Atlas Theatre Opens on H Street NE

Nov/Dec 2006

This fall the Washington arts community is witnessing the much-anticipated opening of the Atlas Performing Arts Center. The transformation of the Atlas from an abandoned and dilapidated movie house in an economically challenged part of town into a gleaming arts center anchoring a neighborhood's rebirth will be complete. The performing spaces are ready for the Atlas' Arts Partners to bring a variety of music, dance and theatrical offerings to Washington area audiences. The new Atlas has been reborn as a space that will bring arts professionals, students and audiences together.

"We are very excited to open these spaces to the arts community," said Patrick Stewart, the Atlas Performing Arts Center's executive director. "We see ourselves as being able to provide companies of all sizes with performing space, box office and house staff and technical assistance so they can go about their primary mission of creating art."

The theatres were planned by a trio of Helen Hayes award-winning designers with the needs of scenic, sound and lighting professionals in mind. Lighting designer and Atlas technical director Dan Covey conceived the spaces along with set designer Tony Cisek and audio consultant Scott Burgess. The Lang Theatre is a 276-seat traditional proscenium theatre appropriate for a range of theatrical, music and dance productions. The Lang boasts vast fly space capacity as well as an orchestra pit. With not a bad seat in the house, Washington audiences and performers alike will enjoy the intimacy and comfort afforded by the Lang.

The Sprenger Theatre reflects the artistic elements of spontaneity and invention, as performance companies will be able to transform the flexible space to suit their needs. The 250-seat space can be arranged in a myriad of configurations, and combines the flexibility of a black box with high-quality technical capabilities.

In addition to the larger capacity Sprenger and Lang theatres, the Atlas is home to two smaller Lab Theatres. Washington audiences are already familiar with these spaces as several Atlas Arts Partners have been performing in the Labs over the past year, including The African Continuum Theatre Company, the Capitol City Symphony, Step Afrika, Joy of Motion Dance Center, the Washington Savoyards and many others.

The Atlas staff and Arts Partner offices are located beneath the theatres in a newly built space. There are also seven variously sized dressing rooms for the performers. The shared green room area reflects the Atlas' mission of arts and community.

The anticipation of the rise of the Atlas' signature marquee over H Street NE once again is affecting not only the arts community, but the community at large. The neighborhood has been promised change and transformation many times since the riots of 1968 decimated this once-lively commercial strip. This area on the northern edge of Capitol Hill has now been reinvented as "The Atlas District" by entrepreneur Joe Englert, who is opening eight bars, clubs and restaurants in the area surrounding the Atlas. The H Street Playhouse, home to The Theatre Alliance, is one block away, and several other establishments are already serving coffee and martinis to theatre patrons.

"Four years ago we were told it couldn't be done. Wrong time, wrong part of town," said Jane Lang, president of the Atlas Board of Directors, who is largely responsible for the redevelopment of the building. "But today, with the help of many generous friends, supportive neighborhood leaders and craftsmen who poured their hearts into this project, we have created the most versatile venue in the city for great theater, dance and music."

- Jen DeMayo