NEW PLAY DEVELOPMENT
Mosaic Theater is dedicated to providing a platform for emerging and established playwrights to develop new work in a supportive and artistically rigorous environment. Through our incubator program, the Catalyst Series, we welcome the public into the room to experience new works as they’re being refined and created.
Trish Vradenburg New Play Commission—Paige hernandez
The latest recipient of this special commission, inaugural Victor Shargai Leadership Award winner Paige Hernandez will bring her unique artistry to Mosaic in 2025. In partnership with the Kennedy Center’s Local Theater Residency program, the acclaimed DC-based playwright, performer, and director will develop and share her latest theatrical piece which blends music and movement together with original narrative to create a wholly unique story about the power of language. The Trish Vradenburg New Play Commission Program is generously underwritten by the Vradenburg Foundation.
Community-Engaged Theater Fund
Building on the success of the H Street Oral History Project, Mosaic is launching the Community-Engaged Theater Fund to support the ongoing development of new work that allows artists and community members to creatively collaborate in innovative ways. Led by Mosaic’s Mellon Foundation Playwright-in-Residence Psalmayene 24, fund-supported projects will feature local and national artists working directly with DC residents to create theater that furthers conversations on social justice, racial diversity, and the importance of community.
The Community-Engaged Theater Fund is supported by the Capitol Hill Community Foundation, Eugene M. Lang Foundation and Ken Grossinger & Micheline Klagsbrun.
MEXODUS
WINNER OF THREE 2025 HELEN HAYES AWARDS, INCLUDING MUSICAL!
“Mexodus is a show we wrote during the height of the pandemic shutdown. We wrote it during America’s racial reckoning. We came together to write a show in uncertain times. We hope people leave with the hope of possibility of what happens when we stand in solidarity”
–Brian Quijada (Co-Creator)
“We’re living in a time of intense and deliberate division. Power structures know the danger of solidarity so they will stop at nothing to make sure we don’t know our collective history. With Mexodus, we hope to shed light on a little known and very specific moment of Black and Brown solidarity with the hope that it will make us realize that we have always been fighting against the same white supremacy side by side. I hope this piece will help bring us together and one step closer to collective liberation. No one is free until everyone is free.”
–Nygel D. Robinson (Co-Creator)
REFLECTIONS ON HOME
June 8-15, 2024
Join us for events including Mexodus performances, a storytelling with KAMA DC, and a discussion with alumni of the Dream Project.
Reflections on Home offers audiences diverse perspectives on what it means to be an American today and deepens Mosaic’s commitment to building cross-cultural connection through theater.
Reflections on Home is sponsored by The National Endowment for the Arts and Mosaic Partners Circle Activists Ed Grossman & Rochelle Stanfield and Advocates Elaine Reuben (of blessed memory) and Julie & David Zalkind.
Helen Hayes Awards and Nominations
Past new play events from the 2023-2024 Season
March 16, 2024
CENTRAL TIME
By James Johnson
Directed by Angelisa Gillyard
March 16, 2024
Smoke
By Lady Dane Figueroa Edidi
Directed by Psalmayene 24
March 17, 2024
George on H
By Gethsemane Herron
Directed by Eric Ruffin
February 24, 2024
The high school play reading contest
Past new play events from the 2022-2023 Season
May 6 and 7, 2023
MURDERED MEN DO BLEED AND DRIP
By Jennifer Barclay and Hannah Khalil
Directed by Jim Culleton and Jared Mezzocchi
Developed in partnership with DC’s Solas Nua New Irish Arts and Dublin-based Fishamble Theatre Company
January 22, 2023
Panel Discussion
Artists-in-Conversation: Reflections on Craft and Creativity
January 21, 2023
THE INVENTION OF SEEDS
By Annalisa Dias
Directed by Natsu Onoda Power
January 22, 2023
Between/Time: A Baltimore Cycle Play
By Lady Dane Figueroa Edidi
Directed by Danielle Drakes
January 21, 2023
PLAYWRITING CONTEST READING
January 19 and 20, 2023
MAX & WILLY’S LAST LAUGH
By Jake Broder and Conor Duffy
Directed by Tony Award-nominee Sheryl Kaller
December 10 and 11, 2022
Mexodus
By Brian Quijada and Nygel D. Robinson
Directed by David Mendizábal
August 20, 2022
MONUMENTAL TRAVESTIES
By Andrew W. Mellon Playwright-in-Residence Psalmayene 24
Directed by Angelisa Gillyard
October 4 - November 20, 2022
THAT SUMMER IN SUMNER
By Ifa Bayeza
Directed by Talvin Wilks
Past World & American Premieres
Past Workshops & Readings
Mosaic advances the creation of new works by conducting week-long workshops with playwrights, actors, dramaturgs for scripts in development. Mosaic also connects playwrights with actors to present public readings of vital works in progress, and inviting audience feedback.
