A candle in the window gave them respite - hush, a 'safe-house'.
They endured, they lived Garra ...

PAY WHAT YOU MAY AT THE DOOR

MISSION

Live Garra Theatre, Inc endeavors to employ the cultural arts as a way to address universal social-life issues; to illuminate all facets of a multicultural society; fostering cross-cultural understanding of the many ethnic voices in the community; reinforcing the value of diversity, strengthening the social connections among people. 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.

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, as well as providing a 'safe harbor' for the youth. Live Garra Theatre aspires to fill the void of culturally specific Theatre, preserving the unique legacy of the African-American heritage and contribute to the survival of Black Theatre.

Live Garra Theatre is back

The return of the performing arts is back!
We’re in the theatre space; we’re at the theatre place, the Silver Spring Black Box and we're in-person:
​LIVE!

FOR THE SAFETY OF EVERYONE
All Patrons Must Wear Masks During the Performance and
Provide Proof of Full Vaccination

Our Sincerest Thanks!!

We are in uncharted waters; transitioning slowly, but deliberately; seamlessly - starting with zoom play read throughs and community talk-backs. We’re inviting patrons to experience live theatre again and as the saying goes: "the show MUST go on."

And we’re putting the show on; it’ll be just how we remember it used to be; great storytelling, tears, laughter, lights, costumes, sets and action. New on the playbill: masks, social distancing and vaccinations.

About our Artistic Director

Wanda Whiteside is the Artistic Director of Live Garra Theatre; she 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 was a judge for the NAACP Actso competitions for two years and presenter at the University of Maryland Black Theatre Symposium on the state of Black Theatre in America.

Wanda earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Arts from Howard University, a Master of Science in Business Management, and will receive her Doctorate of Education in Leadership for Change from Fielding Graduate University in 2022. She is a founding Board member of the Theatre Consortium of Silver Spring, Inc. and the Silver Spring Town Center, Inc., of which she is currently on the Advisory Board. Wanda was employed at Discovery Communications, Inc. for 15 years as a Director/Editor. Wanda and her husband, Arthur Seaman owned and operated the Bonifant Theatre Space in Silver Spring, MD.