innovation, inclusivity, and theatrical excellence. The Na...

05/27/2026

Ready for a summer of laughs? At the turn of the 20th century, late May meant the Summer Comedy Series at The National theatre had returned. Audiences arrived in droves to see numerous individual plays performed over several months, each with an individual playbill. Local artisans and shopkeepers took advantage of the popularity of these shows to market their goods and services. Audiences may have rented bicycles to travel downtown, eaten oysters at Harvey’s, or treated themselves to Demonet’s strawberry ice cream after the show. If the performance was truly inspiring, they might even sign up for the New National Theatre’s School of Acting, opened in 1894. Swipe to see highlights from this May 27, 1895 playbill. What advertisements stick out to you?

05/22/2026

Coming up next in The National Theatre Live at the Library: Mollie Greenberg of Ingrid & Mollie introduces Palisades Library to Fizz the Fox! Join Mollie and Fizz as they explore a lovely springtime garden. All programs in this special partnership with the DC Public Library are free and open to the public (and many are ASL interpreted). Click the link in the comments to learn more.

05/18/2026

We've got back-to-back editions of The National Theatre Live at the Library coming your way this Wednesday! Join Mark H Rooney (Mark H Taiko) on a "Taiko Adventure!" in not one but two DC Public Library locations: West End at 10:30am and Lamond-Riggs at 5pm. You don't want to miss this high-energy introduction to traditional Japanese drumming. If you can't make it, be sure to catch Mark at The National in June; more information in the comments.

05/15/2026

“Butoh is the circle of birth, life, and death as expressed through theatre” - Ushio Amagatsu

The dance movement of Japanese butoh began in the mid-20th century in the wake of physical, natural, and cultural devastation. In 1984, Amagatsu’s dance troupe, Sankai Juku, brought butoh to Washington, DC. The dancers performed a powerful public display of their signature contorted movements, dangling from the roof of The National Theatre. Pamela Sommers of The Washington Post wrote, “Swiveling at the ends of those ever-lengthening ropes, the performers seemed to metamorphose.” As they descended, gasps of relief were heard from the hundreds of onlookers below.

Butoh is an art form that engages with the most vital and uncomfortable aspects of human experience. Today, Sankai Juku continues to tour globally; reckoning with birth, life, and death at every performance.

05/13/2026

Close out the 2025-26 Saturday Morning Live! season with a bang! Mark H Rooney is bringing taiko, a high-energy form of traditional Japanese drumming, to The National Theatre. Pre-registration slots are now open for this interactive program featuring dynamic rhythms and big drums.

Discover tradition Japanese drumming in this high-energy, highly interactive program!

05/09/2026

Our friends are getting into the groove with a stellar crowd!

05/06/2026

The National Theatre Live at the Library continues at Chevy Chase Library with Words Beats & Life! We're please to share that this program will now be ASL interpreted. Join us this Friday at 11am, and check the comments for more information about upcoming programs in your area.

05/06/2026

We've got two outings in The National Theatre Live at the Library season in the bag! Take a look at some snaps from Imagination Stage's visit to Southwest and EducArte's capoeira workshop at Rosedale. There's more exciting programs on the way to DC Public Library locations this spring and summer. Click the link in the comments to see for yourself.