Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company is a

non-profit A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...

theatre company Theatre or theater is a collaborative form of performing art that uses live performers, usually actors or actresses, to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place, often a stage. The perform ...

located at 641 D Street NW in the

Penn Quarter Penn Quarter is a neighborhood east of Downtown Washington, D.C. and north of Pennsylvania Avenue, NW. Penn Quarter is roughly equivalent to the city's early downtown core near Pennsylvania Avenue and 7th Street NW, The definition of Downtown ...

neighborhood of

Washington, D.C. ) , 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, ...

Founded in 1980, it produces new plays which it believes to be edgy, challenging, and thought-provoking. Performances are in a 265-seat

courtyard A courtyard or court is a circumscribed area, often surrounded by a building or complex, that is open to the sky. Courtyards are common elements in both Western and Eastern building patterns and have been used by both ancient and contemporary ...

-style theater. Woolly Mammoth is led by Artistic Director

Maria Manuela Goyanes Maria Manuela Goyanes (born September 21, 1979) is a first-generation Latina theatre maker, chiefly known for her work at The Public Theatre in New York City, as well as her September 2018 appointment as the artistic director of Woolly Mammoth ...

, a celebrated American theatre producer, and Managing Director Ted DeLong.

History

Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, Washington DC

Woolly Mammoth was founded by Howard Shalwitz, Roger Brady, and Linda Reinisch in 1980. "While working odd jobs to make money, we held our first auditions outdoors in

Glover Park Glover Park is a neighborhood in northwest Washington, D.C., about a half mile north of Georgetown and just west of the United States Naval Observatory and Number One Observatory Circle (the Vice President's mansion). Every morning and evening, ...

and started improvisatory workshops in the auditorium of the HHS building." It opened its first season in The Church of the Epiphany parish hall near Metro Center. Outgrowing this initial home, the company rented a warehouse in the 14th Street corridor, where it performed for 13 years. When that space ceased to be available, Woolly Mammoth became a

nomad A nomad is a member of a community without fixed habitation who regularly moves to and from the same areas. Such groups include hunter-gatherers, pastoral nomads (owning livestock), tinkers and trader nomads. In the twentieth century, the popu ...

company, performing in various venues in the DC area. During this period the company worked with the

Pennsylvania Avenue Development Corporation Pennsylvania Avenue National Historic Site is a National Historic Site in the city of Washington, D.C. Established on September 30, 1965, the site is roughly bounded by Constitution Avenue, 15th Street NW, F Street NW, and 3rd Street NW. The his ...

to acquire space for and to outfit a new theatre. "Woolly's goal is to challenge our artists and our audiences in ways that are fun and exciting and theatrically adventurous. People can enjoy Woolly who are Democrats or Republicans, liberals or conservatives, because we're trying to come at audiences from unexpected points of view. We would rather be politically challenging and uncomfortable and prickly and put images in front of people that make them think and surprise them, rather than just congratulating our audience for being the people they are." Opened in 2005, its permanent home is a $9 million, 265-seat courtyard-style theater. It was designed by Washington-based architect Mark McInturff in association with Theatre Project Consultants. The space has won local, regional, and national awards for innovative architectural design, including the

American Institute of Architects The American Institute of Architects (AIA) is a professional organization for architects in the United States. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the AIA offers education, government advocacy, community redevelopment, and public outreach to su ...

2006 Institute Honor Award for Interior Architecture and the US Institute for Theatre Technology Honor Award. In 2018, Woolly Mammoth hired

as its Artistic Director, succeeding founder Howard Shalwitz. Goyanes is known for her production successes at the Public Theater in New York as well as for being a theater educator and leader. Plays that have premiered at Woolly Mammoth have been produced in more than 200 theaters in 39 states and 12 countries. The theatre's education and

outreach Outreach is the activity of providing services to any population that might not otherwise have access to those services. A key component of outreach is that the group providing it is not stationary, but mobile; in other words, it involves meetin ...

programs include "Pay-What-You-Can" (PWYC) performances providing access to all residents regardless of economic means, and "Playmaking," which pairs students with professional playwrights. "Woolly D.C." is a program where a neighborhood joins together to create an original production based on an issue of common community concern, and there are internships, workshops, and theater classes, including a partnership with the

University of Maryland, College Park The University of Maryland, College Park (University of Maryland, UMD, or simply Maryland) is a public land-grant research university in College Park, Maryland. Founded in 1856, UMD is the flagship institution of the University System of Mary ...

