Venus Theatre Gives Women a Voice of Empowerment

Slightly hidden off Main Street in Laurel, the Venus Theatre Play Shack puts on productions that aim to tell the story of women in an empowering way. 

“Our mission is to send flight to the voice of women,” Deborah Randall, founder, said.

Opening its doors in Laurel along C Street in 2007, the Venus Theatre avoids productions that put female characters in stereotypical roles like housewives, rape victims and prostitutes. Instead productions, like “A Girl Named Destiny,” opening Thursday, are meant to have an uplifting effect. 

With four shows a year, the small stage seats about 30 audience members, who sit on two opposing sides of the stage. Giving the actors a close, intimate relationship with the audience, the black box theatre is perfect for premiering new scripts, Randall said. There have been seven world premieres in less than three years from playwrights nationwide.

Randall, a trained actress and writer, used to run an improvisational workshop for homeless women in Washington, D.C., until her non-profit professional theatre moved to 7th Street in D.C. in 2001. After an incidence with an exploded sewer, Randall moved the theater to its Laurel location. Venus advertises almost solely through Facebook, Twitter and email. 

“They do a great job over there,” Melissa Allen, owner of neighboring All En Hairstyles, said.

Lighter, happier plays have been more successful for Venus, rather than serious ones. One of the most successful was in 2010, “Zelda at the Oasis.” The play by P.H. Lin showcases the life of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s wife, Zelda Sayre Fitzgerald, who’s buried in Rockville.

“Sad themes don’t draw a crowd,” Randall said.

Also in 2010, Venus put on “In the Goldfish Bowl” by Kay Rhodes, which focuses on four women on death row. The show made the audience uncomfortable, Randall said.

Ann Fraistat, playing Destiny in “A Girl Named Destiny,” has high hopes for the next production.

“It’s rare as an actor for a show to be this fun,” she said.

The two characters, Destiny, and Joe [played by Grant Cloyd] fall in love and see their lovers’ faces on everyone, creating a gender-bending mix of exchanges.

“It’s been a really wonderful experience,” Cloyd said. 

Even with successful premieres, most of the business owners and workers on Main Street haven’t been to or heard of Venus, highlighting recent publicity about the state of the .

Last month, the 35-year-old Laurel Art Center closed its doors with no promises of reopening, and the Comedy Connection of Laurel has a for lease sign in its window. 

Public officials have yet to see a show at Venus, but the police department has offered to lend equipment for productions, Randall said. 

Venus is located in a yellow brick shopping center at 21 C St., just off of Main Street. The display windows show costumes and props of former productions, as well as advertisements for upcoming shows. Also in the shopping center is All En Hairstyles, Family Dentistry, and Quatrefoil, which makes museum exhibits. Parking is available in a free public lot.