Constellation Theatre Company
Constellation Theatre Company is a non-profit theater company located in Washington, D.C., performing at the Source Theatre, a black box theatre.[1] Since its founding in 2007, Constellation has received several Helen Hayes Awards, including the John Aniello Award for Outstanding Emerging Theatre Company in 2009.[2]
 Constellation Theatre Company Logo | |
| Formation | 2007 |
|---|---|
| Type | Theatre group |
| Location |
|
Artistic director(s) | Allison Arkell Stockman (Founding Artistic Director) |
| Website | http://www.constellationtheatre.org/ |
Artistic leadership
Constellation Theatre Company's founding artistic director is Allison Arkell Stockman. Stockman was a freelance director in Washington, D.C. and New York City. In 2006, she quit her job as a teacher, and started the theater company in 2007.[3]
A.J. Guban has been managing director since the founding of Constellation. He has received eight Helen Hayes Nominations for scenic and lighting design: Outstanding Lighting Design for The Wild Party and Avenue Q, 36 Views; and Outstanding Set Design for The Little Shop of Horrors, The Caucasian Chalk Circle, The Arabian Nights, Journey to the West, and 36 Views.
Productions
Current productions
- 2018–2019 Season: Epic Love
- Melancholy Play: A Contemporary Farce by Sarah Ruhl
- Aida with music by Elton John, lyrics by Tim Rice, and book by Linda Woolverton, Robert Falls, and David Henry Hwang
- The Master and Margarita adapted by Edward Kemp
- The White Snake by Mary Zimmerman, based on the Chinese legend of the white snake
Production history
- 2017–2018 Season: Survival Instincts
- The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, the silent film with live music by Tom Teasley
- The Wild Party with book, lyrics, and music by Andrew Lippa
- The Skin of Our Teeth by Thornton Wilder
- The Caucasian Chalk Circle by Bertolt Brecht
- 2016–2017 Season
- Metropolis, the silent film with live music by Tom Teasley
- Urinetown music and lyrics by Mark Hollmann, book and lyrics by Greg Kotis
- Peter and the Starcatcher by Rick Elice
- The Arabian Nights by Mary Zimmerman
- 2015–2016 Season: Playtime for Grownups[4]
- 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
- 2014–2015 Season
- Right You Are (if you think so) by Luigi Pirandello, adapted by Martin Sherman
- The Lieutenant of Inishmore by Martin McDonagh
- The Fire and the Rain, by Girish Karnad and drawn from The Mahabharata
- 2013–2014 Season
- 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
- 2012–2013 Season
- Taking Steps by Alan Ayckbourn
- Zorro* by Janet Allard and Eleanor Holdridge
- Gilgamesh, Poetry by Yusef Komunyakaa, concept & dramaturgy by Chad Gracia
- * world premier
- 2011–2012 Season
- 2010–2011 Season
- 2009–2010 Season
- 2008–2009 Season
- Temptation
- The Marriage of Figaro
- Crazyface
- 2007–2008 Season
- A Dream Play by August Strindberg adapted by Caryl Churchill[5]
- The Arabian Nights by Mary Zimmerman[6]
- The Good Woman of Setzuan[7]
- The Oresteia
Grants
In September 2013, the American Theatre Wing (the founder of the Tony Awards) awarded a National Theatre Company Grant to Constellation Theatre.[8] 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".[9]
Awards
In 2009, Constellation received the John Aniello Award for Outstanding Emerging Theatre Company.
Constellation has received 81 Helen Hayes Nominations and has won 17. All six of Constellation’s eligible productions from the past two years have been nominated.
Outstanding Production in a Musical
Little Shop of Horrors, 2020
The Wild Party, 2018
Urinetown, 2017
Avenue Q, 2016 - Won
Outstanding Production in a Play
Melancholy Play: A Contemporary Farce, 2019 - Won
Equus, 2017
Outstanding Direction in a Musical
Nick Martin, Little Shop of Horrors, 2020
Allison Arkell Stockman, The Wild Party, 2018
Allison Arkell Stockman, Urinetown, 2017
Allison Arkell Stockman, Avenue Q, 2016 - Won
Outstanding Direction in a Play
Nick Martin, Melancholy Play: A Contemporary Farce, 2019 - Won
Outstanding Choreography in a Musical
Ilona Kessell, Little Shop of Horrors, 2020
Ilona Kessell, The Wild Party, 2018
Ilona Kessell, Urinetown, 2017
Rachel Leigh Dolan, Avenue Q, 2016
Outstanding Musical Direction
Walter "Bobby" McCoy, Little Shop of Horrors, 2020
Walter "Bobby" McCoy, Aida, 2019
Walter "Bobby" McCoy, The Wild Party, 2018
Jake Null, Urinetown, 2017
Jake Null, Avenue Q, 2016 - Won
Outstanding Costume Design
Frank Labovitz, Little Shop of Horrors, 2020
Kelsey Hunt, The Caucasian Chalk Circle, 2019
Erik Teague, The Arabian Nights, 2018
Erik Teague, The Wild Party, 2018
Kendra Rai, Journey to the West, 2017
Kara Waala, Avenue Q, 2016
Kendra Rai, The Green Bird, 2012 - Won
Outstanding Set Design
A.J. Guban, The Little Shop of Horrors, 2020
A.J. Guban, The Caucasian Chalk Circle, 2019