Current and recent productions

For resident theatre companies "repertory is destiny" – a theatre company acquires its audience by the productions it presents. Woolly Mammoth's productions are new plays that "explore the edges of theatrical style and human experience."

Notable playwrights and productions

Woolly Mammoth has produced works by the following playwrights in the seasons indicated: *

David Adjmi David Adjmi (born 1973) is an American playwright. He is the recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship, a Whiting Award, the inaugural Steinberg Playwright Award, a Bush Artists Fellowship, and the Kesselring Prize for Drama. Life Adjmi grew up in a ...

: ''Stunning'' (2007–08) *Robert Alexander: ''The Last Orbit of Billy Mars'' (1998–99) *

Sheila Callaghan Sheila Callaghan (born 1973) is a playwright and screenwriter who emerged from the RAT ( Regional Alternative Theatre) movement of the 1990s. She has been profiled by ''American Theater Magazine'', "The Brooklyn Rail", ''Theatermania'', and ''Th ...

: ''

Fever/Dream ''Fever/Dream'' is a play by Sheila Callaghan which premiered in 2009 at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company in Washington, DC. It is a reinvention of Pedro Calderón de la Barca's play '' Life is a Dream''. Plot summary In ''Fever/Dream'', Segis B ...

'' (2008–09) *

Bridget Carpenter Bridget Carpenter (born in New York City) is a television writer and playwright. Biography She received an M.F.A. from Brown University in 1995.Rodriguez, Bill"Bridget Carpenter swings into Trinity" providencephoenix.com, May 11–18, 2000 Her ...

: ''The Faculty Room'' (2005–06) *

Ian Cohen Ian or Iain is a name of Scottish Gaelic origin, derived from the Hebrew given name (Yohanan, ') and corresponding to the English name John. The spelling Ian is an Anglicization of the Scottish Gaelic forename ''Iain''. It is a popular name in Sc ...

: ''Lenny & Lou'' (2004–05) *

Mike Daisey Mike Daisey (born January 21, 1976) is an American monologist, author, and actor. His monologue ''The Agony and the Ecstasy of Steve Jobs'', about the labor conditions under which Apple devices are made, was used as the basis for a widely share ...

: ''If You See Something Say Something'' (2007–08); ''How Theater Failed America'' (2008–09); ''The Last Cargo Cult'' (2009–10); ''The Agony and the Ecstasy of Steve Jobs'' (2010–11); ''The Trump Card'' (2016–2017) * Amy Freed: ''Psychic Life of Savages'' (1994–95); ''Freedomland'' (1998–99) *

Melissa James Gibson Melissa James Gibson is a Canadian-born playwright based in New York. Life The child of former BC Liberal MLA Gordon Gibson and journalist Valerie Gibson, Melissa James Gibson grew up in North Vancouver. She graduated from Columbia University an ...

: ''Current Nobody'' (2007–08) *Jason Grote: ''

Maria/Stuart ''Maria/Stuart'' is a play by Jason Grote (''1001'', ''This Storm is What We Call Progress''), which premiered in 2008 at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company in Washington, DC. The play, inspired by Friedrich Schiller's tale of warring queens presents ...

'' (2008–09); ''Civilization: all you can eat'' (2011–2012) *

Danai Gurira Danai Jekesai Gurira (; born February 14, 1978) is an American-Zimbabwean actress and playwright. She is best known for her starring roles as Michonne on the AMC horror drama series '' The Walking Dead'' (2012–2020, 2022) and as Okoye in the ...

: ''Eclipsed'' (2009–10); ''The Convert'' (2012–13); Familiar (2017–2018) *

Samuel D. Hunter Samuel D. Hunter (born 1981) is an American playwright living in New York City. Hunter was born and raised in Moscow, Idaho. He is best known for plays ''A Bright New Boise'', which won the 2011 Obie Award for playwriting, and ''The Whale'', ...

