After a full day of programmed activities and meetings, unwind with your group at the theater. Arlington has several acclaimed theaters and theater groups ready to infuse a dose of culture into your event and create an evening to remember. Complement your admission to regularly planned shows with special events created just for your group – inquire with the theaters for details
Please visit each theater's individual website for current capacity restrictions and regulations.
Give your group an intimate theater experience, the likes of which they will see in New York City without the crowds, at Signature Theatre in the Shirlington neighborhood. “No matter where the group is seated, they are never more than 40 feet away from the stage,” says Emily Adler, group sales and grassroots marketing manager for Signature Theatre. Named a “musical theater powerhouse” by The Washington Post, this non-profit theater company produces contemporary musicals and plays, reinvents classic musicals, and develops its own work, which has garnered numerous theater awards.
Emily and her team work closely with groups to make their events a resounding success. Signature can arrange everything from group tickets and special events with the cast to dining and bus parking. Group discounts start at 20 percent, and fees are waved for groups of 10 or more. Signature can offer meet-and-greets with the cast, special Q&A sessions, and behind-the-scenes backstage tours. “We have done many things to make it a special night for the group. We go above and beyond to make it as interactive an experience as possible,” Emily adds.
Make it a dinner-and-the-theater night with the onsite restaurant Ali’s Bar, featuring small plates, fresh salads, signature sandwiches (including their famous grilled cheese) and a full bar. Or try one of the more than 15 restaurants nearby at the Village at Shirlington, which also features five free parking garages for easy access.
For nearly 20 years the Synetic Theater has brought its powerful form of athletic theater to Arlington’s Crystal City neighborhood. The capital region’s premier physical theater company, Synetic has won 32 Helen Hayes Awards. “We are the only theater company of this kind in the country. We have a very visual experience that is very accessible to all audiences,” says Jason Najjoum, managing director of Synetic Theater. Najjoum likens Synetic to the athleticism found in Cirque du Soleil productions, experienced in a more intimate setting. Plus, the company creates everything from costumes and lighting to the set and choreography in house. They even created a 40-foot pool for a recent production of the Tempest. Their shows are often an interpretation of classics, and typically run between 75 and 100 minutes.
Synetic also caters to groups with group ticket sales, custom professional development and team-building activities for groups of all kinds. They can book a group of 40 or sell out the house with 325 seats. “We work with the group to find the right curriculum and agenda for them,” he says. “We have done everything from one-off workshops to multi-day residencies based on what each client is looking for."
Transportation and dining for an outing to Synetic is a breeze. One block from the Crystal City Metro Station, Synetic is close to dozens of restaurants and a four-minute drive away from Fashion Centre at Pentagon City.
Arlington is also home to accomplished and lauded theater and dance companies that perform in various venues around the capital region. For a dose of Shakespeare and other theatrical classics, WSC Avant Bard has been performing in Arlington for 30 years and performs at Arlington’s Gunston Arts Center and Theatre on the Run.
Arlington-based contemporary dance company Bowen McCauley Dance Co. was recognized by Washingtonian Magazine as "one of the area's best dance troupes" and performs at the Kennedy Center and other venues in the region. 2021 will be the Bowen McCauley Dance Co.'s 25th and final season with a farewell performance on September 14, 2021. Also located in Arlington, the lauded Jane Franklin Dance is known for its lively mix of dance, theater, and humor and performs in the area and at upcoming festivals.
For more information on Arlington’s happenings, visit our events page.
Author: Talia Salem
