The Theater Alliance will present its current season at The Westerly. Courtesy of Theater Alliance
By Southwester Staff
Theater Alliance, which was founded in 1993 as a community theater and became a professional company in 2001, will present its new season from a first-floor space in The Westerly, located at 340 Maple Drive SW.
Theater Alliance, which “develops, produces, and presents socially conscious, thought-provoking work that fully engages the community in active dialogue,” previously presented work at the H Street Playhouse and Anacostia Playhouse.
The organization noted that after losing its previous performance space in March 2024, ongoing development and rising costs made finding a suitable venue in Anacostia unachievable, but after “months of searching,” they were “thrilled to announce” their new temporary home.
The relocation to the Westerly came under a “pilot, year-long, innovative model
for arts engagement, thanks to Mayor Bowser’s new pop-up permitting program which has allowed us to activate vacant retail space and continue to serve our community,” said Producing Artistic Director Shanara Gabrielle in a press release.
Gabrielle also credited The Westerly developer Hoffman & Associates for making the move possible.
“We are incredibly excited to welcome Theater Alliance to The Westerly for their 2024-25 season,” said Hoffman & Associates Vice President Ryan Dring. “The Westerly reserved over 9,000 square feet for a theater or performing arts venue. Our efforts to lease the space have not been successful to date for some of the challenges that Theater Alliance references. The Mayor’s Pop-Up Program has provided an opportunity to use the space for its intended purpose while also providing a temporary home for Theater Alliance. Together, we are proud to contribute to the continued growth and vibrancy of this neighborhood we serve.”
The first show of the Southwest-based season is “Covenant,” billed as Southern Gothic meets the blues, fresh from an off-Broadway run. Performances begin October 17 and run through November 3.
Winter 2025 will bring the DC regional premier of buddy comedy “The Garbologists,” and in Spring 2025, Theater Alliance will present another DC regional premier, “American Fast,” the story of a young Muslim woman balancing the pressures of faith, fame and family amid the famous March Madness basketball tournament.
For tickets and more information, visit theateralliance.com.