History of League of Resident Theatres:

Capital Repertory Theatre is proud to be one of seventy-two professional theatres in LORT, the League of Resident Theatres. Today, these affiliated theatres provide thousands of artists with a support system for developing new work as well as reviving classics and perennial favorites. Hundreds of thousands of people now have the opportunity to experience the highest caliber of performance right in their own communities.

History Of Capital Rep

In the 1960's, when the not-for-profit arts scene was initiated with support from the federal government, the world of theatre was a different place than today. New York City was truly THE theatrical center of the country. A few select cities were lucky enough to be stopping points for a Broadway show's national tour, but there were literally no professional resident theatres outside the Big Apple's Great White Way. In fact, the Actors' Equity Association had very little means of working with theatrical groups outside of New York, except for summer stock or touring venues.

Zelda Fichandler, of the Arena Stage in Washington, D.C.; Margo Jones in Dallas; and Tyrone Guthrie in Minneapolis are three important figures that changed all that. These artistic leaders helped to channel support from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to theatres outside New York City. This action was the beginning of a sweeping decentralization movement based on the principle that culture belonged to the entire country. The NEA helped establish a network of institutions across the country dedicated to supporting our country's cultural heritage through nurturing excellence in performing arts and education.

Capital Repertory Theatre is dedicated to the formation of a meaningful theatre; that is, a theatre with an authentic connection to the community it serves. The plays we choose, our educational programs, intensive apprentice training for young professionals, discussion groups, and special events are each part of a comprehensive whole dedicated to enriching the lives of Capital Region residents.

A lot goes on behind the scenes here at Capital Repertory Theatre. We're proud of our LORT status, our educational programs, our special events, and, of course, our talented casts, design teams, crews and administrative staff. Capital Repertory Theatre is committed to its role as a leading arts institution in the Capital Region. We've worked hard over the last 20 years to make quality theatre accessible to everyone, and we will continue to work to improve our programs and our community involvement as we move forward in the twenty-first century.

Click here for a listing of past performances at Capital Rep!