The Oakland Theater Project was founded in 2012 by Michael Socrates Moran, William Hodgson, and Colin Mandlin in Oakland, CA. Formerly named Ubuntu Theater Project, we were founded on the value of Ubuntu, which means “I am because we are” and therein “my humanity is tied to yours.” We seek to explore the ways in which theater can act as a vehicle to reveal and invigorate the latent interconnectedness in humanity and society. To achieve this, our organization roots itself in radical inclusivity by empowering diverse artists and staff and offering every professional production at pay-what-you-can pricing.

Oakland Theater Project began with 3 annual summer theater festivals featuring 14 plays in site-specific locations across the Bay Area. In 2016, Oakland Theater Project launched its first full mainstage season and has produced over 75 unique productions and is the only year-round professional theater company in Oakland, CA.

On top of our bold theatrical productions, we produce workshops and readings, an independent artist series, and offer educational programs serving both adults and youth. Our workshops and readings provide opportunities to develop new plays and help to give vital advancement to new and emerging playwrights of color who have additional barriers to producing work. Lastly, when we offer training and development to low-income artists of color we also build professional pipeline opportunities by partnering with external organizations like Laney College and Oakland School for the Arts.