TheatreWorks Silicon Valley

TheatreWorks Silicon Valley. Founded in 1970 by Robert Kelley, it has grown from a community summer project into one of the San Francisco Bay Area's major professional theatre companies. Recognized for its commitment to new works and musical development, the company presents a diverse season of productions at venues across the Silicon Valley region. It operates under an agreement with the Actors' Equity Association and has been a significant cultural institution in Northern California for over five decades.

History

The company originated in 1970 as a summer theatre project initiated by founder Robert Kelley at Palo Alto High School. It quickly evolved into a year-round organization, establishing its first administrative offices in a converted garage. A pivotal moment came in 1973 with the critically acclaimed production of The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail, which solidified its reputation. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, TheatreWorks expanded its artistic scope, launching initiatives like the New Works Initiative to foster playwrights and composers. The company's growth mirrored the technological boom of Silicon Valley, building a strong subscriber base and community partnerships with entities like Stanford University and the City of Palo Alto.

Productions and programming

The season typically includes a mix of world premieres, contemporary plays, and reimagined classics, with a strong emphasis on musical theatre. Notable world premieres include Memphis by David Bryan and Joe DiPietro, which later won the Tony Award for Best Musical, and The Four Immigrants: An American Musical Manga by Min Kahng. The New Works Festival, an annual event, showcases readings and workshops of plays and musicals in development. The company also maintains robust educational and community engagement programs, such as the TheatreWorks for Schools initiative and student matinee performances, serving thousands of students throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.

Artistic leadership and company

Founding Artistic Director Robert Kelley led the company for its first fifty years, establishing its artistic vision and commitment to new works. In 2020, following a national search, Timothy Near, former Artistic Director of the San Jose Repertory Theatre, was appointed as his successor. The company employs a core of resident artists, designers, and administrators, and contracts with professional actors, directors, and musicians from across the country under Actors' Equity Association contracts. The leadership also includes a Managing Director who oversees business operations and a Board of Trustees comprising community leaders from Silicon Valley.

Facilities and venues

TheatreWorks is a nomadic company, producing its mainstage seasons in partnership with several established performing arts centers. Its primary performance venues have included the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts in Mountain View and the Lucie Stern Theatre in Palo Alto. The company also presents productions at the Flint Center for the Performing Arts in Cupertino and has utilized spaces at the California Theatre in San Jose. Its administrative and rehearsal headquarters are located in Palo Alto.

Awards and recognition

The company has received significant national acclaim, including the 2019 Regional Theatre Tony Award, recognizing its sustained excellence and contribution to the American theatre landscape. It has been the recipient of multiple NEA grants and awards from the Theatre Bay Area organization. Numerous productions developed at TheatreWorks have transferred to Broadway and major regional theatres, and artists associated with the company have been honored with Drama Desk Awards, Obie Awards, and Pulitzer Prize nominations. The American Theatre Wing and the Broadway League are among the institutions that have celebrated its work.

Category:Theatre companies in California Category:Performing arts in Silicon Valley Category:Regional theatre companies in the United States Category:Organizations based in Palo Alto, California Category:Theatre companies established in 1970