Constellation Theatre Company
US non-profit theater company
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Constellation Theatre Company is a non-profit theater company located in Washington, D.C., performing at the Source Theatre, a black box theatre.[1] Since its founding in 2007, Constellation has received several Helen Hayes Awards, including the John Aniello Award for Outstanding Emerging Theatre Company in 2009.[2]
Formation2007
TypeTheatre group
Location
- Washington, D.C.
Artistic director
Allison Arkell Stockman (Founding Artistic Director) Constellation Theatre Company Logo | |
| Formation | 2007 |
|---|---|
| Type | Theatre group |
| Location |
|
Artistic director | Allison Arkell Stockman (Founding Artistic Director) |
| Website | www |
Artistic leadership
Constellation Theatre Company's founding artistic director is Allison Arkell Stockman. Stockman was a freelance director in Washington, D.C., and New York City. In 2006, she quit her job as a teacher, and started the theater company in 2007.[3]
A.J. Guban has been managing director and designer on multiple productions since the founding of the company.
Productions
Current productions
- 2024-2025 Season: Infinite Possiblities
- Constellations by Nick Payne
- Head Over Heels with songs by The Go-Go's, based on The Arcadia by Sir Philip Sidney, conceived and original book by Jeff Whitty and adapted by James Magruder[4]
Production history
- 2019-2020 Season
- Little Shop of Horrors with book and lyrics by Howard Ashman and music by Alan Menken
- The 39 Steps adapted by Patrick Barlow from the movie by Alfred Hitchcock and the novel by John Buchan
- Eurydice by Sarah Ruhl[5]
- Note: Eurydice was announced but cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[6]
- 2018–2019 Season: Epic Love
- Melancholy Play: A Contemporary Farce by Sarah Ruhl
- Aida with music by Elton John, lyrics by Tim Rice, and book by Linda Woolverton, Robert Falls, and David Henry Hwang
- The Master and Margarita adapted by Edward Kemp
- The White Snake by Mary Zimmerman, based on the Chinese legend of the white snake
- 2017–2018 Season: Survival Instincts
- The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, the silent film with live music by Tom Teasley
- The Wild Party with book, lyrics, and music by Andrew Lippa
- The Skin of Our Teeth by Thornton Wilder
- The Caucasian Chalk Circle by Bertolt Brecht
- 2016–2017 Season
- Metropolis, the silent film with live music by Tom Teasley
- Urinetown music and lyrics by Mark Hollmann, book and lyrics by Greg Kotis
- Peter and the Starcatcher by Rick Elice
- The Arabian Nights by Mary Zimmerman
- 2015–2016 Season: Playtime for Grownups[7]
- The Adventures of Prince Achmed by Lotte Reiniger with live music by Tom Teasley
- Avenue Q music and lyrics by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx, book by Jeff Whitty
- Equus by Peter Shaffer
- Journey to the West by Mary Zimmerman, based on the 16th century Chinese novel Journey to the West
- 2014–2015 Season
- Right You Are (if you think so) by Luigi Pirandello, adapted by Martin Sherman
- The Lieutenant of Inishmore by Martin McDonagh
- The Fire and the Rain, by Girish Karnad and drawn from The Mahabharata
- 2013–2014 Season
- 36 Views by Naomi Iizuka
- Scapin by Bill Irwin and Mark O'Donnell adapted from Les Fourberies de Scapin by Molière
- The Love of the Nightingale, by Timberlake Wertenbaker
- 2012–2013 Season
- Taking Steps by Alan Ayckbourn
- Zorro* by Janet Allard and Eleanor Holdridge
- Gilgamesh, Poetry by Yusef Komunyakaa, concept & dramaturgy by Chad Gracia
- 2011–2012 Season
- 2010–2011 Season
- 2009–2010 Season
- 2008–2009 Season
- Temptation
- The Marriage of Figaro
- Crazyface
- 2007–2008 Season
- A Dream Play by August Strindberg adapted by Caryl Churchill[8]
- The Arabian Nights by Mary Zimmerman[9]
- The Good Woman of Setzuan[10]
- The Oresteia
- * denotes world premiere
Grants
In September 2013, the American Theatre Wing (the founder of the Tony Awards) awarded a National Theatre Company Grant to Constellation Theatre.[11] The grant is for general operating support to companies that "have articulated a distinctive mission, cultivated an audience, and nurtured a community of artists in ways that strengthen and demonstrate the quality, diversity, and dynamism of American theatre".[12]
Awards
In 2009, Constellation received the John Aniello Award for Outstanding Emerging Theatre Company.
