Morrissey’s D.C. Gig - Pollstar News

Not many artists can say they’ve performed on the same stage that has hosted Winston Churchill and John Wilkes Booth. But Morrissey isn’t like many artists. Moz is set to play Washington, D.C.’s historic National Theatre in April.

Photo: Dustin Whitlow for I.M.P.

Music Center At Strathmore, North Bethesda, Md.

Many famous entertainers and public figures have appeared at The National Theatre since it opened in 1835. Churchill once spoke from its stage and Warren Beatty, Jerry Lewis, Debbie Reynolds and Lillian Gish are just a few of the entertainers that have trod upon its boards. Morrissey will join that legacy when he appears at the theatre April 5.

Speaking of Morrissey, his Los Angeles appearance at the Staples Center March 1 wasn’t totally meatless. The gig got extensive coverage in the press when various reports maintained that Staples was going to nix meat for the evening and that its vendors would offer vegetarian-only selections. Staples later clarified the situation by saying it would have additional vegetarian selections along with its standard meat items.

The issue got so much play that in his Los Angeles Times review of the show August Brown settles the meat question in his first graph, writing, “You had to skulk around to an upper deck concourse to find it.”

But Morrissey’s Staples gig wasn’t the only carnivorous blip on his Los Angeles radar. Earlier last week the former Smiths singer bailed on his scheduled appearance on ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live” because the cast of reality show/hunting program “Duck Dynasty” was also on the bill.

But back to Moz’s April 5 appearance at The National in D.C. Tickets go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. EST. Click here for more information.