Whether this is your first time or your hundred-and-first time at Olney Theatre, anyone can be an insider during Summerfest! These events and discussions get you up close and personal with our professional performers, artistic staff, artisans, and craftspeople.
12:15 PM - Ribbon Cutting
Bernard Family Theatre
Join us as we celebrate the achievements of our $37 million Staging the Future capital campaign with a ribbon-cutting and the public opening of our new facilities, including the radically renovated Bernard Family Theatre. While still preserving the rustic feel of our original 1938 space (complete with a barn door), we've updated the theatre into a fully flexible, state-of-the-art multi-use performance and event venue.
1:00 PM - Songs of the Season
Root Family Stage at Omi's Pavilion
Get ready for Olney Theatre's 2026-2027 theatrical season with songs from all of the musicals (and shows with music) we have planned. Expect to hear songs from:
2:00 PM, 3:00 PM & 4:00 PM - Behind the Scenes Tour of Olney Theatre
Meet at the Welcome Tent in the Bernard Family Courtyard
We'll go backstage at the Bernard Family Theatre and take you behind the scenes in our brand new Gana S. Dunlop Makers' Center, where you'll visit our scene shop, prop shop, costume shop, and more! From there, we'll take you to the new Jim and Carol Trawick Education Center.
2:15 PM - Creating the Sound of an Olney Theatre Musical with Maestro Chris Youstra
Sloane's Studio on the second floor of the Trawick Education Center
Olney Theatre Center musicals are always performed with a live orchestra, and the man behind that orchestra (and frequently in it) is Chris Youstra, Associate Artistic Director/Director of Music Theatre. Chris will share how he adapts full orchestral scores for smaller ensembles, balances musical textures, and brings each show’s unique sound to life in our performance spaces.
3:00 PM - A Patron's Guide to "A Gentleman's Guide.."
Mulitz-Gudelsky Theatre Lab
Three cast members of A Gentleman's Guide To Love And Murder will talk about their experiences rehearsing, tech'ing, and performing this hilarious musical farce. From quick changes to special effects, they'll give you the inside scoop on bringing a show to life as many as 8-times-a-week.
Panelists:
Sadie Koopman (Phoebe D'Ysquith)
DeCarlo Raspberry (Ensemble)
Jacob Tischler (Monty Navarro)
Moderator: Hallie Gordon, Senior Associate Artistic Director
4:00 PM - How I Selected the 26-27 Season, with Jason Loewith
Bernard Family Theatre
Our fearless Artistic Director, Jason Loewith, talks about his programming philosophy and how we ended up with each of the twelve (12!) productions in our 26-27 Season. In addition to learning about the process of licensing a play or a musical, you'll learn a bit of the "why" and the "why now" for each of these very different shows.
4:00 PM - Audition Workshop with Casting Director Irene Martinko
Mulitz-Gudelsky Theatre Lab
Casting Director/Associate Artistic Director Irene Martinko attends hundreds of auditions a year, both in the DMV and up in New York, to cast the dozens and dozens of actors that make up our ensembles. She'll be joined by three actors as they go through a mock audition, followed by a Q&A where you can ask about the audition process from both sides of the casting table.
Featuring:
Irene Martinko, Associate Artistic Director/Casting Director
Hallie Gordon, Senior Associate Artistic Director
Christopher Youstra, Director of Music Theatre
Participating Actors:
Derrick Buie
Anna Maria Ferrari
Ricky DeVon Hall
Sadie Koopman
Ray Long
Box Office: 301.924.3400
Open Wednesday - Sunday: 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM
