Anacostia Playhouse

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How you can support Anacostia Playhouse through COVID-19

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Theater is all about community, gathering, celebrating, connecting.
We can’t do that in the traditional way right now. But we can remind you of the great work done at the Anacostia Playhouse, by us and by all of the companies and artists who perform here, and assure you that it will be back. Like the old saying goes,
“The show must go on.” And we have faith that it will.
Although our city is reaching out to help us in this time, we need your help, too. It’s really important now as our beloved community of Anacostia and all of Ward 8 is especially fragile and making sure we can assure the future of the arts here is vitally important.
Please consider a gift of any size to help us all weather this storm and support the artists, designers, technical personnel and production staff who call us home.
Meanwhile, please be careful and stay well. Adhere to the guidelines of hand washing, staying home if not feeling well, covering your cough or sneeze and avoiding crowds. Check in often with Mayor Bowser’s corona virus updates at
   PS: The photos are from the Playhouse’s 2018 Helen Hayes Recommended production of Douglas Turner Ward’s Happy Ending. If you were there, you laughed yourself silly.
If you missed, it we look forward to bringing you more of this kind of fantastic and important work well into the future. Photos courtesy of Jabari Jefferson.

PLAYHOUSE CLOSED due to Covid until April 27

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COVID 19 ANNOUNCEMENT
For the safety of our patrons, staff and artists, and keeping in line with the mayor’s guidelines, the Anacostia Playhouse will shut down operations through April 27.

It is an incredibly difficult decision to close our doors, even for what we hope
is a short time, but the health and well-being of the entire Anacostia Playhouse
extended family is our highest priority.

With that, we know the following will be canceled or postponed:
Theater Alliance’s This Bitter Earth, the monthly Shakespeare for the Young Puppet Show, The Anacostia Playhouse New Play Festival Silenced Voices and the upcoming Young Playwrights’ Theater production Silence is Violence.

During the time we are closed we will be doing a deep cleaning and disinfecting of the building. Although we will generally not physically be in the office, please feel free to leave us a voicemail or send an email. As soon as we have any details on reopening or any cancellations, we will announce them here and on all of our social media platforms.

Meanwhile, please be careful and stay well. Adhere to the guidelines of hand washing, staying home if not feeling well, covering your cough or sneeze and avoiding crowds. Check in often with Mayor Bowser’s corona virus updates at
coronavirus.dc.gov.

We hope to see you in the theater as soon as possible.

PS: As you can imagine, closing the theater and canceling performances inflicts a severe financial hardship on small arts organizations such as the Playhouse. Please consider a gift to help us weather this storm and support the artists, technical personnel and staff who call us home.

Donate here http://www.anacostiaplayhouse.com/support/

 

 

CANCELLED-Theater Alliance presents THIS BITTER EARTH February 22- March 22

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This Bitter Earth 

by Harrison David Rivers

February 22, 2020 – March 22, 2020

Directed by Otis Ramsey-Zöe

Jesse, an introspective black playwright, finds his lack of activism questioned by his white boyfriend, Neil, an impassioned member of the Black Lives Matter Movement. Tensions between them continue to grow with each headline announcing another extrajudicial killing. But the human heart can hold complex and often contradictory things, and the two men find themselves at a crossroads. This Bitter Earth explores the quiet revolutions of normalcy, reminding us of the intractable bind between the personal and political and the strength of love in today’s turbulent world.

For tickets click here.

RS/24

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Clayton LeBouef’s RS/24 makes a return visit to the Playhouse

Since its inception, the mission of the Anacostia Playhouse, nestled in the heart of the historic Anacostia community, has been to focus on producing quality and relevant works that appeal to every generation.  Keeping with this tradition, we are proud to announce that kicking off 2020 will be the return of RS/24, the riveting original work of Clayton LeBouef.  Recognized for his brilliant performances on TV, film, and stage, with roles in NBC’s Homicide Life on the Streets, HBO’s The Wire and Something the Lord Made, Mr. LeBouef’s ethereal drama explores how the lives of characters Hubie, a record shop owner and a distressed Street Worker, collide one night on a chance meeting. Each is unaware of how this encounter will play a significant role in carving out their destinies.

 

In reverence to the African Diaspora, RS/24 also draws upon ancestral wisdom, vintage music and the return of vinyl to show the connection of how African American music has shaped world culture.  Opening on January 25, 2020, RS/24 runs for three weeks at the Anacostia Playhouse.  It’s a must-see.

 

RS/24 at the Anacostia Playhouse runs for 18 performances:

 

Previews, Thursday, January 23 and Friday January 24 7:30 p.m.

 

Saturday January 25 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. (Opening weekend)

Sunday, January 26 Matinee at 3:00 p.m.

Monday, January 27 (Industry Night) 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, January 29 at 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, January 30 at 7:30 p.m.

Friday, January 31 at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, February 1 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m..

Sunday, February 2  Matinee at 3:00 p.m.

