The Post reports on the efforts of one theater company, Theater Alliance, to keep keep the faith as non-neighborhood theatergoers prove hard to court without a metro. Theater Alliance is the resident company at the H Street Playhouse, which is located at 1365 H Street.
12 comments:
This will likely create a whole stir of emotional comments, but I think the people of the Atlas and H Street Playhouse could benifit from the discussion (if they read it). It is MY opinion that if there were more diverse choices and less Afro-centric productions that more people would go.
I know for a fact that both the Playhouse and the Atlas have had many diverse productions. You've got to keep up with the offerings. I've certainly attended some of these, but I've also missed some well reviewed productions that I meant to attend. For instance, I deeply regret missing out on 3/4 of a Mass for St. Vivian. I don't always post everything the offer, so you've got to keep up with their offerings if you really want to know what is available.
I just want to know why it's always a black and white issue on H Street? I've been to H Street Playhouse and I never seen that many Afro centric-Productions there plus the bulk are white productions and are very good. Like Inked said you have to look up the productions and stopping saying less black production will make people go. The company that produce most shows at H Street is a white company and their main problem is it hard to get to with Metro. So please stop blaming blacks on H Street... You are only breeding more HATE. We don't need that on my block.
Neither the Atlas nor H street playhouse has been very good at reaching out, and advertising in the neighborhood. Neither of them even have a complete list of up coming shows posted in the window, or at the box office.
Couple of things:
The H St Playhouse, Theater Alliance, The Atlas and ACTCo are separate entities that are often lumped together because the two theater groups are in residence at the two venues plus the Atlas (a venue) sometimes produces shows as well.
The poster looking for "more diverse choices" might be thinking of the offerings of the African Continuum Theater Company aka (ACTco) which performs at the Atlas and must have missed the Washington Savoyards' Gilbert and Sullivan fare or the chamber music and dance (I saw a great Liz Lerman Dance Exchange show at the Atlas last year) or Ambition Facing West (one of the best reviewed shows this season) that Theater Alliance put on at the H St. Playhouse. Diverse programming IS there and you don't have to look very far for it.
As for reaching out, it can't be news that advertising in DC is VERY expensive and can rival the show budget at a small arts organization.
All of these H St venues and theater companies produce quality work and have received awards and great reviews but that's not always enough. Even on this blog visited by folks very interested and invested in "quality business" on H St., several high quality cultural/entertainment businesses are struggling. Compare the comment traffic when Inked posts an announcement about a new show versus the traffic in response to a post about a new resturant. I think that speaks to the hard road arts and cultural groups travel - people know and like food and are willing to wait in line for it and pay more than the cost of a seat at the Playhouse or Atlas. I get that and I understand that folks can be wary about trying a new play or going to a chamber concert. There's lots of competition for our precious dollars. Plus there are more and more seats to fill in town and everyone is struggling (even the big guys downtown).
Bottom line - I think the cultural offerings on H Street are diverse, high quality and affordable and the folks working to "put on a show" in our hood were some of the first to invest in H Street so cut them some slack or better yet, buy a ticket.
FYI - I manage a small chamber music group and have no affiliation with the H St cultural community - I just live here.
Thanks anon. I was hoping other FT readers would chime in about the diverse offerings of both the Theatre Alliance and the Atlas.
I won't address the outright racism of the first comment, I think that anon's ignorance speaks for itself.
But I will address a few other things that have been brought up.
First some clarification. The H Street Playhouse and the Atlas Performing Arts Center are both venues, arts companies essentially rent space to perform. At the ATlas we rent rehearsal and often office space as well. All of our partners must give back to the commuity in some way, be it free shows, low cost tix, school performances etc. It depends on what they do.
The Theatre Alliance has been the primary tentant at H Street PLayhouse. The Atlas has a number of resident groups such as the African Continuum Theatre company, Capital City Symphony, Congressional Chorus, The Washington Savoyards,Joy of Motion Step Afrika! and others. They are listed on our website under Partners www.atlasarts.org
Atlas also simply rents space to groups or organizations both for-profit and not for profit. And then we also sometimes let community groups use space for meetings for free, such as the Heritage Trail group.
We published a season brochure in the fall which was sent to our mailing list and is available in the box office. We also posted the season in our poster boxes in September. The Poster boxes are usually filled with posters of current and soon to come productions. And we also use the marquee to indicate what is playing currently.
