Wilma Theater

Wilma Theater is a professional theatre company located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, founded by Blanche Yurka and Herbert Biberman in 1979. The theater is known for its diverse range of productions, including works by Tennessee Williams, Arthur Miller, and August Wilson. The Wilma Theater has also hosted productions by renowned companies such as the Steppenwolf Theatre Company and the Guthrie Theater. With a strong commitment to community engagement, the Wilma Theater has collaborated with organizations like the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts.

● History

The Wilma Theater was founded in 1979 by Blanche Yurka and Herbert Biberman, with the goal of creating a professional theatre company that would produce a wide range of works, from classical theatre to contemporary theatre. The theater's early years were marked by productions of plays by Eugene O'Neill, George Bernard Shaw, and Anton Chekhov. In the 1980s, the Wilma Theater began to focus on more experimental theatre productions, including works by Sam Shepard and Lanford Wilson. The theater has also been influenced by the work of companies like the Wooster Group and the Elevator Repair Service. Over the years, the Wilma Theater has hosted productions by notable directors such as Robert Wilson and Anne Bogart, and has collaborated with institutions like the Yale Repertory Theatre and the Public Theater.

● About

The Wilma Theater is a non-profit organization that relies on the support of donors and sponsors, including the National Endowment for the Arts, the Philadelphia Foundation, and the William Penn Foundation. The theater's mission is to produce theatre that is both artistically innovative and socially relevant, with a focus on works that explore the human condition. The Wilma Theater has a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion, and has produced works by playwrights such as Lorraine Hansberry, Suzan-Lori Parks, and Quiara Alegría Hudes. The theater has also partnered with organizations like the NAACP and the National Council of La Raza to promote social justice and community engagement. With a strong focus on arts education, the Wilma Theater offers programs and workshops for students and adults, in collaboration with institutions like the University of the Arts and the Philadelphia School District.

● Productions

The Wilma Theater has produced a wide range of works over the years, including classical theatre productions of plays by William Shakespeare and Molière. The theater has also produced contemporary theatre works by playwrights such as Tom Stoppard, Caryl Churchill, and Tony Kushner. In recent years, the Wilma Theater has focused on producing works that explore social justice and human rights, including productions of plays by Anna Deavere Smith and Dominique Morisseau. The theater has also collaborated with companies like the Tectonic Theater Project and the SITI Company to produce innovative and experimental theatre works. With a strong commitment to new play development, the Wilma Theater has produced world premieres of plays by Lisa Kron and Young Jean Lee, and has partnered with institutions like the Humana Festival and the O'Neill Theater Center.

● Awards_and_recognition

The Wilma Theater has received numerous awards and nominations for its productions, including several Barrymore Awards and Obie Awards. The theater has also been recognized for its commitment to diversity and inclusion, receiving awards from organizations like the National Association of Latino Arts and Culture and the Asian American Arts Alliance. The Wilma Theater has been praised by critics from publications like the New York Times, the Philadelphia Inquirer, and the Huffington Post, and has been recognized as one of the top regional theatres in the country by American Theatre magazine. With a strong focus on community engagement, the Wilma Theater has received awards from organizations like the Mayor's Office of Arts and Culture and the Philadelphia Cultural Fund.

● Venue_and_facilities

The Wilma Theater is located in a historic building in Center City, Philadelphia, and features a state-of-the-art theatre space with a seating capacity of over 300. The theater's facilities include a rehearsal space, a costume shop, and a scene shop, and the theater is equipped with the latest lighting and sound technology. The Wilma Theater is also home to the Wilma Theater Studio, a theatre education program that offers classes and workshops for students and adults. With a strong commitment to accessibility, the Wilma Theater offers audio description and American Sign Language interpretation for select performances, and has partnered with organizations like the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund and the National Federation of the Blind.

● Artistic_direction

The Wilma Theater is led by Artistic Director Blanka Zizka, who has been at the helm of the theater since 1981. Under Zizka's leadership, the Wilma Theater has become known for its innovative and artistically daring productions, and has established itself as one of the leading regional theatres in the country. The theater's artistic team includes a diverse range of artists and administrators, including Associate Artistic Director Tommy Krieg, and has collaborated with institutions like the Juilliard School and the Yale School of Drama. With a strong focus on new play development, the Wilma Theater has established a playwrights' lab to support the work of emerging and established playwrights, and has partnered with organizations like the Lark Play Development Center and the Playwrights' Center.