Seattle Repertory Theatre

Seattle Repertory Theatre is a major regional theatre located in Seattle, Washington, founded in 1963 by Gregory Falls, Benjamin Mordecai, and Stuart Vaughan. The theatre is known for producing a wide range of plays, including works by William Shakespeare, Tennessee Williams, and August Wilson. Seattle Repertory Theatre has hosted numerous notable actors, including Laurence Fishburne, Phylicia Rashad, and Jeffrey Wright, and has collaborated with other prominent theatres, such as the Guthrie Theater and the Steppenwolf Theatre Company. The theatre has also worked with renowned directors, including Bartlett Sher and Mary Zimmerman.

● History

The Seattle Repertory Theatre was founded in 1963 by Gregory Falls, Benjamin Mordecai, and Stuart Vaughan, with the goal of creating a professional theatre company that would produce high-quality, thought-provoking plays. The theatre's early productions included works by Arthur Miller, Eugene O'Neill, and Lillian Hellman, and featured actors such as Jason Robards and Colleen Dewhurst. In the 1970s and 1980s, the theatre continued to grow and develop, producing plays by Sam Shepard, David Mamet, and Wendy Wasserstein, and hosting actors such as Al Pacino and Meryl Streep. The theatre has also been involved in various Seattle-based arts initiatives, including the Seattle Arts Commission and the Seattle Office of Arts & Culture.

● Productions

Seattle Repertory Theatre has produced a wide range of plays over the years, including classic works by William Shakespeare, Oscar Wilde, and George Bernard Shaw, as well as contemporary plays by Tony Kushner, Sarah Ruhl, and Lin-Manuel Miranda. The theatre has also produced numerous world premieres, including plays by Dan Savage and Elizabeth George. Some notable productions have included A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry, The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams, and Angels in America by Tony Kushner. The theatre has collaborated with other prominent theatres, such as the Mark Taper Forum and the American Conservatory Theater, and has worked with renowned playwrights, including August Wilson and Suzan-Lori Parks.

● Venue

The Seattle Repertory Theatre is located at 155 Mercer Street in Seattle, Washington, on the grounds of the Seattle Center. The theatre complex includes two performance spaces: the Bagley Wright Theatre and the Leo K. Theatre. The Bagley Wright Theatre is a 842-seat proscenium arch theatre, while the Leo K. Theatre is a 282-seat thrust stage theatre. The theatre has also hosted productions at other venues, including the Intiman Theatre and the 5th Avenue Theatre. The theatre's location allows for easy access to other Seattle-based arts organizations, including the Seattle Symphony and the Pacific Northwest Ballet.

● Education_and_Outreach

Seattle Repertory Theatre offers a range of education and outreach programs, including acting classes, playwriting workshops, and theatre arts programs for Seattle-area schools. The theatre also offers internships and apprenticeships for emerging artists, and has partnered with organizations such as the University of Washington and the Seattle Central College. The theatre's education programs have been recognized by organizations such as the National Endowment for the Arts and the Washington State Arts Commission. The theatre has also collaborated with other Seattle-based organizations, including the Seattle Public Library and the Museum of Pop Culture.

● Awards_and_Recognition

Seattle Repertory Theatre has received numerous awards and recognition for its productions, including several Tony Award nominations and wins. The theatre has also received awards from the Drama Desk Awards, the Theatre Communications Group, and the National Theatre Conference. The theatre's productions have been recognized by critics from publications such as The New York Times, The Seattle Times, and Variety (magazine). The theatre has also been recognized for its contributions to the Seattle arts community, including awards from the Seattle Mayor's Arts Awards and the Washington State Governor's Arts Awards.

● Artistic_Direction

The Seattle Repertory Theatre has been led by several artistic directors over the years, including Stuart Vaughan, Daniel Sullivan, and Jerry Manning. The theatre's current artistic director is Raphael Martin, who has been in the position since 2019. Under Raphael Martin's leadership, the theatre has continued to produce a wide range of plays, including works by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins and Dominique Morisseau. The theatre has also collaborated with other prominent artistic directors, including Oskar Eustis of the Public Theater and Anna Shapiro of the Steppenwolf Theatre Company. The theatre's artistic direction has been influenced by its relationships with other Seattle-based arts organizations, including the Seattle Opera and the Pacific Northwest Ballet.