About DC Theater Arts

DC Theater Arts is Washington, D.C.’s most comprehensive source of performing arts coverage. Presenting critically engaging reviews, artist interviews, news, show calendars, and ticket discounts, we provide everything you need to be a savvy theatergoer in Washington, D.C., and the D.C. metro area.

COVID ADVISORY

• We are currently assigning fully vaccinated writers to review live performances, and we are including in our coverage the COVID Safety policies for the venues where shows are playing. We are also reviewing selected locally generated virtual performances that will remain available online for at least four viewings.

MISSION

At DCMTA, we recognize the power of the performing arts to enrich lives and further civic discourse. We also recognize that Washington, D.C., is more than the nation’s political capital: In recent decades, the D.C. region has evolved into a performing arts capital, a region that incubates new works, offers residents a rich variety of theater experiences, and provides more working weeks for actors than any American city outside of New York (which we also cover), Chicago, or Los Angeles.

With that in mind, we:

  1. Provide the deep and thorough coverage of the region’s performing arts scene that mainstream publications cannot offer.
  2. Provide the Washington, D.C. region with a professional-grade arts publication commensurate with the caliber of art produced in the region.
  3. Highlight work by artists of all backgrounds, genders, and sexual orientations, and recognize that the vitality of D.C. theater is propelled by the diversity of the artists within its ranks.

ACCOUNTABILITY

Since its founding, DC Theater Arts has intentionally covered work by artists who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). We recognize our moral and ethical obligation as a historically white performing arts platform to do so. But we know we need to do better. We acknowledge that the cultural context reflected in our coverage needs to better reflect the diversity of the D.C. region. To that end—and in response to the #BlackLivesMatter-inspired “Dear White American Theater” petition—we commit to the following:

  1. We will consciously seek out and welcome writers of color who wish to contribute their viewpoints to the site.
  2. We will proactively offer our communications channel to help amplify the BIPOC voices that are now pointing the path to American theater’s future.

SCOPE

Through reviews, news, and interviews, DCMTA covers professional, indie-professional, university, and community productions within a 30-mile radius of Washington, D.C. We also cover select large productions and events beyond this radius that are noteworthy or of interest to our readers. We maintain one dedicated New York City reviewer to bring our readers news of Broadway, Off-Broadway, and Off-Off-Broadway happenings.

CONTACT

We prepare our review schedule a month in advance of the show’s opening, and we often depend upon companies to send us press invitations to be considered for review. To request coverage or pitch story ideas, please use our contact page, or send an email to the following staff members:

IN THEIR OWN WORDS

DCMTA invites members of the arts community to contribute articles. If you have a topic that you feel passionate about, please reach out to [email protected] about potential publication. Examples of past articles include this essay on the playwriting process by playwright Normal Yeung, and this article on burning paper onstage in Hamilton by props designer Jay Duckworth.

ADVERTISE

We love our advertisers! To inquire about ad rates, please contact Managing Editor Megan Wills at [email protected]

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