After a hugely successful first endeavor that sold out all performances, The Alden in McLean is bringing back its Drive-Thru Drama performances in September. The new show, “From the Ash Baxter Files: The Search for the Stolen Spyglass,” will be performed Friday through Sunday over three weekends on Sept. 11-13, Sept. 18-20 and Sept. 25-27. Show times are from 4-7 p.m. Tickets are on sale now, and the per-car price is $20, $15 for residents of Dranesville Small District 1-A. A limited number of timed tickets are available and must be purchased in advance at www.aldentheatre.org. The Alden is a division of the McLean Community Center (MCC), located at 1234 Ingleside Ave.
Drive-Thru Drama is a new model of theater in a COVID-19 world. It employs a social-distancing format that brings people together for live theater from the comfort of their own cars. Actors will perform one cohesive story weaving together short scenes throughout the MCC parking lot. Audience members simply roll down their windows and drive the route from actor to actor. “We were thrilled to see so many enjoy our first Drive-Thru Drama performance in July! Since then we have been working to develop a new show and I think audiences will enjoy the surprises that we have in store,” said Danielle Van Hook, the show’s producer and The Alden’s Director of Youth Theatre Programs.
As with the first show, “From the Ash Baxter Files: The Search for the Stolen Spyglass” was written by Andrew Scott Zimmer by commission of The Alden. An interactive mystery suitable for all ages, the show begins when Ash Baxter, the super sleuth of Dakota Riddle High School, needs your help to whittle down the suspect list when his teacher’s priceless spyglass is stolen.
The maximum capacity for each evening of performances is 27 cars (three vehicles every 15 minutes), and the ticket cost is per car. Patrons are welcome to fill their cars with members of their households and are asked to wear masks for the protection of actors and staff.
In this innovative live performance format, The Alden is following several safety precautions to adhere to the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions’ COVID-19 guidelines, such as requiring the actors to wear personal protective equipment and setting up the route so that actors are positioned six feet away from the cars and passengers.
For more information, visit: www.aldentheatre.org or call 703-790-0123, TTY: 711. For ADA accommodations, contact Patron Services Manager Evelyn Hill at evelyn.hill@fairfaxcounty.gov or call 571-296-8385.