3 Theater Winter Festivals

Winter is a great time for a theater special. It is too cold to be outdoors, but it is the perfect weather to cuddle up within indoor seats to watch plays and performances of all types. For those of the thespian spirit, it is hard to select the most interesting that will be coming in 2014. Not to mention the many theater series that will be released around the holiday season, when some of the best productions are commonly announced.

These three are some that are getting a lot of attention, and are more unique than some of the others that focus on “traditional” theater. They are also far removed from the park productions so often seen in Spring and Summer. While those shows have a charm, sometimes you want something a bit different.

Here are three winter festivals you don’t want to miss.

1. Winter Cabaret Festival (Arlington, Virginia)

Are you a fan of the gaudy and over the top fun of cabaret? It is a form of music that has made it through the ages, and the stage shows are as popular now as they ever were. Every year in Arlington, the Virginia based Signature holds a winter festival dedicated to the art. This year there will be four shows available. Each can be attended on individually bought tickets for $41 ($35 for Signature members), or an all access pass to see them all for $90.

• February 5 – 8 will see Tracy Lynn Olivera with Lenny Williams.
• February 12 – 15 will host the Signature cast singing classic love songs in Our Funny Valentine.
• February 19 – 22 welcomes Carolyn Cole showcasing her unique and powerful voice.
• February 26 – March 1 will bring back the popular Lost Song series, this time from 1980’s Broadway.

Check this site for affordable Arlington accommodation!

2. Strawberry One-Act Festival (New York City, New York)

If you are a playwright, actor or somehow involved in the stage and you want to participate in a festival, this one is perfect. The Strawberry One-Act Festival is held between February 12 – February 23. Judges lok at hundreds of plays from all over the globe and judge the best ones from the lot. Plays will go from the first round to the semi finals, then to the finals.

The awards will be Best Play, Best Director, Best Actor and Best Actress. The winner winners will be published in their ninth annual anthology. Submissions for this year are closed, but it is never too soon to begin preparing for the 2015 festival. In the meantime, you can enjoy the finalists and buy tickets here.

3. Under The Radar (New York City, New York)

January 8 – 19 will show a host of new theater breakouts from around the world in this unique festival that celebrates all that is new and modern in the world of stage today. In addition to the festival itself, there is a two day symposium on the 9th and 10th that will show full productions of the festival’s shows, as well as keynotes from big names in the business.

There will also be panel discussions. This part of the event is limited to presenting and producing professionals. But the rest of the festival is an open event. Tickets go on sale soon, and the program will be released in coming months. Check their site for more details and find affordable hotels around the Broadway via Cheaphotels.org. NYCgo! also has some great NYC travel deals!

Obviously, this list is far from exhaustive. If you know of any interesting winter theater festivals that are heading your way, let us know in the comments. Be sure to include dates or links to their sites!