Constellation has received 90 competitive Helen Hayes Award nominations and has received 19 of these awards.
| Year | Category | Recipient(s) | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Outstanding Set Design - HELEN | Sarah Reed, The School for Lies | Nominated |
| Outstanding Ensemble in a Play - HELEN | The School For Lies | Nominated | |
| Outstanding Costume Design - HELEN | Frank Labovitz, The School for Lies | Recipient | |
| 2023 | Outstanding Production in a Musical - HELEN | Once On This Island | Nominated |
| Outstanding Musical Direction - HELEN | Elisa Rosman & Refiye Tappan, Once On This Island | Nominated | |
| Outstanding Direction in a Musical - HELEN | Angelisa Gillyard, Once On This Island | Nominated | |
| Outstanding Choreography in a Musical - HELEN | Maurice Johnson, Once on This Island | Nominated | |
| 2020 | Outstanding Supporting Performer in a Musical - HELEN | Marty Austin Lamar, Little Shop of Horrors | Nominated |
| Alana Thomas, Little Shop of Horrors | Nominated | ||
| Chani Wereley, Little Shop of Horrors | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Sound Design - HELEN | Tom Teasley & Chao Tian, The White Snake | Nominated | |
| Outstanding Set Design - HELEN | A.J. Guban, "Little Shop of Horrors" | Nominated | |
| Outstanding Production in a Musical - HELEN | Little Shop of Horrors | Nominated | |
| Outstanding Musical Direction - HELEN | Walter "Bobby" McCoy, Little Shop of Horrors | Nominated | |
| Outstanding Lead Performer in a Musical - HELEN | Christian Montgomery, Little Shop of Horrors | Nominated | |
| Outstanding Ensemble in a Musical - HELEN | Little Shop of Horrors | Nominated | |
| Outstanding Direction in a Musical - HELEN | Nick Martin, Little Shop of Horrors | Nominated | |
| Outstanding Costume Design- HELEN | Frank Labovitz, Little Shop of Horrors | Recipient | |
| Outstanding Choreography in a Musical- HELEN | Ilona Kessell, Little Shop of Horrors | Recipient | |
| 2019 | Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical - HELEN | Da'von Moody, Aida | Nominated |
| Outstanding Sound Design - HELEN | Gordon Nimmo-Smith (Sound Designer), Brian Lotter & Matthew Schleigh (Composers), The Caucasian Chalk Circle | Nominated | |
| Outstanding Set Design - HELEN | A.J. Guban, The Caucasian Chalk Circle | Nominated | |
| Outstanding Production in a Play - HELEN | Melancholy Play: A Contemporary Farce | Recipient | |
| Outstanding Musical Direction - HELEN | Walter "Bobby" McCoy, Aida | Nominated | |
| Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play - HELEN | Tonya Beckman, The Skin of Our Teeth | Nominated | |
| Billie Krishawn, Melancholy Play: A Contemporary Farce | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical - HELEN | Shayla Simmons, Aida | Nominated | |
| Outstanding Ensemble in a Play - HELEN | Melancholy Play: A Contemporary Farce | Nominated | |
| Outstanding Direction in a Play - HELEN | Nick Martin, Melancholy Play: A Contemporary Farce | Recipient | |
| Outstanding Costume Design - HELEN | Kelsey Hunt, The Caucasian Chalk Circle | Recipient | |
| James MacArthur Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Play - HELEN | Scott Abernathy, The Caucasian Chalk Circle | Nominated | |
| 2018 | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical - HELEN | Kari Ginsburg, The Wild Party | Recipient |
| Outstanding Sound Design - HELEN | Justin Schmitz, The Wild Party | Nominated | |
| Tom Teasley, The Arabian Nights | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Set Design - HELEN | Tony Cisek, The Wild Party | Nominated | |
| A.J. Guban, The Arabian Nights | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Production in a Musical - HELEN | The Wild Party | Nominated | |
| Outstanding Musical Direction - HELEN | Walter "Bobby" McCoy, The Wild Party | Nominated | |
| Outstanding Lighting Design - HELEN | A.J. Guban, The Wild Party | Nominated | |
| Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play - HELEN | Megan Graves, Peter and the Starcatcher | Nominated | |
| Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical - HELEN | Jimmy Mavrikes, The Wild Party | Nominated | |
| Outstanding Ensemble in a Play - HELEN | Peter and the Starcatcher | Recipient | |
| Outstanding Ensemble in a Musical - HELEN | The Wild Party | Nominated | |
| Outstanding Direction in a Musical - HELEN | Allison Arkell Stockman, The Wild Party | Nominated | |
