 Company logo | |
| Formation | 1980 |
|---|---|
| Type | Theatre group |
| Purpose | New Plays/World Premieres |
| Location | |
Artistic director | Maria Manuela Goyanes |
| Website | http://www.woollymammoth.net |
Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company is anon-profittheatre company located at 641 D Street NW in thePenn Quarter neighborhood ofWashington, D.C. Founded in 1980, it produces new plays which it believes to be edgy, challenging, and thought-provoking.[1] Performances are in a 265-seatcourtyard-style theater.[2]
Woolly Mammoth is led by Artistic DirectorMaria Manuela Goyanes, a celebrated American theatre producer, and Managing Director Kimberly E. Douglas.[3]
Woolly Mammoth was founded by Howard Shalwitz, Roger Brady, and Linda Reinisch in 1980.[4] "While working odd jobs to make money, we held our first auditions outdoors inGlover Park and started improvisatory workshops in the auditorium of theHHS building."[5] It opened its first season inThe Church of the Epiphany parish hall nearMetro Center.[5] Outgrowing this initial home, the company rented a warehouse in the14th Street corridor, where it performed for 13 years. When that space ceased to be available, Woolly Mammoth became anomad company, performing in various venues in the DC area. During this period the company worked with thePennsylvania Avenue Development Corporation to acquire space for and to outfit a new theatre.[6]
"Woolly's goal is to challenge our artists and our audiences in ways that are fun and exciting and theatrically adventurous. People can enjoy Woolly who are Democrats or Republicans, liberals or conservatives, because we're trying to come at audiences from unexpected points of view. We would rather be politically challenging and uncomfortable and prickly and put images in front of people that make them think and surprise them, rather than just congratulating our audience for being the people they are."[7]
Opened in 2005, its permanent home is a $9 million, 265-seat courtyard-style theater. It was designed by Washington-based architect Mark McInturff[8] in association with Theatre Project Consultants.[9] The space has won local, regional, and national awards for innovative architectural design, including theAmerican Institute of Architects 2006 Institute Honor Award for Interior Architecture[10] and theUS Institute for Theatre Technology Honor Award.[11]
In 2018, Woolly Mammoth hiredMaria Manuela Goyanes as its artistic director, succeeding founder Howard Shalwitz. Goyanes is known for her production successes at the Public Theater in New York as well as for being a theater educator and leader.
Plays that have premiered at Woolly Mammoth have been produced in more than 200 theaters in 39 states and 12 countries.[12]
The theatre's education andoutreach programs include"Pay-What-You-Can" (PWYC) performances providing access to all residents regardless of economic means,[13][14] and "Playmaking," which pairs students with professional playwrights.[15] "Woolly D.C." is a program where a neighborhood joins to create an original production based on an issue of common community concern, and there are internships, workshops, and theater classes, including a partnership with theUniversity of Maryland, College Park.[16]
For resident theatre companies "repertory is destiny" – a theatre company acquires its audience by the productions it presents.[17] Woolly Mammoth's productions are new plays that "explore the edges of theatrical style and human experience."[18]
Woolly Mammoth has produced works by the following playwrights in the seasons indicated:[19]
In 2014 Howard Shalwitz was awarded theMargo Jones Award for his founding and direction of the Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company.[28]
Overall, the company has earned over 130 Helen Hayes nominations and won 35Helen Hayes Awards.[29][30] Its more prestigious awards include:
Woolly Mammoth is a member of the National New Play Network,[32]Theatre Communications Group, theLeague of Washington Theaters, and theCultural Alliance of Greater Washington. The theatre's programs are supported by theNational Endowment for the Arts, the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities, and the National Capital Arts and Cultural Affairs Program ofUnited States Commission of Fine Arts.
Woolly Mammoth is a Blue Star Theatre – part of a collaboration between the Theatre Communications Group andBlue Star Families offering discounted admission to all military personnel, their families and U.S. veterans.[33]
