Anacostia Playhouse welcomes Stephawn Stephens as its new executive artistic director. Stephens brings more than three decades of experience in building community partnerships through volunteering, as well as projects that combine his passion for theater with the purpose of service to others in this role.
Since January 1, 2022, he has been serving as executive director, succeeding the Anacostia Playhouse founder, Adele Robey, who announced in November 2021 the end of her tenure. For two years prior to that, Stephens was the Playhouse’s artistic director.
In his new role, Stephens manages all day-to-day operations for Anacostia Playhouse. He will also lead fundraising programs, as well as artistic and community engagement initiatives.
Pat Martin, board chair of Anacostia Playhouse, said, “We are very excited to have Stephawn taking on the role of executive artistic director of the Anacostia Playhouse. Stephawn brings a combination of energy, leadership, and creativity that will serve the Playhouse well into the future. We expect Stephawn to not only continue the Playhouse’s excellent programming but to expand it to reach more members of the community.”
Said Stephens: “It is a privilege and honor to be selected by the board to lead the Anacostia Playhouse. The Playhouse is home for so many artists and I look forward to building upon the established relationships with the existing Anacostia Playhouse artists, as well as seeking new cohorts to collaborate with to create great art.”
Stephens continued, “I believe that theater should be engaging. I also believe theater can be transformative, especially when it helps us to think about our own existence and how we interact with each other and the world. My hope is that when you are here at Anacostia Playhouse you will see work that both entertains and broadens your perspective.”
Stephens’s first project as executive artistic director is the Transitions/Transformations Festival currently running through May 1. The festival includes performances by Brave Soul Collective and African-American Collective Theater, the play Requiem for Black Bodies, interactive performances by District Playback Theater Ensemble, a concert series, and the Playhouse’s third-annual New Voices New Works play festival.
About Anacostia Playhouse
Founded in 2012, the Anacostia Playhouse is a dedicated arts center located in the Anacostia Historic District of Washington, DC. The Playhouse’s mission is to bring arts performances, exhibits, and instruction to the Anacostia community, and to provide a venue for local artists to perform and display their work. For more information about Anacostia Playhouse, visit anacostiaplayhouse.com.
