After leaving its 15-year homebase in Crystal City last spring, Synetic Theater has kept up Arlington performances as it continues to seek a new home.
The theater company, which vacated 1800 S. Bell Street in April 2024 amid redevelopment plans, is currently premiering a new comedy at Theatre on the Run in Green Valley and preparing to produce at least two 2025 shows in D.C.
“The challenges have been great, but we have to be honest with ourselves — we have had to run a really tight ship,” Managing Director Ben Cunis told ARLnow. “It was a huge transition. Our team worked incredibly hard to make that transition.”
Synetic Theater announced back in 2023 that it would be leaving its home in Crystal City as developer JBG Smith planned to build a new 15-story office building at 1800 S. Bell Street. As the company was unable to find a new permanent location before its April move-out, it has leaned into community relationships amid “a year of big changes,” Cunis said.
Synetic now holds rehearsals in Arlington’s Cultural Affairs building, a space it shares with other local arts groups. The company presented “Hamlet …the rest is silence” at the Thomas Jefferson Community Theatre this past fall, and is currently performing the new show “Little Comedies” at 3700 S. Four Mile Run.
Based on Synetic’s previous show, “The Music Box,” “Little Comedies” combines pantomime, choreography and music to tell a series of fantastical vignettes.
“It’s a show that doesn’t have a big title, but has a really big heart,” Cunis said. “It’s a whimsical, magical piece, good for the holidays and good for families.”
Looking at 2025, Synetic is preparing to present the world premiere of “The Immigrant” in March at Theatre J in D.C. as well as the Thomas Jefferson Community Theatre at 125 S. Old Glebe Road, in Arlington. This will be followed by “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” this summer at Olney Theatre Center in D.C.
These are the first runs of shows that Synetic has produced outside of Arlington since 2013.
Cunis said the local theater scene has been “really welcoming” as the company seeks a new home. As for where that home will be, Cunis said a few “preliminary conversations” are in the works, but nothing is set in stone.
Acquiring a new space would require significant community support, he said, given the area’s “difficult” real estate market.
“We would certainly love to stay in Arlington if we can find a suitable solution to our space needs,” Cunis said.
Tickets to “Little Comedies” are $30. The show’s last performance is this Saturday, Jan. 4.
