This is an amazing location! First off, uber/lyft/ride-share here, especially if you're coming here on the weekend or in the evening. This is just some of the cons associated with the area. Secondly, be prepared to trek some fairly steep stairs, that I suspect may not be even in height cause I noticed several people (including myself) trip on the last 1-2 steps at the top of the stairs. However, I believe there is an elevator or another entrance that is accessible without stairs (don't quote me though), but not readily known. The space is cute and a lot more spacious than it appears. However, it's not the place to hang out, due to not much seating available, and the air was not well circulated and stuffy, with the weather outside and amount of people passing through. And one of my favorites photographers was being featured at this Center, and the set up and lighting were very impressive. Overall, I highly recommend! read more

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I love getting to support the arts and getting to see people do something they love. Stopped by DCAC late night to catch their comedy show offerings. All were improv led by a talented cast of actors who clearly enjoyed their job which made the whole experience memorable. They did comedy shows every hour for 3 hours on the Wednesday we went. We were able to get a ticket for one show for $10 and for an additional $5 upgrade it to a "night pass" which got us access to all of their shows for the evening. For a late night activity the value and difference in offerings were amazing and well worth it. They also have beverages and small snacks for sale to enjoy during the shows. Only note is you do have to walk up a steep set of stairs to enter the building, you also have to walk down into the black box theater where the show takes place. The seats are comfortable but a tad bit narrow. It was unclear if they have a more accessible option to watch the show in person, they did record so that may be an option. Just something to keep in mind if you have mobility concerns. read more

The DC Arts Center - Performing Arts Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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The 5 stars are in part because of what a wonderful time I had here because of the particular performance I saw. It was a play by the company Eco.logic, and the story and actors were all really wonderful, and the theater space at DC Arts had a great layout to facilitate scene changes and audience engagement. The relatively small size gave it a more intimate feel, and the stadium-style seat layout was great for acoustics. I would definitely come back here for another show, and also have a large space for art exhibitions; I didn't have time to look too closely at what was on display that day, but it's a nice hidden art gallery find in AdMo that it would be fun to return to. read more

The DC Arts Center - Come Along for the Ride: a journey through climate grief - Performing Arts Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

For a hyper local art experience, head to Adams Morgan. Here you'll find the DC Arts Center with a second-floor art gallery featuring local artists. Open Wednesday-Sunday from 2-7pm, plan on lunch or dinner nearby (Sharbat is a good option for Azerbaijani food) before seeing art. The gallery is in one main room and a small room in the back. There's also a black box theater! read more

Beautiful art with a theatre in the back. Right in the heart of Adams Morgan. Would recommend you stop in to take a peek or come watch a comedy show. The improv show I saw was fantastic. The actors created a great show from thin air. Seemed to be very passionate about their work. read more

Terrible place to visit. The venue and staff are terrible. Avoid this place !!! I do not recommend.

DCAC was made to serve local artists facing a lack of funds from other art organizations. Today you can find local and national artists as well as poets, scuptors, painters and more here. This gallery and theater has become the first step for many towards a professional art career. With so many galleries in and around the D.C. area, it is nice to find a small, intimate one what not many people know about. This is the spot to see what's new on the D.C. art scene. read more

The DC Arts Center - Performing Arts Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

DCAC is a combination art gallery and black box theatre. The gallery is a very nice space, and the theatre is small but perfectly serviceable. The best part is that it is run by one of the coolest guys in town, Mr. B Stanley, and he works hard to find new and interesting stuff for you to see. DCAC is non-profit - they aren't out to make the big bucks. What this means for you is that you can go see live theatre for cheap! Depending on the size of the production and how well-known the playwright is, tickets can cost from $5 to $20 dollars. I've never seen them go much higher than that. DCAC stays busy. Keep your eyes on their calendar -- you will see poets, painters, actors, storytellers, sculptors, and performance artists come in and out. If you are really lucky, you might catch Mr. Stanley himself performing with his puppet Ubu -- the last time I saw those two together, it was truly one of the wackiest and amusing nights I've had at a theatre. The gallery shows up and coming artists, usually avant garde, often controversial. I've never seen an admission charge for the gallery. If you come into Adams Morgan to enjoy the club scene, maybe you can get here before 7 pm, catch whatever is up in the gallery, then grab a bite to eat before abusing yourself. Just a thought. read more

