One of my favorite things about D.C. is the ready availability of art to explore.
As a Theater major, there is no better education for me than viewing as many shows as I possibly can. There are over 40 independent theater companies in D.C., as well as a thriving community of fringe artists.
The smorgasbord of shows of all varieties is endless and enticing. You can see top-notch productions of Shakespeare’s works at The Folger Shakespeare Theater or the Shakespeare Theatre Company, fun improv shows done by Washington Improv Theater (WIT), innovative dance theater productions of classic stories at Synetic Theater, and exciting productions of new plays and musicals at Studio Theater, Arena Stage, Signature Theatre, and so many more.
If you are a big spender, you can even go see whatever big-budget show the Kennedy Center is hosting at the time. If you come this fall, you might be lucky enough to see the eleven-time Tony winning Broadway production of “Hamilton,” that is if it has not already sold-out again.
Washington, D.C. is especially ripe for art that talks about deep issues, especially in the heart of our nation’s capitol. I am lucky to be interning at a local theater in D.C. called the Keegan Theatre. The show that they are currently producing is entitled “Lincolnesque,” and it has been interesting to see it come to life. The play is a bipartisan look at politics in D.C. through the lens of the speechwriter for the campaign of a lousy senator who is up for reelection. Throw in a brother who believes he is Abraham Lincoln back from the dead and antics ensue. The play described by the Keegan Theatre’s website as being “an insightful, whip-smart exploration of where we find our hope, and the power of language to both divide and unite.” In this day and age, language is powerful and stories have more hold on us than ever before. Being able to engage with all of this and the topics that are difficult to grapple with through the medium of art is part of why I love theater. To be in D.C. and get to be a part of it is a learning experience like no other.
— Clara Bush is a theater major interning at Keegan Theatre this semester through EMU’s Washington Community Scholars’ Center in D.C.