1 Logan Circle
Historical figures, such as civil rights activist Mary McLeod Bethune, strolled Logan Circle and its park and admired the three- to five-story Victorian and Romanesque Revival row houses you can still see today. In fact, Bethune’s former home was right on Vermont Avenue.
A large 1888 mansion-turned-condo building at 1 Logan Circle at the southwest corner is one of the circle’s main features. When visiting Local Circle, make like a local and enjoy reading or people-watching in the park in the circle’s center. It’s hard to believe this is where Civil War deserters were hanged, but the statue of John A. Logan, Tennessee’s Army commander during the Civil War, pays homage to the country’s storied past.
1501 14th Street, NW
The Studio Theatre is dedicated to producing the best in contemporary theatre. Their restless, innovative spirit generates an uncommonly rich and diverse body of work, encompassing provocative new writing from around the world, unique special events, and inventive stagings of contemporary classics. They strive to present audiences with extraordinary writing, sophisticated design, and stunning performance.
Their commitment to connecting actors and audience is built into the very architecture of the building, where none of the four performance spaces seat more than 225 patrons. No theatre of comparable budget size operates such exclusively intimate spaces.
The Studio Theatre is also committed to nurturing future generations of theatre professionals by offering rigorous theatre training for both adults and young people, providing year-long apprenticeships for early-career arts leaders, and involving emerging talent in the creation of our work.
1218 Vermont Ave., NW
Mary McLeod Bethune achieved her greatest recognition at the Washington, DC townhouse that is now this National Historic Site. The Council House was the first headquarters of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) and was Bethune’s last home in Washington, DC. From there, Bethune and the NCNW spearheaded strategies and developed programs that advanced the interests of African American women. The Council House has been modified over the years and even restored from damage after a fire. The floor plan is unchanged but the furnishings are incomplete. The National Park Service recreated the feel of the Council House during Mrs. Bethune’s residence through historic photographs and what furniture remains.
1835 14th St NW
The Washington Improv Theater (WIT) has been exploring what incredible things can happen without a script for over a decade. The three aspects of WIT are shows, classes, and community. WIT shows reach over 10,000 audience members each year with their spontaneous blend of playfulness, comedy and drama.
The contents of every performance are unpredictable, but the impact is not. In addition to its regular performances at Source, Flashpoint and on other stages in Washington, WIT ensembles are invited regularly to perform at the nation’s most respected improv festivals, including the Chicago Improv Festival, the Del Close Marathon, and the North Carolina Arts Festival.
WIT is more than just a performing theater as its mission prioritizes outreach and education. They believe that improv increases awareness, skills, and confidence in almost anyone who does it. They’re as dedicated to what goes on its classroom as it is to what happens on its stage.