2021 - 2022
Monumental Travesties
By Andrew W. Mellon Playwright-in-Residence Psalmayene 24 | Directed by Angelisa Gillyard
August 2022
My Father, My Martyr, and Me
By Fargo Tbakhi | Directed by Danielle Drakes
January 2022
Singing My Peace
By Alma Davenport | Directed by Sandi Holloway
Summer 2022
Partially based on the autobiography of performer Roz White
(Vradenburg Commission)
Dainty
By Agyeiwaa Asante | Directed by Kristolyn Lloyd
December 2022
(Vradenburg Commission)
2019-2020
I Was There
By Motti Lerner | Directed by Derek Goldman
2/10/20
Bereaved
By Joshua Sobol | Directed by KenYatta Rogers
2/3/20
No Desert Roses
By Laila Soliman | Directed by Noelle Ghoussaini
1/27/20
Nathan the Wise
Adapted and directed by Michael Bloom | From the original by Gotthold Ephraim
1/13/20
For My Silent Sisters
By Tara Meddaugh | Directed by Chelsea Radigan
12/2/19
2018-2019
The Shooting Gallery
Written and Performed by Aaron Davidman | Directed by Michael John Garcés
4/13/19; 4/28/19
The Scream and The Silence
by Motti Lerner | Directed by Derek Goldman
1/14/19
A Moving Picture
Written by Jennie Berman Eng | Directed by Kate Bryer
11/19/18
East of the River
Book, Music, and Lyrics by Star Johnson | Directed by Jennifer L. Nelson in Partnership with Anacostia Musical Theatre Lab
9/24/18
Vradenburg Commission
2017-2018
To Kill A King
Written by Joshua Ford | Directed by KenYatta Rogers
5/12/18
Yoga Play
by Dipika Guha | Directed by Jennifer L. Nelson
1/29/18
Native Son
by Nambi E. Kelley from the novel by Richard Wright | Directed by Psalmayene 24
9/25/17
2016-2017
Seeing Double
By Joan Holden, Sinai Peter, Henri Picciotto, Emily Shihadeh | Directed by Hanna Eady
6/6/17
Ism: A Tragicomedy
By Anu Yadav | Directed by Paige Hernandez
2/6/17-2/7/17
Quid Pro Quo
By Garrett Zuercher | Directed by James Caverly
11/14/16; 11/20/16
The Black Jew Thing
By Stacey Rose and Alexis Spiegel | Directed by Logan Vaughn
9/25/16-9/26/16
Hooded, Or Being Black for Dummies
Written by Tearrance Arvelle Chisholm | Directed by Serge Seiden
9/12/16 (1 night only)
2015-2016
Imagining Heschel
Written by Colin Greer | Directed by Lila Rachel Becker
4/20/16
The Place We Built
Written by Sarah Gancher | Directed by Eleanor Holdridge
10/19/15
Run Home
Written by Jennifer L. Nelson | Directed by Patrick Pearson
10/12/15
After the War
Written by Motti Lerner | Directed by Ari Roth
9/7/15