By Sheila Wickouski
Professional theater company Theater Alliance recently opened its first Southwest-based season in a transformed performance space on the ground level of The Westerly on 340 Maple Drive SW. The company’s season-opening show is a run of Covenant, billed as “Southern Gothic meets the blues,” which comes to Theater Alliance straight from off-Broadway.
As Theater Alliance settles into their Southwest DC home, The Southwester talked to Producing Artistic Director Shanara Gabrielle. The interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.
The Southwester: Over the past year, Theater Alliance had to locate and move into a new space, then opened a new play right away. How has your experience working with over two dozen theater companies helped with this incredible challenge?
Shanara Gabrielle: Moving into a new space and launching a play immediately after was both thrilling and challenging, but my experience as an artist and multi-hyphenate freelancer with so many incredible theater companies prepared me well for it. I’ve learned how to balance the logistical demands of an organization with the artistic drive that fuels us as cultural storytellers. This experience allowed me to lean into collaboration with our team, our partners, and our community to make sure the transition was both smooth and invigorating. At Theater Alliance, we thrive on turning obstacles into opportunities, and this challenge has been no exception.
SW: How do you like your new 9,000 square foot space at The Westerley?
SG: I absolutely love our new space at The Westerley! It feels like a space that truly reflects the bold, imaginative spirit of Theater Alliance. We are grateful to be utilizing Mayor Bowser’s Pop Up Permitting program and partnering with Hoffman & Associates to activate this space on a temporary basis for one year. We’d love to make this a long term home because the space isn’t just a venue; it’s a community hub where we can connect with our neighbors, host meaningful conversations, and expand our justice-driven programming in ways that serve and engage. It’s a place where innovation meets community, and we can already feel the possibilities brimming in the walls.
SW: Theater Alliance’s specialty is “socially conscious, thought-provoking work that fully engages the community in active dialogue.” This season features the DC regional premiers of a buddy comedy, The Garbologists (January 30 – February 23) which is about co-workers in a 19-ton garbage truck, and American Fast (Spring 2025), the story of a young woman balancing the pressures of faith, fame and family amid the famous March Madness basketball tournament. How does Theater Alliance select plays which are produced off-Broadway all over the country?
SG: Both The Garbologists and American Fast delve into stories rarely seen on stage: the dynamic between working-class individuals and the experience of a young Muslim woman striving to succeed in a male-dominated field like basketball. By expanding the range of stories we tell, we’re able to not only reflect the richness of diverse lives but also invite audiences into new narratives that they may not have encountered before. Plus, it’s exciting to bring fresh perspectives to our stage—like the intimate lives of those who collect our trash and the electrifying world of women’s basketball!
When selecting works for our season, I focus on stories that connect to real-life conversations that people have around their tables. It’s about bringing to the stage topics that are central to our everyday lives—issues that make us reflect on our world and how we navigate it. At Theater Alliance, we are incredibly proud to be part of the National New Play Network, a vital pipeline for new plays across the country. I’ve always been drawn to stories that shed light on under-told narratives—diverse stories, labor, the working class, and those exploring the nature of society, civic engagement, and justice.
SW: What other plans does Theater Alliance have for the year ahead?
SG: The year-long lease at our new space at The Westerly presents both unique challenges and exciting opportunities for us to grow and evolve. It has made us even more intentional with our planning and our commitment to think creatively about how we use the space, expand our reach, and engage our audience as we continue to serve our mission. Beyond the incredible productions of The Garbologists and American Fast, we also have the Hothouse New Play Block Party happening on April 25 & 26.
In the year ahead, we’re committed to ensuring that Theater Alliance continues to be a dynamic, inclusive, and thought-provoking part of the cultural fabric of DC. Looking to the future, we would be so happy to secure this space at The Westerly in Southwest as our permanent home, but it will take the support of the whole community to make that happen.
My vision for Theater Alliance is to become a pioneering Arts Hub, not only for our own work but also for other artists and arts organizations in DC. I envision a long-term space that nurtures solidarity economies and shared resources, creating a new model for how nonprofit arts organizations can thrive and collaborate.
As we navigate this ever-changing landscape, we’re dedicated to delivering excellent theater experiences rooted in our core values. Flexibility, creativity, and resilience will guide us as we navigate this chapter, and we’re embracing these principles fully. We’re excited about what’s to come!