Theater District

Stefan Sittig does not hold much back, and that’s great for listeners. He is open, honest, and charming—not always the most prevalent traits in show business folks—about the twists of turns of his life and career, from a childhood overseas to trying to make it as an actor and dancer in DC as the industry itself shifted through the 1990s to 2010s. Today, he is a working choreographer, fight director, and more, working in the DMV’s ‘Off-Broadway’ spaces. He is also the author of Latinidad in Musical Theatre, an illuminating look at the contributions of four amazing Latine artists to musical theater, out now from Methuen Drama.Join Stefan for a signing event May 21 at 7pm at One More Page Books! Or, June 4 at 7:30pm at Drama Book Shop in New York City! Follow him on Instagram at @stefansittig, and check out his blog, “A Life in the Theatre.”

If you're a theater maker or theater goer--or both--in DC right now, you probably have some thoughts and feelings about the changing arts journalism landscape, including the layoffs at The Washington Post to the proliferation of online reviewers and content creators. These shifts are exactly why I'm excited to have the chance to talk to today's guests. Elgin Martin and Nicole Hertvik of DC Theater Arts, the most comprehensive theater journalism platform in the DMV.Nicole is a longtime writer and leader at DCTA. Elgin is its newly minted executive director. The two of them are admirably open and transparent about the growth, the opportunities, and the challenges facing theater journalism as a field and DCTA as a organization right now.After this conversation, I have little doubt that these two will not only keep but strengthen arts coverage in DC.Visit dctheaterarts.org–and follow the organization at @dctheaterarts—for more.Read “As sweeping layoffs diminish WaPo theater coverage…” by Teniola AyoolaDisclosure: I have both written for and paid for advertising with DCTA 

Listening to Danisha Crosby, I’m reminded of the immeasurable value of theater education both for anyone who goes to a summer theater camp or an afterschool workshop and also for society as a whole. Through theater we can learn so many of life’s most valuable skills and lessons, including collaboration, empathy, and critical thinking.Thankfully students of all ages have been able to do that under the leadership and guidance of Danisha, the Director of Education at Round House Theatre, an organization she’s worked at for over 30 years in capacities from production to artistic to education.  Given the length and breadth of her career, Danisha is able to connect the past to the present and the future, which is really important for an industry and artform that has impermanence at its core. As much as things change, plenty of great things that perseveres, one of which is the value of people getting together to tell necessary stories.Alexander Weiss, a member of Round House’s Teen Performance Company, joins us to discuss just such a story, the upcoming TPC production of At the End of the World at the end of March 2026.Learn more about Round House’s Teen Takeover Weekend—March 27 to March 29, 2026--featuring At the End of the World and Mission Improv-ible, an afternoon of improv comedy from The Roundlings.Follow Round House on Instagram at @roundhousetheatre.  

I’m not sure who has permission to pass out the label “legendary,” but if I can presume for a moment, musician and artist KOKAYI is legendary. The native Washingtonian is a grammy-nominated artist, MC, a pioneer of DC hiphop, an in-demand jazz musician, an amazing spontaneous composer and preeminent improvisational vocalist, a published author, an exhibited photographer, a sought-after producer and mentor—his accomplishments in any one of those fields would be enough to earn the title of “legend.”But don’t think that he’s done, either. KOKAYI is still building his legacy, drawing on the lessons and stories of the past for the benefit of the present and the future. It’s very Shakespearean, as is his deep love of words.DC theater audiences will get two opportunities to hear KOKAYI’s work in the Spring of 2026—Folger’s production of As You Like It, and the musical Young John Lewis at Mosaic with Psalmayene 24. We discuss his work on both shows, his respect for playwrights and theater artists, as well as some big ideas about creativity, collaboration, and the sounds of DC itself.Follow KOKAYI on Instagram, and listen to some of the bops, jams, and tunes Karen Ann Daniels sent him on this Inspiration Playlist. And if you need it, brush up on the history of Go Go Music.

