Theater District

Mollie Greenberg is many things--an actor, a puppeteer, a teaching artist, and an emerging director. She's also a recovering 'shy kid,' who found theater as a way to learn more about herself and others. That curiosity has led Mollie to try--and excel, IMHO--many new things, from going to an open call at The Puppet Co., to directing her first show there, and now starting Ingrid & Mollie. The way she talks about how her various practices inform one another and continue to push her towards new projects is inspiring, as is how much she champions having fun while making theater. Learn more about Mollie's background, experiences, and credits at molliegreenberg.com, and follow her at @gollymollie. Send Dex a text!Be sure to follow and connect with the show on Instagram: @theater_district

If there’s one part of the theatrical process that can be mysterious, scary, and unfair, it’s casting. Danica Rodriguez is here to change all of that. A native New Yorker, Danica worked in casting for television and theater, including for the Public Theater, before becoming the resident casting director of the esteemed Shakespeare Theatre Company in fall 2021. An open, joyful, and canny person, Danica is perfectly suited to her role and her mission of championing representation, authenticity, nuance and specificity on stage. “The goal of the artist is to make the revolution irresistible.” - Toni Cade BambaraLearn more about Danica’s background, experiences, and values at danicarodriguez.com, and follow her at @danicarodriguezcasting. Send Dex a text!Be sure to follow and connect with the show on Instagram: @theater_district

Eric Ruffin is a professor of theatre arts at Howard University, focusing on acting and directing. A Howard alum himself, he has helmed productions at Mosaic Theatre Company, Studio Theatre, 1st Stage, African Continuum Theatre Company, Imagination Stage, the Kennedy Center, and more. His 2015 production of Langston Hughes' Black Nativity with Theater Alliance won three Helen Hayes Awards. A gregarious and charming interlocutor, Eric discusses the importance of Howard to the American entertainment industry, how love and transcendence should be central to the theatrical experience, and the kind of work we need to make today. Send Dex a text!Be sure to follow and connect with the show on Instagram: @theater_district

Sierra Young is a multi-hyphenate artist known for her violence and intimacy direction, as well as an actor and director. A graduate of Howard Community College and UMBC, where she worked with Chelsea Pace, Sierra quickly established her credentials and reputation in the DC/Baltimore area. In our conversation, she emphasizes the importance of cultural competency, trauma-informed practices, and sustainability in her work. She addresses the priorities and best practices of intimacy direction, including the need for clear communication and boundaries, and the role of consent and anti-racism in her practice. She also discusses her experiences working with students and her work as a director.Send Dex a text!Be sure to follow and connect with the show on Instagram: @theater_district

Arts journalist Rebecca Ritzel discusses her journey from early childhood storytelling to becoming a first-rate journalist and critic, adept at reviewing a wide range of performing arts as well as investigative and preview articles. A brilliant setter of scenes, Rebecca invites her readers into the theater with her, to experience the work from her point of view. Our conversation includes her perspectives on DEI in arts journalism, her experiences with conflicts of interest and other ethical considerations for arts journalists, and how critics can serve as advocates, witnesses, and memory holders for local arts scenes. We also discuss making and seeing work in DC—including which production Ruth Bader Ginsburg saw four times—and the changes Rebecca has seen over her time in DC. Send Dex a text!Be sure to follow and connect with the show on Instagram: @theater_district

Shonali Burke is the Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer at Arena Stage, one of the largest and most prominent theater companies in the District. Trained as an actor and director in her native India, Shonali is today one of the best in the business of understanding and applying analytics. Adept in all things PR and marketing, she discusses content development, how data crunching is a form of listening, measuring and understanding patron relationships, Arena Stage's role in the redevelopment of the Wharf neighborhood, and serving on boards. Send Dex a text!Be sure to follow and connect with the show on Instagram: @theater_district

Chani Wereley is one of the most versatile and talented performers in the DMV. After attending Young Artists of America in Maryland and Catholic University in DC, they've racked up an astonishing number and variety of projects, from new musicals to classic plays to her own cabaret triptych, HARD TIMES. Currently starring as Audrey in LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS at Ford's Theatre, Chani is without a doubt an artist whose continued rise will be well worth the watch. She shares her STEM to stage journey, a few of their favorite people, and how to be a flexible and adaptable artist. Send Dex a text!Be sure to follow and connect with the show on Instagram: @theater_district