Spent my night at the theater and left with a full heart. Young John Lewis: Prodigy of Protest highlights the journey, passion, and purpose of John Lewis in such a powerful and creative way. The live music, the storytelling, the energy... everything just works. Showing now through May 3, 2026 at Mosaic Theater Company in Washington, D.C. Definitely one of those experiences that stays with you after the curtain closes. read more

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Went there last Sunday to see an incredible performance about the life of Lady Day. Entry was well organized. Seating spacious. Performance was exceptional. No wonder they extended the run. read more

I would give 0 stars if it were an option. It was 16 degrees with strong winds outside, very very cold. I went to give my overcoat to Rose, a female coat attendant. She refused. Then I asked a guy next to her who was taking coats and he went to ask his supervisor. He would not take my coat despite me standing there ready to give him a $20 bill. So I walked away to find a place to wait for my show with my big winter coat in my hands. The lobby of this place was chaotic and has signage. I wasn't certain where I was to go for my show. And there was no one to ask. I made a Facebook post to same and suddenly the executive director appeared and said those were not his employees taking coats. He argued either me for making my Facebook post. So, feeling so utterly unwelcome, I left. I paid $61 for premium seat ticket and over $50 in uber rides and yet walked out of the theatre and not see the show. I wonder if it was intentional behavior toward me because I am a heterosexual white man. Regardless, it as a very unwelcoming experience and I have to urge yelp readers to find other venues for your entertainment. read more

Celebrate the holidays with performances of cool holiday and jazz classics by seeing @bohocavjazzorch @atlaspacdc. The 17-piece big band is enjoying its 12th year of adventurous and exciting programming. read more

Atlas Performing Arts Center - Performing Arts Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This is such a fantastic space. My friend has season passes so I get to attend a lot of shows here. They choose amazing content to perform. A truly community oriented and quality performing arts space. The show I just saw also had a screen with the dialogue displayed in order to accommodate more audience members. Really great. read more

Atlas Performing Arts Center - Performing Arts Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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A small, beautiful, intimate venue with several theaters, beautiful lighting, great sound systems, and comfortable seats. There's a small café in the lobby where patrons can purchase beer, wine, and small snacks. The staff are an absolute delight. They are so welcoming and so accommodating, and they always start the theater-going experience off on a high note just by being so pleasant and helpful. I've seen at least half a dozen shows here and I've never been disappointed. I personally prefer smaller venues when I'm attending a performance: it feels so much more intimate and I feel so much more connected to the performers and to the performance. I would venture to say that it's easier for them to receive energy from their audiences as well, being in such close proximity. read more

Nice local theater with amazing performances! My husband and I saw The Agitators last weekend and loved it! The play was really moving and the talented actresses and actors left us both in awe. Their expressions, tone, movement, chemistry - everything was on point. Since the theater is small and stadium style, there's no bad seat in the house! I prefer to sit near the aisles, so I can get a little bit extra space. The seats are comfy, but cozy and may rub elbows with your neighbor. There are no cupholders, so just be a bit careful with your drinks. The show was 2 hours long with a 15 min intermission. There's a cafe where you can wine/beer/cider/hard alcohol for $9 (there's no stocked bar) as well as light refreshments like chips, candy, nuts, etc. My husband and I spent more on drinks than our tickets. The $25 tickets are a steal! We easily found parking a few blocks away otherwise the valet is $20. The theater is conveniently located next to a bunch of great restaurants and bars. My husband and I grabbed a quick lunch at the vegan eatery, Pow Pow around the corner and went over to the Greek tapas restaurant Sospeso after the show right across the street for some drinks and apps. Both were great options! So glad I discovered this local theater, looking forward to coming back and watching more jaw dropping performances! read more

I love this theater. I love the music they play in the reception area. There are several theaters inside and they're small and intimate. Every seat is perfect. There's a small cafe inside with water, soda and alcoholic drinks. Some candy and nuts too. It's normal pricing for a theater. It's DC and parking it's horrible. There is a valet across from the theater for $20. Ugh, I pay it because it's close but I wish they had a deal with the theater. There are tons of restaurants all around. You won't want for a lovely meal. read more

