BOX OFFICE 301-277-1710; TTY 301-277-0312
Directions To Publick Playhouse

The Publick Playhouse is committed to making the arts a vital element of the community. Cultural diversity is a hallmark of the theater that attracts audiences from throughout the greater Washington metropolitan area for music and modern dance, musical theater, historic drama, and monthly Saturday Morning at the Movies - Vaudeville Style. The Playhouse presents national and international touring acts and professional touring children's theatre to introduce school groups to the performing arts. In recent years, several prominent international tours have made the Publick Playhouse their only mid-Atlantic performance stop. The theatre is also a popular venue for area performing arts groups and is available as a rental facility to community organizations. Known to be one of the area's most inviting and best acoustical performance spaces, the Publick Playhouse is conveniently located less than half a mile off the Baltimore-Washington Parkway, and just 10 minutes from Capitol Hill.

The Playhouse opened as the Cheverly Theatre in 1947. Designed as an environmental movie theatre with ornate sky scenes on the ceiling and a plush art deco interior, the Cheverly was a popular attraction throughout the 1950s and 1960s. A group of supporters joined the M-NCPPC in 1975 to purchase and renovate the old theatre, and the Publick Playhouse reopened as a performing arts hall exactly 30 years after the gala opening of the Cheverly Theatre. Programming is designed to appeal to all ages, and ticket prices are purposely moderate to encourage everyone's attendance. Box office hours are Tuesday through Friday from 10 am-5 pm, and two hours before each performance. Call 301-277-1710, TTY 301-277-0312. The Playhouse is accessible to individuals with mobility impairments. Sign interpreted and audio described performances are available with two weeks prior notice; infrared enhanced listening devices are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Free car and bus parking is located on well-lighted lots to the rear and east of the Playhouse. For more information about the Playhouse and its programs, contact staff Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5 pm or during box office hours.

Located at the intersection of Landover and Annapolis Roads (Routes 202 and 450), the Playhouse offers varied programs. All patrons, regardless of age, must have a ticket to enter the theatre during an event. Call for a complete listing of community arts programs and to confirm programming.

Weekend Performances Series

Midweek Matinees

Saturday Morning at the Movies

Platinum Series for Seniors

Community Arts

Arts Surveys

Workshops

Directions to Publick Playhouse

Weekend Performance Series

Friday, April 24, 8 pm & Saturday, April 25, 8 pm Dallas Black Dance Theatre The annual visit of Dallas Black to the Playhouse is a highlight of the Washington area dance season. Don’t miss this wonderful performance that is the best in high-energy modern dance. Tickets: $20/center & side front orchestra; $18/side rear orchestra; $15/DancePass

Saturday, July 25, 11 am Russian American Kids Circus on Stage! An amazing group of young performers returns with a fabulous new show for the whole family. Tickets before June 30: $8; $7/seniors and groups of 15 or more. Tickets on or after July 1: $10

Saturday, August 1, 7 pm Opening of Shoe-Bert Alley Join us for a fun dancing-in-the-alley evening with a hot band. Instead of buying tickets, the audience is asked to bring new shoes and socks to send area kids off to school in the fall looking sharp and dancing to a happy beat. Admission: $15 or a pair of new shoes and socks for a pre-school or elementary-school-age child.

Friday, April 3 10:15 am & 12 noon Four Score and Seven Years Ago Arts Power National Touring Company is on stage with a suspenseful musical about the the Civil War. When two young men of different races from the North and the South meet at the battle of Gettysburg, they discover much to teach each other about bravery and loyalty. Tickets: $6; $5/groups of 15 or more

Wednesday, April 22, 10:15 am & 12 noon Thursday, April 23, 10:15 am & 12 noon Dallas Black Dance Theatre Lecture/Demo Modern dance at its most exciting is performed, along with a demonstration of dance training and the opportunity for young audience members to go on stage and learn some dance moves from this acclaimed company. Tickets: $6; $5/groups of 15 or more

Wednesday, April 22, 6 pm & 7:30 pm Thursday, April 23, 6 pm & 7:30 pm Dallas Black Dance Theatre Workshops Train with members of Dallas Black! Wednesday classes in modern dance: intermediate 6 pm-7:15pm; advanced 7:30 pm – 9 pm. Thursday classes in liturgical dance: dancers age 6-12, 6 pm-:15 pm; ages 13 & up, 7:30 pm-9pm. Fee: $15/class; $7 to observe.