| Outstanding Costume Design - HELEN | Erik Teague, The Arabian Nights | Nominated | |
| Erik Teague, The Wild Party | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Choreography in a Musical - HELEN | Ilona Kessell, The Wild Party | Nominated | |
| James MacArthur Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Play - HELEN | Jordan Campbell, Peter and the Starcatcher | Nominated | |
| Matt Dewberry, Peter and the Starcatcher | Nominated | ||
| Alex Vernon, Peter and the Starcatcher | Nominated | ||
| 2017 | Robert Prosky Award for Outstanding Lead Actors in a Play - HELEN | Dallas Tolentino, Journey to the West | Nominated |
| Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Play - HELEN | Justine Icy Moral, Journey to the West | Nominated | |
| Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical - HELEN | Jenna Berk, Urinetown | Nominated | |
| Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical - HELEN | Matt Dewberry, Urinetown | Nominated | |
| Outstanding Sound Design - HELEN | Palmer Hefferan, Equus | Nominated | |
| Tom Teasley, Journey to the West | Recipient | ||
| Outstanding Set Design - HELEN | A.J. Guban, Journey to the West | Nominated | |
| Outstanding Play - HELEN | Equus | Nominated | |
| Outstanding Musical - HELEN | Urinetown | Nominated | |
| Outstanding Musical Direction - HELEN | Urinetown | Nominated | |
| Outstanding Lighting Design - HELEN | Colin K. Bills, Journey to the West | Nominated | |
| Outstanding Direction, Musical - HELEN | Allison Arkell Stockman, Urinetown | Nominated | |
| Outstanding Costume Design - HELEN | Kendra Rai, Journey to the West | Nominated | |
| Outstanding Choreography, Musical - HELEN | Ilona Kessel, Urinetown | Nominated | |
| James MacArthur Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Play - HELEN | Ryan Tumulty, Journey to the West | Nominated | |
| 2016 | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical - HELEN | Jenna Berk, Avenue Q | Nominated |
| Justine Icy Moral, Avenue Q | Nominated | ||
| Emily Zickler, Avenue Q | Recipient | ||
| Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical - HELEN | Mikey Cafarelli, Avenue Q | Nominated | |
| Vaughn Ryan Midder, Avenue Q | Recipient | ||
| Outstanding Sound Design - HELEN | Tom Teasley, The Fire and The Rain | Nominated | |
| Outstanding Musical - HELEN | Avenue Q | Recipient | |
| Outstanding Musical Direction - HELEN | Jack Null, Avenue Q | Recipient | |
| Outstanding Lighting Design - HELEN | A.J. Guban, Avenue Q | Nominated | |
| Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical - HELEN | Katy Carkuff, Avenue Q | Recipient | |
| Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical - HELEN | Matt Dewberry, Avenue Q | Nominated | |
| Outstanding Ensemble in a Musical - HELEN | Avenue Q | Recipient | |
| Outstanding Director of a Musical - HELEN | Allison Arkell Stockman, Avenue Q | Recipient | |
| Outstanding Costume Design - HELEN | Kara Waala, Avenue Q | Nominated | |
| Outstanding Choreography in a Play - HELEN | Casey Kaleba & Matthew R. Wilson, The Lieutenant of Inishmore | Nominated | |
| Outstanding Choreography in a Musical - HELEN | Rachel Leigh Dolan, Avenue Q | Nominated | |
| 2015 | Outstanding Sound Design - HELEN | Tom Teasley, The Love of the Nightingale | Nominated |
| 2014 | Outstanding Set Design, Resident Production | A.J. Guban, 36 Views | Nominated |
| Outstanding Lighting Design, Resident Production | A.J. Guban, 36 Views | Nominated | |
| 2013 | The James MacArthur Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor, Resident Play | Matthew Aldwin McGee, Taking Steps | Recipient |
| 2012 | Outstanding Sound Design, Resident Production | Tom Teasley, Green Bird | Nominated |
| Outstanding Costume Design, Resident Production | Kendra Rai, Green Bird | Nominated | |
| 2011 | Outstanding Sound Design, Resident Production | Tom Teasley, The Ramayana | Recipient |
| 2010 | Outstanding Sound Design, Resident Production | Tom Teasley, Crazyface | Recipient |
The Constellation Theatre Company was nominated for the following Audience Choice Awards
- 2008 Crazyface (Favorite Ensemble)[14]
- 2009 Three Sisters (Favorite Plays, Favorite Actress in a Play)[15]
- 2013 Taking Steps (Best Play, Best Actor in a Play), Zorro (Best Ensemble Cast, Best Actor in a Play) [16]
Costume Designer Kendra Rai was awarded a 2014 Princess Grace Foundation honorarium to be used for the company's 2014–2015 season costumes[17]