My first time at APAC last night was for a Yelp elite and speakeasyDC event. Really cool venue. I didn't know what they did, so I picked up a flyer and I'll definitely be going back. They have musical performances, art exhibits, dance, film, spoken words, it's a place for performing arts! How fitting! The staff was super cool, the lights in the Sprenger theater are a little hot when they're on full. I guess that's the case with the most theater lighting though. From the outside, you'd guess that it's some retro theater and is a dilapidated, but on the inside it is totally neat. It's clean, there are some awesome gates on the wall (for show). It's definitely a great venue, and I'll have to try out the other theaters there for other performances! read more

What can I say? The Atlas is a beautiful, well-run theater. While on the outside it looks very old-school and retro, almost like a relic of a time gone past, the interior is very modern and bright. The theater used to be really run down, but a bunch of patrons of the arts took it and turned it into something amazing. The lighting's great, the lobby is great, heck even the cafe with its limited selection of foods is pretty decent. I was here to see the Intersections art festival and had a great time. The performance I saw was in the Sprenger theater. Obviously a lot of a theater hinges on its performances, and if the other things that happen at the Atlas are anything like Intersections, then this is surely an excellent venue to appreciate the performing arts. And it's near some pretty damn good restaurants and cafes. Don't listen to the scaremongers, H Street really isn't scary. Shady, but not scary. read more

Atlas Performing Arts Center - The entrance to the Atlas - Performing Arts Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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The Atlas is a wonderful venue. Truly a great place to appreciate the arts. My favorite time to visit is late February/early March during the Intersections Festival when it hosts diverse performances (many of them being free) for about 2 weeks straight. There is a little cafe that serves drinks (including beer and wine! woowoo) and snacks like chips and candy. Though you will have to chug your beverage before heading into the theater because there is no food or drink allowed. Plus the drinks and snacks were definitely overpriced...but you can consider the extra $1.50 for that drink as "support for the arts" hah. Also a great addition to any date in this area because you can head over after dinner at Granville Moore's or before drinks at H Street Country Club. read more

Atlas is in a renovated 1938 movie house. Actually Atlas was just re-opened this month after the building was extensively restored and rehabilitated. It is a performing arts center where, for the most part, plays are on stage. Atlas is the home of two theater companies. The first is the African Continuum Theatre Company where one of its shows was given an "Usher's Favorite Show" award. The other company is The Washington Savoyards which is made up mostly of volunteers. read more

Atlas Performing Arts Center - Performing Arts Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

My friend and I stopped by here for a weekend matinee performance of "Oh, God". While the performance was amazing and incredibly thought provoking, this reflection focuses primarily on the venue itself. The Atlas is located toward the far eastern end of H Street, NE between 13th and 14th Streets. It can be easily accessed by the streetcars which run the length of H Street. The building offers a somewhat retro facade reminiscent of the architecture of the mid-20th century. The interior, however, is more modern in its styling. The lobby space is smaller but intimate with a concessions area (the Atlas Cafe) that serves alcohol, and it offers access to several theater spaces on two floors. Our performance was located upstairs. The space is small and accessible. If my memory serves me correctly, the space seats several hundred people on inclined ground floor, and all seats in the house have an unobstructed view of the stage. The acoustics were fair, and the ticket prices were very reasonable. read more

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I saw the Aura Curiatlas Physical Theatre this past weekend, and had such a delightful time! I highly recommend checking out the group for an awe-inspiring show and for whimsical choreography. If you enjoy making eye contact with performers and feeling chemistry up close and personal, then you will love the intimate close proximity of the stage to the audience. I can't vouch for the parking as I walked here from my house, but there are plenty of good eateries and bars around this part of H-Street! read more

The show 'When January feels like Summer' was well performed and pretty funny at times. It dealt with many issues: global warming, recycling, compassion to neighbors, feeling comfortable in your own skin. Being open and honest also were part of the dialogue of this play. It had a lot of meat and substance and I really enjoyed this production. read more

