Nomadic Theatre

Nomadic Theatre is a co-curricular, student-led theatre group at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. in the United States. It is dedicated to producing new works that have an aspect of social awareness and using the theatre process to allow students to learn about theatre.^[1] The group takes its name from having no permanent theatre to work in.

The group produces three main stage shows a year, usually performed in either the Walsh Black Box or the Devine Theatre in the Davis Performing Arts Center in the center of Georgetown's campus. Main stage shows are directed, produced, acted, designed largely by students. Often students in large roles such as director, producer, or designer, will have an assistant who they train to be able to perform that role on a future show.

The group also produces "Square Pegs", opportunities for students to get involved in theatre without a large time commitment. These have a much shorter rehearsal process and have minimal technical elements and are often performed in the open air amphitheatre in Red Square or in Bulldog Alley in the Leavey Center.

History

Nomadic was created in 1982 by a group of members from the Mask & Bauble Dramatic Society (M&B) who were tired of the Shakespeare and traditional theatre that M&B was known for.^[2] Their first show was Harvey, about a man who befriends an imaginary giant rabbit.

In 2005 a new building, the Davis Performing Arts Center (DPAC), was constructed. Nomadic and other theatre groups on campus were able to use the advanced scene shop and costume shop for working on their shows, but the building's theatre spaces were to be reserved mainly for faculty directed shows.^[3] However, in March 2006, Nomadic Theatre were able to teamed up with the Department of Performing Arts at Georgetown for the first student production ever staged in the Devine Theatre of the building.^[3][4] In 2007, Nomadic became the first group to have a full-scale, student-run show in the Devine, with Translations. Since then Nomadic has regularly performed in the building.

In the Spring of 2010 members of Nomadic Theatre were instrumental in the organization of Hate-Free Georgetown, a week-long celebration to "promote unity and respect on campus".^[5]

Productions

2013-14:

• Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Dead by Tom Stoppard
• Mouthful of Birds by Caryl Churchill
• pool (no water) by Mark Ravenhill

2012-13:

• Civil War Christmas by Paula Vogel
• The Bald Soprano by Eugène Ionesco
• Polk Street by T. Chase Meacham

2011-12:

• The Deep Blue Sea by Terence Rattigan
• Flu Season by Will Eno

2010-11:

• Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde
• The House of Yes by Wendy MacLeod
• References to Salvador Dalí Make Me Hot by José Rivera

2009-10:

• Getting Out by Marsha Norman
• The Real Thing by Tom Stoppard (collaboration with the Mask & Bauble Dramatic Society^[2])
• The Pain and the Itch by Bruce Norris

2008-9:

• The Clean House by Sarah Ruhl
• The Pillowman by Martin McDonagh

2007-8:

• The Exonerated by Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen
• House of Blue Leaves by John Guare
• Salt Water Moon by David French

2006-7:

• Zoo Story by Edward Albee
• Translations by Brian Friel

2005-6:

• Machinal by Sophie Treadwell
• The Trestle at Pope Lick Creek by Naomi Wallace

References