Presents
2020-2021 Season Programs
Join our Patreon for exclusive programing !
Black History Month Celebration Series :
HOWARD UNIVERSITY GOSPEL CHOIR | February 19, 2021 | THEARC Theater
LET FREEDOM SING : FEBRUARY 2021
HGC’s purpose and passion is to serve to bring our musical gifts, bringing peace, restoration, healing and inspiration to all who will lend their ears and hearts. In 2016, the choir released their latest full length album entitled Glorious God. This CD is a diverse collective of musical offerings that reflect their musical legacy. HGC will provide a holiday concert of gospel offerings and a tribute to Martin Luther King, Jr. in celebration of his legacy for social justice.
HOWARD GOSPEL CHOIR of HOWARD UNIVERSITY A collaboration between Howard Gospel Choir and THEARC THEATER.
LIVE FROM THE WHITELAW HOTEL | February 19, 2021 | THEARC Theater
Restoration Stage (A Black Owned & Operated Theater Company)
Following up last season’s smash “Veils the Musical,” Restoration Stage returns with Steven A. Butler’s new ‘30’s era musical love letter to a forgotten Washington, “Live from the Whitelaw Hotel.” Set in the historic Whitelaw, a D.C. landmark and the first Black-owned 5-star hotel catering to iconic Black Excellence including Zora Neale Hurston, Cab Calloway, George Washington Carver and Duke Ellington, “Live from the Whitelaw Hotel” is directed by Courtney Baker-Oliver.
YOUNG, GIFTED, & BLACK : The Podcast | FEBRUARY 24, 2021 | THEARC Theater
MONTHLY BROADCAST 2020-2021 : Black History Month EP3 FEBRUARY 24th
THEARC Theater team podcast explores the journey of a real-life community theater venue operations experience in the southeast community. Highlighting the stories of the staff, local artists, programming and productions, community advocacy and arts workforce rooted in the Black experience. Themes for the show include: Voting!, THEARC Theater Season, ICAN Technical Theater Internship, and special guests and artists. This is original programming from THEARC Theater.
CAMPAIGN 72′ | DCBLACK THEATER FESTIVAL | FEBRUARY 26, 2021 | THEARC Theater
January – December 2021
View Digital Library
Virtual 360 tours, pre-recorded theatrical performances and stage readings, podcast discussions, musical performances and more will be curated in a Digital Library experience for the DC Black Theatre & Arts Festival 2021. Join us as we showcase local East of the River Southeast artists and nationally recognized talent for a unique journey and access to the arts featuring the best & brightest of the Black Arts community.
HOMEGROWN: WOOLLY X SPIT DAT | WOOLLY MAMMOTH | SPRING 2021 | THEATER Theater
Spit Dat Academy & Virtual Events Winter/Spring 2021
In-person Showcase The Living Classroom Outdoor Stage Spring 2021
HOMEGROWN brings local legends of DC’s spoken word scene together with community-minded Ward 7 and Ward 8 residents, through an innovative partnership between THEARC Theater, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, and Spit Dat, DC’s longest running open mic. Weaving together poetry, storytelling, hip hop, and verse, this original piece is being developed through Spit Dat Academy, a dynamic program led by Woolly Mammoth Artists-in-Residence Dwayne Lawson-Brown and Drew Anderson that will support the growth of the city’s next great performance artists. Come celebrate DC’s resilience, find strength in the social fabric of community, and experience the joy of vibrant and creative expression. Welcome home.
Co-Hosted by Drew Anderson and Dwayne Lawson-Brown, SPIT DAT is the longest-running open mic in the nation’s capital. A profoundly intimate artistic and spiritual experience which has fought to remain a safe space through nearly two decades of societal changes, Spit Dat combines world-class talent with a living room vibe. As much a “venue” as it is an “event,” Spit Dat has won multiple awards for its contribution to the growth of generations of acclaimed international artists. But perhaps its most valued accolade lives in being renowned among its staunch community as no less than “Church.”
DAYDREAM: AN AUDIO DRAMA ABOUT THE LIFE OF BILLY STRAYHON | APRIL 2021 | THEARC Theater
Day Dream is a radio play inspired by the life of jazz artist and composer Billy Strayhorn. It contrasts Billy’s journey, looking back on his life during a radio interview, with the journey of Andre, an aspiring jazz vocalist struggling to find his voice in today’s world. Released in 8 episodes starting September 1st, Day Dream is set in two time periods: Billy in1965, and Andre in Modern Day. 1965 takes a look at the musical genius, whom world renowned artist Duke Ellington called his “writing and arranging companion,” and the struggle to receive credit for many of his works. Modern Day explores a young man discovering his connection and understanding to music through the legacy of Billy Strayhorn.
HUEMANATI is a multidisciplinary collective of artists dedicated to humanizing the experiences of Black Same Gender Loving Men through art, education, and advocacy.
VISIT daydreamseries.com to learn more
SOULVERSATIONS | January-June 2021 | THEARC Theater
Reminiscent of the PBS 1970s show SOUL, our host, indie artist Russell Taylor takes us on a music journey through performances pre-recorded at THEARC Theater along with artist interviews featuring local and national artists keeping their music alive during these unprecedented times.