Four DC theaters to participate in National Day of Theater Readings for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Relatives

Arena Stage, Mosaic Theater Company, Theater Alliance, and Woolly Mammoth to join in readings of plays by Native American writers that address the crisis of violence facing Indigenous people in the Americas.

Native Performing Arts Network (formerly Native Theater Project) is organizing readings of plays by Native American writers that address the crisis of violence facing Indigenous people in the Americas.

Ninety-five percent of Native women who go missing in the US do not make the national news.

“This is not just a crisis of violence, but a crisis of invisibility,” said Jeanette Harrison, creative director of Native Performing Arts Network (NPAN). “Theaters — especially if we all come together — can make a significant impact on visibility,” Harrison added. “By joining this day of action, participating theaters will raise awareness in their communities about Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Relatives, and shine a spotlight on the work of Native theater artists, activists and groups like the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center.”

To help address the invisibility of contemporary Native people – particularly women – and the violence they face, theaters of all sizes across the country are invited to participate, alongside universities and other partners in a National Day of Theater Readings for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Relatives on May 5, 2026. Many theaters around the country have already joined this national day of action. Theater companies and other organizations interested in participating are encouraged to contact ntp@bagnbaggage.org.

Harrison curated a list of recommended plays about MMIWR for New Play Exchange.

“These plays address various aspects of the MMIWR crisis,” Harrison said. “One of the plays focuses on a family searching for a missing loved one, another is about the people left behind, another is about law enforcement. What I love most about these plays is how much heart they all have.”

MMIWR Featured Playwrights. TOP ROW: Rhiana Yazzie, Carolyn Dunn, Isabella Madrigal, Laura Shamas; BOTTOM ROW: Honokee Dunn, Tara Moses, Jaisey Bates, Lara Annette, Claude Jackson, Marcie Rendon. Photos courtesy of the playwrights.

In Washington, DC, four companies are participating:

Mosaic Theater Company will be collaborating with fellow DMV theaters Arena Stage, Theater Alliance, and Woolly Mammoth. “Mosaic Theater Company is proud to participate in the National Day of Theater Readings for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Relatives and help bring exposure to both this inspiring artistic event and important cause,” said Mosaic Artistic Director Reginald L. Douglas. “At Mosaic, we believe that theater can be a powerful catalyst to civic change and honest conversations about urgent topics in our shared American history and future. Highlighting the work of Native writers and the narratives of resilience and resistance that they have so beautifully written for inclusion in this national event is an honor, and I hope this work will be a call to action for our local DC-area community, including our neighbors working in government. These are American stories from American artists, and we are proud to be sharing them with our audience this spring.”

“To name what has been lost is an act of courage. To tell these stories is an act of love,” shared Arena Stage Artistic Director Hana S. Sharif. “The National Day of Theater Readings for MMIWR calls us to witness the stories of Indigenous women and relatives whose lives demand visibility and remembrance. Arena Stage is honored to be a part of this national movement. Our participation continues a long-held belief that the American theater must reflect the full spectrum of stories that shape our nation. We are grateful to stand in community with Native artists, to listen, to learn from their histories, and to share their visions for a more just world.”

“At Theater Alliance, we’re committed to telling stories that confront injustice and deepen our collective understanding of one another,” said Theater Alliance Executive Artistic Director Shanara Gabrielle. “Participating in this national day of readings is an act of solidarity and accountability — a way to honor the lives of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People and to amplify Indigenous voices through the power of theater. Our mission calls us to build community through story, to move beyond acknowledgment into authentic engagement, and to stand alongside our partners in shaping a more just and compassionate future.”

ABOUT THE ORGANIZER

NATIVE PERFORMING ARTS NETWORK

Native Performing Arts Network (formerly Native Theater Project) develops and collaboratively produces plays by Native playwrights. NPAN partners with tribal nations, community organizations, and other theaters to offer career development, leadership programs, and performing arts education programs. NPAN’s first production was the world premiere of Diné Nishłį (i am a sacred being) Or, A Boarding School Play, which performed at Bag&Baggage’s Vault Theater in Hillsboro, Oreg., as well as at the Native American Youth and Family Center (NAYA) in Portland’s Cully neighborhood, and at Portland State University’s Native American Student and Community Center (NASCC).

ABOUT PARTICIPATING THEATERS

ARENA STAGE

The first racially integrated theater in our nation’s capital and a pioneer of the regional theater movement, Arena Stage was founded in 1950 in Washington, DC. Today, under the leadership of Artistic Director Hana S. Sharif and Executive Producer Edgar Dobie, Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater is a national center dedicated to American voices and artists. Arena produces plays of all that is passionate, profound, deep, and dangerous in the American spirit, and presents diverse and groundbreaking work from some of the best artists around the country. Consistently contributing to the American theatrical lexicon by commissioning and developing new plays, Arena Stage impacts the lives of over 10,000 students annually through its work in community engagement and serves a diverse annual audience of more than 300,000.

MOSAIC THEATER COMPANY

Mosaic Theater Company of DC produces bold, culturally diverse theater that illuminates critical issues, elevates fresh voices, and sparks connection among communities throughout our region and beyond. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Reginald L. Douglas and Managing Director Serge Seiden, Mosaic produces plays that both entertain and enlighten, using art to build empathy amongst diverse people united by the magic of theater, and hopes to build community by reflecting the many cultures that call DC home.

THEATER ALLIANCE

Theater Alliance has been a catalyst for innovation, activation, and diversity in the arts for over two decades. Their mission is to produce thought-provoking and socially relevant work, bringing together audiences of all backgrounds through the power of live performance, civic engagement, and creative expression. With justice at the heart of its operations, Theater Alliance is dedicated to amplifying underrepresented voices, creating accessibility, and pursuing bold, innovative artistic endeavors. They believe the arts are essential for a thriving society. With a steadfast commitment to its mission, Theater Alliance continues to create transformative experiences where community, artists, and audiences feel seen, valued, and inspired.

WOOLLY MAMMOTH THEATRE

The Tony Award-winning Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company is a non-profit company which creates badass theater that highlights the stunning, challenging, and tremendous complexity of our world. For over 40 years, Woolly has maintained a high standard of artistic rigor while simultaneously daring to take risks, innovate, and push beyond perceived boundaries. One of the few remaining theaters in the country to maintain a company of artists, Woolly serves an essential research and development role within the American theater. Plays premiered here have gone on to productions at hundreds of theaters all over the world and have had lasting impacts on the field. Woolly is located in Washington, DC, equidistant from the Capitol and the White House. This unique location influences Woolly’s investment in actively working towards an equitable, participatory, and creative democracy.