Theater Alliance introduced on April fifteenth that it was parting methods with Anacostia Playhouse, the constructing wherein Theater Alliance has been a resident firm for the previous twelve years. The information was despatched to e-mail subscribers and to the press however doesn’t but seem on Theater Alliance’s web site. It is a breaking information story and DC Theater Arts shall be reaching out to all events for extra data within the coming days. The press launch despatched out by Theater Alliance reads as follows:
“Theater Alliance is heartbroken to announce that after 12 years because the skilled firm in residence, we have now been compelled out of the Anacostia Playhouse.
In February, Theater Alliance found, by way of a posted eviction discover on the door, that the Anacostia Playhouse had not paid any hire to the property proprietor from October 2023 to January 2024. Throughout this time, Theater Alliance had continued paying our month-to-month hire–which constitutes nearly all of the month-to-month hire fee for the constructing–to the DC Theatre Arts Collaborative, d.b.a. The Anacostia Playhouse. The Anacostia Playhouse neither notified Theater Alliance of its failure to pay hire, nor did it use the funds paid by Theater Alliance for the meant function.
Theater Alliance then found that Anacostia Playhouse had no authorized authority to enter right into a sublease with Theater Alliance in any respect; the lease that the Playhouse holds with the property proprietor expressly forbids exactly this type of long-term sublease. And other than the authorized rights that Anacostia Playhouse offered however by no means delivered, we realized that Anacostia Playhouse was purporting to lease and encourage using a property with out permits for security, enhancements, and occupancy. On discover of the illegal sublease, the proprietor of the property declared it void and unenforceable, however years of well timed hire funds and investments by Theater Alliance. The end result was substantial legal responsibility imposed on Theater Alliance by Anacostia Playhouse’s misconduct.
.The Anacostia Playhouse’s lack of transparency has drastically betrayed and broken the belief we had put in that group unquestioningly over time. Anacostia Playhouse’s years-long malfeasance has uncovered Theater Alliance, in addition to its workers, artists, and property, to materials dangers, together with disputes associated to our insurance coverage insurance policies in reference to a repudiated and unenforceable lease settlement.
Regardless of our shock at studying about this grave mismanagement and betrayal of belief, we made each effort to resolve the difficulty by way of discussions between the organizations’ respective boards, together with a proposal for Theater Alliance to take over accountability for the administration actions Anacostia Playhouse had did not deal with. Nonetheless, on the night of April tenth, Anacostia Playhouse knowledgeable us of its choice to stop additional talks, to totally and at last terminate our relationship, and requested removing of all Theater Alliance property, whereas inviting a “easy transition.” Anacostia Playhouse then rescinded that invitation instantly, when it seized all of Theater Alliance’s property, locked us out, and prevented our workers from accessing even their very own private belongings. Sadly, such conduct solely reinforces that, underneath the present management, a future with Anacostia Playhouse is unattainable.
We’ll hold our group knowledgeable as we navigate this transition. We’ve constructed a legacy of labor in Anacostia for greater than a decade; we’re devoted to our group and our residence theater in Ward 8. We might cherish the chance to return to our group in a devoted area, however till then, we’re dedicated to discovering a brand new residence the place we are able to proceed our mission to provide high-quality, socially aware theater for all.
We welcome your concepts, strategies, and assist as we deal with discovering a brand new residence. You may attain us at data@theateralliance.com and we look ahead to listening to from you.
Theater Alliance will proceed to thrive. We’re sturdy, agile, and unified as we glance in direction of the long run. We shall be sending common updates by way of e-mail as we navigate this transition, and we hope to have extra to share with you quickly.”
It is a breaking information story. DCTA has reached out to Anacostia Playhouse for feedback.
