WASHINGTON, D.C.: Mosaic Theater Company of D.C. has announced its 2018-19 season, featuring eight productions.
“The process of choosing Mosaic’s fourth season was the most inclusive and comprehensive in our brief but intense history,” said founding artistic director Ari Roth in a statement. “That befits a company dedicated more, now more than ever, to forging a Fusion Community in its audience and living out the values of inclusion, diversity, equity and access, onstage and off. Thematically, we’re spending a little more time in the past—not to turn away from the polarizing present, but to draw sustenance, example, and inspiration from history to meet our challenging moment. We are effectively saying: ‘This is how it’s been done; this is how we fight; this is how we overcome.’”
The season will start with Marie and Rosetta (Aug. 23-Sept. 30), by George Brant, about the first rehearsal with legendary Rosetta Tharpe and the young Marie Knight that launched a partnership between the musical duo. Roz White will portray Rosetta Tharpe, and Sandra L. Holloway will direct.
Next up will be Mat Smart’s The Agitators (Oct. 24-Nov. 25), about the 45-year friendship and occasional rivalry between Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglas.
Following will be Oh, God (Dec. 12-Jan. 6, 2019), by Anat Gov, as part of the Voices from a Changing Middle East Festival Part One: The Persistence of Light. The comedy follows a psychotherapist, a single mother of an autistic child, whose new patient is God. The cast will feature Mitchell Hébert and Kimberly Schraf, and Michael Bloom will direct.
The season will continue with Shame With Comments From The Populace) (Jan. 16-Feb. 10, 2019), adapted by Roth from Einat Weizman and Morad Hassan. The play—which will be presented as part of the Voices from a Changing Middle East Festival Part Two: Independent Theatre Under Seige—is a documentary portrait about the precariousness of Israeli and Palestinian cross-collaborations, as told through two actors who worked on the embattled world premiere of The Return in Haifia.
Next will be Native Son (March 27-April 28, 2019), by Nambi E. Kelley, based on Richard Wright’s novel about a 20-year-old black man growing up in the South Side of Chicago in the 1930s. Psalmayene 24 will direct.
Running in repertory will be the world premiere of The Peacemaker: A Play About Guns in America (March 27-April 28, 2019), written and performed by Aaron Davidman, about various people across the country and their perspective on the divisive issue of guns. Michael John Garcés will direct.
Following will be Sooner/Later (May 15-June 16, 2019), by Allyson Currin, a comedy about a teenage daughter helping her reluctant single mother re-enter the dating scene.
The final production of the season will be announced at a later date.
Also part of the programming will be a workshop series tied to the themes of the mainstage productions, which will include the commission of My Notes on Baldwin’s Notes of a Native Son, a two-performance workshop by Psalmayene 24. The series will also include Twice Bereaved by Joshua Sobol, and Eyes: A Theatrical Performance Based on Poems of Mahmoud Darwish as part of the Voices from a Changing Middle East Festival.
Founded in 2014, Mosaic Theater Company of D.C. is dedicated to producing socially-relevant works.
