About PCP

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Port City Playhouse - Our History:

Port City Playhouse was organized in 1977 with the intention of being an innovative theater group. Our seasons are geared to the type of productions that challenge and stimulate audiences. We present plays that illustrate the cultural diversity of our society and attempt to convey a strong message to the play-going public. Furthermore, we select plays that, because of their subject matter, may bring people to the theater who may never have attended a live performance before. Our goal is to present a season of challenging plays which meets the needs of a diverse audience. We select plays that are either premieres, or have not been produced in the area in five years.

The Port City Mission

Port City Playhouse's mission is to produce theater: a living art form of cultural concern intended to be witnessed. Of the many varieties of theater, Port City Playhouse concentrates on producing theater which has thematic urgency. Whether contemporary or universal, we strive to select plays which rarely or never have been performed in our community, or plays of such historical importance they should be performed. We embrace the philosophy of stimulating and provoking thought among our audience. We believe in the uniqueness of the theatrical experience, and therefore, attempt theatrical productions which provoke thought and conversation.

The Port City History

Founded in 1977 by an enthusiastic and talented band of performers and backers with an artistic vision different from the only other competition in the neighborhood - the Little Theater of Alexandria- Port City's first show, Ninotchka, opened at the Puppet Theater (known later as the Richmond Theater) on King Street to an inaugural gala audience to which the Mayor and City Council were invited. That first season (1977-78) saw no less than six more productions mounted including the long-running Broadway winner, "The Fantastics." Unfazed by the enormous challenges of staging shows in a puppet theater, the founders took on major musicals like "South Pacific" and "Man of LaMancha."

When the Richmond Theater lease ran out, Port City negotiated performing space at the Minnie Howard school where musicals like "Guys and Dolls" and thought-provoking comedy like "Boys In the Band" won public acclaim. The Minnie Howard years came to a close when Port City moved to the scaled-down performance space at T.C. Williams Career Center auditorium, where small sets and small casts helped to redefine its vision as a theater devoted to staging non-musicals with themes generally more "cutting edge," such as the award winning show, "No Exit," "BecauseHeCan" & "Suddenly Last Summer."

On September 14, 2002 PCP celebrated their 25th Anniversary with a Gala at the George Washington Masonic National Memorial in Alexandria. The 25th Anniversary season opened with an adaptation by playwright and drama critic Walter Kerr of Aristophanes’ classic comedy, The Birds.

Port City moved into its current location at the Lee Center for the Performing Arts with the second show of the 2002-3 season, The Waverly Gallery. Port City is supported by their volunteer members & supporters. To help Port City please consider a generous donation of your time or financial support.

The Port City Community

Port City is a member of the following organizations:

NVTA -- Northern Virginia Theatre Alliance -- Publishes annual calendar of audition and performance dates of member companies in Northern Virginia & Greater Washington and sponsors a one-act play festival in the Center Stage at the Reston Community Center.

AACT -- American Association of Community Theaters -- The national voice of community theatre

WATCH -- Washington Area Theatre Community Honors -- Founded for the adjudication and presentation of annual awards recognizing artistic and technical excellence in community theatre throughout the metropolitan Washington, D.C. area