Mosaic Theater Company of DC is a non-profit theater company located in Washington DC. Founded by former

Theater J Theater J is a professional theater company located in Washington, DC, founded to present works that "celebrate the distinctive urban voice and social vision that are part of the Jewish cultural legacy". Organization Hailed by ''The New York T ...

artistic director

Ari Roth Ari Roth (born January 10, 1961) is an American theatrical producer, playwright, director and educator. From 2014 to 2020 Roth served as the Artistic Director of Mosaic Theater Company of DC and was formerly the Artistic Director of Theater J at t ...

in 2015, it performs at the

Atlas Performing Arts Center The Atlas Performing Arts Center is a multiple space performing arts facility located on H Street in the Near Northeast neighborhood of Washington, DC. Housed in a renovated Art Deco movie house, the facility is home to several arts organizatio ...

on H Street NE in Washington D.C. Their proclaimed mission is to "make powerful, transformational, socially-relevant art, producing plays by authors on the frontlines of conflict zones and providing audiences with a dynamic new venue for the dramatizing and debating of ideas."

History

Mosaic Theater Company was the result of a significant rift between Founding Artistic Director Ari Roth and the leadership of the D.C. Jewish Community Center, where he had been artistic director of

. Over 18 years Roth transformed that company "from a rather undistinguished presenter of Jewish-themed work into one of the nation's most daring" theatres. As a result of his presenting plays which some regarded as looking critically at Israel, particularly his ''Voices from a Changing Middle East Festival'', the relationship between Roth and the DCJCC leadership became strained. Eight months after they required Roth to downgrade the English-language world premiere of a controversial Israeli play ''The Admission'' by

Motti Lerner Motti Lerner (born September 16, 1949) is an Israeli playwright and screenwriter. Early life He was born in Zikhron Ya'akov, a village south of Haifa, in Israel. His great-grandparents immigrated to Palestine in 1882 from Romania and Russia, ...

from a 34-performance, full-production run in March to a 16 performance “workshop” run in April 2014, Roth was very publicly fired as the Theater J artistic director in December 2014. Mosaic has announced plans to revive the ''Voices from a Changing Middle East Festival'', including the presentation of ''I Shall Not Hate'', the next play scheduled to be presented as part of the festival when it was canceled. Roth has been quoted as believing that this play was key to his firing from Theater J.

Facilities

The Mosaic Theater Company performs primarily at the

at 1333 H St NE. In addition it has arrangements to perform at other locations around the Washington metro area such as the Kogod Cradle at the Arena Stage, the Woolly Mammoth Theater Company and at area universities.

Past Productions

''Unexplored Interior''

''Unexplored Interior'' by Jay O. Sanders was the inaugural production of the company. Subtitled ''(This is Rwanda: The Beginning and the End of the Earth),'' it featured 14 projections using light and sound effects, and a symbolic set representing the Rwandan countryside. This production, including the formation of the new theater company, was mounted during a few days in the course of ten months following Ari Roth's controversial dismissal from Theater J for mounting just such shows. :2015-2016 Season ''The Case for Hope in a Polarized World'' (Debut Season) ::''Unexplored Interior (This is Rwanda: The Beginning and the End of the Earth)'' By Jay O. Sanders ::''The Gospel of LovingKindness'' By

Marcus Gardley Marcus Gardley (born 1977/1978) is an American poet, playwright and screenwriter from West Oakland, California. He is an ensemble member playwright at Victory Gardens Theater in Chicago and an assistant professor of Theater and Performance Stud ...

::''When January Feels Like Summer'' By Cori Thomas ::Voices from a Changing Middle East Festival: The War Comes Home :::''Wrestling Jerusalem'' Written and performed by Aaron Davidman :::''I Shall Not Hate'' Based on the memoir by Izzeldin Abuelaish :::''Eretz Chadasha: The Promised Land'' By Shachar Pinkhas and Shay Pitovsky :::''After the War'' By Motti Lerner :::''Hkeelee (Talk to Me)'' By Leila Buck

References

{{authority control Theatre companies in Washington, D.C. 2015 establishments in Washington, D.C. League of Washington Theatres Theatres in Washington, D.C. Arts organizations established in 2005