The Harman Center for the Arts is a complex consisting of
the Lansburgh Theatre at 450 7th Street

7th Street (Washington, D.C.)

There are four north-south arteries in Washington, D.C. named Seventh Street that are differentiated by the quadrants of the city in which they are located. Historically, 7th Street has been a main north-south road in Washington, being the main route for travelers and farmers coming into the city...

 NW in Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....

 and Sidney Harman Hall

Sidney Harman Hall

Sidney Harman Hall is a theater located at Sixth and F Streets NW in Washington, D.C. It opened officially on October 1, 2007.Along with the existing Lansburgh Theatre, it comprises the new Harman Center for the Arts, the home of the Shakespeare Theatre Company...

 at Sixth and F Streets NW. Harman Hall is the latest addition to the existing Lansburgh Theatre to create the new "Center For the Arts". Construction began in November 2004 and it opened on September 15, 2007. Jack Diamond

Jack Diamond (architect)

A.J. "Jack" Diamond, OC, O.Ont is a Canadian architect.Born in Piet Retief, South Africa, he received a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Cape Town in 1956. He received a Master of Arts degree in politics, philosophy and economics from Oxford University in 1958...

 designed the theatre and Paul Beckmann of the DC firm Smithgroup designed the building that houses the theatre at a cost of $89 million.
Both theatres are the home of Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....

’s Shakespeare Theatre Company

Shakespeare Theatre Company

The Shakespeare Theatre Company is a regional theatre company located in Washington, D.C. Their self professed mission "is to present classic theatre of scope and size in an imaginative, skillful and accessible American style that honors the playwrights’ language and intentions while viewing their...

, but the new theatre will extend its performance spaces to other local arts groups in the hope of broadening Washington’s appeal as an arts scene.

The completion of the Harman Center allows the Shakespeare Theatre Company

Shakespeare Theatre Company

The Shakespeare Theatre Company is a regional theatre company located in Washington, D.C. Their self professed mission "is to present classic theatre of scope and size in an imaginative, skillful and accessible American style that honors the playwrights’ language and intentions while viewing their...

 to expand its season to seven plays, four at Sidney Harman Hall

Sidney Harman Hall

Sidney Harman Hall is a theater located at Sixth and F Streets NW in Washington, D.C. It opened officially on October 1, 2007.Along with the existing Lansburgh Theatre, it comprises the new Harman Center for the Arts, the home of the Shakespeare Theatre Company...

 (which seats 755) and three at its current location, the Lansburgh Theatre (which seats 451), in addition to the Company’s annual Free For All

Shakespeare Theatre Company Free For All

In 1991 the Shakespeare Theatre Company, under Artistic Director Michael Kahn, initiated its annual Free For All performances in Washington, D.C.’s Rock Creek Park. Each year the Company performs a show free to the public, usually from a previous season...

 at Rock Creek Park

Rock Creek Park

Rock Creek Park is a large urban natural area with public park facilities that bisects Washington, D.C. The park is administered by the National Park Service.-Rock Creek Park:The main section of the park contains , or , along the Rock Creek Valley...

’s Carter Barron Amphitheatre.

Sidney Harman Hall will have multiple stage configurations making it adaptable to the needs of each performance while the Harman Center will make it possible to develop the existing Shakespeare Theatre Company's educational programs in order to reach even more local students. Performances and programs will be made more accessible with the availability of discounted tickets.

The Harman Center for the Arts is named for the Harman family and Shakespeare Theatre Company Board of Trustees member Sidney Harman

Sidney Harman

Sidney Harman was an American businessman active in education, government, industry, and publishing. He was the Chairman Emeritus of Harman International Industries, Inc. Harman served as the U.S. Under Secretary of Commerce in 1977 and 1978. As of August 2010 Harman was also the publisher of...

. Michael Kahn

Michael Kahn (theatre director)

Michael Kahn is the Artistic Director of the Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington, D.C., USA. He held the position of Richard Rodgers Director of the Drama Division of the Juilliard School from 1992 to 2006....

, Artistic Director of the Shakespeare Theatre Company, serves as Artistic Director of the Harman Center for the Arts.

Other participating arts groups

• Washington Performing Arts Society
• The Washington Ballet
• Dance Place
  Dance Place
  Dance Place is an arts organization in the Brookland neighborhood of Northeast Washington, D.C.. "The heart and home of Washington Dance," Dance Place aims to "transform lives through performing arts and creative education programs that inspire personal growth, professional success, physical...
  
  
• The Washington Bach Consort
• City Dance Ensemble
• Summer Opera Theatre Company
• Capital Fringe Festival

Project partners

• Shakespeare Theatre Company
  Shakespeare Theatre Company
  The Shakespeare Theatre Company is a regional theatre company located in Washington, D.C. Their self professed mission "is to present classic theatre of scope and size in an imaginative, skillful and accessible American style that honors the playwrights’ language and intentions while viewing their...
  
  
• Michael Kahn
  Michael Kahn (theatre director)
  Michael Kahn is the Artistic Director of the Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington, D.C., USA. He held the position of Richard Rodgers Director of the Drama Division of the Juilliard School from 1992 to 2006....
  
  
• Sidney Harman
  Sidney Harman
  Sidney Harman was an American businessman active in education, government, industry, and publishing. He was the Chairman Emeritus of Harman International Industries, Inc. Harman served as the U.S. Under Secretary of Commerce in 1977 and 1978. As of August 2010 Harman was also the publisher of...
  
  
• Smithgroup http://www.smithgroup.com
• City of Washington, D.C

External links

• Shakespeare Theatre Company

• Sidney Harman Hall is at coordinates 38.897028°N 77.020479°W
• Lansburgh Theatre is at coordinates 38.895826°N 77.022142°W