Atlas Performing Arts Center - Side view of dancer. - Performing Arts Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I've passed this theatre many times when walking along the H Street Corridor. I finally get to experience it! This is a great stage and set up. Very intimate. The entire theatre has an old feel but clean, modern version of the one flick theatre from back in the day. Wine and drinks must be consumed outside of the thatre. Typical. I hope to attend more events here. read more

Atlas Performing Arts Center - The stage is set! - Performing Arts Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I love this place. I love: the variety of performances, the quality of artists, and Intersections Festival. The Atlas Theater is what drew me to what just a few years ago was known as "The Atlas District". Atlas has blossomed into The Atlas Performing Arts Center, and though my fave H Street hangouts are gone, I continue to offer my patronage to this wonderful DC gem of live performance art. I have had soooo much fun at The Atlas. I look forward to many more years of discovering new artists, enjoying fave performers, and being awed by new works. read more

Atlas Performing Arts Center - Go-Go Symphony - Performing Arts Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Super cool venue in one of my favorite DC neighborhoods! The Atlas opened as a 1930s movie theater and now looks much the same from the outside. Sweet, right? Walk inside and it gets even sweeter! Beautiful, modern and expansive with two original air conditioning grates restored and mounted on one wall. They're about the size of cathedral organ pipes. Now that's cool! (Get it?) The Atlas has preserved its history while growing its offerings to include multiple theaters (including black box theaters), arts education programs, dance studio space, and who knows what else. They rotate in a wide variety of shows, and I had the pleasure of seeing one recently in the Lang Theater, the more formal performance space with traditional stadium seating. (Note that I said "more formal," not "formal" - it's not fancy, but it is comfortable and intimate!) The best part? A bar/cafe counter thing! Right there in the lobby! None of that rolly-one-man-bar-with-the-row-of-soda-cans-on-top for the Atlas! I'm definitely going to be keeping my eye on their calendar, and probably sending my future kids to afterschool programs. read more

H street is still evolving. Despite new bars and restaurants - this can still be a sketchy place to be at night or even during the daytime. However, one of the gems that is acting as an anchor to the changes coming to this part of the city is the Atlas Performing Arts Center. This is a beautifully restored theater - and a small state of the art facility with 1 major stage and several smaller performance spaces. The theater hosts several small local performing arts groups, including the Congressional Chorus, of which I am a member. The theater really tries to reach out to the local community offering discounted and free events. It's truly a place worth checking out if you want to support the local arts and be a part of changing this community. Several local coffee shops and bars are opening up allowing people to make a night of it on H street. Transportation is still an issue for the theater and the area in general. There is some street parking, but the theater also runs free shuttles from Union Station for performances. Police are also a regular presence on the street during evenings - helping to make it a safe and comfortable place to be. read more

We were here for the SpeakEasy DC event (seven of the top-judged best stories from around DC) Saturday night, courtesy of Kristin M and the Atlas Performing Arts Center. The venue itself was lovely, and the story-tellers were all quite entertaining - kudos to the judges for their selections of what the event touted as the Top Shelf of story-telling. Within, the theatre has plenty of comfortable seats, and it doesn't seem like there's a bad one in the house. We got in a little on the late side, just as the hostess was beginning, and we ended up in the front row - but despite that, the sight-lines were fine, and audio quality was superb as well. The theatre staff was courteous and pleasant, and helpful in directing people around the space. Outside the theatre, the lobby provides a spacious gathering area (with beer!) for pre-show rendezvous or post-show rowdiness. There's also a great selection of local bars & restaurants if you want to grab a bite or a drink to bookend whatever show you're seeing. Perhaps the only downside is parking, which is available on the street outside if you get lucky, or by valet if you don't. Neighborhood streets are largely residential, so allow yourself plenty of time to troll around if you drive here. read more

The theater that named a district. We came here for Pirates of Penzance a few weeks ago and aboslutely loved the venue,and the show. Beautiful, clean, modern, great value, and absolute gem of a place to come and see a show. read more

