A pretty decent venue for shows! I have been for a ballet and could see everything well from the…read morebalcony; was surprised the seats were cheap for my spot with the view I got. The balcony is rather steep though, which could be scary for some. They have stairs and an elevator to go between floors, but the elevator is kind of small. Security is friendly and timely. I would come again for another show.

Came to the National Theatre on Easter Sunday to see Beauty and the Beast and had such a great…read moreexperience overall. I was running a little late, about five minutes after showtime, but somehow luck was on my side because I found street parking right on the same block, winning . I definitely would not count on that every time though; there are parking garages nearby that are probably a safer bet if you are cutting it close. Since I arrived just after the show started, I was expecting a hassle getting in, but it was actually super smooth. I did not have to deal with a long line at all, and the staff were really helpful in getting me seated quickly. I did not grab any food or drinks, so I cannot speak to pricing or options, but one thing I will say is avoid the bathroom lines during intermission if you can. They get very long. Try to go right before the show, after, or sneak away at a less obvious time if possible. As for the show itself, I loved it. I was seated in the very last row at the top and still had a clear view, which says a lot about the layout. Since there is no recording allowed, it really lets you stay present and enjoy the performance for what it is. I went solo and honestly it was the perfect solo outing. Super grateful for the experience and would definitely do it again.

I visited the Shakespeare Theatre Company's Harman Hall this past Sunday for a performance of…read moreParanormal Activity (their seasons include non-Shakespeare works), and I was really impressed by the production and the building itself. (FYI: STC has productions in two separate theaters - Harman Hall and Klein Theatre, so make sure you know which location is the location for your production). Harman Hall is beautiful - modern, bright, large. We sat in the front row of the mezzanine, and the seats were great but I think most of their seats would be great. Unlike the prices are outrageous, I often like to sit in the front row of the mezzanine when I attend the theater, because I'm short and often find my view obstructed by people in front of me in theaters. Because Harman Hall is modern and newer than historic theaters (on Broadway in NYC, for example), the incline of seats in the theater is much more pronounced than in other theaters. I didn't need to sit in that front row, because I probably could have seen from anywhere. Our performance wasn't sold out, and the theater was not packed or crowded - short lines for the bar (especially on the top floor where we were sitting anyway), short lines for the bathroom. The location is convenient, near a couple of Metro stations, lots of restaurants and bars, and a few museums. We parked in a garage I reserved a spot in on SpotHero, which was less than $15 for the day, too. Although I tend to focus my reviews of theaters on the theater itself (you could see a good production at a theater and then a production you don't like as much - but you can still appreciate the theater - its comfort, its location, its amenities), I will say that the production we saw was interesting and thought-provoking. I'd say I'm likely to return, but I have tickets for a production in April, so I know I will be.

My first time at the Harman Hall theatre to see Paranormal Activity. I was so blown away by this…read moreshow! I'm still in awe of the robe scene IYKYK. The actors were so good in their respective roles and I was completely immersed in the story. It came together at the end really well and the practical effects were incredible. I loved the staging with the 2 floors and getting to see everything all at once. The theatre itself was very nice. The bathrooms were spacious and clean, the ushers were kind and helpful, and the seats were relatively comfortable. Pro tip, choose row E if you want extra legroom!

Arena is my favorite place to take in a play. The modern stone aesthetics with the loft overlooking…read morethe open cafe area is beautiful. Hana Sherif, the artistic director is tapping into so many amazing stories that capture the African American experience in America. The latest hit is Chez Joey which is here till 3/15/26. The play is a 10 out of 10. It's a love triangle story that takes place in 1940's Chicago at a jazz club. Joey is a young ambitious entertainer looking to make a name for himself and has to choose between true love or being bought by a rich baroness who can easily fund his dreams. The dancing and singing is electrifying and steamy, the story is told well and highly engaging. On Wednesdays they've added a complimentary jazz concert from 6:15 to 7pm that takes place in the lobby with seating. Check out Arena's lineup, they are procuring amazing work this season.

