"Invite People In:" Karen Ann Daniels and the Folger Shakespeare Library

"An Open Space:" Stefan Sittig, Choreographer, Writer, and ‘Third Chorus Boy from the Left’

Stefan Sittig [https://www.stefansittig.com/] does not hold much back, and that’s great for listeners. He is open, honest, and charming—not always the most prevalent traits in show business folks—about the twists of turns of his life and career, from a childhood overseas to trying to make it as an actor and dancer in DC as the industry itself shifted through the 1990s to 2010s. Today, he is a working choreographer, fight director, and more, working in the DMV’s ‘Off-Broadway’ spaces. He is also the author of Latinidad in Musical Theatre [https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/latinidad-in-musical-theatre-9781350453920/], an illuminating look at the contributions of four amazing Latine artists to musical theater, out now from Methuen Drama. Join Stefan for a signing event May 21 at 7pm [https://onemorepagebooks.com/event/stefan-sittig]at One More Page Books! Or, June 4 at 7:30pm [https://www.eventbrite.com/e/latinidad-in-musical-theatre-with-stefan-sittig-tickets-1983464426493?aff=ebdssbdestsearch] at Drama Book Shop in New York City! Follow him on Instagram at @stefansittig [https://www.instagram.com/stefansittig/], and check out his blog, “A Life in the Theatre [https://stefansittig.substack.com/p/a-life-in-the-theatre].”

"A Cultural Memory:" Elgin Martin and Nicole Hertvik, DCTA

If you're a theater maker or theater goer--or both--in DC right now, you probably have some thoughts and feelings about the changing arts journalism landscape, including the layoffs at The Washington Post to the proliferation of online reviewers and content creators. These shifts are exactly why I'm excited to have the chance to talk to today's guests. Elgin Martin [https://dctheaterarts.org/author/elgin-martin/] and Nicole Hertvik [https://dctheaterarts.org/author/nicole-hertvik/] of DC Theater Arts [https://dctheaterarts.org/], the most comprehensive theater journalism platform in the DMV. Nicole is a longtime writer and leader at DCTA. Elgin is its newly minted executive director. The two of them are admirably open and transparent about the growth, the opportunities, and the challenges facing theater journalism as a field and DCTA as a organization right now. After this conversation, I have little doubt that these two will not only keep but strengthen arts coverage in DC. Visit dctheaterarts.org [http://dctheaterarts.org]–and follow the organization at @dctheaterarts [https://www.instagram.com/dctheaterarts/]—for more. Read “As sweeping layoffs diminish WaPo theater coverage… [https://dctheaterarts.org/2026/04/05/as-sweeping-layoffs-dim-wapo-theater-coverage-critics-reckon-whats-being-lost/]” by Teniola Ayoola Disclosure: I have both written for and paid for advertising with DCTA

"Many Ways In:" Danisha Crosby and Round House Theatre

Listening to Danisha Crosby, I’m reminded of the immeasurable value of theater education both for anyone who goes to a summer theater camp or an afterschool workshop and also for society as a whole. Through theater we can learn so many of life’s most valuable skills and lessons, including collaboration, empathy, and critical thinking. Thankfully students of all ages have been able to do that under the leadership and guidance of Danisha, the Director of Education at Round House Theatre [https://www.google.com/aclk?sa=L&pf=1&ai=DChsSEwjp4uuGkrGTAxXcTkcBHfGyAwoYACICCAEQABoCcXU&co=1&ase=2&gclid=CjwKCAjwg_nNBhAGEiwAiYPYA_Qw_Dfvig8tZyvGy9MBFFRDF1ofYZzBDujlqh8sDMPXJBg5BikOXBoCiaYQAvD_BwE&cid=CAASZeRodVcULHIlAAP5yHPEIxRi-eTn-VoKU2ryNtb3-jGrKpiqe91XMQv1T5eLtuuL2LB_MQir239Chs0xSRxMeDLuZ7EYc77Fz8IaQYvnrpDKHdB84FZA8svKGuRVrRqBx33f3hhC&cce=2&category=acrcp_v1_32&sig=AOD64_03F98PMbpQTIMZgXmlMK60pGq87Q&q&nis=4&adurl=https://www.roundhousetheatre.org/], an organization she’s worked at for over 30 years in capacities from production to artistic to education.   Given the length and breadth of her career, Danisha is able to connect the past to the present and the future, which is really important for an industry and artform that has impermanence at its core. As much as things change, plenty of great things that perseveres, one of which is the value of people getting together to tell necessary stories. Alexander Weiss, a member of Round House’s Teen Performance Company [https://www.roundhousetheatre.org/education/performance-companies/teen-performance-company/], joins us to discuss just such a story, the upcoming TPC production of At the End of the World at the end of March 2026. Learn more about Round House’s Teen Takeover Weekend—March 27 to March 29, 2026--featuring At the End of the World [https://www.roundhousetheatre.org/on-stage/explore/at-the-end-of-the-world/] and Mission Improv-ible [https://www.roundhousetheatre.org/on-stage/explore/the-roundlings/], an afternoon of improv comedy from The Roundlings [https://www.roundhousetheatre.org/education/performance-companies/roundlings-profoundlings/]. Follow Round House on Instagram at @roundhousetheatre [https://www.instagram.com/roundhousetheatre/].

