The Washington Rogues are a daring new performing arts collective dedicated to showcasing new and exciting works with an emphasis on political and social commentary. With a strong Do-It-Yourself aesthetic, The Rogues are able to create first rate theater on a minimal budget. We pride ourselves on offering opportunities to developing artists as they begin and develop their careers in the nation’s capital.

Leadership

Ryan S. Taylor (Artistic Director) has worked in Washington theatre since 2004. Directing credits for The Washington Rogues include Mitzi’s Abortion,  Eight, The Teacher’s Lounge, or One Child Left Behind, and Busted Jesus Comix. Ryan also recently directed a staged reading of Edward Albee’s The Goat, or Who is Sylvia? as a co-production between the Rogue and Arena Stage. Ryan also directed his own adaptation of Anton Chekhov’s short story The Chorus Girl for Journeymen Theater Ensemble. Other credits include Rebecca Gingrich-Jones’s Spin Factor and Paco Madden’s Bible Study 2008 for eXreme eXchange; Susan Lori-Park’s 365Plays/365Daysfor Rorschach Theater; staged readings of The Flags and A Cry from Heaven for Solas Nua. As assistant director: Rough Magic (Rorschach Theater, director Jenny McConnell Frederick); Valparaiso (Forum Theater, director Michael Dove). Ryan graduated from Guilford College in Greensboro, North Carolina, and has received additional training at the Studio Theater Acting Conserv

Deanna Gonzalez (Literary Manager): Deanna fell into the DC theatre scene when she joined the administrative staff Shakespeare Theater Company. She first worked with The Rogues during their production of Mitzi’s Abortion. She studied English Literature at The College of William and Mary and can often been found roaming DC with her nose in a book or searching for a good show.

Jeff Rosen (Director of Technology) is a rad dude. Working in the shadows, keeping the site and email from catching a flame. He went to University of Baltimore for Simulation & Digital Entertainment (Videogames) and is a avid climber. He also is terrible at writing his own profile. 

Artistic Associates

Frank Britton: First appeared with the The Rogues in Eight. Frank is a native Washingtonian, graduate of and faculty member of the National Conservatory of Dramatic Arts, and a founding member / Core Ensemble Member with force/collision, of which he also appeared in its inaugural production The Nautical Yards, and most recently, the world premiere of Erik Ehn’s Shape, which had a three-week run in DC and a two-performance engagement at La MaMa ETC in NYC. Also a proud member of WSC Avant Bard’s Acting Company, he has appeared in nearly a dozen productions there including the titular role in Richard III; Hedda Gabler; Les Justes; The Bacchae; Caligula; Camille: A Tearjerker; Death and the King’s Horseman; Lulu; The Mistorical Hystery of Henry (I)V; The Miser; and Red Noses. A two-time Helen Hayes Award nominee in the category of Outstanding Ensemble, Resident Play, he has also appeared in productions with many other area theaters during his nearly eleven-year career, including Arena Stage, Round House Theatre, Synetic Theater, Rorschach Theatre, SCENA Theatre, The American Century Theater, Forum Theatre, Constellation Theatre Company, Theater Alliance, SCENA Theatre, Venus Theatre, Spooky Action Theater, and regionally with the Virginia Shakespeare Festival and the Baltimore Shakespeare Festival. Many thanks to Ryan and the Rogues fam.

Rachel Manteuffel: Has appeared in every Washington Rogues production. She has recently appeared on stage for Rorschach Theater, Journeyman Theater Ensemble, Virginia Shakespeare Festival and eXtreme eXchange.


D. Grant Cloyd appeared in the Washington Rogue’s first production, Busted Jesus Comix, which was coincidentally his first performance in Washington. He has performed with numerous companies including Chesapeake Shakespeare Company, Venus Theatre, 1st Stage, Spooky Action Theater, Synetic Family Theatre, Wandering Souls, and Faction of Fools. He has also been seen in television commercials, independent short films, industrials, and print ads. He is a 2008 graduate of the SMCM Theatre/Film program and has additional training from David Mamet’s Atlantic Acting School in New York. Currently enrolled in Catholic University’s MFA Acting program. 

Megan Graves first appeared with the Rogues in Eight for the 2010 Capital Fringe Festival. Recent DC credits include Peter Pan: the Boy Who Hated Mothers (No Rules Theatre Co.), Dr. Dolittle (Imagination Stage), After the Quake (Rorschach Theatre Company), and Visit to a Small Planet (The American Century Theater), Two Gentlemen of Verona and The Merchant of Venice (Virginia Shakespeare Festival). Education: Shenandoah Conservatory, BFA.

Ali Walton is a DC-based writer, producer and actor. She recently served as Assistant Director to Factory 449’s production of Magnificent Waste and directed the short play There are shapes on the ceiling that look like bats for the 2010 Source Festival. Recent theater acting credits include: Real Cost Cafe(Smithsonian’s Discovery Theater), Dog Sees God (Firehouse Theatre Project, Richmond), Eight (The Washington Rogues), The Red Balloon (Adventure Theatre). Recent Film and TV credits include Conquering the Rose and Hard to Be Me. Ali is currently producing for the comedic webseries Confab,which will hit the net in Summer 2012. Her 10-minute play Use Unknown was published in 2010 The Best 10-Minute Plays. Education: BFA, NYU Tisch

Chelsey Christensen was last seen on stage in The Solid Gold Cadillac at The Studio Theatre. She has performed with The Inkwell, The Hegira, and Active Cultures and has also been in many short films. Chelsey worked as the Development Apprentice at The Studio Theatre (2008/09) and is currently the Membership Gifts Associate at Washington Performing Arts Society. She graduated with a B.F.A. in Theatre Arts from Stephens College & has continued her training at The Studio Theatre Acting Conservatory.

Lisa K. Blythe: Rogues Credits include Stage Manager for Busted Jesus Comix, The Teacher’s Lounge, (both produced as part of The Capital Fringe Festival) as well as The Goat, or Who is Sylvia, for the Edward Albee Festival at Arena Stage, In The Forest She Grew Fangs for The Page to Stage Festival at The Kennedy Center. Other Stage Management credits includeBeyond The Horizon for American Century Theatre, In On Itfor Theatre Alliance, MISTAKES, INC. for VSA Arts at The Kennedy Center,MADAME,for Fourpence Theatre and The Cloudism Project for Borealis Theatre.

Megan Reichelt (Founding Member): Megan is a theater artist and amateur librarian/mythologist. She likes learning cool stuff and telling people about it. She has enjoyed telling stories with many theaters around DC such as Rorschach Theater, Bright Alchemy, Active Cultures, Forum Theater, Wandering Souls, Solas Nua, and Inkwell.