Washington in the 80s

How the DC Theatre Scene Exploded in the 1980s

As empty spaces became available at affordable rates in the 1980s, local theaters like DC's Woolly Mammoth and DC's Studio Theatre sprang up on 14th Street, establishing it as the hub of alternative theater in the city. Initially met with skepticism, these theaters gradually won over the residents, and Washington began its ascent as a prominent theater destination in the United States.

How the DC Theatre Scene Exploded in the 1980s

2m 54s

  • Washington in the 80s: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Washington in the 80s

    58m 21s

    It was the decade of Reagan and Barry, the Wall and the Quilt, Go-Go and DC punk, the Air Florida crash and crack, a golden age for local media and sports. WETA explores the 1980s with firsthand accounts from notable Washingtonians including Marion Barry, Carol Schwartz, Maureen Bunyan, Kojo Nnamdi, Pat Buchanan, Arch Campbell and Joe Gibbs.

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