Constellation Theatre Company is a non-profit theater company located in Washington, D.C., performing at the Source Theatre, a black box theatre. Since its founding in 2007, Constellation has received several Helen Hayes Awards, including the John Aniello Award for Outstanding Emerging Theatre Company in 2009.
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.
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
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 Note: Eurydice was announced but cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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 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 The Ramayana (remount) Arms and the Man Blood Wedding Metamorphoses
2010–2011 Season Women Beware Women On The Razzle The Green Bird
2009–2010 Season A Flea in Her Ear Three Sisters The Ramayana
2008–2009 Season Temptation The Marriage of Figaro Crazyface
2007–2008 Season A Dream Play by August Strindberg adapted by Caryl Churchill The Arabian Nights by Mary Zimmerman The Good Woman of Setzuan 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. 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".
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.
+ Helen Hayes Awards Year Category Recipient(s) Results 2024 Outstanding Set Design - HELEN Sarah Reed, The School for Lies Outstanding Ensemble in a Play - HELEN The School For Lies Outstanding Costume Design - HELEN Frank Labovitz, The School for Lies 2023 Outstanding Production in a Musical - HELEN Once On This Island Outstanding Musical Direction - HELEN Elisa Rosman & Refiye Tappan, Once On This Island Outstanding Direction in a Musical - HELEN Angelisa Gillyard, Once On This Island Outstanding Choreography in a Musical - HELEN Maurice Johnson, Once on This Island 2020 Outstanding Supporting Performer in a Musical - HELEN Marty Austin Lamar, Little Shop of Horrors Alana Thomas, Little Shop of Horrors Chani Wereley, Little Shop of Horrors Outstanding Sound Design - HELEN Tom Teasley & Chao Tian, The White Snake Outstanding Set Design - HELEN A.J. Guban, "Little Shop of Horrors" Outstanding Production in a Musical - HELEN Little Shop of Horrors Outstanding Musical Direction - HELEN Walter "Bobby" McCoy, Little Shop of Horrors Outstanding Lead Performer in a Musical - HELEN Christian Montgomery, Little Shop of Horrors Outstanding Ensemble in a Musical - HELEN Little Shop of Horrors Outstanding Direction in a Musical - HELEN Nick Martin, Little Shop of Horrors Outstanding Costume Design- HELEN Frank Labovitz, Little Shop of Horrors Outstanding Choreography in a Musical- HELEN Ilona Kessell, Little Shop of Horrors 2019 Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical - HELEN Da'von Moody, Aida Outstanding Sound Design - HELEN Gordon Nimmo-Smith (Sound Designer), Brian Lotter & Matthew Schleigh (Composers), The Caucasian Chalk Circle Outstanding Set Design - HELEN A.J. Guban, The Caucasian Chalk Circle Outstanding Production in a Play - HELEN Melancholy Play: A Contemporary Farce Outstanding Musical Direction - HELEN Walter "Bobby" McCoy, Aida Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play - HELEN Tonya Beckman, The Skin of Our Teeth Billie Krishawn, Melancholy Play: A Contemporary Farce Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical - HELEN Shayla Simmons, Aida Outstanding Ensemble in a Play - HELEN Melancholy Play: A Contemporary Farce Outstanding Direction in a Play - HELEN Nick Martin, Melancholy Play: A Contemporary Farce Outstanding Costume Design - HELEN Kelsey Hunt, The Caucasian Chalk Circle James MacArthur Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Play - HELEN Scott Abernathy, The Caucasian Chalk Circle 2018 Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical - HELEN Kari Ginsburg, The Wild Party Outstanding Sound Design - HELEN Justin Schmitz, The Wild Party Tom Teasley, The Arabian Nights Outstanding Set Design - HELEN Tony Cisek, The Wild Party A.J. Guban, The Arabian Nights Outstanding Production in a Musical - HELEN The Wild Party Outstanding Musical Direction - HELEN