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"DC's hottest theater company . . . a pilgrimage to the H Street Playhouse is a must for lovers of great theater." -- DC Examiner
Theater Alliance was founded in 1993 with the distinct goal of producing work that would illuminate the experiences, philosophies and interests of DC's diverse populations. That goal was furthered 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 company's mission has evolved into presenting new or rarely produced work geared towards attracting diverse and alternative audiences to our Northeast community.
Each season, we produce three to four plays including world, American and Washington, DC premieres. Our productions highlight the eclectic work of renowned playwrights such as Salmon Rushdie, Daniel MacIvor, Toni Morrison, Rebecca Gilman, Adam Bock, Victor Lodato and Seamus Heaney, among others. Theater Alliance has been recognized for its artistry with 21 Helen Hayes nominations.
Theater Alliance is a Constituent of Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for the American theatre. Theater Alliance is also a member of the League of Washington Theaters, The Cultural Alliance of Greater Washington, CHAMPS (Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce), and Cultural Tourism DC. Theater Alliance is funded in part by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, an agency supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.
Staff:
Paul Douglas Michnewicz, Artistic Director
Consultants:
Adele Robey, Graphic Designer
Elizabeth Gill, Development
Betsy Rosenblatt Rosso, Communications
Artistic Director:
Paul Douglas Michnewicz is a founder of the Theater Alliance for which he has directed critically-acclaimed productions of Lazarus Syndrome, ¾ of a Mass for St. Vivian, Spitfire Grill, Gospel at Colonus, A Gorey Gallery and Poodle Beach Trilogy. He continues his long relationship with the Kennedy Center's VSA arts by directing the Playwright Discovery Program (over 20 world premiers), Young Soloists Evening and the Start With The Arts Festival. He has Assisted Directed productions at the Washington National Opera, Houston Grand Opera and Wolf Trap Opera. In addition to directing, he has also stage managed productions starring Placido Domingo, Vanessa Williams, Patricia Clarkson, Dael Orlandersmith, just to name a few. He teaches Acting at the Maryland Opera Studio located at the University of Maryland, College Park and at the Theatre Lab in Washington, DC. He has an MFA from the Yale School of Drama.
Artistic Associates:
Mark K. Anduss has made a home at Theater Alliance designing Mary's Wedding, Painted Alice, Haroun and the Sea of Stories, ¾ of a Mass for St. Vivian, In On It and Blue/Orange. Mark's designs and original music been heard at The Kennedy Center, Folger Shakespeare Library, Woolly Mammoth, Theater J, Catalyst Theater Company, Theater of the First Amendment, Signature Theatre, Studio Theater, African Continuum Theatre Company, Young Playwrights Theater Company, Imagination Stage, Everyman Theatre and Rorschach Theatre Company, among others. He received the 2003 Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Sound Design for Tiny Alice at Washington Shakespeare Company. For more information, visit www.markanduss.com.
Tony Cisek has contributed the designs for Theater Alliance's productions of The Bluest Eye, Insurrection, You Are Here, Headsman's Holiday, Mary's Wedding, Painted Alice, The Gospel at Colonus and Slaughter City (Helen Hayes nomination). Beyond Glory at the Goodman Theatre; Fences with Arden Theatre Company and Actors Theatre of Louisville; Hannah & Martin at Theatre J; the premiere of The Nightingale with the Children's Chorus of Washington; The Clandestine Marriage and Romeo & Juliet at Folger Theatre; columbinus with Round House Theatre and Perseverance Theatre; Anna In the Tropics at Portland Center Stage; and Yerma at GALA Theatre's new home at the Tivoli. Tony's designs have also been seen at Arena Stage, Guthrie Theatre, Syracuse Stage, Indiana Repertory Theatre, Delaware Theatre Company, Berkshire Theatre Festival, City Theatre, Studio Theatre, Woolly Mammoth, Portland Center Stage, Round House, Perseverance Theatre, Arden Theatre, Theater J, Olney Theatre Center, Rep Stage, Theatre of the First Amendment, and Signature Theatre, among others. Tony is a four-time recipient of the Helen Hayes Awards for Outstanding Set Design and holds an MFA in Design from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts.
