Tanya is a Black mother determined to break her son, Eric, out of death row — or die trying. She’ll need guns, to get her hair done, and to f*ck some people up. As time ticks towards the fateful date of Eric’s execution (and birthday), the play explodes into a collision of the hilarious and tragic. In this world premiere, playwright Dave Harris harnesses the storytelling techniques of comic books and video games to explore the complexities of generational trauma and daring heroism with his singular, satirical style.

Are we doomed to repeat the mistakes of our parents? Through a series of absurd autobiographical vignettes, Aya Ogawa’s THE NOSEBLEED delves into the sh*t show of parenthood, as both a parent and a child – and what it takes to forgive. A trip to their home country of Japan, a child’s nosebleed, and the hit reality TV show The Bachelor come together in this “wackily funny, psychologically insightful” (The New York Times) theatrical tribute to Ogawa’s father, with surprises like a healing ritual for the audience and a transcendent appearance by a 20th century icon.

When Forbes Magazine declares Kylie Jenner a “self-made” billionaire, Cleo takes to Twitter to call out white women who co-opt and profit from Black culture. Soon online discourse spills into reality, blurring the tenuous lines between internet personas and who we are IRL. On the internet, actions don’t always speak louder than words.

JUST FOR US takes the audience through hilarious anecdotes from Alex Edelman’s life — his Olympian brother AJ, an unconventional holiday season, and a gorilla that can do sign language — but at its center is an astonishing and frighteningly relevant story. After a string of anti-Semitic abuse is directed at Edelman online, he decides to covertly attend a gathering of White Nationalists in New York City and comes face–to–face with the people behind the keyboards. The result is a hair-raising encounter that gives JUST FOR US its title and final, jaw-dropping moments.

BREAKING NEWS: It’s the final boarding call for African American Airlines’ Flight 1619 to Africa, and every Black person in the United States gets a free ticket. In a kaleidoscope of scenes capturing the moments surrounding this outrageous departure, Jordan E. Cooper’s vibrant, no-holds-barred comedy examines the lives of Black Americans in the aftermath of the election of a Black president – and hurtling toward the point of no return. AIN’T NO MO’ is “…thrilling, bewildering, campy, shrewd, mortifying, scary, devastating, and deep” (The New York Times).

Casting Update | Crew Insert

Last seen at THEARC in the cast of HOMEGROWN, O-Slice is back and bolder than ever with 19. A dazzling new multimedia experience fusing theatre and live concert, 19 uses poetry, music, storytelling, and verse to tell the coming-of-age story of a Nigerian-American artist on the rise.

Lola and T met years ago in a support group for sexual abuse survivors. They’ve made a pact… and the deadline is coming at them fast. So tonight, they decide to take matters into their own hands by plotting to exact revenge on anyone who has ever f–ked with them. Spend the night with two fractured souls who let loose their fury in this fearless adventure. Paola Lázaro’s new work takes an unflinching look at confronting trauma, and how the bonds with our chosen family can carry us through.

Join Ryan, a gay man with both a high sex drive and cerebral palsy on a journey through gay bars, hookups, and lots of margaritas in search of romance.

The 2020 Pulitzer Prize-winner about a Black, queer writer writing his original musical… about a Black, queer writer writing his original musical.

A modern, darkly comic re-telling of Shakespeare’s RICHARD III set in the most treacherous of places – high school.

Reading

HOMEGROWN, a collaborative performance project, brings local legends of DC’s spoken word scene together with Ward 7 and Ward 8 residents.