The Algers had a choice to make.
The family—AU president Jon Alger, wife Mary Ann, and then 9-year-old daughter Eleanor Alger—was standing in line to buy same-day theater tickets in London. They had just seen Wicked on Broadway, and Mary Ann wanted to wait to see Jersey Boys in New York. That left Les Misérables.
“My parents looked at each other and said, ‘Eleanor can handle this, right? She’ll be fine,’” the couple’s only child says with a laugh.
For the next three hours, Eleanor sat entranced between her parents in the Queen’s Theatre. When the curtain closed, she turned to her mother and said, “I want to do that for ever and ever.”
Eleanor began auditioning for theater productions, rehearsing with Mary Ann, an accomplished pianist, while Jon offered notes. “They threw themselves into helping me and learning as much as they could,” says the screenwriter and actor who lives in Los Angeles.
Theater is a “touchstone” for the Algers, so when Jon joined AU, Eleanor prepared a list of the DC productions she wanted her parents to see.
Here, Eleanor shares a few of her favorite 2025 shows with her new Eagle family:
Schmigadoon! (January 31–February 9, Kennedy Center) This world-premiere musical comedy is based on the hit Apple TV+ show about two doctors in a struggling relationship who stumble upon the magical, mysterious town of Schmigadoon—and directly into a Golden Age musical. With book, music, and lyrics by Emmy Award winner Cinco Paul and directed and choreographed by Tony Award winner Christopher Gattelli, this is a must-see for die-hard musical theater and comedy fans alike.
Come from Away (January 31–February 2, Capital One Hall) On September 11, 2001, 38 international flights were diverted to Gander International Airport in Canada, where the passengers were taken in by the friendly residents of Gander while they waited for airspace to be cleared. Twelve actors play over 30 characters in this folksy musical, highlighting the power of kindness and the shared experience of people from around the world. This is a timeless story that also happens to be a jaw-dropping feat of theater.
In the Heights (February 11–May 4, Signature Theatre) With a book by Quiara Alegría Hudes and music and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda, this Tony Award–winning musical took Broadway by storm with its mix of musical theater and hip-hop. The show follows various characters in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan in New York City over three days in the middle of the summer. Signature Theatre is known for its striking regional productions, and this one is sure to be a hit.
The Age of Innocence (February 28–March 30, Arena Stage) This new adaptation of the classic Edith Wharton novel is written by Karen Zacarías, founder of the Young Playwrights’ Theatre in DC. Wharton was the first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, and this masterpiece is a searing look at the Gilded Age of New York City. Arena Stage’s Fichandler Stage offers a unique in-the-round setting and is one of DC’s most picturesque entertainment centers.
Les Misérables (June 11–July 13, Kennedy Center) This Alger family favorite is a sweeping historical epic of love, redemption, and revolution set against the backdrop of nineteenth-century France. One of the longest-running musicals in the world, Les Mis is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. With a memorable score and an even more unforgettable story, this is a theatrical experience everyone should have at least once in their lifetime.