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Woolly Mammoth Sets LIGHTS RISE ON GRACE Companion Events

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Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company will be inviting audiences to attend pre- and post-show "House Lights Up" events, curated by Woolly Mammoth's Connectivity Department, that coincide with the fourth production of Woolly's Season 35, Lights Rise on Grace by Chad Beckim, directed by Michael John Garcés.

"I Was Away": Life After Incarceration

Thursday, April 9, following the 8pm performance. Woolly will host a special panel discussion featuring Mission: Launch Inc. and featuring re-entry experts exploring the complex transition from incarceration to reintegration, a time that often creates more questions than answers. After serving time in prison or jail, what is "home?" And how are individuals changed upon return? The event will take place in the theatre, and is free and open to the public.

"I Want To Know You": A Spoken Word After-Party

Friday, April 10, following the 8pm performance. DC-area poets will take to the stage at Woolly Mammoth to riff on the oft-repeated phrase from Lights Rise on Grace: "I want to know you." Hosted by spoken word artist and RealTalkDC Youth Health Educator Dwayne Lawson-Brown, this event features a line-up of intergenerational wordsmiths. The event is free, but space is limited. You can reserve your seats here.

"My Parents Named Me Grace": Asian-American Identity on Stage, Page, and the Silver Screen

Sunday, April 12, following the 2pm performance. Woolly will host a panel exploring the representation of Asian-American identity on stage, on screen, and in society. From flirtatious language lessons to hurtful slurs, how does Grace's story reflect Asian-American experiences navigating interracial relationships, second-generation identity, and enduring stereotypes? The event will take place in the theatre and is free and open to the public.

Lights Rise on Love: A Discussion on Race and Relationships

Wednesday, April 15, following the 8pm performance. Local cultural bloggers and media makers will convene at Woolly, in collaboration with Alorie Clark and The B.E.A.C.O. Blog. They will examine how culture, race, and community affect how and who we love. This event is free and open to the public.

Lights Rise on Sex: An Encounter with Award-Winning Sex Educator Twanna A. Hines


Thursday, April 16 following the 8pm performance. Interracial relationships. Threesome love triangles. This play is just too juicy to leave before enjoying a brief post-show chat with award-winning educator and sex columnist Twanna A. Hines. The event is free and open to the public

"What is it with Black People and Candy?": A Storytelling Experience and Guided Reflection

Friday, April 17 at 6:30pm. In a three-story movement about sex, identity and family, artist Sheldon Scott shares his experiences as a black gay man journeying from rural roots to urban enclaves, navigating the collision of worlds not designed to meet. Then, join Clarence J. Fluker in an interactive session that connects the conversation to Lights Rise on Grace and our own lives. The event is free, but space is limited. You can reserve your seats here.

More information on each of these events can be found by visiting Woolly's website or by calling the Box Office at 202-393-3939. Tickets to Lights Rise on Grace, which runs from March 30 to April 26, can be purchased through Woolly's online ticket service or by calling the Box Office.

Theater Fans' Choice Awards
2026 Theater Fans' Choice Awards - Live Stats
Best Scenic Design - Top 3
1. Dane Laffrey - The Lost Boys
37.8% of votes
2. Soutra Gilmour - Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)
13.1% of votes
3. Scott Pask - Schmigadoon!
11.1% of votes

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