Whenever the history of Washington is told Mount Vernon Place Church and the Mount Vernon Players must be included.

In October 1936, live theater in this city consisted of touring companies stopping at the National Theater. That changed when the great Shakespearean actor Edward P. Mangum attended a one act play being presented in the sanctuary of Mount Vernon Place UMC, and stayed to become the managing director of the players. With the help of Dr W. Rustin this theatrical group grew and prospered. By 1947 there were more than 150 Catholics, Protestants, and Jews working together to present family theater before integrated audiences. They call themselves the Mount Vernon Players. Nowhere else in the Nation's Capital at this time had this occurred. Unmentionable!…How dare they? …. Hey, not a bad idea!…It worked!

When Arena Stage opened August 16, 1950, across Mt Vernon Square in the old Hippodrome Theater, every member of the staff-backstage and front-of-the-house had had years of training and experience with the Mount Vernon Players. It can be said that, for all practical purposes, Arena Stage is an outgrowth of the Mount Vernon Players.

The players have continued to present quality Community Theater and to train actors and technicians since its conception. Many alumnae have gone onto careers on theater and television.

We are looking for talented and ambitious theater and musical-theater candidates who are interested in earning credits towards their degrees. We need future artists whose strengths and interests are in the following categories:

SET AND LIGHTING DESIGN SET
	CONSTRUCTION
	STAGE MANAGING
	SALES ASSISTANT TO DIRECTOR
	THEATER ADMINISTRATION
	PUBLIC RELATIONS
	ASSISTANT TO CONDUCTOR
	CHOREOGRAPHY
	SOUND AND VIDEO
	COSTUME DESIGN
LEARN AND APPLY YOUR CRAFT AND RECEIVE COLLEGE CREDITS