A.J. Guban, The Arabian Nights, 2018
Tony Cisek, The Wild Party, 2018
A.J. Guban, Journey to the West, 2017
A.J. Guban, 36 Views, 2014
Outstanding Lighting Design
A.J. Guban, The Wild Party, 2018
Colin K. Bills, Journey to the West, 2017
A.J. Guban, Avenue Q, 2016
A.J. Guban, 36 Views, 2014
Outstanding Sound Design
Tom Teasley & Chao Tian, The White Snake, 2020
Gordon Nimmo-Smith, Matthew Schleigh, Brian Lotter,The Caucasian Chalk Circle, 2019
Tom Teasley, The Arabian Nights, 2018
Justin Schmitz, The Wild Party, 2018
Palmer Hefferan, Equus, 2017
Tom Teasley, Journey to the West, 2017 - Won
Tom Teasley, The Fire and The Rain, 2016
Tom Teasley, The Love of the Nightingale, 2015
Tom Teasley, The Green Bird, 2012 - Won
Tom Teasley, The Ramayana, 2011 - Won
Tom Teasley, Crazyface, 2010 - Won
Outstanding Ensemble in a Musical
Little Shop of Horrors, 2020
The Wild Party, 2018
Avenue Q, 2016 - Won
Outstanding Ensemble in a Play
Melancholy Play: A Contemporary Farce, 2019
Peter and the Starcatcher, 2018 - Won
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical
Shayla S. Simmons, Aida, 2019
Katy Carkuff, Avenue Q, 2016 - Won
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical
Christian Montgomery, Little Shop of Horrors, 2020
Jimmy Mavrikes, The Wild Party, 2018
Matt Dewberry, Avenue Q, 2016
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical
Alana Thomas, Little Shop of Horrors, 2020
Chani Wereley, Little Shop of Horrors, 2020
Kari Ginsburg, The Wild Party, 2018 - Won
Jenna Berk, Urinetown, 2017
Emily Zickler, Avenue Q, 2016 - Won
Jenna Berk, Avenue Q, 2016
Justine "Icy" Moral, Avenue Q, 2016
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical
Marty Austin Lamar, Little Shop of Horrors, 2020
Da'Von Moody, Aida, 2019
Matt Dewberry, Urinetown, 2017
Vaughn Ryan Midder, Avenue Q, 2016 - Won
Mikey Cafarelli, Avenue Q, 2016
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play
Tonya Beckman, The Skin of Our Teeth, 2019
Billie Krishawn, Melancholy Play: A Contemporary Farce, 2019
Megan Graves, Peter and the Starcatcher, 2018
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play
Scott Ward Abernethy, The Caucasian Chalk Circle, 2019
Dallas Tolentino, Journey to the West, 2017
Matthew Aldwin McGee, Taking Steps, 2013 - Won
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Play Justine "Icy" Moral, Journey to the West, 2017
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Play
Jordan Campbell, Peter and the Starcatcher, 2018
Matt Dewberry, Peter and the Starcatcher, 2018
Alex Vernon, Peter and the Starcatcher, 2018
Ryan Tumulty, Journey to the West, 2017
Outstanding Choreography in a PlayCasey Kaleba, Matthew R. Wilson, The Lieutenant of Inishmore, 2016
The Constellation Theatre Company was nominated for the following Audience Choice Awards
- 2008 Crazyface (Favorite Ensemble)[10]
- 2009 Three Sisters (Favorite Plays, Favorite Actress in a Play)[11]
- 2013 Taking Steps (Best Play, Best Actor in a Play), Zorro (Best Ensemble Cast, Best Actor in a Play) [12]
Costume Designer Kendra Rai was awarded a 2014 Princess Grace Foundation honorarium to be used for the company's 2014–2015 season costumes[13]
References
- "Source Rental". Cultural D.C. Archived from the original on 1 November 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
- "Helen Hayes Awards: The John Aniello Award for Outstanding Emerging Theatre Company". www.abouttheartists.com. Retrieved 2023-03-22.
- Jacobson, Louis (7 March 2012). "The D.C. theater scene". The Princeton Alumni Weekly. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
- Playtime for Grownups – 2015–2016 Season Mailing. Constellation Theatre Company. July 2015.
- Treanor, Lorraine (21 June 2007). "A Dream Play". DCtheatrescene.com. Retrieved 7 May 2013.
- Pressley, Nelson (6 October 2007). "Constellation Sparkles In 'Arabian Nights'". The Washington Post. Retrieved 7 May 2013.
- Horwitz, Jane (April 9, 2008). "Bertolt Brecht's Human Touch Constellation's 'Good Woman of Setzuan' Isn't About Isms". The Washington Post. Retrieved 26 August 2013.
- "AMERICAN THEATRE WING ANNOUNCES RECIPIENTS OF 2013 NATIONAL THEATRE COMPANY GRANTS". StageLight Magazine. 2013-09-03. Retrieved 2017-12-01.
- "American Theatre Wing Reveals Recipients of 2013 National Theatre Company Grants". broadwayworld.com. 3 September 2013. Retrieved 5 September 2013.
- Treanor, Loraine (2009-09-20). "Audience Choice Awards – 2008/09 Season". dctheatrescene.com. Retrieved 26 August 2013.
- Treanor, Lorraine (2010-08-26). "Voting ends tonight for Audience Choice Awards". dctheatrescene. Retrieved 26 August 2013.
- Treanor, Lorraine (2013-08-08). "Audience Choice Awards 2012–2013". DC Theatre Scene. Retrieved 26 August 2013.
- "Theater Honoraria: Kendra Rai". pgfusa.com. Princess Grace Foundation-USA. Retrieved 21 August 2014.