Aurora Theatre Company

Aurora Theatre Company is a professional theatre company based in Berkeley, California, founded in 1990 by Barbara Oliver and Tom Ross. The company is known for its productions of classical theatre, contemporary theatre, and new works, often featuring Bay Area actors and designers. Aurora Theatre Company has been recognized for its contributions to the American theatre scene, with productions often receiving critical acclaim from The New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, and Los Angeles Times. The company has also collaborated with other prominent theatre companies, including American Conservatory Theater, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, and California Shakespeare Theater.

● History

The Aurora Theatre Company was founded in 1990 by Barbara Oliver and Tom Ross, with the goal of creating a professional theatre company that would produce high-quality, intimate productions of classical theatre and contemporary theatre. The company's early productions were staged at various theatres in the Bay Area, including the Marin Theatre Company and the TheatreWorks Silicon Valley. In 2001, the company moved to its current home, a theatre in downtown Berkeley, California, where it has since produced over 50 plays, including works by Tennessee Williams, Arthur Miller, and Tom Stoppard. The company has also hosted productions by other prominent theatre companies, including the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre.

● Productions

The Aurora Theatre Company has produced a wide range of plays, including classical theatre works such as Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream and Molière's Tartuffe, as well as contemporary theatre works by playwrights such as Sam Shepard, David Mamet, and Caryl Churchill. The company has also produced several world premieres, including works by Bay Area playwrights such as Luis Alfaro and Octavio Solis. Recent productions have included The Real Thing by Tom Stoppard, The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams, and The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde. The company has collaborated with other prominent theatre companies, including the Steppenwolf Theatre Company and the Guthrie Theater.

● Venue

The Aurora Theatre Company is based in a theatre in downtown Berkeley, California, which features a 150-seat thrust stage and a 50-seat black box theatre. The theatre is equipped with state-of-the-art sound and lighting systems, and features a lobby and box office area. The company also offers rehearsal space and office space for its staff and artists. The theatre is located near other prominent cultural institutions, including the University of California, Berkeley, the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive, and the Zellerbach Hall.

● Artistic Leadership

The Aurora Theatre Company is led by Artistic Director Tom Ross, who has been with the company since its founding in 1990. Ross has directed numerous productions for the company, including The Real Thing and The Glass Menagerie. The company's Associate Artistic Director is Jennifer King, who has also directed several productions for the company. The company's Resident Dramaturg is Laura Brueckner, who has worked with the company on numerous productions, including The Importance of Being Earnest and Tartuffe. The company has also collaborated with other prominent theatre artists, including director Mark Rucker and set designer Daniel Ostling.

● Awards and Recognition

The Aurora Theatre Company has received numerous awards and nominations for its productions, including several Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Awards and Theatre Bay Area Awards. The company has also been recognized for its contributions to the American theatre scene, with Tom Ross receiving the 2015 Theatre Bay Area Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Bay Area Theatre Community. The company has also been nominated for several Ovation Awards and Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards. The company's productions have been praised by critics from The New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, and Los Angeles Times, among others.

● Education and Community

The Aurora Theatre Company offers a range of education and community programs, including acting classes, playwriting workshops, and theatre criticism classes. The company also offers internships and apprenticeships for students and emerging artists. The company has partnered with several local schools and community organizations, including the Berkeley Unified School District and the East Bay Community Foundation. The company has also collaborated with other prominent theatre companies on education and community programs, including the American Conservatory Theater and the Berkeley Repertory Theatre. The company's education and community programs are supported by grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and the California Arts Council.

Category:Theatres in California