The Keegan Theatre is an American professional theater based in Washington, D.C., that produces a mix of classics, musicals, and new works, including world premiere productions. It owns and operates a 120-seat theater in the Dupont Circle neighborhood, which it purchased and renovated in 2013. It is led by founding director

Mark Rhea Mark Rhea is an American director, actor, and arts leader. He is the founder and producing artistic director of Keegan Theatre, a small professional American theater based in Washington, D.C. A Texan of Irish heritage, Rhea founded Keegan Theatre i ...

and artistic director

Susan Marie Rhea Susan is a feminine given name, from Persian "Susan" (lily flower), from Egyptian '' sšn'' and Coptic ''shoshen'' meaning "lotus flower", from Hebrew ''Shoshana'' meaning "lily" (in modern Hebrew this also means "rose" and a flower in general), ...

. Megan Machnik is executive chair of the theater's board of directors. Keegan has been described as "eclectic" and as one of Washington, D.C.'s "most popular small heatercompanies." From its early focus on Irish plays and playwrights, it has broadened its repertoire to include musicals and contemporary American and British works.

Founding

Mark Rhea founded Keegan in 1996 along with co-founders Sheri Herren, Stan Shulman, and Eric Lucas. The inaugural production was ''

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof ''Cat on a Hot Tin Roof'' is a three-act play written by Tennessee Williams. An adaptation of his 1952 short story "Three Players of a Summer Game", the play was written by him between 1953 and 1955. One of Williams's more famous works and his p ...

'' in 1997. A Texan of Irish heritage, Mark Rhea has a special interest in Irish theater, plays and playwrights. His vision for Keegan was to take American classics to Ireland and perform Irish masterpieces in the United States. Keegan has conducted 15 theatrical tours of Ireland.

Production history

The company has a tradition of producing plays by Irish and Irish-American playwrights. Its productions toured Ireland annually from 1999 to 2011 and again in 2014 and 2017. The theater's education arm, PLAY-RAH-KA, offers classes, camps, and theatrical experiences for children and families. Annually since 2011, Keegan has produced ''An Irish Carol'', a twist on the Charles Dickens ''A Christmas Carol'' set in an Irish pub. The play was written by Dublin native and Keegan company member Matthew J. Keenan. Keegan is notable for producing contemporary Irish works, and produced the world premiere of Irish playwright Rosemary Jenkinson's ''Basra Boy'' in its 2010–11 season. :2017-18 season ::*'' American Buffalo'', by David Mamet, directed by Jon Townson, August/September 2017. (2017 Ireland tour) ::*''

Stones in His Pockets ''Stones in His Pockets'' is a two-hander written in 1996 by Marie Jones for the DubbleJoint Theatre Company in Dublin, Ireland. The play is a tragicomedy about a small rural town in Ireland where many of the townspeople are extras in a Hollywo ...

'', by Marie Jones, directed by Abigail Isaac Fine, September 23-October 15, 2017. ::*'' Top Girls'', by

Caryl Churchill Caryl Lesley Churchill (born 3 September 1938) is a British playwright known for dramatising the abuses of power, for her use of non- naturalistic techniques, and for her exploration of sexual politics and feminist themes.

, directed by Amber Paige McGinnis, November 4-December 2, 2017. ::*''An Irish Carol'', by Matthew J. Keenan, directed by Mark Rhea, December 14–31, 2017. ::*'' Unnecessary Farce'', by Paul Slade Smith, directed by Ray Ficca, January 19-February 10, 2018. ::*'' Chicago'', music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb, book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse, directed by

and

, March 10-April 7, 2018. ::*''The Undeniable Sound of Right Now'', by Laura Eason, directed by Brandon McCoy, May 5–27, 2018. ::*''Other Life Forms'', by Brandon McCoy, directed by Shirley Serotsky, June 15-July 7, 2018. ::*''

The Bridges of Madison County ''The Bridges of Madison County'' (also published as ''Love in Black and White'') is a 1992 best-selling romance novel by American writer Robert James Waller that tells the story of a married Italian-American woman (WWII war bride) living on a ...

'', book by

Marsha Norman Marsha Norman (born September 21, 1947) is an American playwright, screenwriter, and novelist. She received the 1983 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for her play '' 'night, Mother''. She wrote the book and lyrics for such Broadway musicals as ''The Se ...

