Live Garra Theatre
presents
COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS
AT THE BLACK BOX IN 2025!
presents
COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS
AT THE BLACK BOX IN 2025!
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Dr. Whiteside, Professor Quarles, Dr. Quarles
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PLAYBACK THEATRE
inspires story-sharing to find bonds between stories. The audience is invited to share a situation focused on racial bias and issues of marginalization, and actors improvise and re-enact the scene-
they play it back!
RACIAL HEALING STORY CIRCLES
Practice KWANZAA principles year-round with community forums - Umoja (unity) that foster meaningful dialogue to bring about racial healing - Nia (purpose), through collective experiences - Ujima (collective work and responsibility) which lets the storyteller see his or her story up on stage - Kujichagulia (self-determination) and view it from a different perspective through the lens of Playback Theatre - Kuumba (creativity)!
APRIL 2025
Imani (faith)
PAY WHAT YOU MAY
Ujamaa (cooperative economics)
Parental guidance is advised; adult and controversial themes may be discussed.
inspires story-sharing to find bonds between stories. The audience is invited to share a situation focused on racial bias and issues of marginalization, and actors improvise and re-enact the scene-
they play it back!
RACIAL HEALING STORY CIRCLES
Practice KWANZAA principles year-round with community forums - Umoja (unity) that foster meaningful dialogue to bring about racial healing - Nia (purpose), through collective experiences - Ujima (collective work and responsibility) which lets the storyteller see his or her story up on stage - Kujichagulia (self-determination) and view it from a different perspective through the lens of Playback Theatre - Kuumba (creativity)!
APRIL 2025
Imani (faith)
PAY WHAT YOU MAY
Ujamaa (cooperative economics)
Parental guidance is advised; adult and controversial themes may be discussed.
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MONTGOMERY MAGAZINE ON STAGE
LIVE GARRA MAKES THEATER WITH PERSISTENCE
BY LISA TRAIGER
(3/1/24)
MONTGOMERY MAGAZINE ON STAGE
LIVE GARRA MAKES THEATER WITH PERSISTENCE
BY LISA TRAIGER
(3/1/24)
"GARRA IS A PORTUGUESE WORD for the curved or hooked claw of a bird of prey or animal. And it’s an unexpected name for a theater company. But after spending some time with Silver Springbased actor, producer and educator Wanda Whiteside it becomes clear why she chose the name Live Garra Theatre, with its mission to 'illuminate all facets of a multicultural society and to preserve the unique legacy of the African American heritage.'” - L. Traiger
The Window King
A Brooklyn Village Songbook
A Brooklyn Village Songbook
Welcome to Live Garra Theatre!
OUR MISSION
The word "garra" literally means claws—to hold on, and to ‘live Garra’ (Portuguese for prevail) means to go the distance and never give up. The organization exists to Illuminate all facets of a multicultural society, foster cross-cultural understanding of the many voices in the community, and fill the void of culturally specific Theatre. Live Garra Theatre endeavors to effectuate change and positively impact the diverse communities in and around the Silver Spring and DMV areas.
OUR VISION
As a resident Company of the Theatre Consortium of Silver Spring, the organization operates out of the Silver Spring Black Box Theatre as a performance training studio, an incubator for a core repertory of skilled poets, playwrights, and artists coming together to teach and share a blend of the cultural arts. Live Garra Theatre features full-length productions, play readings, acting seminars, internships, workshops, lectures, and question and answer discussions.
OUR CORE VALUES
To employ the cultural arts to address universal social-life issues. Reinforce the value of diversity, strengthen the social connections among people, as well as provide a 'safe harbor' for the youth. Live Garra Theatre is dedicated to increasing awareness, preserving the unique legacy of the African-American heritage; contributing to the survival of Black Theatre.
