Mission Statement
The American Repertory Theatre (A.R.T.) seeks to expand the boundaries of theatre, exploring the best texts from across cultures and ages. A resident company of professional artists, teachers, technicians, and administrators, the A.R.T. provides a home for outstanding directors, a training ground for young artists, and a vital cultural resource for the community.
Description
The American Repertory Theatre (A.R.T.) occupies a unique place in the American theatre. It is the only professional not-for-profit theatre in the country that maintains a resident acting company and an international training conservatory, and that operates in association with a major university. Over its twenty-seven year history the A.R.T. has welcomed American and international theatre artists who have enriched the theatrical life of the nation. The theatre has garnered many of the nation's most distinguished awards, including a Pulitzer Prize, a Tony Award, and a Jujamcyn Award. In December 2002, the A.R.T. was the recipient of the National Theatre Conference's Outstanding Achievement Award, and in May of 2003 it was named one of the top three theatres in the country by Time magazine.
Since 1980 the A.R.T. has performed in eighty-three cities in twenty-two states around the country, and worldwide in twenty-one cities in sixteen countries on four continents. It has presented one hundred and eighty-seven productions, over half of which were premieres of new plays, translations, and adaptations.
The A.R.T. was founded in 1980 by Robert Brustein and has been resident for twenty-seven years at Harvard University's Loeb Drama Center. In August 2002 Robert Woodruff became the A.R.T.'s Artistic Director, the second in the theatre's history. Gideon Lester became Acting Artistic Director in July 2007, joining Executive Director Robert J. Orchard as the theatre's management team. Mr. Brustein remains with the A.R.T. as Founding Director and Creative Consultant.
The A.R.T. is known for its commitment to new American plays and music/theatre explorations; to neglected works of the past; and to established classical texts reinterpreted in refreshing new ways. The A.R.T. is also a training ground for young artists. The theatre's artistic staff teaches undergraduate classes in acting, directing, dramatic literature, design, and playwriting at Harvard, and in 1987 the A.R.T. founded the Institute for Advanced Theatre Training. In conjunction with the Moscow Art Theatre School, the Institute provides world-class graduate level training in acting, dramaturgy, and special studies.
The A.R.T. attempts to establish historical continuity as contemporary artists reinterpret the past, and classical work helps to inform the present. The Company prides itself on being an artistic home for top-level playwrights, actors, directors, designers, technicians and administrators. A full list of participating artists can be found on the A.R.T. web site.
