About Us:

Empty Chair was created to give students of all ages, from the Washington, DC metropolitan area, the opportunity to study and perform Shakespeare outside of the classroom.Due to its highly collaborative design, Empty Chair incorporates students interested in a wide range of theatrical practices. All aspects of each production are created by a team giving students involved a strong sense of pride and accomplishment. These actors, directors and designers come from a wide range of public and private high schools and colleges and range in age from 15-22. Empty Chair's performance goals are to create productions of classic works that encompass the basic principles of early modern theatre (primarily through direct contact with the audience) combined with innovative modern techniques.

History:

Empty Chair Theater Company  was founded in 2007 by Julia Sears and Elizabeth Nearing with the goal of allowing students of all ages to perform Shakespeare. Empty Chair performed a Shakespeare Showcase in June of 2007 and produced Taming of the Shrew in January of 2008.   Empty Chair became incorporated through the state of Virginia in the Spring of 2008, and is pending 501(c)3 non-profit status from the IRS.

Richard III Actors Caroline Brent Michael Van Ness Tilney Brune and Daniel Cackly. Photo  by Leslie Haase.

Empty Chair is planning a future production of an original work by Company Member Matthew Minnicino.  Minnicino's premiere piece is a trilogy based on Queen Elizabeth I and written in  Shakespearean style.  It will be performed with renaissance staging practices.