Live Garra Theatre
presents
NOW'S THE TIME:
A MEETING OF THE MINDS SUMMIT
A play reading series
at the Silver Spring Blackbox Theatre
An advance showing of the 2025-2026 season, Now’s the Time: A Meeting of the Minds Summit delivers storytelling from the top of the mountain.
Each play in the series envisions a time and place of what’s conceivable; a glimpse from the ridge, imagining transformation.
The stories may not solve the enigmas of the human condition but echo the state of affairs. Now’s the time to meet the moment; to stand on the precipice and stare into the face of the abyss.
Playback Theatre, a re-creation of stories focused on bias and marginalization, aids in community healing-- a heartening experience.
Friday, June 13th - Sunday, June 29th 2025
Friendraiser Tickets
1 play reading - $20
2 play readings - $25
3 play readings - $30
Select multiple plays on different days
~~ See you 'round the mountain ~~
The Clothesline Project
deals with the sensitive subject of sexual assault
Live Garra Theatre invites patrons to participate in hand-painting T-shirts expressing words and graphics that speak to their lived experiences. The T-shirts will fly from a clothesline tied throughout the theatre space.
deals with the sensitive subject of sexual assault
Live Garra Theatre invites patrons to participate in hand-painting T-shirts expressing words and graphics that speak to their lived experiences. The T-shirts will fly from a clothesline tied throughout the theatre space.
Shadowbox
By Wanda Whiteside
& Cheryl Butler-Poole
Friday, 6/13/25 (8 pm)
Inspired by the poem, “No Small Voices” written by renowned poet Sonia Sanchez, "Shadowbox" is the weaving of tales about three women and their recollections of a bad date night.
These are no small voices, you hear?!
"If I had known, if I had known you, I would have left my love at home..." -Sonia Sanchez
Monteggia Fracture
By Jack Wibbe
Saturday, 6/14/25 (8 pm)
The story of a woman who is helping victims escape domestic violence;
as she flees from her abusive, very well-connected husband.
By Jack Wibbe
Saturday, 6/14/25 (8 pm)
The story of a woman who is helping victims escape domestic violence;
as she flees from her abusive, very well-connected husband.
Rhinoceros
By Eugene Ionesco
Sunday, 6/15/25 (3 pm)
The story of a small town that is suffering from a ‘rhinoceritis' epidemic. One by one, the inhabitants all turn into rhinoceroses; group think is out of control until only one man remains, determined to fight for humanity.
It is often considered to be a response to the rise of fascism during the 1930s-40s period.
SEE THE FULL PRODUCTION SEPTEMBER 2025!
Parental guidance is advised; adult and controversial themes may be discussed
~~~~ Now's the Time ~~~~
Playback Theatre following the matinee
Sun., 6/15 (5 pm)
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Playback Theatre following the matinee
Sun., 6/15 (5 pm)
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Tea with Michelle
By Louise V. Gray
Thursday, 6/19/25 (8 pm) (Juneteenth)
Friday, 6/20/25 (8 pm)
As a dream sequence in this fantasy drama, “Michelle” has invited four women to the White House. Each of them is a Character representing historic African American women who have contributed to their race and the growth of America.
By Louise V. Gray
Thursday, 6/19/25 (8 pm) (Juneteenth)
Friday, 6/20/25 (8 pm)
As a dream sequence in this fantasy drama, “Michelle” has invited four women to the White House. Each of them is a Character representing historic African American women who have contributed to their race and the growth of America.
CELEBRATE
Caribbean American Heritage
MONTH
Caribbean American Heritage
MONTH
Melting Pot Blues
By C. G. Gardiner
Saturday, 6/21/25 (8 pm)
Set in Washington, DC., Tom Crossdale and his wife, Mavis are immigrants from the fictional country of St. Sabastian. They have two children; Faith and Winston. Tom yearns to return to St. Sabastian. This is a source of tension in the family. Matters come to a head when infidelity enters into the situation.
Rhinoceros
By Eugene Ionesco
Sunday, 6/22/25 (3 pm)
The play is the story of a small town that is suffering from a ‘rhinoceritis' epidemic. One by one, the inhabitants all turn into rhinoceroses; group think is out of control until only one man remains, determined to fight for humanity.
It is often considered to be a response to the rise of fascism during the 1930s-40s period.
SEE THE FULL PRODUCTION SEPTEMBER 2025!
Parental guidance is advised; adult and controversial themes may be discussed
~~~~ Now's the Time ~~~~
Playback Theatre following the matinee
Sun., 6/22 (5 pm)
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Playback Theatre following the matinee
Sun., 6/22 (5 pm)
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Blue Streak Week
The Misfortune of Kings
By Thomas Mason, Jr.
Friday, 6/27/25 (8 pm)
Johnny Williams a rising, African American baseball superstar, is forced into a desperate struggle with the president of the Red Hawks baseball team Charles McDaniels, when he learns his friend and mentor Sam Lacy who is about to be let go.
Rhinoceros (encore)
Saturday, 6/28 (8 pm)
SEE THE FULL PRODUCTION SEPTEMBER 2025!
Saturday, 6/28 (8 pm)
SEE THE FULL PRODUCTION SEPTEMBER 2025!
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Melting Pot Blues (encore)
Sunday, 6/29 (3 pm)
Sunday, 6/29 (3 pm)
~~~~ Now's the Time ~~~~
Playback Theatre following the matinee
Sun., 6/29 (5 pm)
Playback Theatre following the matinee
Sun., 6/29 (5 pm)
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Playback Theatre: A Community Heartening Experience
Post-show discussion following Sunday matinees
Playback Theatre invites the audience to tell a moment from their life, and then watch the re-creation of their stories with improvised scenes; focused on issues of racial bias and marginalization with artistic shape and nuance.
Playback Theatre encourages story-sharing to find connections between stories, fostering meaningful dialogue through shared understandings or experiences. It allows the storyteller to see his or her personal stories from different perspectives.
Playback Theatre Story-Sharing Conversations
Sun., 6/15 (5 pm)
Sun., 6/22 (5 pm)
Sun., 6/29 (5 pm)
Playback Theatre: A Community Heartening Experience
Post-show discussion following Sunday matinees
Playback Theatre invites the audience to tell a moment from their life, and then watch the re-creation of their stories with improvised scenes; focused on issues of racial bias and marginalization with artistic shape and nuance.
Playback Theatre encourages story-sharing to find connections between stories, fostering meaningful dialogue through shared understandings or experiences. It allows the storyteller to see his or her personal stories from different perspectives.
Playback Theatre Story-Sharing Conversations
Sun., 6/15 (5 pm)
Sun., 6/22 (5 pm)
Sun., 6/29 (5 pm)
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MONTGOMERY MAGAZINE ON STAGE
LIVE GARRA MAKES THEATER WITH PERSISTENCE
BY LISA TRAIGER
MONTGOMERY MAGAZINE ON STAGE
LIVE GARRA MAKES THEATER WITH PERSISTENCE
BY LISA TRAIGER
"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"
