Theater Alliance – A Washington DC theater company committed to socially conscious, thought-provoking work

This Bitter Earth

Feb. 22 - March 22, 2020

by Harrison David Rivers

Directed by Otis Ramsey-Zöe

Starring Justin Weaks and Noah Schaefer

Jesse, an introspective black playwright, finds his lack of activism questioned by his white boyfriend, Neil, an impassioned member of the Black Lives Matter Movement. Tensions between them continue to grow with each headline announcing another extrajudicial killing. But the human heart can hold complex and often contradictory things, and the two men find themselves at a crossroads. This Bitter Earth explores the quiet revolutions of normalcy, reminding us of the intractable bind between the personal and political and the strength of love in today’s turbulent world.

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Notice as of 3/13/2020: Due to mounting COVID-19 concerns, performances of This Bitter Earth have been suspended. We apologize to anyone who wished to see this production in its final two weekends, but the health of our artists and patrons is of our utmost concern.

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…their mission is bigger than putting on a play, or selling tickets, or making someone famous. Their mission is about coming together, all of us, to share our experience of life. What could be more entertaining, and lively, and intelligent, than that?

Jennifer Mendenhall

Actor and Audiobook Narrator

This show was incredible! It was one of the most engaging and fully realized shows I have seen in a long time. All of the performers were completely captivating and so specific. An all-around stunning show. We all loved it!”

Raven Boniwell

Actor and Producer

Theater Alliance is a beautiful rarity among theaters: a team of artists who cares less about the bottom line, but rather puts its enormous talent and energy into crafting top-notch theater for DC audiences. They are well-loved, and for good reason.

Victor Lodato

Playwright

The students and I want to thank you for our BLACK NATIVITY 2016 experience at Theater Alliance. For the majority of the group it was their first time seeing the play and for 6 of the students it was the very first time they had the opportunity to see a live theater performance! We were buzzing about the production for most of the ride back to Charlottesville. Thank you for sharing so generously the gift of a powerful communal experience.

Theresa Davis

Associate Professor, Cross Cultural Performance - University of Virginia

Thank you for the tickets and the wonderful afternoon. But even more thanks for doing the work you are doing, for staking out a place for the stories you are telling, for filling that theatre and serving a community.”