We are continually adding performances and events such as So You Think You Can Dance, and these are put up on our website as they come in.
We purchase ads in the City Paper, Hill Rag and Voice of the Hill. Our companies also purchase their ads, how many of course depends on their budget. We send out email newsletters and post our events on listserves and blogs. Inked pretty much posts everything I send her (Thanks Inked!!)
I really appreciated the last poster's comment about how much conversation Joe Englert's enterprises spark compared to the two theatre spaces. I've observed that as well. And believe me we are thrilled with each of his places, (we have been anticipating Sticky Rice for sooo long, as have our companies!)I just wish we could generate similar excitement among our neighbors.
Our companies often have free tickets or discounted tix available for neighbors, I always make these discounts known here and via the listserves. We have passed out flyers and postcards when we have a special community event.
WE also have volunteer opportunities, such as ushering, which brings in community members and enables them to come to a show free of charge. If you are interested in volunteering please call the box office, 399-7993.
Everyone in the arts understands that it's hard to commit time and $ to see a show, that's just the way it is. There is a lot of competition for the way people spend their free time and $. But I am going to guess that FT readers have more of a stake in these ventures succeeding down here, certainly more than average theatre goers or residents of other neighborhoods.
While we can't really control the quality of what goes on our stages we are striving to make the experience as pleasant as possible for both patrons and performers.
I am always happy to give tours of the Atlas to our neighbors. If you are interested please let me know. jdemayo@atlasarts.org
I am the first poster with the racist comment. I admit it was (in part) racist. However, I think one of the most important things observed by Anon 10:56 and Jen from the Atlas (and maybe I was just trying to generate some discussion)is that when something get's posted about a crime, Joe Englert's places, or other business on H St. the blog chain goes crazy. You get a posting about the Atlas or something else "arts" related you often get very few responses. As an example, last I looked, I think no one weighed in on the discussion about the H St. Heritage Trail. People don't discuss what they don't care about.
What I'm saying, as someone who admits to being a racist and is trying to overcome it everyday (who else is that far along and isn't that what you're taught to do in AA when trying to overcome a problem - admit it?), how many residents out there think it would be worse to loose Granville Moores than it would be to loose the Atlas?
The Atlas and H St. Playhouse are HUGE anchors to the future of H St., yet so few people seem interested in discussing its future as they are in discusing whether they'll get a seat at Granville Moores' on a Saturday night. So all I'm saying is maybe more "gritty white productions" that appeal to the "gritty white crowd" going to the Rock-n-Roll Hotel, there might be more of an interest and concern over the arts future on H.
Personnally, I would be more interested in the Zora Neal Houston production that I'm sorry I missed, but if you want to create a buzz or concern for a potentially fledging enterprise on H, you might want to present something a little more avant- guarde for people to be interested.
Given that the restaurants and bars on H Street have been quite successful, I wonder whether there are opportunities for stronger collaboration with the theater companies on H Steet. For example, would any of the venues be interested in a pre- or post- performance dinner or drinks special, jointly promoted with the theater companies? Could they collaborate on offering free shuttle service from a metro station to encourage patrons to make a night of theater and dinner on H Street? It's true that people must make choices on how to spend money and time, but the restaurants/bars offer what I think would be complementary goods/services to theater productions. I think that the businesses on H Street can be more creative and strategic in overcoming the transportation barrier that exists, and all can succeed together. Any thoughts from business owners or members of the arts community?
I can tell you that these businesses do generally all talk to each other and to the Atlas. I assume that they also talk to the Playhouse.
The first poster must have missed the Irish gangster play at the Atlas. It was as "gritty" and no pants as they come. However, ihe Atlas did no PR for the play.
I agree with second comment of first poster (annon 4:07). Seems much easier to deal with open racism (i.e. more white-themed plays please. - paraphrased) then it is some of the more covert racisim that's out there. I think it speaks volumes about what people are interested in and what they're not, based on number or responses on FT.
I hope that people realize that 100% of the shows that the Theater Aliance produces are FREE for folks living within 5 blocks of the H Street Playhouse. It's hard to complain about that! I've seen both of the productions since moving to the neighborhood a few months ago, and both were excellent!
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