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.
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
Board Chair - Patricia Langan
Board Vice Chair - Eric Selk
Board Secretary - Sarah Richardson
Board Treasurer - Patrick Littlefield
Board Members - Gillian Drake, Adam R. Hunter, Katherine Lange, Jonathan Rich, Laura Rhodes, Todd Wagnon
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
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.