Her two plays “Tempestuous Elements” and “Fish” are currently running. Check out some words from her on both plays and how you can catch them in DC or NY!
Theatre Storm
By Kia Corthron
After a theater desert of many years, when it rains it pours: I kicked off 2024 with back-to-back new play productions, thematically related. In D.C., Tempestuous Elements premiered February 19th at Arena Stage and is running through March 17th.
I may have titled the play too accurately: its first workshop happened in March 2020, the week of the national COVID shutdown; last summer’s second workshop was interrupted by the poor air quality from the Canadian wildfires; and the first day of rehearsal in January was cancelled because of snow, not to mention the process was plagued with actor illness and injury.
But, despite all the obstacles, the production—taking place in 1905-06 and focusing on legendary writer, activist, intellectual, and educator Anna Julia Cooper—was very positively reviewed and something we are all proud of.
I came across Cooper while researching Fish, which addresses the contemporary public school system and is being co-produced by Keen Company and the Working Theater, running at New York’s Theatre Row Theatres from March 19th through April 20th.
We have a fantastic cast, and there are discount tickets for every performance—first come first served. I hope folks will come see the show!
