That's right, Theater Alliance's Artistic Director Paul Douglas Michnewicz is returning to the boards! He informed the Board of Directors in late summer of his plans to concentrate on expanding his acting and freelance directing opportunities and so has stepped down from his position as Artistic Director. Our loss has been DC Theater scene's gain as he has been busy, busy already! He's been cast in First Stage's upcoming production of Holiday, and was already producing the National Heritage Awards for the NEA out at Strathmore (this Friday and free!). He continues his work teaching acting at the University of Maryland Opera Studio and Theatre Lab, as well as his long-standing association with VSA.
BUT despite all that activity he has agreed to let Theater Alliance gather together his friends and fans to toast not just to his many past successes at Theater Alliance but his to future plans as well. That "Toast to PD" will be Saturday October, 16 as a special highlight of our ART4Art Gala at hip and funky Gallery OonH. We'll all have a chance to remember some of the highlights of PD's work with Theater Alliance and some of the funny moments, too. (Got a favorite memory or story? a great picture or vid? Want to speak? Let us know!! or post them on our Facebook fanpage. Tickets for the party are just $85 and can be ordered at www.theateralliance.com. Those who want to be sure to take home a piece of original art can pay $150 and start checking the online catalogue for their favorite pieces at www.art4art.squarespace.com We'll have music, great food from The Argonaut, Dangerously Delicious Pies and Star & Shamrock plus nice champagne to toast PD with. AND if you haven't been to Gallery OonH, yet, you'll have a blast checking out the fun and funky art and music incubator space and the awesome next door outdoor space that Steve Hessler and Dolly Vehlow have created there at 1354 H Street, NE
Of course, PD would never leave us high and dry. He left us some GREAT plans for the next season, no deficit (hurray!) and grants applications in the hopper. That PD Season should start off with a reprise of last year's popular holiday show, Black Nativity, again directed by Stephawn Stephens. We're taking ticket orders now for shows on December 9 through January 2. We'll hope to follow with a full production of Driving Miss Daisy, an acapella musical and other shows-depending on the success of our fundraising efforts.See you at the "Arty-PARTY!"Tickets are available on line at www.theaterallaince.com.