, music and lyrics by Jason Robert Brown, directed by Kurt Boehm, August 4-September 2, 2018. :2018-19 season ::*''Lincolnesque'', by John Strand, directed by Colin Smith, September 2018. ::*''As You Like It'', adapted by

Shaina Taub Shaina Taub is an American singer, composer and musician. Biography Taub graduated from New York University Tisch School of the Arts. Taub composed and starred in three adaptations of Shakespeare plays for The Public Theater's Public Works pro ...

and Laurie Woolery, music and lyrics by Shaina Taub, directed by Cara Gabriel and Josh Sticklin, November 2018. ::*''An Irish Carol'', by Matthew J. Keenan, directed by

, December 2018. ::*''The Elves and the Shoemaker'', by Kristin Walter, directed by Alexis J. Hartwick, December 2018. (A Keegan PLAY-RAH-KA production for families ::*''The Baltimore Waltz'', by Paula Vogel, directed by

, January 2019. ::*'' Hands on a Hardbody,'' book by Doug Wright, music by Trey Anastasio and Amanda Green, lyrics by Amanda Green, directed by

, March 2019. (Regional premiere) ::*''

God of Carnage ''God of Carnage'' (originally in French ''Le Dieu du carnage'') is a play by Yasmina Reza that was first published in 2008. It is about two sets of parents; the son of one couple has hurt the son of the other couple at a public park. The paren ...

'', by Yasmina Reza, directed by Shirley Serotsky, May 2019. ::*'' The Reluctant Dragon'', by

Mary Hall Surface Mary Hall Surface (born June 15, 1958) is an American playwright and director of theater, working primarily in the Washington, D.C. area. Surface's work has focused primarily on youth and family content. Surface has received accolades from critic ...

, May 2019. (A Keegan PLAY-RAH-KA production for families) ::*''Ripcord'', by David Lindsay-Abaire, directed by Megan Thrift, June 2019. (Regional premiere) ::*'' Legally Blonde'', music and lyrics by Laurence O'Keefe and

Nell Benjamin Nell Benjamin is a lyricist, writer, and composer noted for her work in musical theatre. With her husband and frequent collaborator Laurence O'Keefe, she won the Laurence Olivier Award for writing ''Legally Blonde'' in 2011. And in 2007, she was ...

, book by Heather Hach, directed by

Michael J. Bobbitt Michael J. Bobbitt is an American playwright, director, choreographer, and performing arts leader based in Boston. He will become executive director of the Massachusetts Cultural Council on February 1, 2021. Bobbitt was the artistic director of Ad ...

, July 2019. :Ireland tour productions ::*'' A Streetcar Named Desire'', 1999 ::*'' Fool for Love'', 2000 ::*''

'', 2001 ::*'' The Glass Menagerie'', 2002 ::*'' Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?'', 2003 ::*'' True West'', 2004 ::*'' A Streetcar Named Desire'', 2005 ::*'' Death of a Salesman'', 2006 ::*''

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest may refer to: * ''One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest'' (novel), a 1962 novel by Ken Kesey * ''One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest'' (play), a 1963 stage adaptation of the novel starring Kirk Douglas * ''One Flew Over the ...

'', 2007 ::*''

Glengarry Glen Ross ''Glengarry Glen Ross'' is a play by David Mamet that won the Pulitzer Prize in 1984. The play shows parts of two days in the lives of four desperate Chicago real estate agents who are prepared to engage in any number of unethical, illegal acts� ...

'', 2008 ::*'' Of Mice and Men'', 2009 ::*'' Fool for Love'', October/November 2010 ::*'' The Crucible'', October/November 2011 ::*'' A Few Good Men'', August/September 2014 ::*'' American Buffalo'', August/September 2017

Awards

As of 2018, Keegan's productions have received six

Helen Hayes Awards The Helen Hayes Awards are theater awards recognizing excellence in professional theater in the Washington, D.C. area since 1983. The awards are named in tribute of Helen Hayes, who is also known as the "First Lady of American Theatre." They ar ...

(and 50 nominations) for this Washington theater honor. Its Helen Hayes Awards are: ::*2010: Outstanding Lead Actor, Resident Musical: Parker Drown, ''Rent'' ::*2010: The Canadian Embassy Award for Outstanding Ensemble, Resident Musical: Keegan Theatre, ''Rent'' ::*2017: Outstanding Production, Musical -- Helen ''Next to Normal'' ::*2017: Outstanding Direction, Musical -- Helen Mark A. Rhea and Colin Smith, ''Next to Normal'' ::*2017: Outstanding Supporting Actor, Musical -- Helen David Landstrom, ''Next to Normal'' ::*2018: Outstanding Lead Actor, Musical -- Helen Michael Innocenti, ''Parade''

External links

Official Website

References

{{Reflist Dupont Circle Theatres in Washington, D.C. Theatrical organizations in the United States Arts organizations established in 1996 1996 establishments in Washington, D.C.