The Kennedy Center announces the return of the Local Theatre Festival at The REACH on Saturday, August 24, 2024, starting at 10:00 a.m. This free, day-long event celebrates the DMV’s (DC, Maryland, Virginia) rich theatrical community, and highlights the innovative work of local theater companies and playwrights.
This year’s festival features a special highlight: an exclusive, in-depth conversation in the Terrace Theater at 7:30 pm on Friday, August 23, between The Washington Post’s former chief theater critic, Peter Marks, and his newly appointed successor, Naveen Kumar. Free tickets for this conversation are be available through the Kennedy Center website.
This year’s festival lineup features an impressive array of Local Theatre Resident Artists and Organizations including ArtsCentric, Cage Free Voices, Edwin Fontanez, Ifa Bayeza, Jeremy Hunter, Marjuan Canady, Navi, Nikki Mirza, Prologue Theatre, Regan Linton, Spooky Action Theater, and Tom Minter.
Festival attendees will have the opportunity to enjoy:
- Works-in-Progress Readings: Attend readings from previous Kennedy Center Local Theatre Resident artists, offering a sneak peek into exciting new theatrical works.
- Engaging Workshops and Panels: Participate in sessions led by renowned local industry professionals, designed to inspire and educate theater enthusiasts and aspiring artists.
- Resource Fair: Explore a curated selection of resources tailored specifically for DMV theater fans and professionals, providing valuable insights and opportunities.
Event Details:
Date: Saturday, August 24, 2024
Time: Events start at 10:00 AM
Location: The REACH at The Kennedy Center
Admission: A ticket is required for all events. Doors open 15 minutes before each event. Each event is a first come, first served event; a reservation confirmation does not guarantee a ticket. Please arrive early to exchange your email confirmation at the REACH Box Office for a ticket to the event(s).
Don’t miss this unique opportunity to experience the heart and soul of DMV theater, engage with local creatives, and enjoy a day filled with artistic inspiration and community spirit.
About the Local Theatre Residency Program The Local Theatre Residency at The REACH is a Social Impact program aimed at providing time, space, and funds to support the local DMV theater creatives. This program helps amplify often-overlooked stories and fosters engagement with artists driven by the belief that the arts can catalyze social change, build community, inspire action, and drive meaningful change. Embodying President Kennedy’s vision for a new frontier in the arts, The REACH serves as a hub for collaboration, experimentation, and exploration.
See a Local Theatre Residency in action here.
About Peter Marks Peter Marks was the Washington Post’s chief theater critic from 2002 to 2023. Before that, he worked for the New York Times as a theater critic and national political correspondent. A graduate of Yale, he chaired the Pulitzer Prize Jury for Drama four times and co-hosts a theater podcast, Marks & Vincentelli.
About Naveen Kumar Naveen Kumar is the Washington Post’s theater critic. Previously, he contributed theater reviews to the New York Times and Variety. His work as a journalist has been published by them.us, the Daily Beast, Town & Country, and more. He is associate director of the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center’s National Critics Institute, the leading arts-writing workshop for professional journalists, and has twice served on the jury for the Pulitzer Prize in Drama. Prior to journalism, he worked on the agency side of the entertainment business, including in the theater department at CAA. He earned his BA from Vassar College and an MA in English and Comparative Literature from Columbia University.
About Social Impact
The Kennedy Center’s systemic commitment to social impact lives in their belief that the arts hold unique power in our society to build community, center joy, inspire action, and drive meaningful change. They leverage the arts for non-arts outcomes to advance justice and equity in all that they do.
