Regional Theater in The United States

Regional Theater In The United States

A regional theater, or resident theater, in the United States is a professional or semi-professional theater company that produces its own seasons. The term regional theatre most often refers to a professional theatre outside of New York City. A regional theater may be a non-profit, commercial, union, or non-union house.

Regional theaters often produce new plays and challenging works that do not necessarily have the commercial appeal required of a Broadway production. Companies often round out their seasons with selections from classic dramas, popular comedies, and musicals. Some regional theaters have a loyal and predictable base of audience members which can give the company latitude to experiment with a range of unknown or "non-commercial" works. In 2003, Time magazine praised regional theatres in general, and some top theaters in particular, for their enrichment of the theatre culture in the United States. Some regional theaters serve as the "out of town tryout" for Broadway-bound shows, and some will even accept touring broadway shows, though those more typically play at commercial road houses.

All nonprofits must have a mission statement, which means that the type of plays staged at each regional theater varies dramatically. While some are devoted to the classics, others only produce new work, or American work, or something else entirely depending on the vision of the organization's leadership as well as its founding charter.

Many regional theaters operate at least two stages: a main stage for shows requiring larger sets or cast, and one or more other stages (often studio theaters or black box theaters) for smaller, more experimental or avant-garde productions. In addition to box-office revenue, regional theatres rely on donations from patrons and businesses, season ticket subscriptions, and grants from foundations and government. Some have criticized regional theatres for being conservative in their selection of shows to accommodate the demographics of their subscribers and donors. However, regional theaters are often much more experimental than that commercial theaters that rely solely on ticket sales. The LORT theaters represent the not-for-profit theatres in the country that pay wages to artists. Due to audience feedback, artistic staff, and a theater's history, each theater may develop its own reputation both in its city and nationally.

Some regional theatres commit to developing new works and premiering new plays. Theatres that develop new work, like Long Wharf Theatre, La Jolla Playhouse and Berkeley Repertory Theatre, often work to move their productions to Broadway venues in New York. They also educate young audiences through educational outreach programs that teach the basics of the dramatic arts. Cooperative programs with nearby university theatre programs are also common at regional theatres. For example, the Asolo Repertory Theatre is a member of LORT and partners with Florida State University in operating the Florida State University/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training.

The two major organizations that help to maintain the general welfare of resident theatre in the United States are the League of Resident Theatres(LORT) and the Theatre Communications Group(TCG). These organizations encourage communication and good relations between their members and in the community, as well as promoting a larger public interest and support of regional theatre.

There are currently 74 LORT theatres located in every major U.S. market, including 29 states and the District of Columbia. LORT acts on behalf of its members in matters pertaining, but not limited to; collective bargaining with unions such as Actors’ Equity Association, United Scenic Artists, and the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers, representation before government agencies on problems of labor relations, and the handling of disputes between members and their employees or union representatives.

Similar in purpose is the Theatre Communications Group. TCG’s mission is to “increase the organizational efficiency of our member theatres, cultivate and celebrate the artistic talent and achievements of the field, and promote a larger public understanding of and appreciation for the theatre.” TCG’s constituency has grown to encompass more than 460 members throughout the United States. Members benefit from opportunities to receive grants, attend various workshops and conferences, and gain insight into the not-for-profit industry through research. TCG also publishes the American Theatre Magazine, the ARTSEARCH online employment bulletin, and dramatic literature.

In recognition of the importance of regional theatres in America, the American Theatre Wing gives a Regional Theatre Tony Award to one regional theatre each year during the Tony Awards.