Hyattsville Resident Set to Launch Theatre Company on Route 1

A Hyattsville actor is launching a theater company to hold live performances on the Route 1 corridor.

Earlier this year, John D’Angelo IV announced that he was looking for community members to help launch the Little Theatre of Hyattsville to hold productions ranging from musical revues to classic shows and experimental theater.

At an interest meeting in Franklins in mid-January, 35 people signed up to help. D’Angelo told the Hyattsville Wire the number is now close to 120. He expects even more to sign up at a community meeting from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Hyattsville Municipal Building.

“We will have a presentation from the board on the vision of the theatre, icebreakers, a possible improv game, and a sing-along to close us out,” he told the Wire.

D’Angelo grew up in Fairfax County, where he was a “theatre kid” at West Springfield High, moving to Hyattsville last July. He said the area was “close enough to D.C. to still have some hustle and bustle” but far enough to develop “a truly local brand: artsy, confident, welcoming.”

Hyattsville was home to theater groups in the 1990s and early 2000s, and Joe’s Movement Emporium in Mount Rainier has partnered with theater groups to hold musical performances. Impulse City also runs a variety of theatrical productions for kids in Hyattsville and College Park, and the Prince George’s Publick Playhouse near Cheverly serves as a regular venue for musical theater.

The Little Theatre plans to kick things off with a cabaret of show tunes and contemporary pieces sometime in the spring. From there, D’Angelo plans to build name recognition as it attempts more complex productions.

For now, D’Angelo told the Wire his biggest problem is finding a location for the March cabaret.

“We’re looking for a comfortable venue that can seat 75 to 125 folks in Hyattsville,” he said. “Premises continue to be the tricky part.”

To RSVP for the community meeting, click here or join the mailing list by emailing lththeatre@gmail.com.

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