Category Archives: Play

Upstage Artists presents The Maltese Falcon, Sep 18-27

Upstage Artists presents The Maltese Falcon, Sep 18-27

Upstage Artists presents:
The Maltese Falcon
by Dashiell Hammett
directed by John Cusumano

Performance Dates: September 18-20 and 25-27, 2026

Location: Upstage Artists, performing at the Emmanuel United Methodist Church, 11416 Cedar Lane, Beltsville MD, 20705

Based on Dashiell Hammet’s noir classicabout private investigator Sam Spade as he gets entangled in a dangerous hunt for a priceless stauette, the titular Maltese Falcon. Spade’s partner is murdered, and he’s drawn into a web of deceit, betrayal, and greed involving a cast of ruthless criminals all vying for the Falcon.

Tickets: $11.50. For more information click here.

A World Without Them at the Clarice, Sep 17 & 18

A World Without Them at the Clarice, Sep 17 & 18

Clarice presents:
A World Without Them

Thu, Sep. 17, 2026 | 7:30 pm
Fri, Sep. 18, 2026 | 7:30 pm

Venue: Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center.

What do we lose when someone disappears—a species, a culture, a language, a voice?

A World Without Them is a visually stunning and emotionally powerful exploration of extinction in all its forms—natural, cultural, and personal. Co-created by Deaf artist Landon Krentz and Ghost River Theatre’s Eric Rose, this groundbreaking work blends physical theatre with visual vernacular, a unique storytelling technique rooted in Deaf expression.

This production transcends language and cultural barriers, where gesture replaces dialogue, and movement becomes meaning. At its core, it is a bold celebration of Deaf artistry, a tribute to those who came before, and a call to imagine a future where no story is left behind.

Tickets: Free. Click here.

Red Sky Over Halifax at the Bowie CPA, Sep 13

Red Sky Over Halifax at the Bowie CPA, Sep 13

Red Sky Over Halifax: A New Musical Workshop Presentation
By Christopher Dwyer

Sunday, September 13, 2026 at 3:00PM

Location: Bowie Center for the Performing Arts.

Join us for a workshop presentation of Red Sky Over Halifax, a new musical written by BCPA Executive Director Christopher Dwyer. This performance represents an invaluable part of the new play development process — be among the first to see the show take shape and be part of the creative process that helps bring this new musical to life!

Set against the countdown to the 1917 Halifax Explosion, this powerful new work explores love, memory, maritime history, and Indigenous resilience in the face of colonial expansion. Featuring music by Mi’Kmaq artist Emma Stevens and UK sea shanty phenomenon The Longest Johns, Red Sky Over Halifax is an epic theatrical journey.

Tickets: $15 – $35. Click here.

NextNOW Fest 2026 at the Clarice, Sep 9-15

NextNOW Fest 2026 at the Clarice, Sep 9-15

Clarice presents:
NextNOW Fest 2026

Wed, Sep. 9, 2026 | 11:00 AM
Thu, Sep. 10, 2026 | 1:00 PM
Fri, Sep. 11, 2026 | 5:00 PM
Mon, Sep. 14, 2026 | 3:00 PM
Tue, Sep. 15, 2026 | 5:00 PM

Venue: Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center.

Live music. Comedy. Art. Connection. Experience it all at NextNOW Fest! Register for free now to receive priority access to the full 2026 lineup and schedule. You’ll also receive daily reminders throughout the festival week that will make your experience easy and convenient. Festival events will take place Wed, Sep 9-Tue, Sep 15 with festival nights taking place at The Clarice on Thu, Sep 10 and Fri, Sep 11. The full festival lineup and schedule will be announced in Summer 2026.
About NextNOW Fest

The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center’s annual NextNOW Fest is a multi-day arts festival featuring performances and other experiences by intriguing, inventive artists from around the country and the University of Maryland campus. A forward-looking gathering place where art transforms our future and connects us all, NextNOW Fest is where creativity and community converge.

A University of Maryland campus tradition, NextNOW Fest is a signature event in University of Maryland’s Arts for All initiative, which leverages the combined power of the arts, technology and social justice to address the grand challenges of our time. NextNOW Fest is also a partner of Terps After Dark, an initiative by the UMD Division of Student Affairs that supports late-night,on-campus student programming. The festival is open for all to attend, including the general public.

Tickets: Free. Click here.

The Lion in Winter at the Greenbelt Arts Center, Sep 4-19

The Lion in Winter at the Greenbelt Arts Center, Sep 4-19

The Rude Mechanicals, in residence at The Greenbelt Arts Center present:
The Lion in Winter
by James Goldman
directed by Stephen Cox

September 4 – 19, 2026
Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM, Sundays September 6 & 13 at 2 PM

Location: Greenbelt Arts Center

Join the Rudes for A Very Special Plantagenet Christmas – hosted by that premier dysfunctional family of the 12th century. Henry II of England has reprieved his wife Eleanor of Aquitaine from prison to join their scheming sons to decide who will succeed him. Joining them is Phillip II, the young King of France, to discuss whether his sister will marry one of the sons or remain Henry’s mistress. Alliances shift, betrayals abound, and no one leaves unscathed in this wickedly funny and fiercely intelligent battle for love, power, and the English crown.

Tickets: $24 General Admission, $22 Seniors/Military, $12 Student/Youth. Buy tickets here.