Falls Church’s homegrown theater troupe and educational enterprise, Creative Cauldron, is aiming to move into brand new digs at the big (new Whole Foods) Broad and Washington project by the end of this year.
With continuing great support from the project’s Insight Property Group and Maury Stern, its hands-on leader for the long-awaited Falls Church project that now rises boldly and elegantly above the City’s central intersection with new Whole Foods signage and creating a new sense of its considerable mass, the 5,000 square feet provided to Creative Cauldron right on Broad Street is about to get its special signage, too.
Whether it will include a brightly-lit marquee, however (as it should to match, if not in size but with a more vibrant look, the one around the corner at the State Theater), remains as yet undetermined. Yes, downtown Falls Church is beginning its transformation into a live music and theater district, with a lot of great restaurants and artsy clubs tucked in, as well, and a lot of new “locals” moving in to live right upstairs in the classy new apartments.
Meanwhile, as Cauldron founder and director Laura Connors Hull told the News-Press this week, the fundraising for the cost of moving the operation and providing everything needed to make the new space sing is about two-thirds of the way there, but still in need of some hefty financial support.
The group’s hyper-locally based board of directors, the angels and heavy lifters like president Gina Caceci and vice president Marty Meserve, have spearheaded a relentless fundraising drive that is bringing the vision of the new location for the effort into view. In fact, the plan to open for business by December is still on the calendar.
This week, Hull announced that the original production the Cauldron will produce early next spring as part of its “Bold New Voices” program that develops world or regional premieres written by women will be “Women on Fire,” a play by Marisela Trevino Orta.
And while the summer weekend cabaret series remains in full force at the Cauldron’s current location on S. Maple, the full upcoming season was also announced to include what will be the first show at the new Broad and Washington digs, an inspirational production of the Broadway and motion picture hit, “Steel Magnolias.”
The upcoming 2024-2025 season is described as “a season of magic, friendship, music and more.”
The season will begin in its current home on S. Maple, but then will transition to its new home at Broad and Washington by the end of this year. Here’s what will be coming:
Sondheim Tribute Review (October 3 – 27, 2024) A scintillating musical revue celebrating the work of the legendary Stephen Sondheim, one of the most influential and innovative composers and lyricists in Broadway history. Six stand out performers will take audiences on an incomparable journey through songs from over 20 Titles from the Sondheim songbook including Anyone Can Whistle, Assassins, Company, Follies, The Frogs, A Funny Thing Happened…, Into the Woods, A Little Night Music, Sunday in the Park with George, Sweeney Todd and the recent Tony Award winner, Merrily We Roll Along.
Alice in Wonderland/Alicia en el país de la Maravillas (November 8 – 24, 2024) A Learning Theater Production. Curiouser and curiouser; down the Rabbit Hole we go with Alice on her fantastical journey through Wonderland. The White Rabbit, The Cheshire Cat, The Caterpillar, the Mad Hatter, the Queen of
Hearts, all the favorite characters are here in this musical adaptation of the classic Lewis Carroll tale. Alice gives the entire family a chance to spend an utterly “mad, mad day” at the Cauldron enjoying one of the most famous and enduring children’s classics of all time in a new bi-lingual format.
Madeline’s Christmas (December 6 – 22, 2024) Book and Lyrics by Jennifer Kirkeby, Music by Shirley Mier. A holiday tradition at the Cauldron. Based on the Book by Ludwig Bemelmans. “In an old house in Paris, covered in vines, lived 12 little girls in two straight lines.” And with that familiar phrase, author and illustrator Ludwig Bemelmans sets in motion the adventures of the brave and resourceful Madeline. In this musical adaptation, Madeline’s schoolmates and tutor are all sick in bed on Christmas Eve, unable to go home for Christmas to be with their families. So it’s Madeline to the rescue! And with the help of a magical rug merchant, she takes her friends on a Christmas journey they will never forget.
Holiday Cabarets (December 9 – 18, 2024) Creative Cauldron tops off holiday celebrations every year with this special Holiday Cabaret series. Audiences will enjoy some of Creative Cauldron’s favorite performers, as well as some talented newcomers. They’ll perform in an intimate cabaret setting with special table seating options that include wine, beer or your favorite beverage. Don your holiday finery and be prepared to sing along to your favorite songs. This series is sure to put audiences in the holiday spirit. Get in the festive spirit or shake off some holiday blues with these seasonal cabarets that blend creativity and classics! Final line up to be announced, curated by Matt Conner.
Passport to the World of Music Festival (Jan 10 – February 2, 2025) Creative Cauldron’s annual music festival has become one of the most diverse and eagerly anticipated events of the season. Featuring some of the most talented and diverse musicians in the DMV and beyond. it is always billed as an opportunity to “tour the world without ever leaving Falls Church.”
Steel Magnolias (February 13 – March 9, 2025) Book by Robert Harling. Welcome to Truvy’s beauty salon in Chinquapin, Louisiana, a hot spot where six brassy southern women come to laugh, gossip and share the most intimate details of their lives and loves. This smash hit play, became a smash hit movie which is now celebrating its 30th anniversary. Creative Cauldron has assembled a talented and racially diverse sisterhood to tell this heartfelt and hilarious story. Steel Magnolias is a lasting testament to the power of sisterhood that continues to charm and beguile audiences alike.
Snow White/Blancanieves (March 21 – April 6, 2025) The Learning Theater takes an irreverent look at the one of the most popular Grimm tales of all time. In this bi-lingual adaptation featuring the music of Conner and Smith, Snow White meets all of your favorite characters: the Magic Mirror, the Evil Queen, the little miners who come to her aid and a few other zany members of the kingdom that will have audiences rolling in the aisles.
Woman on Fire, the Bold New Voices production for 2025 (April 24 – May 11, 2025).
Disney’s Aladdin Dual Language Edition/Edición de Lenguaje Dual (May 29 – June 15, 2025) The story begins centuries ago, when the royalty of Agrabah spoke one language, and the citizens another. Communication is impossible without translation… which is controlled by the evil vizier, Jafar. When the rebellious princess, Jazmin, and a delinquent street rat, Aladdin, meet in the marketplace and fall in love, they transcend the barriers between them and, with a little magic, help create a better future for themselves and for Agrabah. This touching musical adventure, featuring the Academy Award-winning score from Disney’s animated classic, will thrill both English and Spanish-speaking audiences alike.
