Spooky Action Theater takes its name from a phenomenon of quantum mechanics, which Einstein called "spooky action at a distance": two particles, without ever touching, become entangled, so that a change in one is mirrored by change in the other. Spooky Action links artists and audiences in a shared act of imagination that leaves all parties transformed. As one of only a few immigrant-led theaters in the DMV area, we pursue empathetic resonance through staging and developing groundbreaking plays by diverse writers from across the globe that uplift our shared humanity and foster solidarity. Our education programs offer pathways to the profession for historically marginalized youth and empower students to confidently express themselves. We partner with mission-aligned organizations around vital themes, global conversations, and social impact.
First established in 2004 by Richard Henrich, Spooky Action spent its early years as an itinerant company performing across the DMV area. In 2010, SAT reached a game-changing agreement with the Universalist National Memorial Church to renovate its downstairs auditorium into a performance space that holds 75 seats. We designed and built a versatile black box that accommodates multiple seating and staging configurations to offer a range of possibilities for vibrant theatrical encounters. Since then, our theater has gained recognition among the theater community as "DC's most exciting worldbuilders" (UnProfessional Opinion). Our productions are regularly reviewed and featured in The Washington Post, Washington City Paper, MD Theatre Guide, and DC Theatre Arts, among others. Our audiences have grown and diversified and we have contributed to the artistic development of emerging, local writers and theater artists throughout our 22 years of history. Over our history, we have garnered a series of Helen Hayes recommendations, awards, and nominations, and steady support from donors and foundations. The theater reached another milestone in 2022, when the founding artistic director retired and the Board of Directors conducted a national leadership search for a successor. They hired Elizabeth Dinkova, a Bulgarian immigrant and Yale-trained director, who believes theater is a pathway for emotional connection and social change. Since the start of her tenure in March '23, she has consistently raised the profile of SAT by engaging with other theater leaders and pursuing excellence in artistry through her local, national, and international connections. In August 2023, she led negotiations that resulted in signing an unprecedented 7-year lease with the UNMC, ensuring SAT's longevity in the heart of DC.
Elizabeth Dinkova (she/her) is a Bulgarian director, adaptor, and collaborative creator who explores alternative realities at the intersection of theater, film, and music in pursuit of communal transformation. She became the Artistic Director of Spooky Action Theater in 2023. In 2021-22, she was an Associate Artistic Director of 7 Stages Theatre, Atlanta's hub for boundary-pushing international theater. She is a two-time Arts and Humanities DCCAH fellow, a TheatreWashington mentor, an alum of the Alliance Theatre's Artistic Leadership fellowship, the Studio Theatre's Artistic Apprenticeship, and the MFA Directing program at the Yale School of Drama. Recent projects include Salome (Heartbeat Opera, NYT Critics' Pick), The Dragon (Helen Hayes Awards Nomination for Outstanding Adaptation), Professor Woland's Black Magic Rock Show (Helen Hayes Awards Nomination for Outstanding Direction and 5 Helen Hayes Awards, including Outstanding Production), Lucy Juggles, and Frontiéres Sans Frontiéres (Spooky Action Theater), The Berlin Diaries (Theater J), Dead Inside (Associate Director, Wooly Mammoth), Hamlet and Coriolanus (Shakespeare in the Woods). Elizabeth has taught acting, directing, devising, and musical theater at the Toronto Metropolitan University, University of California Riverside, Quinnipiac University, and Queens College CUNY. www.elizabethdinkova.com
Artistic Director - Elizabeth Dinkova
Associate Artistic Director and Director of New Works - Gillian Drake
Business and Production Manager - Anderson Molina
Press Coordinator and Company Manager - Michael Kyrioglou
Administrative Manager - Youri Kim
Patricia E. Langan
Board Chair
Patricia E. Langan is a senior nonprofit executive. Running projects in Africa, the Mid East and Asia with the World Bank and international nonprofits such as Save the Children, she supported economic empowerment and rights for women and youth. She partnered with international corporations and foundations and bilateral donors and raised more than $20 million, impacting more than 200,000 people. Patricia currently is a principal of Consulting for a Better World (CBW) where she advises women-led enterprises, helps local and international non-profits gain more supporters and run more effectively, and invests as an impact angel. CBW addresses the critical global issues of labor abuse and environmental damage in the fashion industry through the community Patricia founded, Women for Women’s Wear, which helps American women find ethical and sustainable fashion designed/made by women. A graduate of Brown University and the Harvard Kennedy School, where she was a member of their respective repertory modern dance companies, she has lived in Japan, Ukraine and Ethiopia. She has served as an officer on multiple local and national nonprofit boards. A perfect day for her is rehearsing new choreography as part of the regional dance company of which she is a member!