Wednesday, February 5 at 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, February 6 at 7:30 p.m.

Friday, February 7 at 7:30 P p.m.

Saturday, February 8 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, February 9 – Matinee at 3:00 p.m. (Closing)

 

 

Tickets found HERE.

$35 – General Admission

$30 – East of the River, Seniors and Students

$25 – Groups of 10 or more (Contact Anacostia Playhouse @ 202-290-2328)

 

Anacostia Playhouse presents Black Nativity December 14- January 5

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Anacostia Playhouse presents Black Nativity by Langston Hughes

Directed by Stephawn Stephens

Music Direction by William Knowles

Tickets HERE

 

Black Nativity

Langston Hughes’ song-play is a retelling of the Christmas story from an Afrocentric perspective, infused with rich gospel, blues, funk, jazz music and dance, with griot-style storytelling from an ensemble cast. Using the sounds, energy and the enthusiasm of Gospel music to tell the Nativity story. The original title of the play was Wasn’t That a Mighty Day, but was changed to Black Nativity before the show’s opening. On December 11, 1961 the show was first performed Off-Broadway, and then performed at President Kennedy’s International Jazz Festival. Later the show had tours through Europe including in Spoleto, Italy, where it performed at the Festival of Two Worlds. The show then toured London, Oslo, Brussels, Copenhagen and Rotterdam before returning to America. Since the sixties, the show has been performed annually at several theaters around the holiday season, and was performed annually at the Kennedy Center before moving to perform with H Street Playhouse and Theater Alliance.

 

About Langston Hughes

Langston Hughes was an American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist who was a central figure in the Harlem Renaissance. Hughes began his writing career in the 1920s and lived in Washington DC for a few years in that decade. In one of Hughes’ most famous works, “The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain,” he called for confident, uniquely black literature. He travelled through the American South to decry cases of racial injustice, and then later travelled to the Soviet Union, Haiti, and Japan and worked as a newspaper correspondent. His first play Mulatto premiered on Broadway in 1935, and he later founded theater companies in Harlem and Los Angeles. Hughes served as a war correspondent during the Spanish Civil War in 1937.

In 1961 Black Nativity premiered Off-Broadway, and in 2013 the filmed version was produced. Hughes also wrote for newspaper columns including the Chicago Defender and the New York Post. He often wrote fiction vignettes of his renowned comic column character Jesse B. Semple, who became a symbol of the day to day troubles of a poor black man living in a racist society. Hughes won several awards and fellowships, among them the Guggenheim Fellowship, Anisfield-Wolf Book Award, the NAACP Spingarn Medal, National Institute of Arts and Letters, and received honorary degrees from Lincoln University, Howard University, and Western Reserve University. In 2012 he was inducted into the Chicago Hall of Fame. Hughes died in 1967 from complications of prostate cancer.

About Stephawn Stephens

Stephawn P. Stephens has become a recognizable presence, as a local actor, singer, and director in the Metropolitan area theater scene.  He is a native of Cleveland, Ohio and received his formal training at the Karamu House, Cleveland State University, majoring in English and Music Education and Bowie State University completing his studies in Musical Theater/Acting.

Mr. Stephens has performed at several local and well-known venues such as Arena Stage, African Continuum Theater Company, Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Ford’s Theatre, Olney Theatre Center, Round House Theatre, Theater Alliance, Theater J, Signature Theatre and Woolly Mammoth.  He has been a member of Actors Equity Association since 2004. He most recently directed A Nite at the Dew Drop Inn at Anacostia Playhouse.

Throughout his career, Mr. Stephens has developed his craft, gained invaluable knowledge and experience in theater and education. He believes in cultivating an atmosphere where undiscovered talent is trained and perfected.  While building partnerships within the community through volunteering and his faithfulness to his church, Mr. Stephens has been touted by his peers as a “game changer”.  He strives to help build and motivate cross-functional teams that exceed worldly expectations and marries passion to purpose.

 

About William Knowles

William Knowles is originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He attended Howard University and the University of Massachusetts and now lives in Washington, DC. As a composer, arranger, music director and pianist, he has worked at regional theaters around the country, including Dallas Theater Center, Philadelphia Theatre Company, Arena Stage, Northlight (Chicago), CenterStage (Baltimore), Indiana Repertory Theater, and the Milwaukee Repertory Theater, where he has performed in eight different productions. He has received five Helen Hayes nominations for Musical Direction, winning twice.

Offstage he has released seven jazz CDs with music partner Mark Saltman. Their latest release is titled Almost (SaltmanKnowles.com).

