The History Of New Plays At Actors Theatre Of Louisville Theater In The Americas

For over half a century, the Actors Theatre of Louisville has been at the forefront of producing and promoting new plays in the Americas. Founded in 1964, this renowned theater located in Louisville, Kentucky, has become a hub for playwrights, actors, and theater enthusiasts alike.

Origins and Early Years

The Actors Theatre of Louisville was established with the vision of bringing contemporary American plays to the stage. The inaugural season featured four plays, including "Fat Tuesday" by Tennessee Williams. From the very beginning, the theater showcased the works of emerging playwrights, giving them a platform to experiment and grow.

In 1977, Actors Theatre initiated the Humana Festival of New American Plays, which has since become one of the most important theater festivals in the country. This annual festival showcases multiple new plays from a diverse range of playwrights, providing a unique opportunity for audiences to witness the birth of groundbreaking works.

The Humana Festival: The History of New Plays at Actors Theatre of Louisville (Theater in the Americas)

by Jeffrey Ullom(1st Edition, Kindle Edition)

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	2132 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
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Print length	:	264 pages

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Growth and Development

Over the years, the Actors Theatre of Louisville has expanded its repertoire and gained recognition for its commitment to new plays. It has produced world premieres of influential works such as "The Gin Game" by D.L. Coburn, "Crimes of the Heart" by Beth Henley, and "Dinner with Friends" by Donald Margulies.

Actors Theatre has also fostered the development of young playwrights through programs like the Apprentice/Intern Company. This initiative invites emerging theater artists to work alongside experienced professionals, providing them with invaluable knowledge and hands-on experience in playwriting.

Impact and Influence

The influence of the Actors Theatre of Louisville extends far beyond the stage. Many plays that originated at the theater have gone on to achieve great success on Broadway and beyond. Notable examples include "The Glass Menagerie" by Tennessee Williams, "The Kentucky Cycle" by Robert Schenkkan, and "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time" adapted by Simon Stephens.

Additionally, the theater has played a pivotal role in the development of theater professionals. Its prestigious Acting Apprentice Program has produced talented actors who have made a name for themselves in the industry. Some of the program's alumni include Jennifer Lawrence, Margo Martindale, and Kevin Kline.

Ongoing Commitment

Today, the Actors Theatre of Louisville continues to push boundaries and nurture the growth of new plays. Its current season features a diverse lineup of works that tackle pressing social issues and explore innovative storytelling techniques.

Furthermore, the Humana Festival of New American Plays remains a staple of the theater's annual programming. It serves as a launching pad for upcoming playwrights and a source of inspiration for the theater community at large.

The Actors Theatre of Louisville has left an indelible mark on the American theater landscape through its unwavering commitment to new plays. Its dedication to fostering emerging talent and providing a platform for experimentation has resulted in numerous groundbreaking works.

As the theater continues to celebrate its rich history, it holds a promising future in shaping the theater of tomorrow. Audiences eagerly await the next season's lineup, knowing they will witness the birth of exciting and thought-provoking plays at the Actors Theatre of Louisville.

The Humana Festival: The History of New Plays at Actors Theatre of Louisville (Theater in the Americas)

by Jeffrey Ullom(1st Edition, Kindle Edition)

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	2132 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	264 pages

FREE

Far from the glittering lights of Broadway, in a city known more for its horse racing than its artistic endeavors, an annual festival in Louisville, Kentucky, has transformed the landscape of the American theater. The Actors Theatre of Louisville—the Tony Award–winning state theater of Kentucky—in 1976 successfully created what became the nation's most respected new-play festival, the Humana Festival of New American Plays.

The Humana Festival: The History of New Plays at Actors Theatre of Louisville examines the success of the festival and theater’s Pulitzer Prize–winning productions that for decades have reflected new-play trends in regional theaters and on Broadway—the result of the calculated decisions, dogged determination, and good luck of its producing director, Jon Jory.

The volume details how Actors Theatre of Louisville was established, why the Humana Festival became successful in a short time, and how the event’s success has been maintained by the Louisville venue that has drawn theater critics from around the world for more than thirty years.

Author Jeffrey Ullom charts the theater’s early struggles to survive, the battles between troupe leaders, and the desperate measures to secure financial support from the Louisville community. He examines how Jory established and expanded the festival to garner extraordinary local support, attract international attention, and entice preeminent American playwrights to premier their works in the Kentucky city.  

In The Humana Festival, Ullom provides a broad view of new-play development within artistic, administrative, and financial contexts. He analyzes the relationship between Broadway and regional theaters, outlining how the Humana Festival has changed the process of new-play development and even Broadway’s approach to discovering new work, and also highlights the struggles facing regional theaters across the country as they strive to balance artistic ingenuity and economic viability.

Offering a rare look at the annual event, The Humana Festival provides the first insider’s view of the extraordinary efforts that produced the nation’s most successful new-play festival.