Eric Selk
Board Vice Chair
Eric Selk has lived in Washington DC for nearly 20 years after moving here from Nebraska where he was a Theatre Professor at Doane College for 15 years. During that time, he also freelanced with several Off-Broadway theatres as both a Scenic Designer, Scenic Painter and an Equity Stage Manager. His New York experience includes Queens Theatre in the Park, Abingdon Theatre and the Julliard School. Since moving to DC, Eric was the Executive Director for the Hope Now Alliance, and most recently Vice President at Lakeview Loan Servicing, managing an extensive Federal Mortgage Assistance program. Eric is a member of Theatre Washington and in 2014 won First Place in the City-Wide Championship with District Karaoke. Bring it!
Sarah Richardson
Board Secretary
Sarah Richardson is a lifelong theatre and arts supporter, with a passion for the power of creative expression. Sarah is currently Executive Director of Policy at Morgan Health, a division of JPMorgan Chase, and has focused her career on policy, strategy, innovation, and customer engagement to improve the health system. She previously served on the board of Minneapolis Musical Theatre, which was dedicated to providing access to high quality yet affordable works of musical theatre never before - or very rarely - seen by Twin Cities audiences. Sarah holds a BA in Anthropology from Wellesley College, and an MBA/MPH from the University of Michigan. She resides in Washington, DC with her Shih Tzu Gunny, and the occasional foster dog!
Patrick Littlefield
Board Treasurer
Patrick retired recently from Deloitte where he worked in the strategy, healthcare, and innovation practices, focusing primarily on large Federal Agencies such as the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense. A seasoned entrepreneur, Patrick has spent much of his career working in the emerging capabilities space. Prior to joining Deloitte in 2019, Patrick served for five years as the Executive Director of the Veterans Affairs Center for Innovation (VACI) where he managed a $50M portfolio. Under Patrick’s watch VA made substantial investments in mental health, pharmacy, audiology services, clinical operations, quality and safety, cardiology, and suicide prevention. Notable achievements include the introduction of Human Centered Design practices to VA, the development of the VA Innovators Network, and the development of H.R. 2288, the Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2017.
In 2003, Patrick founded WaveMark, Inc., a provider of real time application services to healthcare systems and to global medical device manufacturers and an early example of a cloud-based IoT company. Patrick holds degrees in Music Composition from Harvard University and the New England Conservatory of Music. He has recently returned to Washington following a run for Congress in Massachusetts.
Jonathan Rich
Board Member
Jonathan Rich is a retired antitrust lawyer. Jon began his career clerking for the Chief Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court. He then joined the Antitrust Division of the United States Department of Justice, where he was the Assistant Chief of the Communications and Finance Section. After service in the Antitrust Division, Jon was a partner at Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP for more than 25 years. At Morgan Lewis, Jon handled multiple matters involving the performing arts.
Terry Quist
Board Member
Terry Quist is a senior civilian intelligence officer in the Joint Intelligence Directorate of National Guard Bureau in Arlington, Virginia. He retired from 30 years of uniformed service as an Army intelligence officer in 2015 after a diverse career spanning tactical intelligence, counterintelligence, linguist management, and strategic duties with the Defense Intelligence Agency and the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence. He received a B.A. from the Plan II Liberal Arts Honors Program at the University of Texas, summa cum laude with special honors in Philosophy, an M.A. in Political Science from Harvard University, an M.S. in Strategic Intelligence from the National Intelligence University, and an M.S. in Public Leadership from the Olin Business School at Washington University St. Louis in conjunction with the Brookings Institution. He taught political philosophy and Russian politics as a Teaching Fellow and Instructor in the Harvard Government Department for eight years, and he currently serves as an Adjunct Lecturer in Intelligence Studies at Georgetown University. DC Theatre is his primary avocation. He is a theatre patron and an occasional dramaturg.
Adam R. Hunter
Board Member and Chair Emeritus
Board Members
Gillian Drake, Laura Rhodes, Todd Wagnon
At Spooky Action, we center connection in all our activities - across life experiences, identities, cultures, and backgrounds. We pursue inclusion and representation onstage and off, from programming choices to hiring decisions. One of the only immigrant-run companies in the DMV, we employ artists, staff members, and contractors from diverse backgrounds, ethnicities, immigration statuses, and gender identities; we champion plays that feature a range of cultures and experiences; we lower barriers to audience access (physical, logistical, and economic). Over the last two years, SAT made major strides in improving the facilities inside our historic building to make them accessible for patrons with mobility needs. SAT is close to completion on a construction project, supported through a Capital Projects Grant by the DC Commission of Arts and Humanities, to make our basement performance space accessible to patrons and artists with mobility needs. We are also integrating captioned performances into the runs of our shows.