Theater News: The Kennedy Center announces the second annual local theater festival celebrating the DMV’s vibrant theater scene

Photo courtesy of The Kennedy Center.

Featuring an exclusive conversation with Peter Marks and Naveen Kumar, The Washington Posts current and former theatre critics, hosted by Social Impact Senior Director, Victoria Baatin

(WASHINGTON) — 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 theater community and highlights the innovative work of local theater companies and playwrights. This year’s festival will feature a special highlight: an exclusive, in-depth conversation in the Terrace Theater at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, August 23, between The Washington Postthe theatre’s former chief theatre critic, Peter Marks, and his new successor, Naveen Kumar. Complimentary tickets for this conversation will be available through the Kennedy Center website beginning August 12, 2024.

This year’s festival programme includes an impressive range of Local theatre resident artists and organisations 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 visitors can enjoy:

• Works in Progress Lectures: Attend lectures by former Kennedy Center Local Theatre resident artists, who will give you a taste of exciting new plays.
• Engaging workshops and panels: Join sessions led by renowned professionals from the local theatre world. These sessions are designed to inspire and educate theatre lovers and aspiring artists.
• Resource Fair: Discover a carefully curated selection of resources tailored specifically to DMV theater fans and professionals, offering valuable insights and opportunities.

Event details:

Date: Saturday August 24, 2024
TI mine: Events start at 10:00am
Ilocation: The REACH at the Kennedy Center

Recognition: Ticket reservations open approximately 12 days prior to the festival. All events require a ticket. Doors open 15 minutes prior to 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 Theatre, connect with local creatives, and enjoy a day of artistic inspiration and community spirit.

About the local theatre residency programme
The local theatre residency at The REACH is a Social impact program dedicated to providing time, space, and funding to support local DMV theater creators. This program helps amplify often overlooked stories and fosters engagement by artists driven by the belief that the arts can catalyze social change, build community, inspire action, and create meaningful change. The REACH embodies President Kennedy’s vision for a new frontier in the arts and 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. He graduated from Yale, served four times as chairman of the Pulitzer Prize Jury for Drama, and co-hosts a theater podcast, Brands & Vincentelli.

About Naveen Kumar
Naveen Kumar is the Washington Post‘s theatre critic. He previously wrote theatre reviews for the New York Times And VarietyHis work as a journalist has been published by them.usthe Daily Beast, City & Countryand 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. Before becoming a journalist, he worked on the agency side of the entertainment business, including in the theater department of CAA. He received his BA from Vassar College and an MA in English and Comparative Literature from Columbia University.

About Social Impact
At the Kennedy Center, our systemic commitment to social impact lives in our belief that the arts have a unique power in our society to build community, center joy, inspire action, and create meaningful change. We use the arts for non-artistic outcomes to advance justice and equity in everything we do.

For more information about the Kennedy Center, please visit our website.