Live Performance entertainment in Washington, DC
- Sort by:
- Popular
-
A
Kennedy Center
Washington’s main cultural jewel is given credit for transforming DC from a cultural backwater to an artistic contender in the late 20th century. The stately white-marble building overlooking the Potomac River opened to the public in 1971. It holds two big theaters, a theater lab (where new or experimental theater is staged), cinema, opera house and concert hall (and the fine Roof Terrace Restaurant to boot). It is home to the National Symphony Orchestra and the Washington Chamber Symphony, both directed by Leonard Slatkin, the Washington Opera (www.dc-opera.org), directed by Placido Domingo, and the Washington Ballet. Film festivals and cultural events are frequent hig…
reviewed
-
B
Palace of Wonders
The Palace was one of the leaders of the charge that turned H St NE into one of the coolest parts of the capital. It is, frankly, what DC has always needed: a semipermanent freak show. Upstairs is a circus of oddities, local genius James Taylor’s museum of the odd, twisted and awesome. Downstairs is a kickin’ bar that attracts a pretty punk-ish crowd; on weekends, a cover charge (usually around $20) gets you in for all-night performances of sword-swallowing, flea circuses, fire eating and magic tricks. It’s extremely fun, and what DC needed to offset its admittedly large preppie population.
reviewed
-
C
Warner Theatre
The beautifully restored 1924 art-deco theater was originally built for vaudeville and silent films, but it now stages headliner concerts, comedians and national runs of Broadway musicals.
reviewed
-
D
National Symphony Orchestra & Washington Chamber Symphony
Both directed by Leonard Slatkin, these classic instrumental ensembles perform at the Kennedy Center, and at Wolf Trap Center in summer.
reviewed