Great! I saw my first Atlas show this weekend, "Roundheads and Peakheads," a loose adaptation of Shakespeare's "Measure by Measure" that was written in WWII-era Germany. The show was great - the company had adapted from the original to make it more modern, and it was cool to see that kind of creativity. The theater itself is interesting. The lobby is modern and not at all what I had been expecting! Ushers are extremely friendly. This particular show was general admission (not sure if all of the stages are like that) so there were no assigned seats, but rather you could sit where you wanted. Simple, small black-box stage but the space was used quite well. This particular company, the Catalyst company, performs I think exclusively at the Atlas and offers $10 shows to spread culture to the masses. What a great idea! Not to mention that the actors were excellent. I'll definitely go back to more shows at the Atlas. You can't beat decent theater for $10. Keep an eye on the company's calendar at www.catalysttheater.com. read more

Took my wife to see the play Musa & Sheri in the new world. Spent $50 on tickets and was pleasantly pleased with the look of the theatre. Didn't know they were also having a black film festival which was a surprise. We both enjoyed the seating it was perfect and an intimate setting. The subject matter of the play really appealed to her and we are newly married. The play was enjoyed and we left feeling good about the play and the all around experience!!! They do serve drinks and snacks! read more

A real gem - we've gone to the Atlas a few times this summer to enjoy their summer film series (which has to be one of the great DC secrets- this summer, you could see a different Spike Lee film every Sunday at 4PM for $2/ticket) and it's a remarkable, beautiful space with amazingly friendly staff (the only downside is that they keep it very, very cold in there). The Atlas folks make a big hoopla about parking (in fact, they'll email you a few times to discuss the parking issue) - maybe we've always gotten lucky but we've found street parking in a few minutes, and it's never been an issue. I'd absolutely encourage people to check out the summer films next summer - it's a great, economical outing - and a fun way to see older films on the big screen. read more

I came here for Yelp's Speakeasy event and must say, what a great event that was! The staff was excellent especially under the hectic conditions of a Yelp event. The theatre itself was lovely and the show- hilarious. I would definitely come back here for another show. read more

Having failed to read fellow yelps before going, I went in a blank slate, completely unbiased, and came out delighted. I admit it...I was deceived by the vintage throwback exterior. You'd never guess the interior is state of the art, high tech fancy schmancy primo accommodations. Ticket windows are immediately to your right upon entering. The lobby area is nice and wide and I'm sure makes for great cocktail receptions. The decor is modern, sophisticated and elegant. Ascend the stairs to find a little lounge area to the left and the theatre to the right. Now for the actual theatre area: Comfy reasonably sized seats, decent height...no visibility issues. Saw several areas for wheelchair accessible seating. Big bright screen and excellent sound. I will say that the digital projection of the shows I watched (DC Shorts Film Festival), did have some pixelation issues...but I don't know if that was the venue's equipment or the Mac that the videos were played from. Either way, it was still a fantastic visit. I'll be bookmarking the Atlas homepage to keep tabs on what's playing there. read more

The venue was cozy, and my sis and I had a great night here. Atlas booked a decent gig, so kudos. Transportation to here is an issue; using public transit would be a pain, and that is the main reason I'd hesitate before coming back. I bought a $12 parking spot ahead of time from their website (on IE, website doesn't work on Chrome) - the lot is a couple blocks down the street. This place is 1.8 mi from Union Station. Parking is limited. So are buses. I looked up the bus situation online (3 buses, from 3 different spots outside Union Station) and quickly figured out that it wasn't worth it. I wouldn't come again unless it was for a specific gig, or because I expected to check out a local place afterwards. The transportation thing isn't yet sorted out. read more

I attended a play to support my friend. I was told beforehand that the Atlas uses to be a movie theatre. It looks nice inside, reminds me of a multi purpose room. The room that I went into bad bleachers with chairs on them. It was hot in there. I loved the play though. Luckily I had a paper towel in my hand because it surely came in handy. I was in there for about 90 minutes and if it wasn't for my friend inviting me, I wouldn't have known about it. read more

