Join Goyanes on a journey through DC, exploring the destinations that define the city's theatrical past, present and future.
Maria Manuela Goyanes grew up in New York City, the birthplace of Broadway, and has been a drama nerd since childhood. Yet this first-generation daughter of Spanish-Dominican immigrants didn't initially envision herself in theater. "I was so shy," she says, "always with my nose in a book." As the Artistic Director of the Woolly Mammoth Theatre located in Penn Quarter, she's led one of DC's most cutting-edge regional drama institutions. Every day, she gets to select and manage paradigm-shifting plays in a city on the global stage
Between her childhood in Jamaica, Queens, and her role at Woolly, the Brown University-educated theater producer has built an enviable resume. As the former Director of Producing and Artistic Planning at New York's Public Theater, she managed iconic productions, including Lin-Manuel Miranda's Hamilton. Previously, she oversaw the daily execution of plays and musicals at the Public's Astor Place venue and the Delacorte Theater for Shakespeare in the Park.
Since arriving in DC, she has achieved significant career milestones, including managing Woolly's production of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Fairview to A Strange Loop, which later won five Tony Awards after premiering under her guidance. She holds deep respect for DC as the birthplace of the regional theater movement and excitement for its future. "DC is a place where the smartest minds in the world converge," she says, "to try to make things happen that have never been done before."
Woolly Mammoth News
Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company has announced Reggie D. White as its next Artistic Director. White becomes only the third artistic leader in the company’s 46-year history, following the tenure of Maria Manuela Goyanes and co-founder Howard Shalwitz. He will officially assume the role in early Spring 2026, joining Managing Director Kimberly E. Douglas on Woolly’s executive leadership team.
Morning
A chilly fall or winter morning calls for a hearty breakfast, and DC diners deliver. Start your day at Jimmy T’s Place, located in a Victorian building and serving no-frills breakfast classics all morning into the early afternoon.
Folger Shakespeare Library
Next, stroll over to the Folger Shakespeare Library, which boasts one of the world’s largest collections of Shakespeare’s works. You might be lucky enough to be in town when their Elizabethan theater is showing one of his popular works. If you’re a fellow Shakespeare buff, you’ll also want to check out the Shakespeare Theatre Company, which specializes in the Bard’s plays and also shows the work of other classic playwrights.
Library Of Congress
Right around the corner from the Folger is the Library of Congress, home to the world’s largest library and featuring millions of books, a bevy of multimedia content, and maps for days. You’ll be perfectly placed to take a walk down the National Mall afterwards, past the U.S. Capitol and the National Gallery of Art.
Afternoon
Just a few blocks north of the National Mall, you’ll find my favorite little pocket of theater culture: the Woolly Mammoth’s home, Penn Quarter. It’s in the center of everything, so there’s plenty to do before catching a matinee.
Enjoy a decadent, Michelin-approved lunch at José Andres’ Oyamel, which boasts a Mexico City-inspired menu of upscale takes on street food and tapas. With a full belly and perhaps a little zip from a tequila cocktail, stroll down Pennsylvania Avenue by The White House or the National Gallery of Art. Swing by Ford’s Theatre, one of the city’s most famous stages that also functions as a museum and hosts tours.
Evening
Hop on the Metro down to The Wharf to make it in time for the early evening golden hour. Here, you’ll find Arena Stage. This is where the regional theater scene was born 75 years ago, paving the way for hundreds of other independent American theaters across the country.
When it’s time for happy hour or a bite, don’t worry: The Wharf is rich in great dining and drinking options. Dine on the waterfront patio of the world-famous Hell’s Kitchen, serving up celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay’s renowned fine dining classics. For a more casual option, Momo Chicken and Grill serves a delightful spread of Korean casual dishes like fried chicken and bibimbap, and is only a few blocks away.
Union Stage
Polish off the evening at Union Stage with some rooftop cocktails and live music, and reflect on your day absorbing the unique breadth of performing arts in DC. Who knows? This town’s next groundbreaking story might just be yours.
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