Seeing live theater is a wonderful way for people to enjoy a show. The audience can feed off the performer’s energy, laugh or cry with others in the audience, and walk away with a feeling of being part of the theater community. When you’re looking for a place to take the family to see a live show in the Ashburn, VA, area, our team at Crème de la Crème of Port Potomac has you covered with this list of five awesome theaters nearby.

Stage Coach Theatre Company

A photo of a live performance of Aladdin in Ashburn, VA

Aladdin @Broadway by Melanie Robertson is licensed with CC BY 2.0

Whether you want to see a Broadway-style show, a Cabaret performance, or a murder mystery dinner show, you’ll find these and more at the Stage Coach Theatre Company. The staff at this Ashburn venue also hosts magicians and comedic performers and even holds classes so you can learn tips and techniques for acting, magic, singing, and stage performance. Examples of stage productions held at the Stage Coach Theatre Company include family favorites such as “The Wizard of Oz” or “SpongeBob the Musical.”

If you’re ready for laughs, be sure to catch a live comedy show or be mesmerized by magicians and illusionists. You can bring out your inner sleuth by attending the murder mystery dinner show with titles like “Yo Ho Ho and a Bottle of Death,” “Ghost Stories,” or “Dearly Beloved and Departed.” Aspiring performers can also sign up for after-school acting classes taught by professional performers. After enjoying a wonderful show at the Stage Coach Theatre Company, stop by any of these Ashburn restaurants the whole family will enjoy.

Location: 20937 Ashburn Road, Suites 115 and 120 in Ashburn.

Contact: 571-477-9444.

NextStop Theatre Company

The NextStop Theatre Company started as the Eldon Street Players in 1988 as a source for community performances. In 2013, the theater’s board changed the name to NextStop as it’s known today. You’ll find a variety of shows when you visit the NextStop Theatre Company, ranging from comedies to historical journeys.

During the summer, the team at this theater offers their Summer Theatre Adventures for children aspiring to be actors. Children in the first through fifth grades have their own classes and performances and kids in the fifth through 10th grades have their own separate classes. Having your kids take these performance classes can help give them speaking confidence as well as develop essential cognitive skills they can carry through life.

Location: 269 Sunset Park Drive in Herndon.

Contact: 703-481-5930×1.

Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts

The Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts is one of the most unique performing arts venues on our list. This venue officially opened to the public in 1971, where people could watch shows ranging from musicals to jazz concerts in the Filene Center. Interestingly, Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts is the only United States national park exclusively dedicated to the performing arts, with the Filene Center being the centerpiece of the entire park.

The Filene Center theater is 10 stories high and can seat up to 7,000 people when the park hosts performances from May through September. Make your visit to Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts even more exciting by coming early and taking part in the Pre-Performance Discussions held on the Farmhouse Lawn to learn more about the upcoming show.

In addition, be sure to pack a picnic and enjoy your meal on a blanket in the grassy areas or on one of the picnic tables set under shady trees. You can also purchase food from the on-site concession stands located in the park. If you want to get a bit of exercise after your picnic and before the performance, take a walk on either of the two hiking trails inside the park.

Location: 1551 Trap Road in Vienna.

Contact: 703-255-1800.

Cuppett Performing Arts Center of Dance

Dance enthusiasts will appreciate taking classes and then performing when they enroll in the Cuppett Performing Arts Center of Dance. The instructors offer classes for children 3 years and older, as well as special classes for adults. You and your kids can take ballet, tap, jazz, modern, character, acro-dance, lyrical/contemporary, and hip-hop dance classes. Students who take these classes will have the opportunity to perform for the public during the Spring Ballet series held at the Kenmore Middle School in Arlington and the June Recital held at the Herndon High School.

The professional instructors at the Cuppett Performing Arts Center of Dance design the classes for children ages 2 to 8, young adults ages 9 and older, pre-teens 9 to 11, and teens 12 and older. Children who take these dance classes and perform for the public enjoy a sense of confidence and self-esteem.

Location: 135 Park St. SE in Vienna.

Contact: 703-938-9019.

Hylton Performing Arts Center

You’ll find several venues at the Hylton Performing Arts Center, including the 1,123-seat Merchant Hall, the intimate 242-seat Gregory Family Theater, or the Jacquemin Family Foundation Rehearsal Hall. Performances inside the Gregory Family Theater include offerings such as the American Roots Series, the Hylton Family Series, and other family-friendly events. In the opera house-style Merchant Hall, you’ll see shows from renowned artists and performers such as the Virginia National Ballet, the Manassa Symphony Orchestra, or the Mason School of Theater.

Come to the Hylton Performing Arts Center early to enjoy the food offered by the on-site concession serving dishes such as hummus with vegetables, fresh fruit cups with cream cheese, and beverages such as sodas, water, beer, wine, and champagne. After your snack, join in the Pre-Performance Discussions led by local experts to learn more about the artists and the show you have tickets to. During intermission, stroll through the Buchanan Partners Art Gallery to see works of art by local artists.

Location: 10960 George Mason Circle in Manassas.

Contact the ticket office: 703-993-7759.

With so many wonderful places to see performances in the Ashburn, Virginia, area, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to take the family to see a show. Our team at Crème de la Crème of Port Potomac hopes you enjoy our list of these extraordinary theaters in our area.