Adams Morgan: the name doesn't exactly conjure an image of high culture, does it? Unless your idea of art is pick-up artistry the thought of an Arts Center in Adams Morgan seems like a cruel joke. The District of Columbia Arts Center is anything but a joke. I'll admit that I've walked by the DCAC dozens of times and even looked directly at the sign and discarded the meaning while I sought respite from drunken crowds or a wait-free brunch. In fact, you do have to do a bit of searching to access the DCAC. Located next door to Millie & Al's and in the exact same building as Alberto's (I know) - opening the DCAC door and ascending the stairs is akin to being transported to another world. Were it not for the pizza smells that waft in you'd think that the doorway was some sort of surreal transporter. I visited the DCAC with the intention of taking in a show but ended up not making it past the gallery that the stairs lead into. Though you won't spend hours in this small space, the exhibit (Ellington Robinson's "Yesterday's Tomorrow") held my attention and an attentive volunteer provided commentary on the various artwork. Perusal of DCAC's website and fliers about ongoing and upcoming shows/exhibits further piqued my interest - so much to see so close to my home! I began silently cursing myself for not visiting the DCAC sooner. Now that I know where it is I'll certainly be back. read more

Hipster central! B and I went to see Cannibal the Musical recently at Landless Theater and we had a great time. We tried to get there an hour early because seating was first come, first served and there was no one there! There is not point in coming early, because there is literally only 4 rows of seats so you're guaranteed a good view. The theater is actually through a stairway behind the gallery and its extremely intimate setting where you can see the sweat beads flowing from the actor's face. I really felt the passion from these actors, and there love of performing more so than at fancy smancy places like the Kennedy Center. The theater is a nonprofit so the plays are always around $20. I highly recommend this experience and there are tons of cheap eats nearby (Amsterdam Falafel, pizza, wok n' roll sushi, Ethiopian Restaurant, and empanadas place). read more

Usually I'm hanging out in Adams Morgan to get my party on; however, this was not the case on a Saturday (4/7/12) as DCAC presented S-P-I-D-E-R-M-U-S-I-C-A-L. I consider myself a Spiderman fan as I've watched the cartoons back in the 1980's. So attending a show about Spiderman in DC and not NYC was quite a treat! **DCAC Background** The DC Arts Center is somewhat hidden in Adams Morgan as the entrance is between a C-store and Smoothie King. We walked up the stairs to art gallery where I noticed fellow Spiderman fans waiting in line as only general admission tickets are sold. Everyone must check-in to the will call table, which also serves as the cash bar. I had no issues picking up the tickets as I provided my receipt from goldstar.com saving 50% off. Once it was show time we walked on the rooftop to an adjacent stage with 20 to 30 seats available over 4 / 5 rows. The intimate setting provided an excellent view for all seats. The stage controls was directly over us while the band was secluded to the side wall. **SPIDERMUSICAL REVIEW** The cast consisted of 11 actor/esses with Peter Partker, Mary Joan, and Colin Cosborne highlighting the main characters. The musical has a similar storyline as the original Spiderman leveraging romance, heroism, and comedy. Everyone had terrific singing voices and acting mannerisms. In addition, both actors and actresses looked great in their costumes. My favorite costumes were of course SpiderOne (not Spiderman) shooting his web the naturale way (to put it mildly) and Mary's sleek tight black leather super hero outfit! Overall I would say my favorite character was the evil villain Colin Cosborne based on the acting he displayed. The show's duration was about 1.5 to 2 hours. After the conclusion of the show, the actors and actresses visited with the audience back in the gallery. Mickey D. DaGuiso (Peter Partker) was the first to come out and visit. Later on Ally Jenkins (Jamie Sorrentino) visited and thanked us as well. She stated we were the best audience. Both of them were real easy going to talk with as well. I had such a wonderful time that I may consider joining DCAC as member to save on future shows while promoting and supporting emerging artists and performers in the DMV. For more information on DCAC and/ or the spidermusical visit http://landlesstheatre.com/ read more

