After months of searching, Theater Alliance is thrilled to announce a temporary home for its 2024/25 performance season at The Westerly, located at 340 Maple Dr SW, Washington, DC 20024, steps from WMATA’s Waterfront Station on the Green Line. This exciting, unconventional space will play a vital role in sustaining Theater Alliance’s mission as it searches for a permanent venue to continue its over twenty-year commitment to producing socially conscious theater, arts programming, and civic engagement in Washington, DC. The Theater Alliance team outside The Westerly. BACK: Vanessa Beltrán, Shanara Gabrielle, Genny Ceperley; FRONT: Samba Pathak, Ellys Abrams, Aria Velz, Nina Young. Photo courtesy of Theater Alliance. The move to The Westerly is made possible thanks to the support of Hoffman & Associates, whose mission of community-led design mirrors Theater Alliance’s commitment to fostering connection through the arts. “Hoffman & Associates’ dedication to empowering communities ensures Theater Alliance’s continued growth and innovation. This initiative is part of 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. “We are incredibly excited to welcome Theater Alliance to The Westerly for their 2024/25 season,” said Hoffman & Associates Vice President Ryan Dring. “As a part of the Southwest neighborhood, The Westerly is designed to be a striking, modern residential offering with amenity spaces that are uniquely designed to foster community and inspire engagement. In fact, 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.” THEATER ALLIANCE’S JOURNEY In 2001, Theater Alliance became the resident theater company at the newly opened H Street Playhouse, which was at the forefront of a movement to develop and revitalize the H Street commercial corridor. A decade later, and guided by a new vision, Theater Alliance became the resident theater company at the Anacostia Playhouse in 2013. There, it created award-winning works such as Word Becomes Flesh, Wonderful World of Dissocia, and Blood at the Root, and helped lead the charge in developing Anacostia’s reputation as an important Arts and Culture District for DC. In March 2024, when Theater Alliance lost its home in Anacostia, the Board of Directors  immediately launched a Relocation Committee, chaired by Board Secretary Liz Ho, to begin scouting for the company’s new artistic home. Working alongside Producing Artistic Director, Shanara Gabrielle, the Committee realized that ongoing development and rising costs in the area made finding a suitable performance venue in Anacostia unachievable. Theater Alliance’s journey is one of resilience, growth, and a steadfast commitment to its core values of justice, artistic excellence, and community connection. Invested in maintaining the relationships and partnerships from its time in Anacostia, while capitalizing on this exciting new opportunity of presenting at The Westerly. Theater Alliance is confident the community will join it in this new era of growth. “We are thrilled that our space for this season keeps us accessible to the Anacostia community, which has supported us for so many years. This season, we also look forward to expanding our reach and connecting with new communities in the DMV,” said Gabrielle. ANNOUNCING THE 2024-25 SEASON: NEW PLAYS, NEW PATHWAYS Theater Alliance’s 2024-25 season features three exciting, thought-provoking DC premieres: Covenant by York Walker (October 17-November 3, 2024): A gothic historical thriller that centers Black women and explores nuances of identity, belief, spirituality, and family. Theater Alliance is proud to present the inaugural regional production of Covenant, following its sold-out New York City premiere at Roundabout Theatre Company in 2023. The Garbologists by Lindsay Joelle (Winter 2025): This fresh buddy comedy shines a light on the lives of working-class people, tackling themes of labor, value, and authentic human connection. It is a hopeful story about finding common ground in uncommon times. American Fast by Kareem Fahmy (Spring 2025): A compelling intergenerational story about a Muslim basketball star navigating her commitment to her team and the responsibilities of her faith, when the NCAA championships fall during Ramadan. This beautiful play examines growing up, living in the spotlight, and discovering what it means to be your true self. Each of these productions will explore important social issues and inspire critical reflection and community conversations, true to Theater Alliance’s longstanding commitment to presenting socially relevant and thought-provoking art. ABOUT THEATER ALLIANCE Theater Alliance develops, produces, and presents socially conscious, thought-provoking work that fully engages the community in active dialogue. Through its work, Theater Alliance creates an audience laboratory where the myriad perspectives of DC are face-to-face, confronting issues and tackling difficult questions that affect our diverse community. Locally, Theater Alliance has twice been finalists for the Mayor’s Arts Award, featured in Spur Local, received the Capitol Hill Community Foundation’s Keller Award for making significant, ongoing contributions to the life of the community, and was awarded two DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities’ UPSTART Grants for capacity building. Nationally, it has received the American Theatre Wing’s National Theater Company Grant, and an NEA Art Works grant, and is a proud Core Member of the National New Play Network. Theater Alliance has received 104 Helen Hayes Award Nominations and 31 Helen Hayes Awards. SEE ALSO: Theater Alliance announces 2024/25 season (news story, September 19, 2024) Theater Alliance names Shanara Gabrielle next producing artistic director (news story, February 5, 2024)