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May 28, 2024
Nyasha Smith, Secretary
Council of the District of Columbia
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20004
Dear Secretary Smith:
Today, I am introducing the “Zelda Fichandler Way Designation Act of 2024”. Please find enclosed a
signed copy of the legislation.
Arena Stage has been a pioneer in the regional theatre movement, in addition to providing invaluable
contributions to the arts in the District. It was one of the first non-for-profit theaters in the United States
and the first racially integrated theater in the District. Arena Stage was also the first regional theater to
transfer a production to Broadway and the first to receive the Regional Theatre Tony Award.
Much of Arena Stage’s accomplishments can be attributed to Zelda Fichandler, who led the theater for
41 years. She was born in Boston, MA, but grew up in the District, and later graduated from Woodrow
Wilson High School. She was finishing her master’s degree in theater at George Washington University
when alongside her husband, Thomas Fichandler, and Edward Magnum, she founded Arena Stage in
1950. She implemented groundbreaking policies and programs while promoting diversity in all aspects
of theater, from the audience to production itself. When she stepped down from Arena Stage in 1990,
she had produced more than 400 shows and directed more than 50 shows during her tenure. She would
have celebrated her 100th birthday on September 18, 2024.
This bill would symbolically designate 6th Street, SW, between M Street, SW and the northern boundary
of Square 472, Lot 129, as “Zelda Fichandler Way”. On May 13, 2024, Advisory Neighborhood
Commission 6D voted unanimously in support of symbolically renaming the 1100 block of 6th Street, SW
as Zelda Fichandler Way to honor the legacy and impact that she had in the District and in the regional
theater movement.
Please feel free to reach out to me or my Legislative Director, Antonio Nunes, with any questions or for
additional information.
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Sincerely,
Councilmember Charles Allen, Ward 6
Chairperson, Committee on Transportation & the Environment
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Councilmember Charles Allen 2
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A BILL 6
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IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 11
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To symbolically designate 6th Street, SW, between M Street, SW and the northern boundary of 16
Square 472, Lot 129, as Zelda Fichandler Way. 17
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this 19
act may be cited as the “Zelda Fichandler Way Designation Act of 2024”. 20
Sec. 2. Pursuant to sections 401, 403a, and 423 of the Street and Alley Closing and 21
Acquisition Procedures Act of 1982, effective March 10, 1983 (D.C. Law 4-201; D.C. Official 22
Code §§ 9-204.01, 9-204.03a, and 9-204.23), the Council designates 6th Street, SW, between M 23
Street, SW, and the northern boundary of Square 472, Lot 129, as “Zelda Fichandler Way”. 24
Sec. 3. Fiscal impact statement. 25
The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the committee report as the fiscal 26
impact statement required by section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975, 27
approved October 16, 2006 (120 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code § 1-301.47a). 28
Sec. 4. Effective date. 29
This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the 30
Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto), a 30-day period of congressional review as 31
provided in section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 32
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24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1-206.02(c)(1)), and publication in the District of 33
Columbia Register. 34