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Theater Alliance Participates in Arena Stage's New Affiliate Program "One or two years ago I began thinking about DC's amazing theater culture," said Smith. "I feel it's important for Arena, as one of the larger theaters, to give back to the community by assisting emerging organizations. I was interested in Theater Alliance because I think they're primed to go to the next level, and we want to support them through their challenges." Theater Alliance formed in 1993, and moved from its home at the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop to the H Street Playhouse in 2002, becoming the Playhouse's sole theater-in-residence. The program includes regular meetings between both theaters' leadership teams to discuss institutional development, supply infrastructure support including external affairs efforts, plan joint promotional events, and provide Theater Alliance with opportunities to actively participate in Arena Stage's season. Through the project so far, Arena Stage has helped Theater Alliance build up its press contacts. In turn, Arena has learned a lot by observing Theater Alliance's guerilla marketing tactics. "We have much to learn from Theater Alliance, so the relationship turns out to be reciprocal," said Smith. Theater Alliance's newly hired managing director, Melissa-Leigh Douglass, has been working closely with Arena's executive director, Stephen Richard, who is proving to be an important mentor. Theater Alliance artistic director Jeremy Skidmore has been meeting regularly with Molly Smith about Board development. "Molly has been instrumental in helping me find more ways to make the Board more integral to the work that Theater Alliance is doing," said Skidmore. He is also in discussion with Mark Bly, Arena's dramaturg, about having Bly's current apprentice volunteer at Theater Alliance once her tenure at Arena is complete.
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