 

ON STAGE

Kendall Claxton

Marcel Miller

LaSharon Johnson

Tre’mon Mills

Michael Nesbitt-Gaines

Fashad Tyler

David Hammett

Catrina Brenae

Sherice Payne

Jacquelyn Hawkins

André McKamey

Shawna William

 

DESIGN AND PRODUCTION TEAM                   

Set Design: Leah Mazur

Lighting Design: Jonathan Alexander

Costume Design: Alison Johnson

Choreography: Rodni Williams

Properties: Andrew Reilly

Stage Manager: Jen Bryant

 

MEDIA

To engage with Anacostia Playhouse and follow Black Nativity please visit, follow and like:

www.anacostiaplayhouse.org

Facebook: /AnacostiaPlayhouse

Twitter: /AnacostiaPHouse

Instagram:  @anacostiaphouse

Performances:

Preview: December  12

Gala Fundraiser: December 13

Saturday, December 14, 2pm (PRESS)

Saturday December 14, 2019 7:30pm OPENING (PRESS)

Sunday, December 15, 2019 3pm (PRESS)

Continues

Wednesday-Saturday 7:30

Saturdays at 2pm

Sundays at 3pm

Extra performances

December 26, 11:00 AM

Through Sunday January 5, 2020

PLUS Industry Night, Monday, December 23 at 7:30pm

 

TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets HERE

Group Tickets: $30 tickets for groups of 10 or more. For group tickets, please call 202-290-2328

 

Silenced Voices: Anacostia Playhouse New Works Festival 2019 Submission

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Silenced Voices

EXTENDED DEADLINE: November 15

The Anacostia Playhouse is seeking new and non-produced 10-minute plays for its annual new works series. Selected playwrights will have the opportunity to work with a professional director and actors to prepare for the final staged reading or performance.

Play submissions should address the prompt: What happens when a city loses its soul?

We ask playwrights to ponder the themes of displacement and its effect on the residents of Anacostia and neighborhoods East of the River. As residents are displaced, what does a city lose? What voices are at a threat of being silenced today?

Shine a spotlight on the silenced voices. What has made this neighborhood? Maybe it’s Go-Go Music; maybe it’s the special cuisine that was once sold at a neighborhood cornerstone; and maybe it’s the people themselves who built an amazing culture and city. Or maybe it’s something else entirely.

 

The guidelines:

 

The play should be short: 10-15 minutes

The play should have no more than 4 characters

The play should focus on neighborhoods east of the Anacostia River

 

EXTENDED DEADLINE: November 15

 

Submit online at

Anacostia Playhouse New Works Festival 2019

Anacostia Playhouse Seeks an Events Manager

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JOB POSTING

Anacostia Playhouse Seeks Events Manager

The Events Manager will serve as the on call person for evening and weekend events at Anacostia Playhouse. They will serve as the coordinator between the executive director and renting companies, and will be present for events held at the Playhouse as necessary. In addition, they will provide box office assistance and support as needed to rental companies.

Essential Job Tasks
– Providing keys or entry to renters
– Presence at the playhouse for events and functions
– Providing support for renters throughout events
– Ensuring theater is properly locked up at the end of events
– Providing some box office help
Qualifications
– Some theater familiarity
– Evening and weekend availability
– Punctuality
– Some box office experience preferred, but not required

Pay: $15/hr
Will be called on evenings and weekends, depending on Playhouse schedule. As much advance notice as possible will be provided.

To apply, please send resume and cover letter to natasha.anacostiaplayhouse@gmail.com

AUDITIONS: Black Nativity October 17-19, 2019

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Anacostia Playhouse NON-UNION Auditions October 17-19, 2019
BLACK NATIVITY
directed by Stephawn Stevens
Black Nativity is the Afro-centric retelling of the birth of Christ through exuberant Gospel music and Modern dance. Singers should be familiar with traditional and contemporary styles of Gospel Music.
Anacostia Playhouse seeks an ensemble of singers that move well and have acting experience. We are looking for performers that can blend and harmonize with others plus hold their own as a soloist. The piece is very ensemble in nature.
Also seeking dancers with technique in classical ballet and modern dance.
You should also be able to sing.
If you would like to be seen please submit your preferred audition time and date, as well as your headshot and resume in pdf format to natasha.anacostiaplayhouse@gmail.com. In the subject line please put BLACK NATIVITY – SUBMISSION.
Anacostia Playhouse compensates all employees with a stipend for the rehearsal and run.
NON-UNION LOCAL HIRES ONLY.
Auditions will be:
October 17th from 5pm-9pm Dancers/Singers call
October 18th from 5pm-9pm Dancers/Singers call
October 19th from 10am-2pm Singers only
Call backs October 25-26
Location of auditions/callbacks TBD
Singers prepare:
A one-minute contemporary monologue.
An Up-tempo Gospel selection.
A standard Gospel selection.
There will be a pianist to accompany.
Dancers prepare:
A combination highlighting your skill set in ballet and modern no longer than 3 minutes. Music should be prerecorded. You will be asked to sing 32 measures of a Gospel song.
A CD player will be available.
First Rehearsal: November 4, 2019
First Preview: December 11, 2019
Opening: December 14, 2019
Closing: January 5, 2020

 

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