Theater Alliance Announces New Arts Hub
Theater Alliance is putting down permanent roots in Southwest DC with plans to transform a 9,096-square-foot retail space at 340 Maple Dr SW into a dynamic new arts hub. Long known as one of DC’s leading theaters for socially conscious, civic-minded work, the company is turning what was once a temporary “pop-up” solution into a long-term home that will feature two fully equipped theaters and a range of spaces designed to support artists, audiences, and community partners under one roof.
The move comes at a time when many arts institutions are facing steep challenges, particularly around access to permanent, mid-sized cultural spaces. Theater Alliance is taking the opposite trajectory, expanding its footprint and stepping into what it sees as a critical civic role: creating sustainable, flexible venues that can support both its own programming and the work of other DC arts organizations. The project builds directly on the company’s success over the past year in its temporary venue, where Theater Alliance produced five shows, hosted the Hothouse New Play Festival, welcomed more than 5,000 patrons, and employed over 130 local artists. Working with Hoffman & Associates and the DC Department of Buildings’ Pop-Up Permitting Program, the company turned a raw vacant space into a fully functioning theater that quickly became a home for performances, community gatherings, and experimentation.
Now, that one-year activation is evolving into a fully realized arts center. Plans for the space include two theaters — a 140-seat flexible black box and a 60-seat cinema and proscenium-style performance space — along with a rehearsal hall, reception area, scene shop, artist co-working spaces, and a civic engagement center. It is the latest chapter in a history that has taken Theater Alliance from the H Street Playhouse to Anacostia and now to Southwest DC, with each move reflecting the company’s commitment to anchoring neighborhoods, sparking civic dialogue, and strengthening the city’s cultural ecosystem.
“This project is about much more than bricks and mortar — it’s about creating long-term infrastructure that strengthens our city’s cultural ecosystem,” said Shanara Gabrielle, Executive Artistic Director of Theater Alliance. “We’re establishing a shared home for multiple DC arts organizations and the communities we serve — designed to expand access, deepen collaboration, and drive sustainable impact. This is what meaningful investment in culture and community looks like.”
The vision for the new space extends beyond a single resident company. Theater Alliance is designing the hub as a multi-organization home for arts and nonprofit partners, with lead collaborators to be announced at a later date. Grounded in principles of solidarity economics and collective stewardship, the model is intended to bring several organizations together to share resources, space, staff support, and long-term strategy. Theater Alliance sees this approach as a blueprint for sustaining and growing the arts in Washington, DC by reducing barriers, boosting sustainability, and expanding impact across the sector.
“Theater Alliance has shown how arts organizations can lead with both vision and impact. What began as a temporary activation has become a permanent cultural anchor that reflects the spirit of Southwest DC and the values we share as a development partner,” said Maria Thompson, President at Hoffman & Associates. “We’re proud to support Theater Alliance in creating a vibrant, inclusive arts hub that brings people together, fuels creativity, and strengthens the neighborhood for generations to come.”
From its earliest days, Theater Alliance has focused on building connections between neighborhoods, artists, and audiences. After beginning in Northeast DC, the company spent twelve years in Anacostia, forging deep relationships with community partners that remain central to its identity. The new long-term home at 340 Maple Dr SW continues that legacy, positioning the organization as both a cultural anchor for Southwest residents and a welcoming gathering place for audiences from across the city. With the expanded space and infrastructure, Theater Alliance will be able to grow its programming, deepen community engagement, and further solidify its role as a catalyst in DC’s artistic landscape.