Karen Ann Daniels has so many skills, talents, and experiences, she could break LinkedIn. A performer, singer, songwriter, adaptor, educator, director, and leader, she has been the artistic director and director of programming at the Folger Shakespeare Library since fall 2021. In January 2023, she launched the Reading Room, a new works festival dedicated to showcasing how contemporary artists and scholars are thinking about and tinkering with Shakespeare and his ideas, breathing new life into the Bard's work. We discuss how her team finds, curates, and supports projects, as well as how audience members can actively participate in the creative process themselves. She discusses the 2026 offerings, future directions the festival might take, and her upcoming Folger directorial debut, As You Like It in Spring 2026. Learn more about the 2026 Reading Room, follow the Folger Library on Instagram, and Karen Ann while you're at it. Send Dex a text!Be sure to follow and connect with the show on Instagram: @theater_district

Elizabeth Dinkova is "an itinerant director, writer, and creator originally from Sandanski, Bulgaria." Her artistic ventures--as a student, director, adaptor, leader, and educator--have taken her from Oregon to DC, New Haven to Atlanta, back to DC, and more. Now the artistic director of Spooky Action Theater, Beth brings her bold theatricality, incisive thinking, and compassionate nature to classic plays, new works, operas, and more. She shares her thoughts on: balancing leadership and collaboration; the intersections of art and activism; the value, challenges, and opportunities of making art; making an artistic home for immigrant artists; new ways to connect DC theaters; and more. Learn more about Beth on her website, elizabethdinkova.com, follow her on Instagram at @elizabethdinkova, and check out Spooky Action's website, spookyaction.org.  Find Aria Velz's diagram of DC theaters here. Send Dex a text!Be sure to follow and connect with the show on Instagram: @theater_district

Alexis of DC Theater Social and Em of DC Theatre Goer join me for a very fun and very real conversation about seeing theater in the DMV. From intentional accessibility to diverse artistic choices, there is plenty to celebrate about our region's offerings. We discuss the Disney-to-theater-kid pipeline, theaters' efforts to welcome genuine audience reactions, how to balance trying to see and do everything, and what we want to see more of (and less of) on our stages. There are plenty of shout outs, plus a chimera of a new play idea that tops our holiday wish lists. Learn more about DC Theater Social (why not join them for an upcoming outing?!), and follow DC Theatre Goer, too. Sign up for Em's weekly theater listing at DC Theatre Goings. Read Dominique Morisseau's Rules of Engagement. Send Dex a text!Be sure to follow and connect with the show on Instagram: @theater_district

Ryan Sellers is a product of DMV theater, and DMV theater is a product of Ryan Sellers. The actor, mover, choreographer, writer, and director has made an impressive career in his hometown, appearing (and falling) on stages for audiences of all ages: Synetic Theater, Adventure Theater, Arts on the Horizon, Only Make Believe, Olney Theatre Center, Spooky Action,  Signature Theatre, and many, many more. His work has earned him multiple Helen Hayes nominations and two wins. He opens up about saying ‘yes’ to as many opportunities as possible, honing his craft, and building a character. Plus the origins of Candy Boizzzzz!  Follow Ryan and his backstage antics at @mrsupersock. Send Dex a text!Be sure to follow and connect with the show on Instagram: @theater_district

Not only can Jonathan Dahm Robertson design you a set (and projections, and videos, and props, and…), he knows how to build it. That helps him deliver impressive sets for theaters of all sizes around the DMV, from Signature Theatre to 1st Stage and more. He’s also an opera buff, member of the United Scenic Artist, Local 289, a UNCSA Pickle, and a former Kennedy Center Fellow. He discusses how he keeps his design process flexible and responsive to his collaborators, building the new space at Theater Alliance, what gory work he’s dying to design, and more.  Learn more about Jonathan and his work at jdahmrobertson.com, and follow him at @jdahmrobertson. Send Dex a text!Be sure to follow and connect with the show on Instagram: @theater_district

It's the episode a few people asked for, a special Ask Me Anything edition of the podcast. I'm joined by my friend and collaborator Erin Murray, a director, playwright, and educator currently based in Seattle, Washington (which makes her a different sort of Washingtonian). We discuss my thoughts on dramaturgy, the layered ecosystem of arts journalism in DC, an interesting alternative to grad school, and the most enjoyable epic failures we've seen on stage.  Learn more about Erin and her femme forward work at erinmurraydirects.com. Send Dex a text!Be sure to follow and connect with the show on Instagram: @theater_district

