And in This Corner: Cassius Clay tells the true story of Cassius Clay growing up in the Jim Crow South and his journey into history books as boxing great Muhammad Ali. Encouraged by his family, friends, and training from Louisville Police Officer Joe Martin, this dynamic play for young audiences follows 12-year-old Clay as he navigates racism and hardship on his early rise to become one of the most important athletes and activists in American History.

Set in pre-gentrified 1980s New York City, Members Only follows Pedro Quinn, an aging closeted boxer coming to terms with his past demons and future hopes as he discovers and finds comfort in his true identity. A multi-ethnic ensemble supports and challenges Quinn’s journey of discovery as the AIDS epidemic threatens to come out of the shadows.

Regina Taylor’s gospel play, Crowns, is a celebration of African American spirituality, dance, song, and cultural history. It tells the story of Yvonne, a young woman transplanted from Brooklyn to South Carolina following a family tragedy, where she meets a circle of women who share with her the history, importance, and power of the hat. Crowns explores the stories of black women who have struggled with both gender and race oppression – and powerfully demonstrates the healing power of community and cultural history.

In 1960, the famed “Mercury Seven” trained at NASA to become the first American astronauts. Thirteen women also underwent the same rigorous psychological and physical testing, some even outperforming their male counterparts. They Promised Her the Moon tells the unknown true story of one of these women, Jerrie Cobb, and the powerful forces that kept her from reaching orbit.

Written by Cherokee writer, activist, and attorney Mary Kathryn Nagle, Crossing Mnisose tells the story of Sacajawea and draws a line from a completely original view of Lewis and Clark to the present day, as descendants of the Dakota and Lakota Nations continue their fight for Mnisose (“Missouri River”) and to ensure that the lands containing the burials of their ancestors are preserved for future generations.

Set in an imaginary moment following the 1963 bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Nina Simone sits at the church piano, trying to write a song that will galvanize action in the Civil Rights Movement in the wake of the bombing. In her mind she is joined by a group of black women seeking shelter in the church, all of whom have struggled in life due to the different hues of their skin. Drawing inspiration from her music, Nina Simone: Four Women gives a glimpse of the artist and the women around her as their journey leads them down a path of discovery and healing.

We Will Not Be Silent tells the true story of Sophie Scholl, a German college student who led a protest movement against the Nazi Party. At the age of 21, Sophie Scholl was arrested, tried for treason, and beheaded by the Nazi government. With the war as a backdrop, the production examines the role that ordinary Germans played in the rise of Hitler and the strength and courage that led a group of German students to risk their lives rather than be silent.

Since 2011, the Rising Star Project has opened the doors of The 5th Avenue Theatre to teenagers throughout Washington State. The Program focuses on career exploration and the development of professional skills. Participants are embedded within a working department at The 5th Avenue Theatre. Professional mentors work with students to learn skills and execute tasks that are crucial to the day-to-day operations of a regional theater company.