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CravingForTravel

DARK HORSE THEATRE COMPANY

Offering a wide range of vibrant entertainment, events, and classes to the Northern Virginia and Washington DC areas.

Join us and raise the stakes on your theatre experience.

Running our race since 2009

CLASSES

For the amateur, the aspirant, the professional, and everyone in between.

For the first time ever, we are opening our doors to the artistic community at all levels to share the secret sauce that forges a finely tuned actor.

Registration is open now through September 8, 2023 and limited to 10 students per class.

Upcoming Events

  • IMPROVICON: Outdoor Trophy Round
    IMPROVICON: Outdoor Trophy Round
    Sat, Oct 07
    The Arts Herndon Lawnstage
    Oct 07, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
    The Arts Herndon Lawnstage, 750 Center St, Herndon, VA 20170, USA
    Oct 07, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
    The Arts Herndon Lawnstage, 750 Center St, Herndon, VA 20170, USA
    This event is a real deal competition of multiple improv groups throughout the DMV. And this time-it's for the TROPHY!! Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door.
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  • Paragon POPS! The Case of the Melodious Murder (with Dark Horse Theatre Company)
    Paragon POPS! The Case of the Melodious Murder (with Dark Horse Theatre Company)
    Sat, Oct 14
    Dark Horse Theatre Co. @ Grace Church
    Oct 14, 7:30 PM
    Dark Horse Theatre Co. @ Grace Church, 6507 Main St, The Plains, VA 20198, USA
    Oct 14, 7:30 PM
    Dark Horse Theatre Co. @ Grace Church, 6507 Main St, The Plains, VA 20198, USA
    Come for the music...stay for the laughs! Paragon Philharmonia joins forces with Dark Horse Theatre Company to present a hilarious harmonic whodunit!
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  • Calamity: The Show 11/4/23 (Fauquier)
    Calamity: The Show 11/4/23 (Fauquier)
    Sat, Nov 04
    Dark Horse Theatre Co. @ Grace Church
    Nov 04, 7:30 PM
    Dark Horse Theatre Co. @ Grace Church, 6507 Main St, The Plains, VA 20198, USA
    Nov 04, 7:30 PM
    Dark Horse Theatre Co. @ Grace Church, 6507 Main St, The Plains, VA 20198, USA
    Improv, sketch comedy, stand-up, and classical theatre collide in this Comedy Variety Show. It's like Whose Line is it Anyway?, meets SNL, at The Muppet Show. Show 7:30pm/Doors 7pm. Tickets are $15 online in advance and $20 at the door. Online ticket sales close 30 min before the show.
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  • Calamity: The Show 11/11/23 (Herndon)
    Calamity: The Show 11/11/23 (Herndon)
    Sat, Nov 11
    Dark Horse Theatre Company @ ArtsHerndon
    Nov 11, 7:30 PM
    Dark Horse Theatre Company @ ArtsHerndon, ArtSpace Herndon, 750 Center St, Herndon, VA 20170, USA
    Nov 11, 7:30 PM
    Dark Horse Theatre Company @ ArtsHerndon, ArtSpace Herndon, 750 Center St, Herndon, VA 20170, USA
    Improv, sketch comedy, stand-up, and classical theatre collide in this Comedy Variety Show. It's like Whose Line is it Anyway?, meets SNL, at The Muppet Show. Show 7:30pm/Doors 7pm. Tickets are $15 online in advance and $20 at the door. Online ticket sales close 30 min before the show.
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  • Calamity: The Show 12/9/23 (Herndon)
    Calamity: The Show 12/9/23 (Herndon)
    Sat, Dec 09
    Dark Horse Theatre Company @ ArtsHerndon
    Dec 09, 7:30 PM
    Dark Horse Theatre Company @ ArtsHerndon, ArtSpace Herndon, 750 Center St, Herndon, VA 20170, USA
    Dec 09, 7:30 PM
    Dark Horse Theatre Company @ ArtsHerndon, ArtSpace Herndon, 750 Center St, Herndon, VA 20170, USA
    Improv, sketch comedy, stand-up, and classical theatre collide in this Comedy Variety Show. It's like Whose Line is it Anyway?, meets SNL, at The Muppet Show. Show 7:30pm/Doors 7pm. Tickets are $15 online in advance and $20 at the door. Online ticket sales close 30 min before the show.
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MANIFESTO

/ˈdärk ˈˌhôrs/-   a candidate or entrant judged unlikely to succeed. 

MISSION

To make strong choices and have fun doing it.  We strive to produce bold, imaginative, theatre in an accessible way. Being trailblazers by nature, we're not afraid to go off the beaten path. That's why we work on both new and established plays. We pledge to avoid the mundane and think outside of the black box. Dark Horse recruits the most hard working and committed talent, both onstage and off, while welcoming all who are willing to learn. We endeavor to create transformative experiences on both sides of the stage. It is a major priority to keep professional theatre inclusive. We accomplish this by keeping all tickets $20 or less, ensuring free parking at all venues, having handicap accessibility at both of our performance residences, making each production experiential for the audience, holding occasional open rehearsals, and offering Q&A sessions with cast and crew after performances. Join us and raise the stakes on your theatre experience.

HISTORY

Dark Horse Theatre Company, L.L.C. was founded in 2009 out of a mutual compulsion to produce challenging, collaborative, and daring theatrical work. They soon began work on the very first Dark Horse production Oleanna. At this time, the company was in residence at Artistree (later called The Artory) in Herndon, VA teaching classes and rehearsing. DHTC performed regularly at the DC Arts Center in Washington D.C. After many successful productions, the team decided to take a break from performances to regroup and focus mainly on workshops and education. In 2013, the company relocated to Fauquier County, VA. In 2018, Dark Horse began residence at Grace Church in The Plains. Calamity Improv was conceived and cast in August of 2018. In early 2019, we partnered with ArtsHerndon in efforts to share our work with even more Northern Virginia audiences. The company debuted IMPROVICON of Northern Virginia in June of 2019, which is now held bi-annually throughout Northern VA. Dark Horse now produces 3 dual location runs of mainstage shows and 20+ performances of Calamity Improv per season. In 2023, for the first time ever, Dark Horse will be opening its doors for classes for the creative community in Fauquier and Herndon.

PRODUCTION PHILOSOPHY AND HIRING

Dark Horse utilizes a studio theatre philosophy. This means each show is developed under a workshop atmosphere and will evolve from the first rehearsal until closing night. Emphasis is placed on table work in the early stages. Homework and research are done throughout the entire rehearsal process. We have a 120 hour rehearsal period for all mainstage shows to allow time for exploration. We encourage anyone to come audition for productions or to be involved with our group, regardless of experience. 

Dark Horse is an inclusive and approachable professional theatre company. We are always seeking to hire talent onstage and backstage. We do not discriminate in any of our hiring decisions. We ask all who feel compelled to come work with us. Interested in joining our team? Great! Please complete all of the following: Mainstage actors-complete this online form and email your headshot and resume. Improvisers- complete this online form and your headshot and resume. Technicians- email your headshot and resume. Aspiring interns-email a letter of intent. Directors- email this complete form, along with a letter of intent, and your headshot and resume.  Send all emails to hello@darkhorseva.com with your desired role in the subject line. We look forward to hearing from you!

All roles (with the exception of internships and community productions) are compensated by stipend.

Theater Lights

"...Dark Horse creates some of the best theatre in the DC area."