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A Grand Night For Singing, Looking for a date event? Looking for a night of fun, laughter and sassy-ness? Head out to the Atlas Performing Arts Center to see this production. It's a GRAND opportunity for all to attend. The Washington Savoyards presents Rodgers & Hammer stein's A Grand Night For Singing- celebrating the Music and lyrics of two of America's beloved Broadway Dynamic Duos. Why I loved this soo much: First, who in American culture can say they've never been touched by at least one of R&H's music? Selections from musicals such as: Oklahoma!, Carousel, South Pacific, The King and I and The Sound of Music, all in a contemporary setting with 5 talented characters, Dorea Schmidt, Nick Lehan, Maria Egler, Scott Russell, and Emily Levey and a phenomenal trio band featuring, the young, upcoming Maestro, William Yanesh on piano; the fabulous quietness of Mary Scott on bass and Logan Seith on percussion. What was so unique about this production is that each of the character's song selections were perfect for their voices and personalities. * Maria Egler, what a versatile performer...she simply lights the stage. Always in character and pleasant to watch. M.E. is "something wonderful!" * Dorea Schmidt, Wow! Your interpretations were amazing, each time you had your solo. D.S. stayed in character and kept the audience engaged with her performances. D.S., We "love you because your voice is beautiful." Para-quote. * Nick Lehan, if this was your debut, you have shocked all of us. What a charming feller. Loved your energy, bright voice and most, your dance moves. N.L. is such a flirt on the stage...it works, keep it up. Watch out ladies and gents, Nick's about to steal your hearts with his charm. "Love, Look Away..." Very nice. * Scott Russell, Baritone you are and tone is the word for you. What a lovely tone. Your voice appears to be very even and pleasant to hear. I'd love to hear more from you. S.R. has a soft, calming voice that makes you say ahh...that was nice. Irony, he's big guy and one of his songs was "My Little Girl," from Soliloquy. * Emily Levey, Broadway has your name written all over it. From the moment you walked out on stage, the brightness in your eyes, your voice and not to mention- your dance moves. I'm looking forward to seeing and hearing more from you ON BROADWAY! E.L., you have "A Hundred Million Miracles," waiting for you. When they all joined in to perform together, the chemistry was amazing. Nice blends. Loved the sexy colors of the ladies dresses and the background lighting helped too. Overall, I thought this production was very well put together. We have all been touched by the relevant music of R&H and this weekend's performance was demonstrated very well. I'm sure, it only gets better as they continue for the next few weeks. Job well done. Go ye therefore and tell them, JACKSON sent'ya! Enjoy! read more

This theater is beautiful. I have seen several performances here (the latest was Treemonisha, part of a new arts festival, Intersections, that is taking place at the Atlas), and they all have been AMAZING. ALSO, there is a little place within the theater that sells food that can be eaten in the lobby. This food is actually VERY GOOD. I got the pot stickers. They were yummy. I also got a chocolate muffin. Which was just about the best thing I'd eaten all day. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND GOING HERE if you are into the performing arts. If you DON'T like art, you should still go, because this place just might change your mind. read more

This is a great performance space--intimate, new, clean, friendly staff. The theater was cozy but not cramped. They space out the chairs very well. The food they sell at the concession stand is delicious and, unlike most concession stands, it doesn't cost you an arm and a leg for a drink or coffee. read more

There are lots of great performances here. Tickets are reasonable and sometimes free. The venue is cozy and comfortable. I attend more church services than shows. Street parking is available but more challenging in the evening. Parking is easier to find and free on weekends. read more

I recently attended two performances at the Atlas Performing Arts Center. Once during the Intersections Festival which was very impressive. The quality of the performance was excellent, creative and interesting. I recommend checking out Intersections if you've never been. It runs over three weeks with many different types of shows. Plus they even have trivia contests during the festival where I won a free pair of tickets to any Atlas performance. I promptly cashed that in and hope to see another show soon. As for the actual facilities, the place is clean and modern. Will call was fast. The Lang theatre has many seats, but has a cozy feel. There's also stadium seating which results in excellent visibility throughout. read more

