Always Worthwhile

We produce and present shows that are a must-see.

It’s nerve-racking to see a live show and we take the guess work out of it. If it’s here, it’s been work-shopped, vouched for, and recommended.

OUR MISSION is to present and produce work that is FUNNY, DARK, SMART, & GREAT.

FUNNY — the work has a sense of humor. How does this apply to music? Perfectly! This means that there is a self-awareness and flexibility within the performance. Perhaps in between songs, the banter is unique, engaging, surprising, and yes, even funny.

DARK — it’s not all sugar. With great art comes great reflection, and using our platform to dig deeper into existence, humanity, sex, addiction, love, loneliness, and choice. The piece may only have a sliver of this, but in that sliver is usual the core of why it exists.

SMART — we all know the easy punchline. Punching down at others without taking ownership for our own stupidity is tired and boring. We support work that wrestles with our complexity, hypocrisy, and duality; Work that points the magnifying glass in both directions; Smart is thinking about what you are presenting and how you are presenting it. In short, we love big bananas and poison apples, but we hate low-hanging fruit.

GREAT — the most subjective. But we know when we see it. It’s talent + practice + a secret ingredient. We love when you share your secret ingredient!

ABOUT THE SPACE:

The Rockwell as a space has survived multiple owners and management, and yet, it lives on! A trusty block-box theater with a well-equipped light plot and sound system able to support performances from full stage productions to 18-piece bands to comedy podcasts to heart-racing burlesque.

Nestled in Davis Square, a hotbed of bars, outdoor markets, and arts-centric events, in Somerville, Massachusetts, The Rockwell twinkles with its old-fashioned marquee on Elm Street. Just steps away from The Davis Square “T” (subway) station. Formerly The Davis Square Theatre and Jimmy Tingle’s Off Broadway, our underground theater controls all its light sources to house any event at any time. We seem small but we accommodate up to 203 people and host over 500 performances annually.

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MEET US
Small But Kickass

DEBY XIADANI

Artistic Director & General Manager

DEBY XIADANI is a comedian, producer, musician, and award-winning comedy director earning “Best Physical Comedy,” and “Critic’s Choice Award,” for her Fringe Festival work. She has been a recurring invited director at Dartmouth College, her alma mater, and also emceed “Dartmouth Idol” for 5 years after she graduated. With a stage-presence that is confident, comfortable, and goofy, she loves performance and every detail that goes into it.

Raised in Cambridge, she is working hard to elevate The Rockwell to be a legendary basement for art that is Funny, Dark, Smart, and Great.

Selected credits include The Public Theater, 59E59 Theater, Northern Stage, Dixon Place, The Tank, La Mama, New York Theater Workshop, UCB, Second City.

Photo by Victoria Rubin