: ''A Bright New Boise'' (2011–2012) *

Sherry Kramer Sherry Kramer is an American playwright, born in Springfield, Missouri.Sherry Kramer Colle ...

: ''David's Redhaired Death'' (1990–91) *

Tracy Letts Tracy S. Letts (born July 4, 1965) is an American actor, playwright, and screenwriter. He started his career at the Steppenwolf Theatre before making his Broadway debut as a playwright for '' August: Osage County'' (2007), for which he received ...

: ''Bug'' (1999–2000) *

David Lindsay-Abaire David Lindsay-Abaire ( Abaire; born November 14, 1969) is an American playwright, lyricist and screenwriter. He received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 2007 for his play '' Rabbit Hole'', which also earned several Tony Award nominations. Early ...

: ''Wonder of the World'' (1999–2000) * Bruce Norris: ''The Unmentionables'' (2007–08);

Clybourne Park ''Clybourne Park'' is a 2010 play by Bruce Norris written as a spin-off to Lorraine Hansberry's play ''A Raisin in the Sun'' (1959). It portrays fictional events set during and after the Hansberry play, and is loosely based on historical events ...

(2009–10), winner 2011

Pulitzer Prize for Drama The Pulitzer Prize for Drama is one of the seven American Pulitzer Prizes that are annually awarded for Letters, Drama, and Music. It is one of the original Pulitzers, for the program was inaugurated in 1917 with seven prizes, four of which were a ...

Robert O'Hara Robert O'Hara (born 1970) is an American playwright and director. He has written ''Insurrection: Holding History'' and ''Bootycandy''. ''Insurrection'' is a time traveling play exploring racial and sexual identity. ''Bootycandy'' is a series of ...

: ''Antebellum'' (2008–09); ''Bootycandy'' (2010–11); ''Zombie: The American'' (2014–15) *

Philip Ridley Philip Ridley (born 1957 in East London) is an English storyteller working in a wide range of artistic media. As a visual artist he has been cited as a contemporary of the 'Young British Artists', and had his artwork exhibited internationally. ...

: ''The Pitchfork Disney'' (1994–95) *

Sarah Ruhl Sarah Ruhl (born January 24, 1974) is an American playwright, professor, and essayist. Among her most popular plays are ''Eurydice'' (2003), ''The Clean House'' (2004), and ''In the Next Room (or the Vibrator Play)'' (2009). She has been the reci ...

: ''The Clean House'' (2004–05); ''

Dead Man's Cell Phone ''Dead Man's Cell Phone'' is a play by Sarah Ruhl. It explores the paradox of modern technology's ability to both unite and isolate people in the digital age. The play was awarded a Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding New Play. Productions The p ...

'' (2006–07), which subsequently was produced at

Playwrights Horizons Playwrights Horizons is a not-for-profit Off-Broadway theater located in New York City dedicated to the support and development of contemporary American playwrights, composers, and lyricists, and to the production of their new work. Under the ...

in New York and

Steppenwolf Theatre Company Steppenwolf Theatre Company is a Chicago theatre company founded in 1974 by Terry Kinney, Jeff Perry, and Gary Sinise in the Unitarian church on Half Day Road in Deerfield, Illinois and is now located in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood on ...

in Chicago *Laura Schellhardt,

The K of D ''The K of D, an Urban Legend'' is a play by Laura Schellhardt, which premiered at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company in 2008. Plot summary ''The K of D'' presents an urban legend set in a small town in Ohio during one hot, sticky August summer. The ...

(2008) *

Nicky Silver Nicky Silver is an American playwright. Formerly of Philadelphia, he resides in London. Many of his plays have been produced off-Broadway, and also at the Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company in Washington, D.C. Biography Early life Silver was born in ...