OUR QUINTESSENCE
The haunting Negro Spiritual, 'Follow the Drinking Gourd' was sung by slaves in the South to pass along secret directions to runaways who journeyed on the Underground Railroad. The Big Dipper constellation; the drinking gourd in the sky that points North, guided African-Americans' ancestors through dark dangerous pathways that ran throughout places like Maryland; a candle in the window gave them respite - hush, a 'safe-house'. They endured, they lived Garra until they saw the light of liberty. “Children, if you get tired, keep going; if you are scared, keep going; if you are hungry, keep going; if you want to taste freedom ... keep going.” - Harriet Tubman
Why Black Lives Matter ...
The word "garra" literally means claws—to hold on, and to ‘live Garra’ (Portuguese for prevail) means to go the distance and never give up. The organization exists to Illuminate all facets of a multicultural society, foster cross-cultural understanding of the many voices in the community, and fill the void of culturally specific Theatre. Live Garra Theatre endeavors to effectuate change and positively impact the diverse communities in and around the Silver Spring and DMV areas.
OUR VISION
As a resident Company of the Theatre Consortium of Silver Spring, the organization operates out of the Silver Spring Black Box Theatre as a performance training studio, an incubator for a core repertory of skilled poets, playwrights, and artists coming together to teach and share a blend of the cultural arts. Live Garra Theatre features full-length productions, play readings, acting seminars, internships, workshops, lectures, and question and answer discussions.
OUR CORE VALUES
To employ the cultural arts to address universal social-life issues. Reinforce the value of diversity, strengthen the social connections among people, as well as provide a 'safe harbor' for the youth. Live Garra Theatre is dedicated to increasing awareness, preserving the unique legacy of the African-American heritage; contributing to the survival of Black Theatre.
OUR QUINTESSENCE
The haunting Negro Spiritual, 'Follow the Drinking Gourd' was sung by slaves in the South to pass along secret directions to runaways who journeyed on the Underground Railroad. The Big Dipper constellation; the drinking gourd in the sky that points North, guided African-Americans' ancestors through dark dangerous pathways that ran throughout places like Maryland; a candle in the window gave them respite - hush, a 'safe-house'. They endured, they lived Garra until they saw the light of liberty. “Children, if you get tired, keep going; if you are scared, keep going; if you are hungry, keep going; if you want to taste freedom ... keep going.” - Harriet Tubman
Why Black Lives Matter ...
Supported in part by
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About our Artistic Producer
Dr. Whiteside accepts ISI Fellow award
Dr. Whiteside has been conferred with the designation Fellow for Institute for Social Innovation at Fielding Graduate University. As a recipient of the prestigious Dianne Kipnes Social Innovation Award; she will advance her work as a researcher-practitioner, conducting an ongoing workshop series that incorporates Playback Theatre, a performance exercise that invites the audience to participate in the creation of improvised scenes focused on racial bias and issues of marginalization.
Dr. Whiteside trained at the Boston Conservatory of Music, HB Actor's Studio and Usdan Center for the Creative and Performing Arts in New York. She has performed professionally at the Olney Theatre Center, the Arena Stage and the Round House Theatre. She served as a judge for the NAACP ACT-SO competitions and presenter at the University of Maryland Black Theatre Symposium on the state of Black Theatre in America. Dr. Whiteside had a 15-year tenure as a Director/Editor at Discovery Communications, Inc. She and her husband owned and operated the Bonifant Theatre Space in Silver Spring, MD, which served as the Zora Neale Hurston Stage for the DC Black Theatre Festival.
Wanda earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Arts from Howard University. She received a Master of Science in Business Management from Strayer University and holds a Master’s degree and Doctorate of Education in Leadership for Change, both from Fielding Graduate University. Wanda is currently a faculty member at Montgomery College as an Acting instructor. Dr. Whiteside received an Honorable Citation from the Maryland State House of Delegates for her work with the Silver Spring Town Center, Inc., of which she is a founding member and advisory board member. Dr. Whiteside is a founding member and current ex-officio board member of the Theatre Consortium of Silver Spring, Inc. She was awarded Montgomery’s Best Honoree Community Service award. Dr. Whiteside believes "Artistry is the insatiable desire to be free"-w.
“Respecting Race and Recognizing Racism through Playback Theatre"
