When I first spied Theater Alliance’s 2014/2015 season, I was intrigued by their Christmas show: Black Nativity by Langston Hughes. Hughes was one of the most celebrated poets from the Harlem Renaissance, but I had no idea that he wrote plays. I wanted to dig a little deeper, so I sat down with Eric Ruffin, […]
Black Nativity: Joy to the World at Theater Alliance
Want to see joy personified? Look no further than Black Nativity, now blazing the stage of the Anacostia Playhouse with light, love, hope and more joy to the world than any Scrooge could withstand.
Theater Alliance’s Spark Ignites the Stage
The theatre knows its wars. From King Lear to Black Watch, the tradition of soldier on a stage has a long, rich, and male-dominated history. Less often told—or staged—are the tales of women at war. And Theater Alliance’s world premiere production of Spark, directed by Colin Hovde, ignites a bold, new, and crucial facet of […]
The Wonderful World of Dissocia
How far would you go to rescue what you’ve lost—be it a watch, an hour, or sanity? Directors Colin Hovde and Nathaniel Mendez and the superb company of actors deftly blend humor and horror to produce an awesome piece that leaves everything on the stage—challenging the audience to confront the worst of human tendencies and […]
Adele Robey talks about Gin Game
When Donald L. Coburn’s two-character play Gin Game first appeared on Broadway in 1977, married couple Hume Cronyn and Jessica Tandy took on the roles of seniors Weller Martin and Fonsia Dorsey, two mismatched elderly residents in a nursing home who strike up an acquaintance over a game of gin rummy.
Playwright turns actor for experimental White Rabbit, Red Rabbit
Earlier this month, actors Jennifer Mendenhall, Michael Glenn and Nadia Mahdi took up the challenge of Iranian playwright Nassim Soleimanpour’s White Rabbit, Red Rabbit (cold read before an audience, no set, no direction, no rehearsal). The series has five performances by five different readers still to go in 2013. Up next will be local playwright Gwydion […]
White Rabbit, Red Rabbit: each time is the first time
This week, Theater Alliance debuted its production of White Rabbit, Red Rabbit at the Anacostia Playhouse, performed by Jennifer Mendenhall, but I’m afraid you can’t see it. At least, not the way we saw it.
Broke-ology gets a 1 week extension
The family drama Broke-ology by Nathan Louis Jackson in the new Anacostia Playhouse has been given a one week extension. The Theater Alliance production is now set to close Sunday, September 15th, the company announced today.
Theatre for nearly nothing. Who’s tried it?
In Minneapolis, a company called Mixed Blood garnered national attention when it introduced its policy of “radical hospitality,” essentially shifting to a “free entry” model. The Name Your Price-style ticketing now being tried by Forum Theatre all season and Theater Alliance for Thursday productions of Brok-ology is based on that experience.
Broke-ology
“Nowaday’s any job is a good job.” That’s William (G. Alverez Reid), patriarch of the King family in Nathan Louis Jackson’s Broke-ology, and if there was any doubt that the drama resonates with current events, that line alone should put it to rest.
Theater Alliance focuses Monday night reading series on women playwrights
With the closing of H Street Playhouse, Theater Alliance moves into what they call their “itinerant” phase, planning future productions in one, possible two theatres, and renewing their Monday night reading series, titled Hothouse on the Hill.
Word Becomes Flesh
Word Becomes Flesh offers a gripping journey through the trying conditions affecting black father-son relations. The production, here for 3 performances only (it closes today) at the Atlas Performing Arts Center, is a dynamite blend of spoken word, dancing, singing, and DJ skills.