About the Play

Pushing past the boundaries of theater, documentary and activism, 'Capers is a one-woman show based on the stories of families at the Arthur Capper/Carrollsburg public housing projects - also known as 'Capers - in southeast DC who protested the government-funded relocation and demolition of their neighborhood.

HOPE VI

The redevelopment of 'Capers was funded through "HOPE VI," a federal grant program that has funded the demolition of public housing across the country in favor of mixed-income communities for over a decade. However, in it's history, HOPE VI also resulted in the permanent displacement of low-income families and a loss of public housing nationwide. As of 2005, it was cut from the federal budget, but the legacy of HOPE VI speaks to the housing crisis affecting millions of families every year. At 'Capers, many do not expect to return.

Friends and Residents and the process of 'Capers

In the fall of 2002, playwright/actress Anu Yadav began working as a volunteer member
Friends and Residents of Arthur Capper/Carrollsburg, a neighborhood watchdog organized by 'Capers families in response to their impending relocation. Their goal at the time was to ensure that the rights of community members were not violated in the relocation process, as well as organize for the right to return to the new community.

Historically, in all the "HOPE VI" sites, roughly 17 percent of the original residents ever returned. And there are few statistics on tracking where the families were relocated.[1]

Anu started out doing theater work with young people at the Arthur Capper recreation center, as well as organizing with Friends and Residents. After a year of working as a volunteer member, Anu proposed the idea of a solo play to document the story of Friends and Residents and the neighborhood. What began as strictly documentation, turned into a a play with fictional characters that were drawn from many interviews with residents and city officials, a lot of feedback, and experiences.  Michael Kelly, Executive Director  of the DC Housing Authority, generously sat down to many interviews regarding the project. Friends & Residents acted as an advisory board, giving feedback at workshop performances, and soon director/dramaturg Patrick Crowley came on board to help Anu further develop the script into a more solid storyline and direct the piece.

After two years in the making, 'Capers weaves together nearly dozen characters in this moving portrait of families struggling to fight for their community and their human right to a place to live.

For more information about Friends and Residents of Arthur Capper/Carrollsburg visit www.friendsandresidents.org

[1]Lang, Laura and David Morton. "Hoodwinked." Washington City Paper. Vol 22, no.39. Sept.27-Oct.3, 2002. p.17.