The Constellation Theatre Company is a non-profit theater company located in Washington, D.C. It performs at the Source Theatre in Washington D.C. Since its formation its productions have received several Helen Hayes Awards to include The John Aniello Award for Outstanding Emerging Theatre Company - 2009
Video Constellation Theatre Company
History
Maps Constellation Theatre Company
Facilities
The Constellation Theatre Company uses the facilities of Cultural D.C.'s Source Theatre at 1835 14th St NW. It features a 120-seat black box performance space The upper floor has a rehearsal room, conference room, and office space
Theatrical Focus
Artistic Director and Associate Artists
Constellation Theatre Company's founding artistic director is Allison Arkell Stockman. A 1996 graduate of Princeton University and a 2001 graduate of Carnegie Mellon School of Drama, Allison was a freelance director in Washington, DC and New York City. In 2006 she quit her job as a teacher, took short-term jobs for a year, and then started the theater company in 2007.
Stockman has built a permanent company of "Constellation Associate Artists" including a number of actors who appear regularly with Constellation, and also the composer and performer Tom Teasley, who has provided original music for many of the company's productions, much of which has been recorded and issued on CD.
Theatrical Collaboration
Constellation Theatre Company has brought in performers outside the normal theatre community and fostered intercompany collaboration within the community. According to another theatre company's artistic director Constellation Theatre's philosophy "supports the idea that theater isn't competitive and that we should all be supporting each other absolutely. When we learn from each other and support each other, that sends a message and gives us all more theater all the time."
Notable Past Productions
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- The Arabian Nights - This production received critical acclaim and brought the company to the notice of the Washington Theater going audiences.
- The Oresteia
- The Ramayana - This production was so well received that it was remounted.
- Metamorphoses - The pool required by this production made it extremely challenging technically.
- Zorro - The company's first world premier production.
Current Productions
- 2015-2016 Season - Playtime for Grownups
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- The Adventures of Prince Achmed by Lotte Reiniger with live music by Tom Teasley
- Avenue Q music and lyrics by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx book by Jeff Whitty
- Equus by Peter Shaffer
- Journey to the West, by Mary Zimmerman based on the 16th century Chinese novel Journey to the West
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Production History
- 2014-2015 Season
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- Absolutely {Perhaps} by Luigi Pirandello (and sometimes titled So It Is (If You Think So) in English) adapted by Martin Sherman
- The Lieutenant of Inishmore by Martin McDonagh
- The Fire and the Rain, by Girish Karnad and drawn from The Mahabharata
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- 2013-2014 Season
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- 36 Views by Naomi Iizuka
- Scapin by Bill Irwin and Mark O'Donnell adapted from Les Fourberies de Scapin by Molière
- The Love of the Nightingale, by Timberlake Wertenbaker
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- 2012-2013 Season
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- Taking Steps by Alan Ayckbourn
- Zorro* by Janet Allard and Eleanor Holdridge
- Gilgamesh, Poetry by Yusef Komunyakaa, concept & dramaturgy by Chad Gracia
- * world premier
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- 2011-2012 Season
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- The Ramayana (remount)
- Arms and the Man
- Blood Wedding
- Metamorphoses
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- 2010-2011 Season
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- Women Beware Women
- On The Razzle
- The Green Bird
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- 2009-2010 Season
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- A Flea in Her Ear
- Three Sisters
- The Ramayana
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- 2008-2009 Season
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- Temptation
- The Marriage of Figaro
- Crazyface
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- 2007-2008 Season
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- A Dream Play by August Strindberg adapted by Caryl Churchill
- The Arabian Nights by Mary Zimmerman
- The Good Woman of Setzuan
- The Oresteia
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Significant Events
In September 2013, the American Theatre Wing, (the Founder of the Tony Awards) awarded a National Theatre Company Grant to Constellation Theatre. The grant is for general operating support to companies that "have articulated a distinctive mission, cultivated an audience, and nurtured a community of artists in ways that strengthen and demonstrate the quality, diversity, and dynamism of American theatre".
The specific award citation read
- Constellation Theatre Company's mission is to spark the curiosity and imagination of their audiences by bringing stories to life from all over the world. By opening their creative process to the community, the company cultivates interdisciplinary collaboration that unites the acting ensemble, the written word, visual spectacle, original music and movement to form an intimate and vibrant entertainment experience.
Awards
The Constellation Theatre Company and its productions have been awarded the following Helen Hayes Awards.
- 2009 - The John Aniello Award for Outstanding Emerging Theatre Company
- 2010 - Outstanding Sound Design, Resident Production, Tom Teasley, Crazyface
- 2011 - Outstanding Sound Design, Resident Production, Tom Teasley, The Ramayana
- 2012 - Outstanding Costume Design, Resident Production, Kendra Rai, Green Bird
- 2013 - The James MacArthur Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor Resident Play , Matthew McGee, Taking Steps
In addition the following performer was nominated for Helen Hayes Awards
- 2012 - Outstanding Sound Design, Resident Production, Tom Teasley, Green Bird
- 2013 - Outstanding Set Design, Resident Production, AJ Guban, 36 Views
- 2013 - Outstanding Lighting Design, Resident Production, AJ Guban, 36 Views
The Constellation Theatre Company was nominated for the following Audience Choice Awards
- 2008 Crazyface (Favorite Ensemble)
- 2009 Three Sisters (Favorite Plays, Favorite Actress in a Play)
- 2013 Taking Steps (Best Play, Best Actor in a Play), Zorro (Best Ensemble Cast, Best Actor in a Play)
Costume Designer Kendra Rai was awarded a 2014 Princess Grace Foundation honorarium to be used for the company's 2014-2015 season costumes
See also
- Helen Hayes Award
- Theater in Washington D.C.
References
External links
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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