What do the Olney, Studio, Source, Roundhouse, Woolly Mammoth, Scena, GALA Hispanic theaters and the Washington Stage Guild have in common? All have furnished their stages with the vintage tables, chairs, brass beds, mantle clocks and assorted other pieces that furniture dealer and theater fan Fred Litwin has been providing free of charge to small local theaters since 1978. Now the Actors' Center is returning the compliment: Monday night at the Lansburgh Theatre, as part of the center's 10th annual showcase, Litwin will be presented with the Washington Theatre Distinction Award for his "devotion and generosity to the theater community."
"He's one of my favorite people," says Ann Norton, executive director of the Washington Stage Guild, which is currently presenting a production of Shaw's "Arms and the Man" outfitted with chairs, revolving bookcase and credenza courtesy of Litwin. "Once he knows you, you just go into his store" -- Litwin Furniture at 637 Indiana Ave. NW -- "and say, 'I'm doing this play set in this period in this country,' and he knows just what to show you. And all he asks for is an ad in the program and four comps."
And his contributions extend to other areas as well.
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"We had borrowed one of his incredible clocks for 'Candida,' " recalls Norton. "The stage was raked then, which caused the clock to run off time -- it would chime about every 40 minutes. I was stage-managing from the chimney, and during intermission I happened to notice two legs onstage. It was Fred, fixing the clock between acts!"
Litwin, 68, has clearly gotten a kick out of the whole business.
"It all began when Bart Whiteman was the maven at the Source Theatre," he explains. "He came into the store and said he needed a horse, some pigeons and a guard dog for an outdoor production by the State Theatre of Yugoslavia that he was mounting in the neighborhood. We kibitzed, I looked up a horse rental place, told him to get a net for the pigeons. And as luck would have it, we had a dog who was half collie and half shepherd who ended up appearing in the show. For that, we got to see the play whenever we wanted, and to bring guests.
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"After that, Bart began to call and see if he could rent things, and I began to realize that these small theaters have little or no money. They would perform on these very sparsely dressed sets ... so I said forget the rental, just give me 43 tickets. Gradually, word got around about Fred the lunatic and his furniture. ... I was really enamored of interacting with people of imagination and creativity, very different than what I, a secondhand-furniture peddler, was used to."
The interaction intensified when Stage Guild Artistic Director John McDonald offered Litwin the role of a night watchman in "Uncle Vanya."
"I'd always said that just once before I died I'd like to hold a spear and take a curtain call," Litwin says. "At first I was terrified, but I did it! I performed! And on opening night, I was flabbergasted when I walked into the theater and saw a sign that read: 'UNCLE VANYA' WITH FRED LITWIN."
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Holiday Happenings
Looking to spice up your holidays with some theatrical cheer? Herewith an assortment of Yuletide entertainments:
Ford's Theatre presents its popular song-filled version of Dickens's "A Christmas Carol" through Jan. 3. Theatergoers are encouraged to bring contributions of canned food to the box office to benefit Food for All Seasons. Cast members will also appear at the White House Christmas tree lighting Thursday.
Joe Sears and Jaston Williams are back with their hilariously irreverent "A Tuna Christmas," which runs through Dec. 13 at the National. For those who don't know, these two chameleons play 12 characters each -- male and female, young and old -- all of them denizens of Tuna, the third-smallest town in Texas.
In "Why the Lord Come to Sand Mountain," the second of two short plays by Romulus Linney performed by the Roundhouse Theatre through Dec. 13, the Lord and St. Peter pay an unexpected Christmas Eve visit to a poor, primitive unmarried couple and their 14 children. While downing an endless jug of brandy, they swap tall tales, including a comic retelling of the Joseph and Mary story. Call 301-217-3300.
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And the Prince George's Little Theatre presents an original stage adaptation of "Miracle on 34th Street," Dec. 10-13 at the Publick Playhouse. Call 301-277-1710.
Curtain Calls
Local playwright Mark Scharf's dark comedy "Beltway Roulette," produced by New Works Theatre last February, is currently being given a reading at L.A.'s Odyssey Theatre, with "One Life to Live's" Robin Strasser in the leading role ... Woolly Mammoth announces free readings of two works-in-progress by Nicky Silver, of "Fat Men in Skirts" fame. On Dec. 13 at 8 p.m., the play is "My Marriage to Ernest Borgnine" ("a twisted tale of murder and mayhem"), and on Dec. 20 at 8, it's "Scopophilia" ("a romantic black comedy"). Silver will also direct a full production of his "Free Will and Wanton Lust," opening Jan. 14 ... Studio Theatre has extended its production of "The Lisbon Traviata" through Jan. 3.