"Where the puppet people at?" Because you need to know Luke Hartwood, a rising designer and performer in the DMV. A George Mason alum, Luke is a visual artist, a props designer, and all-around puppet maven--he can design them, make them, teach them, and operate them, including his notable work in Keegan's February 2025 production of Hand to God. He's also worked on many Theater for Young Audience shows at the Kennedy Center and has been known to sing and act a few times, too. He shares some hard-won wisdom about learning to set boundaries and advocate for yourself as a freelance artist and more.  Learn more about Luke and his experiences at lukehartwood.com, and follow him at @lukehartwood. Send Dex a text!Be sure to follow and connect with the show on Instagram: @theater_district

Mollie Greenberg is many things--an actor, a puppeteer, a teaching artist, and an emerging director. She's also a recovering 'shy kid,' who found theater as a way to learn more about herself and others. That curiosity has led Mollie to try--and excel, IMHO--many new things, from going to an open call at The Puppet Co., to directing her first show there, and now starting Ingrid & Mollie. The way she talks about how her various practices inform one another and continue to push her towards new projects is inspiring, as is how much she champions having fun while making theater.  Learn more about Mollie's background, experiences, and credits at molliegreenberg.com, and follow her at @gollymollie. Send Dex a text!Be sure to follow and connect with the show on Instagram: @theater_district

Caleen Sinnette Jennings is an award-winning playwright and Professor of Theatre Emerita at American University. Theaters across the country have produced her celebrated Queens Girl trilogy, including Theatre J, Mosaic Theatre, Everyman Theatre, Clackamas Repertory Theatre, and Hangar Theatre. Her plays of all lengths have regularly been published and anthologized. She has received commissions from the Kennedy Center, Arena Stage, Round House, and others. A multiple Helen Hayes-nominee, Prof. Jennings was also founding member of the DC playwrights’ collective The Welders. During her 31-year tenure at AU, she served as the Director of the Theatre/Musical Theatre Program and Chair of the Department of Performing Arts, winning the university’s Scholar/Teacher of the Year in 2003. Prof. Jennings has been a faculty member of the Folger Shakespeare Library's Teaching Shakespeare Institute since 1994. Send Dex a text!Be sure to follow and connect with the show on Instagram: @theater_district

If you’ve ever asked yourself “Where do I put this blood bag?,“ or “How do I make the best fake wine?,”  or even “Is a parasol a prop or a costume?,” then you need to listen to Chris Young. The prop shop director at Shakespeare Theatre Company, Chris has been figuring out those questions for over 30 years. A treasure trove of stories, talents, and ideas, Chris shares his process of making props, from reading the script to weekly maintenance during a run. Hibiscus tea, by the way.   Follow Chris at @furnitureweapons, and learn more about the Society of Properties Managers (SPM) at propmanagers.org. Send Dex a text!Be sure to follow and connect with the show on Instagram: @theater_district

If there’s one part of the theatrical process that can be mysterious, scary, and unfair, it’s casting. Danica Rodriguez is here to change all of that. A native New Yorker, Danica worked in casting for television and theater, including for the Public Theater, before becoming the resident casting director of the esteemed Shakespeare Theatre Company in fall 2021. An open, joyful, and canny person, Danica is perfectly suited to her role and her mission of championing representation, authenticity, nuance and specificity on stage. “The goal of the artist is to make the revolution irresistible.”  - Toni Cade BambaraLearn more about Danica’s background, experiences, and values at danicarodriguez.com, and follow her at @danicarodriguezcasting. Send Dex a text!Be sure to follow and connect with the show on Instagram: @theater_district

