The Studio District thrives. Drawn by the bold, intelligent stories that unfold in our intimate theatres, Washington’s trendsetters spill out into the neighborhood, filling the popular restaurants, social hot spots and acclaimed galleries that surround our four-theatre complex. Our neighbors are an eclectic mix of young professionals, offbeat artists, urban pioneers and long-time area residents. At bustling local shops and music joints, they rub shoulders with The Studio Theatre’s own team of nationally known theatre artists.

The Studio District’s history is marked by change. In the late 1800s, it was one of Washington’s most fashionable neighborhoods. In the early twentieth century, the Logan Circle neighborhood became the social, intellectual and artistic heart of black Washington. A burgeoning cultural mecca with a bohemian reputation, it was home to an astounding mix of writers, musicians, architects and even athletes. The birth of the automobile transformed Fourteenth Street. With the advent of the car, a new kind of architecture emerged, as garages and showrooms replaced the older mercantile buildings.

The area fell into disrepair in the 1950s, and it became the flashpoint for rioting after the 1968 assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. But since its founding in 1978, The Studio Theatre has called this neighborhood home, and the theatre has been a major force behind its transformation and rebirth. After two years in a shared studio space, Founding Artistic Director Joy Zinoman and Resident Scenic Designer Russell Metheny created a 110-seat theatre in a local warehouse that had once been used to store hot-dog vending carts. In 1987, they brought the theatre to 1333 P Street NW, a former Peerless and REO automobile showroom. In 2004, The Studio Theatre opened its newly renovated and expanded complex, which stands as a proud symbol of the bright future that awaits this historic neighborhood.

The Studio Theatre continues to anchor and enrich this neighborhood. Its bold artistic programming has earned it a national reputation for producing the very best in contemporary theatre. The Studio Theatre includes a second producing wing, The Studio Theatre Secondstage, which creates its own slate of daring, unconventional theatre. The Studio Theatre also offers professional training through its Acting Conservatory. The Acting Conservatory is the oldest and most renowned institution of its kind in the area. The Studio Theatre’s commitment to artistic excellence serves both the nation’s capitol and the unique neighborhood that it calls home.

To read more about The Studio Theatre's rapidly evolving neighborhood, link to these area community associations and virtual tours:

• Logan Circle Community Association
• Dupont Circle Citizens Association
• Washingtonpost.com Virtual Tour: Dupont Circle
• Washingtonpost.com Virtual Tour: U Street