Theater Alliance is a non-profit professional theater in

Washington, DC ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan ...

, professionally incorporated in 2000 with the goal of producing work that would illuminate the experiences, philosophies and interests of DC's diverse population. That goal was furthered in 2002, when Theater Alliance moved from its home at the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop to become the sole theater-in-residence at the

H Street Playhouse The H Street Playhouse was a black box theater and gallery located in the Atlas District, in Northeast Washington D.C. Home to resident companies Scena Theatre, Theater Alliance and Forum Theatre, the Playhouse also hosted African Continuum Theat ...

. Once the H Street Playhouse closed, Theater Alliance moved to Southeast DC, where it has been the theater-in-residence at the Anacostia Playhouse since 2013. Theater Alliance was under the leadership of Producing Artistic Director Colin Hovde from 2011 - 2018. In July 2018, actor, director, and teaching artist, Raymond O. Caldwell was named Producing Artistic Director. It is now in its 18th season.

Current and Recent Productions

Season 15: 2017 - 2018

* ''Word Becomes Flesh'' by

Marc Bamuthi Joseph Marc Bamuthi Joseph (born 1975) is a spoken-word poet, dancer, playwright, and actor who frequently directs stand-alone hip-hop theater plays. Early life Joseph was born to Haitian immigrant parents and grew up in Laurelton, Queens, New York ...

* The Word Becomes Action Festival * ''The Raid'' by

Idris Goodwin Idris Goodwin is a North American playwright, rapper, essayist, and poet. In July 2022, Idris Goodwin became the third Artistic Director of Seattle Children's Theatre. Early life Idris Goodwin was born in Detroit, Michigan. He earned a Bachel ...

* ''Flood City'' by Gabrielle Reisman

Season 14: 2016 - 2017

* ''Still Life with Rocket'' by Mollye Maxner * ''Mnemonic'' by Complicite * The Planet Earth Arts New Play Festival * ''Black Nativity'' by

Langston Hughes James Mercer Langston Hughes (February 1, 1901 – May 22, 1967) was an American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist from Joplin, Missouri. One of the earliest innovators of the literary art form called jazz poetry, Hug ...

* ''brownsville song (b-side for tray)'' by Kimber Lee

Season 13: 2015 - 2016

* ''Night Falls on the Blue Planet'' by Kathleen Akerley * ''

Black Nativity ''Black Nativity '' is an adaptation of the Nativity story by Langston Hughes, performed by an entirely black cast. Hughes was the author of the book, with the lyrics and music being derived from traditional Christmas carols, sung in gospel sty ...

'' by

* ''

for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf ''for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf'' is Ntozake Shange's first work and most acclaimed theater piece, which premiered in 1976. It consists of a series of poetic monologues to be accompanied by dance moveme ...

'' by

Ntozake Shange Ntozake Shange ( ;
FilmReference.com. Retrieved October 27, 2018. October 18, 1948 – October 27, 2018) ...

* '' Word Becomes Flesh'' by

* ''Going to a Place Where You Already Are'' by

Bekah Brunstetter Rebecca Leah "Bekah" Brunstetter (born June 13, 1982) is an American writer. Her published plays include ''F*cking Art'', which won top honors at the Samuel French Off-Off-Broadway Short Play Festival, ''I Used to Write on Walls'', ''Oohrah!'' ...

Season 12: 2014 - 2015

* ''Spark'' by

Caridad Svich Caridad Svich ( ; born July 30, 1963) is a playwright, songwriter/lyricist, translator, and editor who was born in the United States to Cuban-Argentine-Spanish-Croatian parents. Biography A member of the New York's New Dramatists, she earned her B ...

* ''Black Nativity'' by Langston Hughes * ''Dontrell, Who Kissed the Sea'' by Nathan Alan Davis * ''Occupied Territories'', by Mollye Maxner and Nancy Bannon

Awards

Overall, the company has earned more than 80

Helen Hayes Award 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 ...

nominations and 13 Helen Hayes Awards, including: * 2017 - Outstanding Ensemble in a Play, ''Word Becomes Flesh'' * 2017 - Outstanding Direction of a Play, ''Word Becomes Flesh'' * 2017 - Outstanding Play, ''Word Becomes Flesh'' * 2016 - Outstanding Choreography in a Play, ''Occupied Territories'' * 2015 - Outstanding Ensemble in a Play, ''Black Nativity'' * 2015 - Outstanding Musical, ''Black Nativity'' * 2015 - Outstanding Director of a Play, ''The Wonderful World of Dissocia'' * 2015 - Outstanding Play, ''The Wonderful World of Dissocia''

References

{{authority control Members of the Cultural Alliance of Greater Washington Theatre companies in Washington, D.C. Theatre in Washington, D.C. Theatres in Washington, D.C.