: ''Fat Men in Skirts'' (1990–91); ''Free Will & Wanton Lust'' (1992–93); ''The Food Chain'' (1993–94); ''Raised in Captivity'' (1996–97) *

Anne Washburn Anne Washburn is an American playwright. Life Washburn graduated from Reed College and from New York University, with an M.F.A. Her plays have been produced in New York City by Cherry Lane Theatre, Clubbed Thumb, The Civilians, Vineyard Theatre, ...

: '' Mr. Burns, a post-electric play'' (2011–12) * Craig Wright: ''Recent Tragic Events'' (2002–03); ''Grace'' (2003–04) *

Doug Wright Douglas Wright (born December 20, 1962) is an American playwright, librettist, and screenwriter. He received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 2004 for his play ''I Am My Own Wife''. Early years Wright was born in Dallas, Texas. He attended and ...

: ''Watbanaland'' (1995–96); ''Quills'' (1996–97)

Awards

In 2014 Howard Shalwitz was awarded the Margo Jones Award for his founding and direction of the Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company Overall, the company has earned over 130 Helen Hayes nominations and won 35

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 ...

s. Its more prestigious awards include: * 2013 The Charles MacArthur Award for Outstanding New Play or Musical, '' Stupid Fucking Bird'' * 2013 Outstanding Resident Play, ''Stupid Fucking Bird'' * 2008 The Charles MacArthur Award for Outstanding New Play or Musical, ''

''. * 2007 Outstanding Non-Resident Production, ''In the Continuum''. * 2006 Outstanding Resident Play, '' The Clean House''. * 2006 The Charles MacArthur Award for Outstanding New Play or Musical, ''Starving''. * 1996 Outstanding Resident Play, ''

The Pitchfork Disney ''The Pitchfork Disney'' is a 1991 stage play by Philip Ridley. It was his first professional stage work, having also produced work as a visual artist, novelist, filmmaker, and scriptwriter for film and radio. The play premiered at the Bush Theat ...

''. * 1994 The Charles MacArthur Award for Outstanding New Play or Musical, ''Free Will and Wanton Lust''. * 1991 Outstanding Resident Musical, ''

The Rocky Horror Show ''The Rocky Horror Show'' is a musical with music, lyrics and book by Richard O'Brien. A humorous tribute to the science fiction and horror B movies of the 1930s through to the early 1960s, the musical tells the story of a newly engaged couple ...

''. * 1988 Outstanding New Play, ''National Defense''. * 1987 Outstanding New Play, ''New York Mets''. * 1986 Outstanding New Play, ''Metamorphosis''.

Affiliations

Woolly Mammoth is a member of the National New Play Network,

Theatre Communications Group Theatre Communications Group (TCG) is a non-profit service organization headquartered in New York City that promotes professional non-profit theatre in the United States. The organization also publishes ''American Theatre'' magazine and ''ARTSEA ...

, the

League of Washington Theaters This list of theaters and entertainment venues in Washington, D.C. includes present-day opera houses and theaters, cabarets, music halls and other places of live entertainment in Washington, D.C. Current theaters Producing theaters *Adve ...

, and the

Cultural Alliance of Greater Washington The Cultural Alliance of Greater Washington (CAGW) works to increase appreciation, support, and resources for arts and culture in the Greater Washington, D.C. region with over 300 member organizations. References Non-profit organizations ...

. The theatre's programs are supported by the

National Endowment for the Arts The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) is an independent agency of the United States federal government that offers support and funding for projects exhibiting artistic excellence. It was created in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal ...

, the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities, and the National Capital Arts and Cultural Affairs Program of

United States Commission of Fine Arts The U.S. Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) is an independent agency of the federal government of the United States The federal government of the United States (U.S. federal government or U.S. government) is the national government of the U ...

Notes

Woolly Mammoth is a Blue Star Theatre – part of a collaboration between the Theatre Communications Group and Blue Star Families offering discounted admission to all military personnel, their families and U.S. veterans.

References

External links

Official Woolly Mammoth websiteHoward Shalwitz papers, Special Collections in Performing Arts, University of Maryland Libraries.
{{authority control Theatre companies in Washington, D.C. 1980 establishments in Washington, D.C. League of Washington Theatres Penn Quarter Theatres in Washington, D.C. Arts organizations established in 1980