Lifestyle: Local Theater Groups
The local theater group community is quite active in Northern Virginia. With a variety of choices of wonderful performances and acting troupes, we have selected three local theater groups in Northern Virginia to highlight.
Next Stop Theater
The Next Stop Theater has an interesting story. It started as the Elden Street Players, an all-volunteer community theater group in Herndon. Its first year was so successful, the Town of Herndon built a 114 seat theater for the group’s performances. After 25 years of successful and award winning performances, the group made the move to become a professional, regional theater company and never looked back. Under the direction of Evan Hoffman, the NextStop Theater was born and have continued to create successful and award winning productions.
Upcoming productions include Nat Turner in Jerusalem, an historical drama directed by Bryan Minix (April 1 – April 17), Lucky Stiff, a musical comedy directed by Robert Mintz (May 19 – June 12) and a special Theater in the Park performance of A Midsummer’s Night Dream, directed by Christopher Michael Richardson (April 30-May 22) at the Reston Towns Square Park.
The Next Stop Theater, 69 Sunset Park Drive, Herndon, VA 20170
1st Stage
The 1st stage theater company began as a grass roots theater group in 2008 and has grown into an award winning, professional theater company. The company has won several awards for its productions, most recently winning seven Helen Hayes Awards in 2020.
Remaining productions for 2022 include The Mamalogues, a satirical comedy written by Lisa B. Thompson (April 21 – May 8) and Under the Sea with Dredgie McGee written by Matthew Aldwin McGee (June 2 – 9) , it is a great opportunity to see these folks in action.
1st Stage, 1524 Spring Hill Road, Tysons, VA 22102
The Providence Players
The Providence players began in 1998 and have grown into a local award winning theater company with more than 180 performing members and a large local following of over 450 season ticket holders. The group joined the the Washington Area Community Theater Honors (WATCH) and has also received several Ruby Griffith Awards and is a member and grant recipient of the ARTSFAIRFAX.
Upcoming performances include Enchanted April, a romantic comedy by Matthew Barber (March 25- April 9), and Playing Juliet and Casting Othello by Caleen Sinnette Jennings (June 10-June 25). Upcoming PopUp productions will be announced on The Providence Players website.
The Providence Players, 2855 Annandale Road, Falls Church, VA 22042