TLC - CRAZY SEXY COOL..what a fantastic production. The playbill describes the gal group as…read morerevolutionary... and while i recall their music, their life struggles were riveting. Bring tissues because this gets emotional, and be prepared to dance in your seat. The strong vocals filled the theatre, and you will not be disappointed!

In October I went to Drunk Dracula in DC for my first Drunk Shakespeare experience, and I laughed…read moreso much. If you've never been, just know this isn't your typical theater outing--it's way more interactive, chaotic (in a good way), and just plain fun. When you walk in, there's a bar, but you don't order directly from it. Each seat has a QR code, and the staff delivers drinks right to you, which is super convenient. Once you enter the theater area, you're even given a complimentary shot to kick things off--great way to set the tone for the night. The venue itself is small and really intimate, which makes the whole experience better. There isn't a bad seat in the house. The seats along the stage are bench-style with cubbies underneath for your stuff, while the upper-level seating has stools set behind bookcases that wrap around parts of the stage. The drink menu includes themed cocktails, plus wine, beer, and spirits--expect to pay around $15 per drink. There are also light snacks, but portions are small and a bit pricey, so don't count on them to fill you up. If you do order food, the stools by the bookcases are definitely the best seats since you'll have a surface to put your plate on--otherwise, it's lap dining. As for the show itself, it was fantastic. There's a lot of audience participation, and the actors absolutely commit--including proving they're actually drinking. One thing I didn't realize beforehand is that not the entire cast drinks--there's usually one designated drinker, which honestly makes it even funnier and leads to some unforgettable moments. The performance is an abbreviated version of the story, mixed with plenty of local references that keep it fresh and relatable. The Drunk Shakespeare company also puts on other holiday-themed shows throughout the year, which is awesome. I'll definitely be back to check out Drunk Christmas Carol.

I throughly enjoyed my first experience at Drunk Shakespeare. This show is like none other as…read moreactors are taking shots during the show. There so many current nuances woven into the show that makes it hilarious and the props. Please go and have a good night whether solo, date night, or with friends. You'll have a great time. Not to mention, you get a welcome shot upon entering the theatre. One thing, I found really nice is that you order from your phone and the servers bring you everything at your seat.

Picnic-friendly and surprisingly easy to navigate, even with large crowds. Bring a blanket, chair,…read moreand your favorite snacks for a relaxing evening under the stars. Enjoy live music, sip sangria, and take in the beautiful sculpture garden atmosphere. A wonderful way to spend a summer evening in DC.

Super fun to do with a group! Make sure you get there before 5:20lm to get a spot in the shade.read more

Saw an absolutely AMAZING performance of 'Night Mother here in April 2023. Highly recommend this…read moreperformance :D

I never knew that the Anacostia Playhouse existed but then again, I haven't been going to many…read moreperformances. The playhouse is right off Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE. On the same side as and a block behind Turning Natural. I had never been back there and if it wasn't for this outing, I doubt I would have ventured here. The playhouse is located in a renovated warehouse space. Immediately, I could see that they were making good use of a sturdy, old building of industry. Inside the actual theater, I loved the intimate feel of it. The stage, in the center allows for you to be seated close to the performers without being too close. I know that the performers could speak better on that than me but that's what I felt as a witness. "The Very Last Days of the First Colored Circus" by Steven Butler was an emotional rollercoaster to say the least. For my next visit I am really looking forward to Clayton LeBeouf's "Record Store 24". Celebrating the Arts in Anacostia in 2018.