Monday, June 1, 10:15 am & 12 noon Madeline and the Bad Hat An original musical comedy based on the much-loved children’s book is performed by Arts Power National Touring Theatre. Despite starting off on the wrong foot with a mischievous new neighbor, Madeline learns that first impressions aren’t everything. Tickets: $6; $5/groups of 15 or more

Tuesday, July 21, 10 am & 12:30 pm Wednesday, July 22, 10 am & 12:30 pm Thursday, July 23, 10 am & 12:30 pm Friday, July 24, 10 am & 12:30 pm Russian American Kids Circus on Stage! The dazzling young ball-walking, juggling, balancing, bike-riding, acrobats are back with a new show that keeps audiences on the edge of their seats and cheering for more. Tickets by June 30: $8; $7/seniors and groups of 15 or more Tickets on or after July 1: $10

Saturday, April 11, 10 am Entertainment: Wild Things Animal Show Movie: Transformers Watkins Mill Nature Center brings several live animals to introduce to the audience, then the popular cartoon from the 1980s comes roaring back on the big screen. When teenager Spike buys a used car and discovers it is the Autobot Bumblebee, Spike and his girlfriend find themselves in the middle of a world-wide battle as the Autobots face the evil Decepticons in a war that has alien machines changing shape from cars, to trucks, and planes in wild chase scenes. Tickets: $5

Saturday, May 9, 10 am Entertainment: S.I.T.Y. Stars Double Dutch Team Movie: Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears a Who The award-winning Greenbelt SITY Stars dazzle the audience with their tricks. Then Horton the elephant rescues a speck of dust making a noise and discovers the whole microscopic population of Whoville. Believing “A person’s a person, no matter how small,” Horton treks across the jungle to the top of Mt. Nool as the safest place to put the speck, causes continuous calamities for tiny Whoville. Tickets: $5

Saturday, June 13, 10 am Entertainment: Mandy the Clown Movie: Rise of the Silver Surfer One of Metro Washington’s most popular children’s entertainers starts things off with lots of audience participation. The Fantastic Four are back and getting ready for Reed and Sue’s wedding when a silver surfer cosmic force enters Earth’s atmosphere, craters open across the globe, and there’s a massive power blackout in New York City. This high-energy, fast paced sci-fi adventure races around the world, once again battling the evil Doom. Tickets: $5

Calling all Senior Citizens! We invite you to meet at the Playhouse for monthly movies and occasional special live performances that are held just for you.

April 13, 11 am Movie: Hairspray Based in Baltimore in the 1950s, a friendly, overweight teenager with big hair is obsessed with a TV dance show. When she wins an audition to appear on the program, she sets about integrating the show with the help of Motor Mouth Maybelle and other colorful characters. Tickets: $5

Friday, April 24, 11 am Performance: Dallas Black Dance Theatre The renowned modern, jazz and spiritual dance company presents an exciting hour-long program for seniors. Tickets: $5

Monday, May 4, 11 am Movie: Let's Do It Again Sidney Poitier and Bill Cosby star in this classic comedy about raising money by rigging a boxing match, using hypnotism to turn a scrawny underdog into a fighting machine. When gangsters track them down to demand their money back, Poitier and Cosby wonder, can they do it again? Tickets: $5

Monday, June 8, 11 am Summer's End James Earl Jones stars in this tale about a doctor returning to his childhood home on a lake and confronting old prejudice from a boyhood rival’s family. A 12-year-old boy who just lost his dad and his mother befriend the doctor and help turn racism around in their community. Tickets: $5

The Publick Playhouse is home to numerous community arts groups who provide theatrical performances, gospel concerts, dance recitals, and more. Several of these organizations have consistently chosen the Publick Playhouse as their preferred place for performing.

• Artists
  The Arts and Cultural Heritage Division is developing an inventory of Prince George's County performing artists including, but not limited to, musicians, actors, theatre professionals, dancers, etc. for a listing in a new County Registry of Performing Artists and Companies. The Registry will help the public locate performers for special events. Fill out our Artist Registry Form.
  
  
• Elementary and Middle School Teachers
  Arts Alive! has been a program of the M-NCPPC, Arts and Cultural Heritage Division for the past 20 years. We are seeking your input about the types of programs/performers that would support your classroom activities with an online survey. Please fill out the survey so we can better meet you needs, your input is most appreciated.

Workshops

Monday, April 6-Thursday, April 9, 9 am Spring Break Stomp Teen, come to the Publick Playhouse and join hot, new dance workshops! Registration opens at 8:30 am, followed by exciting workshops from 9 am-1 pm daily. Monday-Step Dance Tuesday-Salsa Moves Wednesday-African Dance Thursday-Hip Hop Ages 13-17 Fee: $35/perworkshop or $99/for all four workshops Tickets: $5