RLT's haunting The Woman In Black to premiere in newly renovated Fitzgerald Theatre
Rockville Little Theatre (RLT) will open its 2025-2026 season with The Woman in Black, a spine-tingling thriller based on the novel by Susan Hill and adapted by Stephen Mallatratt. The show, directed by Noel Schoonover, will be RLT's first production in the newly renovated F. Scott Fitzgerald Theater in Rockville Civic Center.
The two-act play focuses on a lawyer, obsessed with a curse he believes has been cast over him and his family by the specter of a woman in black. To help him tell his terrifying story and exorcise the fear that grips his soul, he engages a skeptical young actor. It begins innocently enough but, as they reach further into his darkest memories, they find themselves caught up in a world of eerie marshes and moaning winds. The unexpected finale is sure to shock. Recommended for high school students and adults.
The recent renovation of Rockville's F. Scott Fitzgerald Theater focused on enhancing Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance. Lobby and theater upgrades include wheelchair-accessible restrooms for men and women and a single-stall restroom featuring the first adult changing table in a city-owned building. The box office facade and concession stand have been lowered, increasing accessibility. A new audio system enhances the sound experience and makes assisted-listening devices more effective. The ADA-seating section has been expanded and modified for easier and safer access.
The Woman in Black launches RLT's 2025-2026 season, which includes Close Ties and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. Close Ties - a warm-hearted, funny and eloquently written drama - blends humor and compassion as family members come to grips with how best to care for their aging, and perhaps senile, long-dominate matriarch. It runs January 30 to February 8.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time tells the story of a brilliant but neurodivergent teenager who sets out to solve the mystery of his neighbor's dead dog, a journey that leads to life-altering discoveries about his parents and himself. The book, by Mark Haddon, is a staple in middle- and high-school English classes in the region's various school districts. The show runs May 1 to 10.
Founded in 1948, RLT is the oldest continuously operating, award-winning, 501(c)3 nonprofit live theater in the Rockville area. RLT was nominated for six Washington Area Theatre Community (WATCH) Honors awards in 2024 and won three WATCH awards in 2023. It received awards for Outstanding Production at the 2024 and 2023 Maryland Community Theater Festival and Best in Festival at the 2023 Eastern States Theater Association Festival. RLT's high-quality theatrical productions are a value, costing less than most movie tickets. Its mission is to entertain, enlighten and educate those who attend its theatrical events. RLT offers an opportunity for community members to step out of their everyday lives and assume new roles as playwrights, actors, directors, costume designers, set designers, and audiences.
The Woman in Black runs September 27 to October 5. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets are $24 and $22 for students and seniors. Group discounts for 10 or more tickets are available.