Dan Covey is a Helen Hayes and Drammy Award-winning lighting designer working locally and nationally. Previous lighting designs for Theater Alliance include Black Nativity, Lazarus Syndrome, Insurrection, ¾ of a Mass for St. Vivian, The Monument, Headsman's Holiday, Mary's Wedding (Helen Hayes nominations), Painted Alice and Slaughter City (Helen Hayes nomination). Recent work elsewhere: Much Ado About Nothing, 1 Henry IV, The School for Scandal, As You Like It, The Tempest and The Game of Love and Chance at Folger Theatre; Dirty Blonde at Signature Theatre; Merlin and the Cave of Dreams at Imagination Stage; Dancing in the Wings at The Kennedy Center; columbinus for Round House; The Seagull on 16th Street and Sholom Aleichem: Laughter Through Tears at Theater J; Hysteria and God's Ear for Rep Stage; Beyond Glory for Tribute Productions and many others. For more details, please visit www.dancovey.com. for upcoming projects, portfolio photographs and contact information.
Adele Robey is an award-winning professional graphic artist with a serious second life in theater. Together with her late husband Bruce, she founded the Voice of the Hill, a popular monthly newspaper for the Capitol Hill community. She is also the owner of the H Street Playhouse, which serves as the home to the Theater Alliance and hosts other local professional theater companies throughout the year. The opening of the H Street Playhouse served as a catalyst for the long-awaited rebirth of the riot-torn H Street NE corridor. The building has received landmark designation and was recognized with the Robert Herrema Award from the Capitol Hill Community Foundation and the Vision Award from the Committee of 100. Ms. Robey also works as an actor, designer and stage manager in Washington. Her most recent roles were in Haroun and the Sea of Stories and Boy Gets Girl for Theater Alliance. She recently designed props for the VSAarts Playwright Discovery production at the Kennedy Center. Adele is recipient of the Capitol Hill Community Achievement Award and has served on several local boards.
Jeremy Skidmore has directed Theater Alliance's productions of Blue/Orange, Gross Indecency, Mary's Wedding (Helen Hayes Nominations for Outstanding Direction and Outstanding Production), Tales from Ovid, Slaughter City, The Dispute and the world premiere of Painted Alice. Elsewhere in the DC area, he has directed for Signature Theatre, Catalyst Theatre, African Continuum Theatre, Rorschach Theatre, Keegan Theater, University of Maryland, Catholic University and The National Conservatory for Dramatic Arts. Outside of Washington, Jeremy has directed or produced in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Atlanta, London, Tokyo, Macau and Tai Pei. Jeremy is an Associate Member of the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers and is a graduate of the North Carolina School of the Arts.
Kate Turner-Walker has designed nine productions for the Theater Alliance including: Haroun and the Sea of Stories, Headsman's Holiday, The Spitfire Grill, Boy Gets Girl, [sic], Painted Alice, Thief River, Slaughter City and Tales from Ovid. Other recent projects include Fat Pig (Studio Theatre), Lift (Theater of the First Amendment), Hannah & Martin (Theater J), Perfectly Persephone (Imagination Stage), Starving and Our Lady of 121st Street (Woolly Mammoth), Clandestine Marriage and Two Gentlemen of Verona (Folger Theatre, Helen Hayes Nomination). She is a member of United Scenic Artists and holds a MFA in Costume Design.
Board Members:
Adele Robey, President and Co-Founder
Pat Martin, Vice President
Bruce Brennan, Secretary
David Crowley, Treasurer
Paul Douglas Michnewicz, Artistic Director and Co-Founder
Linda Norton, Co-Founder
Patricia Wrightson
Rich Carlson
Shalonda Hunter
Scott Kenison
Kathleen Milanich