Congratulations to one of the newest property owners in DowntownDC: the Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company (641 D Street). After more than eight years at its current location, the company purchased the 30,000 square foot, 265-seat theatre in May, making it a permanent fixture in Downtown.
In many ways, however, the purchase began years earlier, in 1998. That’s when Woolly partnered with JPI Apartment Development LP to develop a city, block-sized parcel between 6th and 7th streets and D and E streets. The mixed-use development included 428 residential units, retail, parking, and a state-of-the-art theatre. JPI gave Woolly a $1-per-year lease and the theatre shell at no charge. The company completed a $9 million, “Breaking New Ground” capital campaign to support the interior build-out and inhabitance costs. The rest, as they say, is history.
Indeed. When Woolley moved to the BID, it had a full-time staff of 13, an annual budget of $1.8 million, and presented 167 performances during the 2004-05 season for 21,132 patrons. Today, the theatre company employs 24 full-time staff members, has an annual budget of nearly $4 million, and presented 224 performances for 42,378 patrons during the 2011-12 season. It is also the recipient of 103 Helen Hayes Awards nominations and 20 awards over this period of time.
With the purchase done, Woolley can now focus more on another project: “Free the Beast!,” a $4 million fundraising campaign to support producing 25 new plays over the next 10 years—something it does very well.