As the region’s major theaters rebound from the dark nights of the pandemic, it’s nothing short of miraculous that its fringe scene — under-recognized and under-funded at the best of times — has found a way to keep the curtains rising.
Operating on a wing and a prayer, these tiny theater troupes may be labors of semi-volunteer love, but they are, without doubt, the crazy, tinkling bells that keep a city’s culture alive, vibrant and just a whole lot more fun to explore.
And frankly, if any town needs a healthy alternative scene, it’s Washington, D.C.Front and center is Avant Bard, which has been delivering all manner of edgy, classical — and sometimes utterly bonkers (in a good way) — theater since 1990, when it began life as the Washington Shakespeare Company.
This little company is the real “downtown” deal, and yet still too many people haven’t quite heard of it or don’t quite know whether they are willing to plug a middle school theater space into their GPS.But if you see one more show as this post-COVID season comes to a close, make it their production of Madeleine George’s Hurricane Diane (★★★★☆), and get a sense of just how fun, talented, and high-energy this company can be.
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