Source

The Source Theater gives you the experience of an intimate set with world class-​caliber production. It stages artistically and socially innovative theater that you would normally only see in one of the two great theater cities in the USA: New York City and the Twin Cities (St Paul-​Minneapolis).
The Source specializes in just the opposite of bombastic musicals and large-​format, traditional productions a la National Theater or Kennedy Center.
I came here to watch the Girish Karnad play ‘The Fire and The Rain’, done by the Constellation Theater Company. The story is loosely based on the stories in the classical Hindu texts, playing metaphorically on themes such as belief, religiosity, revenge, love, and the increasingly relevant pall of climate change’s impact on humanity.
The cast’s performance was vital, acrobatically vibrant, and gripping. Perhaps slightly edging out even the brilliant actors was the extraordinary live performance of the (original) music composer, Tom Teasley, using a variety of Indian percussion instruments, mouth organ, and synthesizers on the stage. The costumes were stunning and the set was convincingly able to handle a firepit, actual rain (!), and the complex lighting design necessary to convey the magic and dream-​like states written into the play. The two and half hour production went beyond my expectations in terms of stimulating the brain cells and imagination. I would have expected to pay double for this caliber of staging in New York City. (Read more about the play here:
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The seating is on risers so nobody has a bad view of the stage (albeit the seats can feel hard after a while). The lobby feels like the entryway of a former industrial warehouse retrofitted as a dance club. It’s kind of informal and not ‘designed’ with custom built seating. You definitely get the vibe of an upstart theater whose endowment and capital budget maybe small but whose artistic focus is large. The audience becomes a kind of group in this kind of intimate staging so its not uncommon to share chuckles and small talk with those seated adjacent.
Although much less established than the Studio Theater south of it, the Source Theater contributes bohemian, cutting-​edge, compelling artistic expression to the city, and is located smack dab in the middle of the city’s premier restaurant and bar strip. Next door is Bar Pilar. Steps away are fabulous cocktails and nibbles options at Masa, El Centro, Diplomate and Ghibellina, and if you have the energy for it, dancing at Policy. Big bonus, that elusive-​seating at Compass Rose might just be available after a show finishes (10:00 p.m. onwards)

cozy little theater! The Fatal (Opera Murders) Divas show was quite good. Funny and nice little tie in between mash up of the diva characters. Vocal talent was clear. Nice way to spend an evening. =) Support the local artists and theater groups when you travel! Glad we found this venue while we were in town.
Ordered the tickets over the phone and the staff was quite friendly. The staff on site was also very nice.

The Source Theater is a lovely little venue.

This is a nice, intimate venue. I saw an improv show last night and was impressed. My only concern is seating. This venue must hold 60 to 75 for maximum. But in some cases this is a good thing, I will be coming back here, it is in a great part of the city.

This place is really cute.
I came here for the Tuesday night improv, and it’s got the vibe and feel of «local». The house is pretty filled, and the two groups who performed looked like they were having a lot of fun. I think part of the beauty of improv is watching people stumble and recover, and I love the way they play off the audience.
It’s a nice free option for entertainment on a weekday night.

Excellent lunch today. Three appetizers was plenty of food for both of us, and all were delicious. Service was prompt and attentive. And worth the money. No complaints.

My go-​to theater in DC.
Beyond my obvious love for Black Box Theater, I am always surprised by what is happening here.
My first introduction was for The Source Fest which was exactly the kind of theater I was expecting, but a lot cheaper and a lot higher quality.
My second introduction was for Harold Night (every Tuesday at 10pm (Doors 9:30). It’s a free comedy night in which teams of stand-​up comedians put on «3 Act plays.» It’s fan-​freakin tastic and definitely a good laugh.
I’m sure it has many more surprises, and I plan to be front and center for what this place has to offer.