Aubri O'Connor deftly wears so many hats she could make a milliner blush. The DC-based theater maker is the co-founder, co-producer, and artistic director of Nu Sass Production, which promotes marginalized genders in all aspects of theater, especially in those roles traditionally dominated by cis-men. Our open, joyful, and clear-eyed conversation covers the company's beginnings and growth, as well as our region's supportive small theater community (including a big hint about upcoming opportunities!). She speaks passionately and compassionately about promoting and taking care of the people making theater, as well as the current landscape for artists and the arts. Follow Aubri at @aubrilee and the company at @nu_sass. Learn more about the Indie Stage Collective, a group of small and micro theatres in the DMV, and support our small theaters! Send Dex a text!Be sure to follow and connect with the show on Instagram: @theater_district

Who can carry on four conversations at once, keep track of an ever-growing list of props and ques, and fix the plot hole in the second act? A stage manager, and Che Wernsman is one of the best in the DMV. The resident SM at Round House Theatre, Che shares her journey to become an equity stage manager, her thoughts on why military members make great theater makers, and how SMs maintain the integrity of a show over its run. We also discuss important changes in tech and rehearsal processes to take better care of crew members, and more. Send Dex a text!Be sure to follow and connect with the show on Instagram: @theater_district

When waacking and disco and crafting come up in one conversation, it must be about something deep and powerful and transformative like community engagement. Katherine Harroff (Director of Engagement and Associate Director of Public Programming with the Folger Shakespeare Library) and Kristen Jackson (Associate Artistic Director and Director of Connectivity at Woolly Mammoth) join forces to speak about the joy and necessity of creating spaces of communal recognition and growth, how an engagement ethos can infuse an entire organization, and how to both plan ahead and remain flexible in this important work. Send Dex a text!Be sure to follow and connect with the show on Instagram: @theater_district

Eric Ruffin is a professor of theatre arts at Howard University, focusing on acting and directing. A Howard alum himself, he has helmed productions at Mosaic Theatre Company, Studio Theatre, 1st Stage, African Continuum Theatre Company, Imagination Stage, the Kennedy Center, and more. His 2015 production of Langston Hughes' Black Nativity with Theater Alliance won three Helen Hayes Awards. A gregarious and charming interlocutor, Eric discusses the importance of Howard to the American entertainment industry, how love and transcendence should be central to the theatrical experience, and the kind of work we need to make today. Send Dex a text!Be sure to follow and connect with the show on Instagram: @theater_district

Shanara Gabrielle is a force for good in the DC theater scene. Since planting roots here in 2017, she has worked as an actor, director, and cultural producer across our region, and in July 2024, became the producing artistic director of Theater Alliance, which specializes in socially conscious, thought-provoking work. We discuss how the company is settling into their new venue, the values that underpin theater, the need for theaters to understand and support their community, and how the non-profit model could use a re-thinking. Learn more about Shanara on her website, shanaragabrielle.com, follow her on Instagram at @shanaragabrielle, and check out Theater Alliance's website, theateralliance.com. Send Dex a text!Be sure to follow and connect with the show on Instagram: @theater_district

Sierra Young is a multi-hyphenate artist known for her violence and intimacy direction, as well as an actor and director. A graduate of Howard Community College and UMBC, where she worked with Chelsea Pace, Sierra quickly established her credentials and reputation in the DC/Baltimore area. In our conversation, she emphasizes the importance of cultural competency, trauma-informed practices, and sustainability in her work. She addresses the priorities and best practices of intimacy direction, including the need for clear communication and boundaries, and the role of consent and anti-racism in her practice. She also discusses her experiences working with students and her work as a director.Send Dex a text!Be sure to follow and connect with the show on Instagram: @theater_district

Dylan Arredondo has been building an incredibly impressive and varied resume of credits both in front of the footlights and behind the director's table. He's worked with companies from Signature to Chesapeake Shakes to Spooky Action, all of whom no doubt have benefitted from the care and creativity he brings to his craft. Our conversation covers a lot of ground: being a multi-hyphenate artist, learning when to give a note, seeking balance, and the role complicity plays in both the rehearsal process and what we share with an audience. There's a David Ball name drop and a really effective Lego-acting metaphor, too. Send Dex a text!Be sure to follow and connect with the show on Instagram: @theater_district

