Anacostia Playhouse

Tickets

RS/24

 

 

 

Thank You

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Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Words cannot express how truly grateful and humbled we are by the sheer volume of support and care we have received over the past few days. When we returned to the Playhouse the day after Christmas to discover we had been burgled, it was a blow. Not only did we have to process the physical shock of being victims of a crime, we were faced with the harsh realities that come with a break-in. As with all nonprofits, resources are limited, and the financial and tangible losses were significant. 

We have spent over five amazing years Anacostia. It is both our work and home. And it has been an overwhelmingly positive experience and the best community we could wish for with our Ward 8 neighbors being partners and friends. In no way will this incident will disrupt our ability to bring quality arts programming to the community. We will continue to be a home for performers, theater companies and all artists to showcase their craft. 

We are so honored that so many amazing people thought enough of us to give so generously of their time and money. Please know that every cent of the funds raised will be used thoughtfully and responsibly. Your gift will not only replace everything was stolen but will allow us to make security improvements, install new doors and come back better than ever.  

So from the entire Anacostia Playhouse family—everyone who performs, designs, works, and volunteers—thank you. Thanks to you, the show will go on! 

Adele Robey

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)

 

Shakespeare for the Young presents Adventures in Arden January 25

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Based on Shakespeare’s As You Like It, Adventures in Arden been created by Shakespeare For The Young as an interactive show for 3 to 10 year olds.

Children are introduced to a puppet of William Shakespeare, who helps start the story. Large bodied puppets, small hand-held puppets, and shadow puppets help tell the story of unkindness turned to love. Set in Africa, the story takes place in both city and country, in particular in the healing forest of Arden where love between two people blossoms and forgiveness between two sets of brothers takes place. Aided by interactive play with the audience, the actors engage children’s imaginations through Shakespeare’s words, using music of many African instruments as an additional medium. A short workshop for the children follows the play. Children use their bodies and voices to explore the rhythms and beats they heard in Shakespeare’s language during the play.

This is a free event open to the public.

January 25, 2020 @ 10:30 AM at Anacostia Playhouse

 

 

For more information on Shakespeare for the Young, click here. 

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

 

A Nite at the Dew Drop Inn August 31- September 21

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Anacostia Playhouse presents A Nite at the Dew Drop Inn

Directed by Stephawn Stephens

Music Direction by William Knowles

August 31- September 21

For tickets click here.

DC Theatre Scene Interview with Stephawn Stephens on working with castmate Jacquelyn Hawkins

DC Theatre Scene Reivew: “The blues take center stage during Anacostia Playhouse’s relentlessly engaging revue, A Nite at the Dew Drop Inn. For one all-too-brief night (the show flies by in about 75 minutes), six talented performers assemble, under the direction of Stephawn Stephens, to bring back to life a swanky historical New Orleans nightclub, known locally as “The Drop,” which welcomed all, catered particularly to African-American audiences during segregated times and, in its heyday, hosted everyone from Otis Redding to Ray Charles (Little Richard even wrote a song about the place)”

 

 

Let the good times roll as you experience a raunchy, raucous night of song filled with laughter, high jinks, and tears of joy. This fun-filled musical journey will take you on a ride of those Unforgettable moments of that first date, first kiss, the one that got away, or maybe the one you kicked to the curb!  A Nite at the Dew Drop Inn is a musical celebration and tribute to the Juke Joint, to those iconic nightspots that were known for good food, music and maybe a little trouble (if you weren’t careful). This cabaret-style presentation highlights themes of love found, love lost and love renewed. It features songs made famous by Big Mama Thorton, Fats Waller, Etta James, and Dinah Washington, just to name a few.

 

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.

In his professional endeavors, 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 is currently the Lower School Music Teacher at Creative Minds International PCS.

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

Sherice Payne

Yvette Spears

Jacquelyn Hawkins

Marcel Worrell Miller

Robert Person

Rodni Williams

 

DESIGN AND PRODUCTION STAFF                         

Set Design: Megan Holden

Lighting Design: Willie J. Blakeney, Jr

Costume Design: Alison Johnson

Choreography: Rodni Williams

 

Stage Manager: Monica Cook

Production Manager: Rachel Walsh

Pianist: DeAndre Shaifer

The Welders present: the earth, that is sufficient

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November 2019

Part theatre, part ritual, and part epic journey, the earth, that is sufficient is a contemplative inquiry into the precarity of human relationships to extraction, consumption, and power. the earth, that is sufficient is an iterative performance project that conceptualizes theatre-making as an ecology, and asks audiences to consider the braided legacy of our past and the infinite possibilities we might stitch into a shared future.

The iterative performance project is told through the eyes of Lucy, the australopithecus, the 3.2 million year old hominid fossil. She speaks of the earth’s vast history and her relationship to lands, place, and time. With her, we wonder, “when a body has been turned into an object, where does it find rest?”

Learn more about the project’s history, the creative team,  and upcoming performances at www.sufficientearth.com. 
the earth, that is sufficient is a collaborative, emergent process.
Process design by Annalisa Dias and mia susan amir, with contributions by Eric Swartz
Original content created by Annalisa Dias, mia susan amir, Nina Budabin McQuown, Cecilia Cackley, Sanam Emami, DeLesslin George-Warren, Kara Turner, Melissa Strova Valencia.
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