WASHINGTON, D.C.: Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company has announced two new members of its Connectivity Core Partner Program: Howard University and Supporting and Mentoring Youth Advocates and Leaders (SMYAL). Launched in the 2020-21 season, Woolly’s Core Partner Program aims to sustain reciprocal relationships with organizations that share its values of inclusion, anti-racism, social justice, and the belief in art as a force for civic dialogue and cultural change. These formalized partnerships reflect Woolly’s ongoing commitment to investing deeply in Washington, D.C., and connecting nationally recognized artistry with local impact. These partners join an ecosystem of collaborators that includes Black in Space, Mary Phillips, Miss Chief Rocka, Spit Dat, Strathmore, and Theatre Lab/AICA.
Woolly’s collaboration with Howard University’s Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts formalizes a long-standing relationship with the college’s Department of Theatre Arts. The partnership will create expanded pathways for student engagement, mentorship, and applied work experience within a nationally regarded regional theatre. Through this partnership, Woolly aims to strengthen its role as both a national incubator for new work and a local training ground for the next generation of cultural leaders emerging from this historic HBCU.
“At the Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts, we prepare artist-scholars to lead with both creative excellence and social responsibility,” said Raquel Monroe, Ph.D., dean of the Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts, in a statement. “Woolly Mammoth’s bold producing ethos and commitment to civic dialogue resonate deeply with our mission. This partnership expands meaningful professional pathways for our students while strengthening the cultural ecosystem of Washington, D.C.”
Professor Pat Parks, area coordinator for Howard’s theatre arts administration program and a co-producer on the new Broadway revival of Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, emphasized the significance of this next step. In Parks’ “Arts & Innovation” course, they examine A Strange Loop, which was staged at Woolly before its Broadway transfer and Tony win, as a case study in storytelling and producing.
Founded in 1984, SMYAL has spent more than four decades empowering and supporting LGBTQ+ youth in Washington, D.C. through affirming programs focused on mental health, housing stability, leadership development, and education. Through this partnership, Woolly and SMYAL will create sustained opportunities for queer and trans youth to engage with theatre as a space for creative expression, storytelling, and community-building. The collaboration reflects Woolly’s belief that theatre can be both a mirror and a catalyst—especially for young people navigating identity and belonging.
“SMYAL is thrilled to become a Connectivity Core Partner with Woolly Mammoth, joining forces to spark dialogue, inspire change, and create art that pushes for justice and inclusion. Together, we’re opening doors for LGBTQ+ youth to explore their identities, share their experiences, and express themselves through powerful, transformative storytelling,” said Rebecca York, director of youth development and community engagement at SMYAL, in a statement.
