Carla Hall Will Lead One-Woman Show PLEASE UNDERESTIMATE ME at Olney Theatre
Lili-Anne Brown directs the world premiere at Olney's Mulitz-Gudelsky Theatre Lab
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Please Underestimate Me, the new one-woman show starring TV personality, author, chef, and restaurateur Carla Hall in her first professional stage role, will have its World Premiere at Olney Theatre Center in the Mulitz-Gudelsky Theatre Lab (June 3 - July 24, 2026). Directed by Lili-Anne Brown (Fela!), Hall co-wrote the autobiographical script with Lori Kaye and Leslie Thomas, which was developed at Olney Theatre as part of its Vanguard Arts Fund.
Jason Loewith, Olney Theatre Center's Artistic Director, says, “DC resident and national hero Carla Hall has been a frequent audience member at Olney Theatre. So when I read a profile of her in the New York Times in which she said she was working on a one-woman show, I immediately called her and said, “let's workshop this right now!” When Carla showed up to the first rehearsal with fresh biscuits and homemade jam, I knew this was going to be more than special. And pairing her with Helen Hayes award-winning director Lili-Anne Brown is the (forgive me) cherry on top.”
Director Lili-Anne Brown returns to Olney Theatre after helming the 2023 production of Fela! which won Helen Hayes Awards for both Outstanding Direction and Outstanding Production of a Musical. Along with Brown, the creative team includes Lauren M. Nichols (Set Design), Harold Burgess (Lighting Design), Paris Francesca (Costume Design), Willow James (Sound Design), and Kelly Colburn (Projections Design). Erika L. Placencia is the Production Stage Manager.
Bridging the food and theatre worlds, Honorary Producers for the production include Chef Eric Adjepong, of FoodNetwork's “Wildcard Kitchen,” author, restaurateur, and TV personality Chef Spike Mendelsohn, food and wine publisher Nycci Nellis, Emmy-nominated journalist and producer Erin Como, and Nina Oduro, Co-founder of Black Women in Food.
ABOUT THE SHOW
Award-winning chef, best-selling author, and beloved TV personality, Carla Hall, is at the top of her game. But getting there was no picnic. In this theatrical one-woman show, Carla Hall invites you to “strap in” for a wild, hilarious, and emotional ride as she reveals how she learned to embrace her own authenticity, “work her quirk” and finally step into her power. From her Tennessee roots as an awkward theater camp kid, to Howard University, to a stint on the runways of Paris, to her irreverent takes on the confusing expectations of Black excellence, crushing sexism, and the many attempts to erase her uniqueness, Carla has had to battle every step of the way to find her true voice -- and wait till you hear it. In this insightful and inspiring World Premiere, Carla reveals the secret ingredients to her greatest creation: herself. This intimate exchange will leave audiences laughing, thinking, feeling and… maybe even discovering a little of their own power in simply being themselves.
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