Parking is a nightmare and the lady in charge was extremely rude and provided no help or suggestions.
Be prepared to spend atleast half an hour to find .
Other smaller theaters in DC provide info on their websites about the closest parking. Garages etc. Not only does this one not provide any info — you end up having to deal with extremely rude and unhelpful people .
What a waste of my money!!!

The Source is a very small venue. It has comfortable seats and rows are elevated enough where you have a clear view of the performing area regardless of where you are sitting. Beer options are nothing special, so I tend to go for the $ 3 cans of PBR when in the mood to drink.
If you buy your ticket online, no need to bring a paper copy, they’ll have your name down on a list.

Home to a number of well-​regarded theatre organisations, though my familiarity is primarily with the Washington Improv Theater. It’s a great & highly-​convenient location for improv on many nights & at a low price. You can also inquire about volunteering with the theater as well as about improv classes.

The attention to detail was remarkable, the presentation of the dishes was truly 5 star. The service was far above average and the kobe style braised short ribs were fantastic. Lacquered duck and drunken noodles were both excellent as well. It was expensive at $ 30-​$ 40 a plate but well worth it.

I recently received tickets to see the production of Blood Wedding here, and enjoyed it very much. The play itself was not my favorite, but nonetheless it was done well. I enjoyed the intimate space — I was seated on the front row with two friends and we could reach out to touch the actors (if we wanted to). They utilized the space extremely well and you felt as though you were in the middle of the performance.
Would recommend to anyone looking to do something a little different (other than sit in a dark movie theatre)… makes a fun night out/​afternoon for a matinée show and there are plenty of great restaurants nearby to have lunch or dinner before or after the show (I recommend Café St. Ex)

I love having such a great performance space in the neighborhood. They offer acting and performing workshops, so I’m considering taking acting classes again! Well, maybe.
They have a very intimate circular theater on the first floor. (It reminds me of the theater in my alma mater, Baruch College.) Offices and class spaces are on the second floor.
My only complaint are the employees. Depending on which one you get, he/​she can either be very helpful and pleasant OR very standoffish and rude. This goes for both on the phone and in person.

This used to be a sketchy neighborhood, but the U Street renaissance has made it part of a active, vibrant area with many restaurants and clubs. The theater is just a few blocks from the U Street Metro (13^th & U exit).
I’ve caught two plays here so far. The seating area was configured differently for each, but always intimate: 4 – 5 rows, with the first almost level with the performers, and about 10 feet away from the action. It’s bleacher-​style, so everyone gets a good view. I was in the front row at one, and the back row at the other, and was equally happy.
The seats are padded but stiff; perfectly comfortable for a 3 hour show, but not the deep-​cushion, movie-​theater kind you can slouch down into.
The sound is very good. I had no problem hearing at the back, even though the actors didn’t have amplification.
There are great restaurants for a pre-​show meal within a block of the theater, and they’re open late for after-​show drinks. The theater sells drinks and snacks in the lobby, but only during intermission.
Ticket prices are quite reasonable, and I plan to again when they have a new production.

I am a big fan of Source. Its location is really great, a lot of theaters have a bar or two nearby, Source has U Street nearby. I am a strong proponent of having a drink or two before a movie or a show (Disclaimer: do NOT be that annoying drunk guy in the audience, just be that buzzed guy who got into it and laughed). So the location is great for that.
As a theater the performances range. Because Source at its core is just a space. There are multiple theater groups that perform here. One of my favorites is Constellation Theater. I had the opportunity to see ‘The Green Bird’ here during their preview performance.
The performance space is small, but only when you are comparing it against places like the Kennedy Center, or Washington Shakespeare Theater. For a small independent theater this is pretty much just right. It seats probably a bit more than a hundred people. This is a great space for more niche styles of performance that do not draw thousands of people a night.
As an example of what I mean by niche, some of the recent things that I have seen or know of going on here include ‘The Green Bird’ by Constellation Theater, which was a fantastical play based on the Commedia style with crazy costumes and pervasive music, and a very uniquely exciting vibe. A one night special performance of «Life and Laughter» by Faction of Fools, DC’s only theater company specifically dedicated to Commedia dell’arte. And Washington Improv Theater regularly does shows here. All very unique and fun shows, and perfectly suited to the space and size.
As a space its great for rental as well. Both the theater downstairs and the rehearsal space upstairs are really nice. But I am guessing few people on Unilocal are looking into Source to rent the stage.

