Theater Alliance

Last updated
Theater Alliance of Washington, DC
Formation2000
TypeTheatre group
Location
  • 340 Maple Drive SW, Washington, DC, 20024
Artistic director
Shanara Gabrielle
Website http://www.theateralliance.com

Theater Alliance is a non-profit professional theater in Washington, DC, 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. [1] Once the H Street Playhouse closed, Theater Alliance moved to Southeast DC in 2013 to become the theatre-in-residence at the Anacostia Playhouse. [2] In 2024, Theater Alliance began operating from a new space within a mixed-use development in Southwest Washington.

Contents

Theater Alliance was under the leadership of Producing Artistic Director Colin Hovde from 2011 to 2019. In January 2019, actor, director, and teaching artist, Raymond O. Caldwell was named Producing Artistic Director. [3] In 2024, just before the relocation from Anacostia Playhouse, Shanara Gabrielle was named Producing Artistic Director. [4]

As of 2025, it has produced more than 20 seasons.

Relocation from Anacostia

In 2024, it was revealed that the organization doing business as Anacostia Playhouse was being evicted from the building it operated in due to non-payment of rent. [5] Theater Alliance was operating through them via an unlawful sublet which they were led to believe was proper, as well as without the proper occupancy licenses. Despite negotiating a move-out plan with the building, Theater Alliance were prematurely forced out and prevented from accessing the offices or belongings of employees. [6] Following this, Theater Alliance relocated to a temporary "pop-up" space beneath a new mixed-use development near the Waterfront metro in Southwest Washington in December 2024. [7] In 2025, Theater Alliance announced $4.5 million plans to permanently lease this space and turn it into an artistic hub in the neighborhood. [8]

Current and Recent Productions

Season 15: 2017 - 2018 [9]

Season 14: 2016 - 2017 [10]

Season 13: 2015 - 2016 [10]

Season 12: 2014 - 2015

Awards [11]

Overall, the company has earned more than 80 Helen Hayes Award nominations and 13 Helen Hayes Awards, including: [11]

References

  1. Horwitz, Jane (May 28, 2002). "Theater Project Enters New Stage on H Street NE". The Washington Post. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  2. Marks, Peter (August 16, 2013). "In Anacostia, new playhouse opens in a community eager for more cultural assets". The Washington Post. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  3. "Colin Hovde Returns to Theater Alliance After Stint as Talent Agent". Washington City Paper. Retrieved 2018-02-26.
  4. Pathak, Samba (2024-02-05). "Theater Alliance names Shanara Gabrielle next Producing Artistic Director". Theater Alliance. Retrieved 2025-12-18.
  5. Marloff, Sarah (2024-04-16). "Theater Alliance Says It Has Been Forced Out of Its Home at Anacostia Playhouse". Washington City Paper. Retrieved 2025-12-18.
  6. Alliance, Theater (2024-04-15). "Important Update from Theater Alliance". Theater Alliance. Retrieved 2025-12-18.
  7. This, Share; Facebook, Share on; X, share on; Threads, Share on; Linkedin, Share on; Email, Share on; Print (2024-10-31). "DC theater company finds new home under Southwest apartment building". WTOP News. Retrieved 2025-12-18.{{cite web}}: |last2= has generic name (help)
  8. "D.C. theater company, once homeless, sets out to build $4.5M arts hub". The Washington Post. 2025-12-11. ISSN   0190-8286 . Retrieved 2025-12-18.
  9. "Theater Alliance's Current Season". Theater Alliance. 26 February 2018. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  10. 1 2 "Past Seasons – Theater Alliance". theateralliance.com. Retrieved 2018-02-26.
  11. 1 2 "Find HHA Nominees | Washington Theatre Guide | TheatreWashington | Helen Hayes Awards". theatrewashington.org. Retrieved 2018-02-26.