DCAC is fun place to go on a quirky date or just to try something new. They have art on display that frankly I find appalling to be called art. But... i'm not an artist... but apparently putting a rod through a pillow is called art. As for the theater itself... they put on some fun shows. I've been there for a couple of them... one about China history and another for Evil Dead Musical. The seats are first come first serve. I'd recommend showing up a bit early if you want to sit dead front and center. read more

Teensy weensy theater where I have seen the greatest production ever (the Evil Dead Musical) and the not so greatest (the Margins). Still, the venue has some serious indie charm, despite being located smack dab in the middle of Adams Morgan. There's a little gallery to keep you occupied while you wait to be seated, and the bathroom was clean. Plus, you get a token for a free taco with each ticket. Perhaps I'm setting the bar a bit low, but I'll take what I can get in terms of culture in that neighborhood. Please support this venue so that Adams Morgan isn't totally lost to dude-bros! read more

I've been here twice, both for plays by the Landless Theater Company. I should probably be reviewing Landless as well, but have included them below. The venue: Well, it's in the middle of Adams Morgan, for all that that may entail on a Saturday night. That being said, most of the shows start at 730 or 8, so at least you can arrive before the place gets too crazy and grab a bite or a drink at one of many places that are perfectly nice until about 10pm. The theater lobby is a small art gallery. I'm not the most sophisticated person, so usually I don't "get" the art but it beats staring at empty walls. The theater couldn't possibly seat more than 30 people and all seats are right on top of the stage. It's a very intimate arrangement but you should arrive early as seating is first come first served. The crowd: mostly 30ish yuppy sorts but don't worry, the lights will be off soon and you won't have to see them (us). The shows: like I said, both of my experiences have been with Landless. Their mission statement is "Committed to infusing vitality into the D.C. Arts by producing exciting and accessible alternative theatre (sic) to generate new and diverse audiences." Meaning their plays are cool, funny, and accessible to people who are not the usual theater-going crowd. This has been exactly my experience with The Flying Spaghetti Monster Holiday Pageant as well as A Very Merry Unauthorized Children's Scientology Pageant (no, I don't have a "thing" for fake pageants, it's just a coincidence). Both were cheap (like $15 per ticket), hilarious, and only about an hour long. In this case I consider the length to be a good thing, as I have the attention span of someone who was raised by a television. read more

I'm a fan of this great little gallery in the heart of Adams Morgan. I try to always take part in their summer Wall Mountables show.

Great venue! Saw some Chinese Menu Improv show there and it has ruined me. I have been to several improv shows since and nothing has measured up. I will be back to see what got me hooked to begin with read more

What fun, it's a tiny theater... perhaps a bit too small, but I saw a great show there even though the audience was about 35 people. It's small, and cramped, but it's very personal, and so much fun! read more

If you like quirky little places, paying dirt cheap prices for tickets, and where every seat in the house is great, this is your place. I've seen a bunch of shows here like Debbie Does Dallas the musical, Deep Inside Oz, and A Very Merry Unauthorized Children's Scientology Pageant and I've loved every one of them. The space is great, the people are nice, and the beverages are affordable. Nothing to complain about here. read more

I just finished writing a review of the restaurant that my theatre girl and I had dinner at, before the Landless show last night, and I thought I'd do a quick search to see if Landless is on Yelp. I guess not, but DCAC is. My review is more for Landless than for DCAC, but I'll say good words about both. The black box theatre at DCAC is a small, intimate place for seeing a show. There are only a few rows of seats, so nobody is far from the stage, and no binoculars are needed (unless, I guess, if you really want an up close look at the actors' pores!). I think that this is the third year that my babe and I have been Landless season ticket holders, and unless there's some major change for the worse, we'll probably do it again next year. The thing we like the best about the Landless shows is that they don't take themselves seriously, and every show is just ridiculously goofy (as I am, so I fit right in, and would love to be in one of the shows!). A few of our favorites have been Spooky Dog (a Scooby Doo parody), Evil Dead the Musical (with the splatter zone in the audience), and Cannibal the Musical (their last production). The one we saw last night (Devil Boys From Beyond) was a silly, high heeled drag queen, foul language goof, and a lot of fun. Support Landless and go see their shows. Hi Ally! read more