No corner can contain Navi or their artistry, they’re so well rounded. A manymedia artist, they run the research and development wing of Flying V as an Artistic Lead. They’ve worked with companies big, small, and smaller across the DMV—including Pointless, Spooky Action, Woolly Mammoth, and Mosiac—in lots of different ways, from acting to devising, designing sound to writing music and lyrics, puppeteering to producing. Navi discusses his creative and professional processes, their definition of ‘theater,’ and challenges theater makers to find wonder and create communities. “Baguette!” Send Dex a text!Be sure to follow and connect with the show on Instagram: @theater_district

Alberto Segarra is a lighting designer in the DMV who has probably illuminated almost as many people and places as the sun. He has designed in theaters of all shapes and sizes all over the District, as well as across the country, and won a Helen Hayes Award for his work on The Honey Trap with Solas Nua in 2024. We discuss his creative process, from first reading the script to the long, long hours of teching a show, as well as the differences in working with actors, dancers, and opera singers. He also talks about the past, present, and future of lighting design. Send Dex a text!Be sure to follow and connect with the show on Instagram: @theater_district

Arts journalist Rebecca Ritzel discusses her journey from early childhood storytelling to becoming a first-rate journalist and critic, adept at reviewing a wide range of performing arts as well as investigative and preview articles. A brilliant setter of scenes, Rebecca invites her readers into the theater with her, to experience the work from her point of view. Our conversation includes her perspectives on DEI in arts journalism, her experiences with conflicts of interest and other ethical considerations for arts journalists, and how critics can serve as advocates, witnesses, and memory holders for local arts scenes. We also discuss making and seeing work in DC—including which production Ruth Bader Ginsburg saw four times—and the changes Rebecca has seen over her time in DC. Send Dex a text!Be sure to follow and connect with the show on Instagram: @theater_district

No one has likely welcomed more audience members to DC theaters than Joy Johnson, and certainly no one has done it with more humor, grace, and compassion than Joy. A patron services professional in the District for almost 20 years--first at Shakespeare Theatre and now the Folger Library--she knows what makes a good box office employee, the supportive and risk-taking nature of DC audiences, how gatekeepers need to leverage their positions to better welcome new patrons and artists, and how to remove stage blood from the patron in the 4th row's clothes. Send Dex a text!Be sure to follow and connect with the show on Instagram: @theater_district

Shonali Burke is the Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer at Arena Stage, one of the largest and most prominent theater companies in the District. Trained as an actor and director in her native India, Shonali is today one of the best in the business of understanding and applying analytics. Adept in all things PR and marketing, she discusses content development, how data crunching is a form of listening, measuring and understanding patron relationships, Arena Stage's role in the redevelopment of the Wharf neighborhood, and serving on boards. Send Dex a text!Be sure to follow and connect with the show on Instagram: @theater_district

Kathryn Chase Bryer is a director, dramaturg, teacher, and administrator with a storied career at Imagination Stage, one of the country's largest and most innovative children's theater companies. Theater for Young Audiences has been central to Kate's career, which includes work at Missoula Children's Theatre, Round House's "Street 70" program, and Wolf Trap. At Imagination Stage, she has developed, devised, and directed dozens of plays and worked with generations of talented theater makers. She is also an accomplished director at several DC theaters, including Constellation, Spooky Action, and Next Stop, as well as several area universities. Kate shares the joys, challenges, and opportunities of making TYA, and why Imagination Stage does not make "fuzzy bunny" theater. Send Dex a text!Be sure to follow and connect with the show on Instagram: @theater_district

James J. Johnson has been bringing his blend of charm, poise, and humor to roles across DMV stages for almost 30 years, working at companies such as the African Continuum Theatre, Arena Stage, Imagination Stage, Woolly Mammoth, Theater J, and Keegan. Now making his name as a playwright--with his play, Wannabe, debuting at the 2024 Capital Fringe Festival and Central Time with Mosaic's H Street Oral History Project--he is also an established educator and audiobook narrator. He shares the growth in opportunities for Black artists he's witnessed over his career, how he stays motivated while working on multiple projects at once, his love of standup, and growing up with a community of peer artists. Send Dex a text!Be sure to follow and connect with the show on Instagram: @theater_district

