Arena Stage to Present Downstairs Series

Arena Stage will present its Downtown Series, dedicated to new works by American artists, at the company’s Crystal City location (1800 South Bell Street, Arlington, VA) from January 28-March 24.

The featured plays will include The Good Egg (January 28), by Dorothy Fortenberry, directed by David Dower, which explores the complex world of bioethics, siblings and the limits of unconditional love; Feels like a Fire…Shut Up in My Bones (February 4), a commission by Marcus Gardley, directed by Molly Smith, which interweaves the Biblical tale of the Hebrew captives and the fiery furnace with the story of a Black congregation attempting to rebuild their church after it is burned down; Santa Ana (February 11), a commission by Eric Overmyer, which tells a seductive murder mystery set in 21st-century Hollywood for his gripping film-noir narrative; and The Near East (March 24), by Alex Lewin, directed by Gregg Henry, about an American archaeologist who teams up with an Arab activist to unearth the “Mother of Books,” the oldest scripture, from its resting place in the desert between Mecca and Medina.

For more information, call 202-488-3300 or visit www.arenastage.org.