Press Room
Washington Shakespeare Company Gets a New Space - Finally
Arlington, VA - On July 14 th , the Arlington County Board approved the creation of a cultural arts center in the space formerly occupied by the Newseum in Rosslyn, VA. Arts Space for Everyone (ASE) will include a ballroom, a WiFi town square, a Busboys and Poets, a gallery, and Washington Shakespeare Company (WSC) as the resident theater in the center's black box.
For the past several years, WSC has been on the brink of losing its warehouse location, Clark Street Playhouse, in Crystal City, VA due to redevelopment. "Year after year I kept telling people we would be moving out; and when it never happened, it began to sound like a joke," says Christopher Henley, WSC's Artistic Director. "Although Clark Street is a wonderful space," continues Managing Director Karen J. Sugrue, "it's approaching the end of its useful life, and we need a change."
That change will be a new state-of-the-art facility at ASE. ASE will also provide greater visibility for the metro area's cutting-edge classical theater company and present more opportunities for collaboration with other arts groups. "I couldn't be more thrilled about the organization's future with ASE," Henley reiterates.
However, the move to a new venue will come with a price. WSC needs to raise at least $300,000 in capacity building and capital expenditures to meet the demands of running the black box. "Although the task of raising that amount of money is daunting for such a small theater company, I am confident area residents, businesses, and foundations, which have been so generous to arts institutions in the past will step up to support WSC," says Warren Arbogast who was recently named the Executive Director of the Company. Therefore, WSC is launching a capital campaign to raise at least $300,000 by July 1 st , 2010. "The figure may be large," states Board President Marc Okrand, "but it's a small amount in comparison to the money needed by other area companies that have built or renovated new theater spaces in the area."
"Clark Street has been our home for fourteen years," says Henley, "and we will miss it. But ASE will give Washington Shakespeare Company--literally--a new lease on life."
To make a donation to WSC's capital campaign, checks can be made payable to Washington Shakespeare Company and mailed to Washington Shakespeare Company, 601 S. Clark Street, Arlington, VA 22202 or go to the website www.boxofficetickets.com/wsc . Also, be sure to catch WSC's upcoming show, Camille: A Tearjerker , at Clark Street Playhouse (while it still stands.) Camille opens August 27 th and runs through Sept 27th . For more information on WSC go to www.washingtonshakespeare.org.
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About Washington Shakespeare Company
Now approaching in its 20th season, Washington Shakespeare Company (WSC) is a cutting-edge non-profit classical theater company based in Arlington, Virginia. WSC provides affordable access to the masterworks of drama while opening doors to local emerging talent .
2009/2010 Season
Camille
A Tearjerker
By Charles Ludlam
Aug 27 - Sept 27, 2009
Lulu
By Frank Wedekind
adapted by Nicholas Wright
Nov 12 - Dec 13, 2009
The Miser
By Moliere'
adapted by David Ball
Jan 28 - Feb 28, 2010
Every Young Woman's Desire
By Marco Antonio de la Parra
English Language World Premiere Translation by Charles Philip Thomas.
May 20 - Jun 20, 2010
WSC's Clark Street Playhouse
601 S. Clark St.,
Crystal City (Arlington), VA 22202 (Directions)