Chani Wereley is one of the most versatile and talented performers in the DMV. After attending Young Artists of America in Maryland and Catholic University in DC, they've racked up an astonishing number and variety of projects, from new musicals to classic plays to her own cabaret triptych, HARD TIMES. Currently starring as Audrey in LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS at Ford's Theatre, Chani is without a doubt an artist whose continued rise will be well worth the watch. She shares her STEM to stage journey, a few of their favorite people, and how to be a flexible and adaptable artist. Send Dex a text!Be sure to follow and connect with the show on Instagram: @theater_district

Danielle Preston is a DC-based costume designer who has worked her way up and all around the DMV theater scene. She has brought her keen eye, steady hand, and agile mind to thought-bold, provoking productions at companies from Avant Bard to Theater J to Washington National Opera. She talks about her early days as a fellow at Kennedy Center and Arena Stage, learning the freelancing life, how designing period and modern shows differs, the intimacies of the fitting room, and how she collaborates with directors and actors in her design process. Send Dex a text!Be sure to follow and connect with the show on Instagram: @theater_district

Aria Velz is a director, dramaturg, sound designer, teaching artist, and an emerging lesbian media critic.  She has worked at a long list of DMV theaters, including Signature Theatre, NextStop Theatre Company, Olney Theatre Center, Imagination Stage, Flying V, Mosaic Theater, and Theater Alliance. Aria is as enthusiastic to watch plays as she is to make them, and we talk about the plays and musicals she loves, how she navigates the hustle of freelancing, her collaborations with her wife--the playwright KJ Moran-Velz--and more. Send Dex a text!Be sure to follow and connect with the show on Instagram: @theater_district

Lizzi Albert and Gerrad Alex Taylor are DMV actors, directors, and educators. Longtime colleagues, they now serve as co-artistic directors of Perisphere Theater, a professional company which "produces plays that examine personal and collective history and the notion of history itself." The two discuss their careers, including tenures at Chesapeake Shakespeare Company, the roles of exploration and boundaries in art and life, and how to sustainably foster creativity and empathy in artists and audiences alike. Send Dex a text!Be sure to follow and connect with the show on Instagram: @theater_district

Nova Y. Payton is one of the DMV's brightest stars. Known for her amazing voice, gracious presence, and serious acting chops, she has worked in theaters across the region, with a special connection with Virginia's Signature Theater, where she has performed in shows such as Into the Woods, The Color Purple, and Dream Girls. A multiple Helen Hayes Award nominee and winner, Payton discusses the importance of family, self-care, and new works, as well as how she brings her best to every new challenge that comes her way. Send Dex a text!Be sure to follow and connect with the show on Instagram: @theater_district

Kate Kenworthy is an actor in Washington, DC. They performed in two of 2023's most acclaimed productions with Rorschach Theatre and Spooky Action Theater, as well as other play readings and projects. They have no shortage of charisma and enthusiasm on stage, and the same goes for off stage. They discuss how they broke into DC theater, the need to be mindful of the projects one takes on, the power of activism through theater, and the importance of maintaining multiple creative pursuits. Send Dex a text!Be sure to follow and connect with the show on Instagram: @theater_district

Zavier Augustus Lee Taylor is a projection designer, artist, and filmmaker based in Washington, DC.  He graduated from UMD-College Park in 2022 with an MFA in Media & Projection Design, and runs the multimedia production and design company ZALT Productions. He shares his thoughts on the differences between New York and DC theater, sustainability efforts in the theater, "conceptual responses images," and the possibilities of digital technology. Send Dex a text!Be sure to follow and connect with the show on Instagram: @theater_district

Jordan Friend is an actor, director, and musician who founded and led the  4615 Theatre Company from 2013 until its closing in 2023. Jordan discusses the company's origins, mission, and operations, as well as provides insights into running a small company and being a multi-faceted artist. Send Dex a text!Be sure to follow and connect with the show on Instagram: @theater_district

Hi! It's Dex! Learn what you need to know about Theater District--a podcast about the people who make Washington, DC one of the best theater cities in the world--in just 30 seconds. Send Dex a text!Be sure to follow and connect with the show on Instagram: @theater_district