"All the Notes:" KOKAYI, Musician, Producer, and Artist

I’m not sure who has permission to pass out the label “legendary,” but if I can presume for a moment, musician and artist KOKAYI [https://kokayi.com/]is legendary. The native Washingtonian is a grammy-nominated artist, MC, a pioneer of DC hiphop, an in-demand jazz musician, an amazing spontaneous composer and preeminent improvisational vocalist, a published author, an exhibited photographer, a sought-after producer and mentor—his accomplishments in any one of those fields would be enough to earn the title of “legend.” But don’t think that he’s done, either. KOKAYI is still building his legacy, drawing on the lessons and stories of the past for the benefit of the present and the future. It’s very Shakespearean, as is his deep love of words. DC theater audiences will get two opportunities to hear KOKAYI’s work in the Spring of 2026—Folger’s production of As You Like It [https://www.folger.edu/whats-on/as-you-like-it/], and the musical Young John Lewis [https://mosaictheater.org/young-john-lewis] at Mosaic with Psalmayene 24 [https://www.instagram.com/psalmayene24/?hl=en]. We discuss his work on both shows, his respect for playwrights and theater artists, as well as some big ideas about creativity, collaboration, and the sounds of DC itself. Follow KOKAYI [https://www.instagram.com/kokayi/]on Instagram, and listen to some of the bops, jams, and tunes Karen Ann Daniels sent him on this Inspiration Playlist [https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/as-you-like-it-inspiration-playlist/pl.u-ZmblD1lhMNb6a]. And if you need it, brush up on the history of Go Go Music. [https://www.thebeatisgogo.com/about-go-go]

"Invite People In:" Karen Ann Daniels and the Folger Shakespeare Library

Karen Ann Daniels has so many skills, talents, and experiences, she could break LinkedIn. A performer, singer, songwriter, adaptor, educator, director, and leader, she has been the artistic director and director of programming at the Folger Shakespeare Library [https://www.folger.edu/] since fall 2021.  In January 2023, she launched the Reading Room, a new works festival dedicated to showcasing how contemporary artists and scholars are thinking about and tinkering with Shakespeare and his ideas, breathing new life into the Bard's work. We discuss how her team finds, curates, and supports projects, as well as how audience members can actively participate in the creative process themselves. She discusses the 2026 offerings, future directions the festival might take, and her upcoming Folger directorial debut, As You Like It [https://www.folger.edu/whats-on/as-you-like-it/]in Spring 2026.  Learn more about the 2026 Reading Room [https://www.folger.edu/whats-on/programs/the-reading-room-festival-2026/], follow the Folger Library [https://www.instagram.com/folgerlibrary/] on Instagram, and Karen Ann [https://www.instagram.com/k.a.creates/?hl=en] while you're at it.  Send Dex a text! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2286296/open_sms] Be sure to follow and connect with the show on Instagram: @theater_district [https://www.instagram.com/theater_district/]