1st Stage demonstrates that great art and culture are the heart and soul of vibrant communities. Our not-for-profit professional theatre produces thought-provoking performances that rival the best anywhere. Our intimate setting creates a connection between audiences and artists that unleashes the full power of theatre to excite and engage. We deliver support and resources to the region’s most talented artists to do their very best work.
History
The group of educators, artists, and actors came together in 2008 under the leadership of Mark Krikstan, founding Artistic Director, to create an organization that would bridge educational and professional theatre. In just seven years, 1st Stage has grown from a grass roots collective of local artists to an award-winning institution with national recognition. The hard work and dedication of 1st Stage’s founding Artistic Director and artists paved the way for the hiring of current Artistic Director Alex Levy in September of 2014. Alex comes to 1st Stage with extensive artistic and managing experience in New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles.
1st Stage exists in a truly unique place both physically and geographically. The Tysons Corner area continues to rapidly develop and 1st Stage has been and will continue to be a part of this growth. Located outside the Beltway and several miles from downtown Washington, DC, 1st Stage brings vibrant, compelling, and relevant work to Northern Virginia. The Spring Hill Business Center (the building 1st Stages calls home) is not what some might imagine when picturing a theater in the mind’s eye. However, through the dedicated work of the founding artists, some 20+ volunteers, the architecture firm Butz-Wilbern, and general contractor M. Raina 6,500 square feet of flex office space was converted into a fabulously intimate and wholly unique 110 seat theater, office, and library. With productions ranging from Shakespeare to world premieres and from dramas to musicals, 1st Stage continues to offer compelling stories and intimate experiences to our audiences.
The 1st Stage Founding Artists are:
Lucas Beck, Deb Crerie, Jane Kalbfeld, Nathaniel Krause, Mark Krikstan, Alex Mandell, Peter Van Valkenburg, David Winkler, and Cheryl Patton Wu.
1st Stage Awards and Recognition:
AWARDS
2015 National Theatre Company Grant from The American Theatre Wing, Founder of the Tony Awards
2020 Helen Hayes Awards:
Outstanding Production in a Play for The Brothers Size
Outstanding Lighting Design for The Brothers Size, William K. D’Eugenio
Outstanding Direction in a Play for The Brothers Size, José Carrasquillo
Outstanding Lead Performer in a Play for The Brothers Size, Gary-Kayi Fletcher
Outstanding Sound Design for The Royale, Kenny Neal
Board of Directors
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Jack Wilbern President
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Raymond A. Saulino Treasurer
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Jacqueline A. Cookston Secretary
- Elizabeth Benson
- Janice Bigelow
- Howard J. Forman
- Robbie Hayes
- Barry J. Holt
- Anthony G. LaBarbera
- Douglas C. Lovejoy
- Tom Manteuffel
- Martha B. McGrane
- William T. Newman Jr.
- Lynne B. Silverstein
Ex Officio:
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Alex Levy Artistic/Managing Director
Press Production Photos
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(l-r) Jaysen Wright and Clayton Pelham, Jr. in 'The Royale' by Marco Ramirez, Directed by Paige Hernandez at 1st Stage in Tysons. January 30-February 23, 2020. Photo by Teresa Castracane. -
(l-r) Jaysen Wright and Clayton Pelham, Jr. in 'The Royale' by Marco Ramirez, Directed by Paige Hernandez at 1st Stage in Tysons. January 30-February 23, 2020. Photo by Teresa Castracane. -
Clayton Pelham, Jr. in 'The Royale' by Marco Ramirez, Directed by Paige Hernandez at 1st Stage in Tysons. January 30-February 23, 2020. Photo by Teresa Castracane. -
Clayton Pelham, Jr. in 'The Royale' by Marco Ramirez, Directed by Paige Hernandez at 1st Stage in Tysons. January 30-February 23, 2020. Photo by Teresa Castracane. -
Jaysen Wright in 'The Royale' by Marco Ramirez, Directed by Paige Hernandez at 1st Stage in Tysons. January 30-February 23, 2020. Photo by Teresa Castracane. -
(l-r) Jaysen Wright and Chris Genebach in 'The Royale' by Marco Ramirez, Directed by Paige Hernandez at 1st Stage in Tysons. January 30-February 23, 2020. Photo by Teresa Castracane. -
(l-r) Lolita Marie and Jaysen Wright in 'The Royale' by Marco Ramirez, Directed by Paige Hernandez at 1st Stage in Tysons. January 30-February 23, 2020. Photo by Teresa Castracane. -
Chris Genebach in 'The Royale' by Marco Ramirez, Directed by Paige Hernandez at 1st Stage in Tysons. January 30-February 23, 2020. Photo by Teresa Castracane. -
Lolita Marie in 'The Royale' by Marco Ramirez, Directed by Paige Hernandez at 1st Stage in Tysons. January 30-February 23, 2020. Photo by Teresa Castracane.
1st Stage Production History
- 2020-2021 Season The Waverly Gallery The Nance Mlima's Tale The Logan Festival
- 2019-2020 Season Trying Airness The Royale
- 2018-2019 Season Hero’s Welcome A Civil War Christmas The Brothers Size columbinus The Member Of The Wedding The Logan Festival
- 2017-2018 Season Jesus Hopped The "A" Train My Name Is Asher Lev The Farnsworth Invention Fly By Night Swimming With Whales The Logan Festival
- 2016-2017 Season Lobby Hero Broadway Bound Trevor Well Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
- 2015-2016 Season Now Comes the Night Harvey When the Rain Stops Falling Proof Floyd Collins
- 2014-2015 Season Take Me Out One Man, Two Guvnors Doubt, a Parable Old Wicked Songs The Good Counselor
- 2013-2014 Season The Pitman Painters Noises Off Souvenir The Cripple of Inishmann Bat Boy: The Musical
- 2012-2013 Season Suite Surrender Altar Boyz Italian American Reconciliation Never the Sinner Blithe Spirit
- 2011-2012 Season Almost Maine Don't Dress for Dinner The How and the Why Parfumerie Side Man Flora the Red Menace Three Bears
- 2010-2011 Season Mauritus Holiday Mousetrap Fuddy Meers The Glass Menagerie By Jeeves Jack and the Bean-Stalk
- 2009-2010 Season The Game of Love and Chance Three Days of Rain The Prisoner of Zenda By the Bog of Cats Humble Boy The Last Five Years Suburban Motel
- 2008-2009 Season The Suicide Red Herring The Violet Hour Shakespeare's R&J