Walter "Bobby" McCoy, The Wild Party Outstanding Lighting Design - HELEN A.J. Guban, The Wild Party Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play - HELEN Megan Graves, Peter and the Starcatcher Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical - HELEN Jimmy Mavrikes, The Wild Party Outstanding Ensemble in a Play - HELEN Peter and the Starcatcher Outstanding Ensemble in a Musical - HELEN The Wild Party Outstanding Direction in a Musical - HELEN Allison Arkell Stockman, The Wild Party Outstanding Costume Design - HELEN Erik Teague, The Arabian Nights Erik Teague, The Wild Party Outstanding Choreography in a Musical - HELEN Ilona Kessell, The Wild Party James MacArthur Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Play - HELEN Jordan Campbell, Peter and the Starcatcher Matt Dewberry, Peter and the Starcatcher Alex Vernon, Peter and the Starcatcher 2017 Robert Prosky Award for Outstanding Lead Actors in a Play - HELEN Dallas Tolentino, Journey to the West Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Play - HELEN Justine Icy Moral, Journey to the West Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical - HELEN Jenna Berk, Urinetown Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical - HELEN Matt Dewberry, Urinetown Outstanding Sound Design - HELEN Palmer Hefferan, Equus Tom Teasley, Journey to the West Outstanding Set Design - HELEN A.J. Guban, Journey to the West Outstanding Play - HELEN Equus Outstanding Musical - HELEN Urinetown Outstanding Musical Direction - HELEN Urinetown Outstanding Lighting Design - HELEN Colin K. Bills, Journey to the West Outstanding Direction, Musical - HELEN Allison Arkell Stockman, Urinetown Outstanding Costume Design - HELEN Kendra Rai, Journey to the West Outstanding Choreography, Musical - HELEN Ilona Kessel, Urinetown James MacArthur Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Play - HELEN Ryan Tumulty, Journey to the West 2016 Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Musical - HELEN Jenna Berk, Avenue Q Justine Icy Moral, Avenue Q Emily Zickler, Avenue Q Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical - HELEN Mikey Cafarelli, Avenue Q Vaughn Ryan Midder, Avenue Q Outstanding Sound Design - HELEN Tom Teasley, The Fire and The Rain Outstanding Musical - HELEN Avenue Q Outstanding Musical Direction - HELEN Jack Null, Avenue Q Outstanding Lighting Design - HELEN A.J. Guban, Avenue Q Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical - HELEN Katy Carkuff, Avenue Q Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical - HELEN Matt Dewberry, Avenue Q Outstanding Ensemble in a Musical - HELEN Avenue Q Outstanding Director of a Musical - HELEN Allison Arkell Stockman, Avenue Q Outstanding Costume Design - HELEN Kara Waala, Avenue Q Outstanding Choreography in a Play - HELEN Casey Kaleba & Matthew R. Wilson, The Lieutenant of Inishmore Outstanding Choreography in a Musical - HELEN Rachel Leigh Dolan, Avenue Q 2015 Outstanding Sound Design - HELEN Tom Teasley, The Love of the Nightingale 2014 Outstanding Set Design, Resident Production A.J. Guban, 36 Views Outstanding Lighting Design, Resident Production A.J. Guban, 36 Views 2013 The James MacArthur Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor, Resident Play Matthew Aldwin McGee, Taking Steps 2012 Outstanding Sound Design, Resident Production Tom Teasley, Green Bird Outstanding Costume Design, Resident Production Kendra Rai, Green Bird 2011 Outstanding Sound Design, Resident Production Tom Teasley, The Ramayana 2010 Outstanding Sound Design, Resident Production Tom Teasley, Crazyface
The Constellation Theatre Company was nominated for the following Audience Choice Awards 2008 Crazyface (Favorite Ensemble) 2009 Three Sisters (Favorite Plays, Favorite Actress in a Play) 2013 Taking Steps (Best Play, Best Actor in a Play), Zorro (Best Ensemble Cast, Best Actor in a Play)
Costume Designer Kendra Rai was awarded a 2014 Princess Grace Foundation honorarium to be used for the company's 2014–2015 season costumes
See also
Helen Hayes Award List of theaters in Washington, D.C.
References