I, too, had the opportunity to catch David London and Josh Norris at their Midnight Magic show this past Friday at The Source. I won the free pair of tickets by retweeting to UnilocalDC on twitter! Yesssssssss!
The show was entertaining, cutesy, mind boggling.
Most of the tricks in the lobby were cards.
Inside the «intimate» (read: tiny) theater, they varied from sleight of hand to drawings that moved. They say the show will be different each time so you may not see these things.
I must have had too much molé at dinner or maybe I should have taken a nap before coming out for the evening. But I was tired. I started falling asleep during the «talk» portions of the show.
The tricks I saw I liked. I must admit, midnite is now too late for me to just be sitting down for a show. I’m no lychnobite. But the show was a-​ok with me.

Three things that I learned this weekend:
1) My sister and I used to sell rocks to our neighbors. Real rocks. Hustlin’ baby!
2)You WILL get kicked out of the HIrshhorn Museum’s after hours party if you jump into the fountain.
3)Source’s black box theatre is a delightfully intimate place to catch a show.
I had the opportunity to check out magicians David London and Josh Norris at their Midnight Magic show this past Friday at The Source.
Upon entry, nothing particularly stood out to me about the lobby or the building in particular, but after just a few small steps I was in the dim lit, cozy theater, glowing stage front and center with a few props already set up for the show.
Seating is set up with rafter — like seating, so from the top row you are looking down onto the stage. If you are in the front row, you are just a few paces away from being pulled into the show.
It was awesome to see a magic show in such a simplistic showcase. No flashing lights, lasers, steam or any other distractions and the distance between the performers and the audience was so minimal, that it only made for more amazement and wonder.
I sat in the very first row, paid very close attention and could still not figure out how in the world these guys did some of the tricks that they pulled off. It was completely entertaining and a great change of pace for a Friday night.
If you ever do see a show here, you’re in for a treat. Even if the performance itself isn’t fantastic, you will still leave feeling as though you were in some way a part of it.

3.5 stars
This theatre is the edgiest of the lot in the DC metro area. It’s hit or miss on the plays sometimes, but they are still produced with enthusiasm and creativity. Think of it as an experimental theatre lab.
As such, the prices are pretty inexpensive compared to the rest of the DC theatre scene. Who knows, you might find a diamond in the rough — or you might have to endure something like Clive Barker’s «Crazyface».
However, The Source is also home to the Washington Theatre Festival and Washington Improv.
Parking is crazy in this area nowadays with the gentrification that’s been occurring in the last handful of years. We give up and park at a lot across the street for like $ 8.

I came here Thursday night to see the adaptation of Beaumarchai’s «The Marriage of Figaro «I was surprised to see such a big performance in a smaller space. It was really fantastic. I was thoroughly entertained. It was really well done.
I haven’t been to a smaller play house like this before so didn’t know what to expect. The fact that it smaller means that there really isn’t a bad seat in the house and you often have direct eye contact with the actors and are able to easily hear and see everything. I thought everything was well done. The sound, lighting, as well as the costumes were great. I was really impressed with the acting too. I thought it was a great value for hours of entertainment. Don’t miss this local performance of this very historic play!

This was a great newly renovated spot to watch a show. Felt like a college black box theatre and they seem to have a diverse range of shows. I love how the publicize their competitors’ shows. Already bought tickets for the next one. Perhaps they will attract something that DC is sorely lacking (among other things) — Improv. I am not talking about stand-​up at a place called «the Improv». I mean real, honest-​to-​goodness Upright Citizens Brigade/​Second City kinda thing. Anyway that is irrelevant.