Homecoming Grand Opening Celebration

On Saturday, October 23, Arena Stage officially opened the Mead Center for American Theater. We celebrated our return to Southwest D.C. with a full day of free events, including performances by Broadway and Tony Award-winning stars, conversations with prominent Arena Stage artists, presentations by local arts groups and more. See the schedule below for the complete, exciting lineup.

The festivities took place throughout the entire building, including the historic Fichandler Stage, the renovated Kreeger Theater, the new Arlene and Robert Kogod Cradle, the Community Engagement Classroom, and an outdoor stage.

Food and beverages were available at the café in the Mead Center, operated by José Andrés Catering with Ridgewells. In addition, Design Cuisine and Salamander Hospitality set up various outdoor food vending locations during the celebration.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Outdoor Stage
11:30 a.m. Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
12:30 p.m. Universes, spoken word/slam poetry ensemble
1:30 p.m. Show Choir Spectacular featuring Chantilly High School and Churchill High School
2:30 p.m. The Manzari Brothers
3:30 p.m. Feels So Good
4:30 p.m. Elk Soldiers
5:45 p.m. Grand Finale with the cast of Oklahoma! and special guests

Fichandler Stage - A First Look at Arena Stage's Inaugural Production at the Mead Center for American Theater
1:00 p.m. Sneak Preview of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma!
2:00 p.m. Sneak Preview of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma!
3:00 p.m. Sneak Preview of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma!
4:00 p.m. Sneak Preview of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma!
5:00 p.m. Sneak Preview of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma!

Kreeger Theater - Concert Performances
12:15 p.m. E. Faye Butler (Arena's Crowns, Ain't Misbehaving)
1:15 p.m. Brad Oscar (Tony Award nominee for The Producers, Arena's Cabaret)
2:15 p.m. Kate Baldwin (Tony Award nominee for Finian's Rainbow, Arena's South Pacific)
3:15 p.m. Matt Bogart (Broadway's Jersey Boys, Arena's Damn Yankees)
4:15 p.m. Alice Ripley (Tony Award winner for Next to Normal)

Kogod Cradle - Exploring America's Newest Theatrical Works

12:30 p.m.	Resident Playwrights Karen Zacarías and Katori Hall read from their new projects
1:30 p.m.	Anna Deavere Smith discusses her new piece, Let Me Down Easy
2:30 p.m.	Resident Playwright Amy Freed in conversation with The Washington Post’s Peter Marks
3:30 p.m.	Playwright Marcus Gardley and members of the company of every tongue confess discuss the new play
4:30 p.m.	Resident Playwright and Duke Ellington’s Sophisticated Ladies director Charles Randolph-Wright reads from his new work

Rehearsal Hall B - Arena Stage's Community Engagement Department and Local Performing Arts Groups
12:15 p.m. Washington Improv Theater
1:15 p.m. Arena Stage’s Voices of Now
2:15 p.m. Synetic Theater
3:15 p.m. Liz Lerman Dance Exchange
4:15 p.m. Arena Stage’s Student Playwrights Project

The Study - Cabaret with Arena Stage Favorites
12:15 p.m. Diego Prieto & Eleasha Gamble
1:15 p.m. Nina Negri & Bayla Whitten
2:15 p.m. Tina Fabrique & Marva Hicks
3:15 p.m. Nina Negri & Bayla Whitten
4:15 p.m. Stephen Wade

The Terrace
1:00 p.m. Blue Sky Puppets
2:00 p.m. Community Engagement Workshop
3:00 p.m. Community Engagement Workshop
4:00 p.m. Community Engagement Workshop

Classroom
12:30–5:30 p.m. Children’s Crafts and Activities