"We just want to show the films we like. The ultimate goal is to show as wide a swath of movies as…read morepossible: good, bad, new, old, weird -- whatever." I read that quote from one of the founders of Suns Cinema in a piece about the theater, and it pretty much sums up why I'm writing a five-star review for this 28-seat movie theater. I've loved movies since I was young, and seeing a movie in a theater is as special to me now as it was when I was a budding cinephile growing up in Dallas, a city with a surprisingly great independent movie theater scene. But in our post-pandemic, streaming world, movie theaters are struggling and we're losing some. But there are some positive signs, too: new theaters opening, historic theaters getting bought and protected. Suns Cinema was founded by two movie lovers with the help of crowdfunding. And they turned what had been a cellphone store into one of the coolest little cinemas in the country. They show whatever they want - foreign films, classics, the weirdest little surprises you'd never find on your own... Take for instance what's "Coming Soon" this month - a movie made in 1958 and a movie released this year; and movies directed by William Friedkin, Agnès Varda, Andrei Tarkovsky, Rainer Werner Fassbinder, Alain Resnais... They show about 30 movies a month, and many sell out quickly due to the small number of seats/tickets available. When you arrive, you're carded and asked for your ticket at the door. Then, on the left downstairs, is a bar with a few snacks (popcorn, candy, olives) and some great drinks: well-crafted cocktails, a great wine list, beers, sodas, etc. Then up a steep flight of stairs is the screening room. It's tiny, with sets of mismatched movie theater seats and chairs and a screen as large as it can be in this little screening room. I had wanted to visit Suns Cinema for years, and this past weekend, it finally happened. A friend and I got tickets for the 6pm showing of Eyes Without a Face (which I had seen once 20 years ago and my friend had never heard of - I didn't let her Google it before the screening) on Saturday night. We showed up a bit early, grabbed snacks and a great glass of wine. You can hover in their bar (there are tables and barstools), but we decided to head upstairs to pick our seats. I'm not tall (I say five foot one but that might be a bit generous), so I'm always worried about having poor visibility in little theaters like Suns. We went to the front row, and this worked fine. (We played a game of Goldilocks when we walked in and tried a few seats and positions out, because each section of seats offers a different style of seat and view - if you get there early, you can Goldilocks it from the 28-seat selection, too). Sure, you can hear a bit of noise from the bar downstairs during the screening. And yes, they added an intermission to our 90-minute movie that wasn't designed to have one (I know my cinephile brother would fume about this), but seeing a movie at Suns reminded me of why I have always loved and still love going to the movies. It was amazing to hear the reactions our small audience had to our strange, shocking little movie. There were gasps and giggles and post-movie debate. Suns offers something no other theater in DC does (and that people in other cities may not be lucky enough to have). It creates a community for people who love or are interested in film. A place to see rare movies, strange movies, old movies, challenging movies. A place to see with people who want to share those movies and the experience of being in a cinema. If I lived in DC, I'd be here often. Living in Baltimore (a city that doesn't have anything close), I'll definitely be back. DC is lucky to have Suns Cinema.

I love going to the movies and, in particular, I love supporting independent movie houses. Suns has…read morebeen open for years, but I hadn't gotten around to being a patron until last week. First off, allow me to say just how lovely and responsive the theater staff was. The screening I wanted a ticket for had sold out online, but after some brief back and forth on Instagram, they suggested I arrive anyway as sometimes there are no shows -- it was my lucky night. It's definitely a small theater and it doesn't have any of the amenities you'd expect at a multiplex, but what it lacks in corporate comfort it makes up for with charm. It's clear this place is run by people who *love* the act of moviegoing as every nook and cranny of Suns has some kind of reference or homage to old school movie theaters or classic film. The bar downstairs has some cocktails, but I kept it simple with a $5 Miller High Life and Haribo gummies. The popcorn they have on sale is one size only which was fine for the price. Definitely most of the focus is on the beer and spirits which, like the Alamo, you can take with you to the screening room upstairs. The screening room holds maybe 25 people or so and definitely has more of a home theater vibe, but it makes for a really intimate gathering and atmosphere. Definitely a hipster hangout. That said, most of the movies they advertise here are older ones (like Scream 3 which I watched as part of their Parker Posey monthlong retrospective). I will definitely be coming back.

Went here to see a Drunk Shakespeare show this evening and it was hilarious! The cast is incredibly…read morequirky while performing some of the most complex lines from Shakespeare I've ever heard (all while drinking!)