I love this theatre! Recently, I went to the beautiful, spectacular Atlas Theater to see this show primarily about the life of Sister Rosetta Tharpe, an influential gospel, rock and blues singer who was inducted, posthumously, into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame this year. "Marie and Rosetta" is playing on H Street NE thru the end of September. Especially those of you who grew up in churches singing songs like "Up Above My Head, I Hear Music In the Air," "Didn't It Rain," and many others, will find that you can't help but sing or clap as the two very talented stars/singers and on-stage musicians perform. The two musicians - very talented piano player and guitar player - are the live band on-stage who never say a word, but simply blend in and do their part while often the actresses mimic playing. Every performer is EXCELLENT! The award winning Roz White as Sister Tharpe and Ayana Reed, as Marie, deliver a powerful and moving story. The piano player, Ronnette F. Harrison, who I have heard sing at a local church, could, no doubt, belt out many of the songs with the same enthusiasm and vigor as the stars. The other musician, Barbara R. Gaskins, who plays multiple, beautiful guitars with the utmost of ease, is also simply wonderful. I heard several people remark that they wish that she had been allowed to play more. You can get discounted tickets through Goldstar, Groupon and the neighborhood price if you live in the area. Don't let money keep you away. It is well worth the price whatever you pay. read more

Saw some films here via the 2011 DC Shorts Film Festival, so can't base anything on a live performance as I have not seen one here yet. From what I saw, the Atlas Theatre is a very nice venue that I hope to return to for a live performance. The actual theatre I was in (upstairs) is fairly large with nice decent seats, rows high enough that most should be able to see, pretty comfortable. Liked the decor inside here too. Just the location makes it a little harder to get to (unless you have a car), or I'd like to see more performances here. It is walkable from Union Station (but would not want to do that at night), and buses regularly run. read more

I went for the first time not too long ago and I was very impressed. I have been next door at Joy of motion and I love that they bring so much culture to this side of town! The facilities were spotless and very cool looking. It definitely gave it a chic look but fit into the neighborhood. We ended up taking a cab from Union Station and that wasn't too bad but I wish there was a metro stop closer to the area. read more

Atlas Performing Arts Center - Performing Arts Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Support Local Theatre! The Atlas Performing Arts Center is one of Washington, DC's best spots to find local, innovative and experimental theatre. Host of several of the Fringe Festival's plays every year, Atlas is a community-centric theatre that focuses on theatre, music and dance. The main stage is fantastic Blackbox theatre with risers to provide for optimal viewing. The only down side is that if the production doesn't mic properly, it can be difficult to hear the actors. The room sucks up sound. Ultimately, this shouldn't stop you in supporting local theatre! (And for those playing PokemonGo -- Atlas Theatre is an Poke-Gym. Just to add another incentive to go!) read more

I went and saw the DC Shorts Film Festival here. The space is very nice. It's very modern and clean. It definitely seemed like you could see from any seat in the auditorium. The show we saw had some sound and picture issues. It made three of the shorts pretty much unwatchable. I'm not sure if it was a venue problem or an event problem though (so I'm not marking the venue down too much for that). Drinks were a little pricey (which was expected) and they didn't let us take them into the theater (which I think is lame considering they're selling them). I would consider seeing something else here if I found the right event. read more

I came here to see the Deaf Monologues show last weekend. This is a nice venue. Doesn't really look as nice as it really is from the outside. But once you go in, you'll see it's been remodeled and they do a good job with the upkeeping of this place. We were in the smaller auditorium close to the snacks and bar service. It seated about 200 people or so. I thought the visual and audio capabilities were good. Only downfall is that the mics needed to be turned up. It was hard to hear at some points but really something that could have been adjusted easily. Something they should have done with testing but.... overall great. The snacks and bar service is a little pricey like any other bar at a theater. They actually carried some unique liquors and beers which I liked. They had a good amount of options compared to other places I have been to. The staff in the building were all very nice and courteous. I would definitely come back for another show/event. read more

Saw a show on Saturday night with the Welders group. Small intimate theatre and fantastic performance. I appreciated the warning that there's no intermission for the 90 min show and they won't let you back in for a pee break! Looking forward to seeing what other shows will be available in the upcoming months! read more