PROGRAMS of
THE ESSENTIAL THEATRE
Mission
The Essential Theatre is a non-profit professional
theatre dedicated, but not limited to, producing theatre that is reflective of
the African-American experience, which speaks distinctly from an
African-American voice. It is also an objective of the theatre to produce
programs for youth in the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan area that promote
interdisciplinary education and positive levels of
self-esteem.
New Play Reading Series
The New Play Reading Series is created to give voice
to the work of new and established playwrights. It is in substance an
incubator that serves to nurture the work for a three-year period in a
supportive and collaborative environment with other artisans, actors and
directors. Further, it is a forum where audience members are welcomed to
engage in an open dialogue with the playwright and director about the issues
presented in the material as well as techniques used to present them. The New
Play Reading Series was initiated in the spring of 1992. The first play
that was presented as part of the process was Mark Green’s “Just One
Time.”
Children’s Programming
The Essential Theatre Children’s Program in Public
Schools was initiated in the winter of 1993. The Program currently
maintains relationships with three D.C. Public Schools in S.E. Washington D.C.
(Ward 8), traditionally the district’s most under-served quadrant. The
general purpose of this project is to allow students attending the selected
schools an introduction to the theatrical process through interdisciplinary
education. It offers them active participation in the creation of a
theatrical event. This process affords students exposure to each aspect of
the theatre; that is acting, production and management. The core objective
is to arm students with a sense of accomplishment through assuming different
levels of responsibility and working together to realize and end product of
quality.
Women’s Works
The Women’s Works Program is created to celebrate,
investigate, and cultivate the work for, by, and about women. The Theatre
endeavors to present one of its productions each year that is solely dedicated
to women’s issues; totally staffed by women. It is a priority for the
company to reach out to women and girls of all socio-economic backgrounds
through this program as it celebrates the triumphs and travails of women around
the world.