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Rachel Grossman

Rachel (she) is a director, devised theatre artist, collaborative playwright, performer, producer and facilitator, lover of beets and brussels sprouts, action movies, dogs, infographics and the color pink.

Rachel is a director, devised theatre artist, collaborative playwright, performer, playwright, producer, engagement strategist, and advocate/activist based in Washington, DC. As of 2019 (among other things), Rachel’s writing and co-writing a number of new plays that address undoing racism, a core producer with the JUBILEE, a co-convener of the "Deaf Theatre Action Planning Session" (March 2019 through the HowlRound Challenge), a mentor to arts administrators through the AMA-UK's Audience Diversity Academy, and will direct The Diary of Anne Frank in February 2020 at The Rose Theater of Omaha and She Kills Monsters in April 2020 at University of Maryland College Park. Rachel is a co-founder of dog & pony dc, a hearing and Deaf devised theatre ensemble, with whom she co-created nearly 20 new plays and interactive experiences over the past 11-years. Rachel's responsible for launching Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company’s “connectivity” initiative and served as the first Connectivity Director.  She was a member of HowlRound’s National Advisory Council for five years. In her spare time, she practices yoga, reads non-fiction, and hikes.

actors on stage
The Audience Ensemble with Rachel Grossman and Colin K. Bills of dog & pony dc
Podcast

The Audience Ensemble with Rachel Grossman and Colin K. Bills of dog & pony dc

From the Ground Up Episode #10

3 June 2019

In this episode of the From the Ground Up Podcast, Jeffrey Mosser discusses devising audience integrated performances with dog & pony dc founder Rachel Grossman and co-conspirator Colin K. Bills.

Deaf Theatre Action Planning Session
Video

Deaf Theatre Action Planning Session

at Emerson College in Boston, MA

Friday 15 March 2019 - Sunday 17 March 2019
Emerson College, Jackie Liebergott Black Box in the Paramount Theatre, Boston
What If
Essay

What If

The JUBILEE’s Vision of Unity and Action

24 October 2018

Rachel Grossman and Kirk Lynn announce the JUBILEE, a year-long nationwide festival in 2020/20201 that asks companies to commit to producing a season of work by artists who have been traditionally excluded from the American theatre.

group of people applauding in ASL
EXTENDED TO 16 SEPTEMBER
Essay

EXTENDED TO 16 SEPTEMBER

Accepting Applications for the Deaf Theatre Action Planning Session

31 July 2018

The Deaf Theatre Action Planning Session, a convening for deaf theatremakers taking place on 15-17 March 2019, is accepting applications for convening participants.

Poster for the play Too Much Light Makes The Baby Go Blind.
A Big Eyed Fish
Essay

A Big Eyed Fish

The Neo-Futurists & Too Much Light Makes The Baby Go Blind

22 June 2013

Rachel Grossman interviews the Neo-Futurists to explore the dynamic between art, artist, and audience.

Logo for Cornerstone Theater Company.
A Big Eyed Fish Post 2.6
Essay

A Big Eyed Fish Post 2.6

Cornerstone Theater Company

8 May 2013

In this essay, Rachel Grossman explores the junctions of ensemble theatre and audience.

Portrait of Rachel Grossman.
A Lot to Put on a Girl
Essay

A Lot to Put on a Girl

Playmaking in Pseudo-Post-Feminist America

26 April 2013

Rachel Grossman of dog & pony dc writes about her experience as a female artistic director, and the problematic side effects of working in a post-feminist art form while still grappling with pre-feminist issues.

A graph depicting several foods on a long table.
A Big Eyed Fish Post 2.5
Essay

A Big Eyed Fish Post 2.5

Perceptions of Theater's Value

26 March 2013

The latest infographic from ABEF explores the value of theatre through food

A graph depicting audiences' relationships to theatre.
A Big Eyed Fish Post 2.4
Essay

A Big Eyed Fish Post 2.4

Who determines what work we produce and how do we measure its success?

25 March 2013

Today's infographic from ABEF highlights who should determine the productions a company produces and how you can measure those production's success

A graph depicting several animals and climates.
A Big Eyed Fish Post 2.3
Essay

A Big Eyed Fish Post 2.3

Perception of Ensemble Theaters & the Role of Audience

23 March 2013

In a continuation of A Big Eyed Fish, Rachel Grossman writes about ensemble theater and audience and what influences our perceptions of this relationship.

Several graphs defining the relationships between those who participate in theatre.
A Big Eyed Fish Post 2.2
Essay

A Big Eyed Fish Post 2.2

Defining Key Terms

21 March 2013

An infographic exploring how different people define "theatre" "ensemble" "audience" and "engagement"

A graph breaking down how one might define oneself.
A Big Eyed Fish Post 2.1
Essay

A Big Eyed Fish Post 2.1

Ensemble Theaters & Audience Definitions Poll Participants

18 March 2013

The first in a series of infographics highlighting the diversity in people, practices, and perceptions on Ensemble Theatre

Logo for Dog & Pony DC.
Introducing A Big Eyed Fish
Essay

Introducing A Big Eyed Fish

Ensemble Theatre & Audience Integration

1 February 2013

Artist and engagement strategist Rachel Grossman writes about her work as co-founder and Ensemble Director of dog & pony dc and the evolution of their goals.

A man looks outward with his arms raise as a choir sings behind him.
Activating Audiences in DC
Essay

Activating Audiences in DC

8 April 2012

Dog & pony emerged out of impluse resulting in shaking up DC's traditional theatre scene.

A Big Eyed Fish 
Series

A Big Eyed Fish 

Column exploring the junction of ensemble theatre and audience.