Overview

By William Shakespeare
Adapted and directed by Aaron Posner & Teller
Performances end January 29
(Now streaming! Virtual tickets available through February 8)

Adapted and directed by Aaron Posner and Teller (of Penn & Teller fame), an unforgettable reimagining of Shakespeare’s most enchanting romance features haunting music from the catalog of iconic songwriter Tom Waits and mind-bending moves from Pilobolus, as well as astonishing feats of magic. Arriving just in time for the holiday season, the dazzling production—a smash hit in Boston, Chicago, and Las Vegas—“awakens in the audience a sense of pleasurable, almost childlike wonder,” says The New York Times. “Enormously entertaining,” raves the Chicago Tribune.

The Tempest is produced in collaboration with Folger Theatre.

Middle and High School Teachers: Bring The Tempest into your classroom! A Virtual Student Matinee Performance of our production may be viewed on demand in your classroom. Click here for more information.

PANEL DISCUSSIONS

December 6, 6:15 pm: Producing Shakespeare in 2022: A Round House Discussion
Join three of the DC area’s leading Shakespearean voices for a lively discussion on producing, teaching, and watching Shakespeare today. Karen Ann Daniels (Artistic Director, Folger Theatre), Drew Lichtenburg (Resident Dramaturg, Shakespeare Theatre Company), and Craig Wallace (Actor; Round House Theatre Trustee) will offer their expertise and thoughts on what Shakespeare still has to offer us, and how modern audiences and Shakespeare’s plays can best meet each other.

December 14, 6:15 pm: On The Tempest
Folger Shakespeare Library Director Michael Witmore and Michele Osherow, Folger resident dramaturg, discuss The Tempest in an insightful pre-performance conversation.

January 7, 4:45pm: Suspension of Disbelief: A Round House Panel on Magic & Theatre
Do actors lie? Do magicians? Join a panel of magicians and performers for a discussion of the similarities and differences between theatre and magic, and what and how we believe as an audience. Panelists include Nate Dendy (Ariel/Magic Consultant) and Ryan Phillips (Magic Coordinator), members of the magic team for Round House’s smash production of The Tempest. *Panel discussion will take place following the 2pm matinee performance, but is free and open to the public. No tickets are required.

“Enchanting [and] exhilarating"

-The Washington Post

“A world of wonder … full of sensory richness and delight.”

-The Washington Post

"A feast for the eyes and ears, and more than the sum of its exceptional parts"

-DC Theater Arts

"A spectacle that demands to be seen"

-Talkin' Broadway

"Theatrical powerhouses both on and off the stage.... Riveting"

-Broadway World

The Tempest "dazzles with jaw-dropping magic and seductive music."

-Washington City Paper

"It's hard to imagine a better version of The Tempest than this production that positively vibrates with talent."

-Metro Weekly

The Tempest runs approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes with one intermission.

Events & Discussions:

View complete list of pre-show and post-show discussions here.

Audio-Described Performance: Dec 3 at 2:00pm
Open-Captioned Performance: Dec 10 at 2:00pm; Jan 7 at 2:00 pm; Jan 28 at 2:00 pm
Learn more about accessibility at Round House here.

2-FOR-1 Tuesdays: Dec 6, 13, 20, and 27 at 7:30pm
Pay-What-You-Can: Nov 23 at 7:30pm; Nov 26 at 2:00pm; Nov 27 at 7:30pm
Learn more about our special discounts here and our Free Play program for students here.

Thank you to our sponsors:
The 2022-2023 Season is sponsored by Linda Ravdin and Don Shapero.
The Tempest is sponsored by The GPS Fund, Judy and Leo Zickler, and Celia and Keith Arnaud.
This project is part of Shakespeare in American Communities, a program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest.

Cast

Creative Team

MEDIA

Production photos

Eric Hissom (Prospero) and Nate Dendy (Ariel) in THE TEMPEST. Photo by Scott Suchman.

Production photos

Ro Boddie (Ferdinand), Eric Hissom (Prospero), and Megan Graves (Miranda) in THE TEMPEST. Photo by Scott Suchman.

Production photos

Kevin Mambo (Sebastian), Cody Nickell (Antonio), Kenyatta Rogers (Alonso), and Naomi Jacobson (Gonzala) in THE TEMPEST. Photo by Scott Suchman.

Production photos

The cast of THE TEMPEST. Photo by Scott Suchman.

Production photos

Richard R. Henry (Trinculo) and Kate Eastwood Norris (Stephano) in THE TEMPEST. Photo by Scott Suchman.

Production photos

Ryan Sellers and Hassiem Muhammad (Caliban) in THE TEMPEST. Photo by Scott Suchman.

Production photos

Nate Dendy (Ariel), Megan Graves (Miranda), and Eric Hissom (Prospero) in THE TEMPEST. Photo by Scott Suchman

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Also On Stage

April 1 – May 7, 2023 On the Far End

March 30 – May 7, 2023 Jennifer Who Is Leaving