Capital Repertory Theatre
111 North Pearl Street
Albany NY 12207
Phone: 518-445-7469
Fax: 518-465-0213
Description:
Mission Statement
The mission of Capital Repertory Theatre is to create a meaningful theatre generated from an authentic link to the community.
Capital Repertory Theatre serves as a safehouse for the cultural lives of both artists and the community at large.
The Theatre fosters the belief that the theatre must serve as an advocate and caretaker of the common threads that bind the American culture together in a world that is defined more and more by diversity.
Capital Repertory Theatre strives to bring to life those works that speak to our common cultural heritage as well as new work that expands our perceptions of ourselves and explores new horizons of thought through the medium of theatre.
History Of Capital Rep
In the 1960's, when the not-for-profit arts scene was initiated with support from the federal government, the world of theatre was a different place than today. New York City was truly THE theatrical center of the country. A few select cities were lucky enough to be stopping points for a Broadway show's national tour, but there were literally no professional resident theatres outside the Big Apple's Great White Way. In fact, the Actors' Equity Association had very little means of working with theatrical groups outside of New York, except for summer stock or touring venues.
Zelda Fichandler, of the Arena Stage in Washington, D.C.; Margo Jones in Dallas; and Tyrone Guthrie in Minneapolis are three important figures that changed all that. These artistic leaders helped to channel support from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to theatres outside New York City. This action was the beginning of a sweeping decentralization movement based on the principle that culture belonged to the entire country. The NEA helped establish a network of institutions across the country dedicated to supporting our country's cultural heritage through nurturing excellence in performing arts and education.
Capital Repertory Theatre is dedicated to the formation of a meaningful theatre; that is, a theatre with an authentic connection to the community it serves. The plays we choose, our educational programs, intensive apprentice training for young professionals, discussion groups, and special events are each part of a comprehensive whole dedicated to enriching the lives of Capital Region residents.
A lot goes on behind the scenes here at Capital Repertory Theatre. We're proud of our LORT status, our educational programs, our special events, and, of course, our talented casts, design teams, crews and administrative staff. Capital Repertory Theatre is committed to its role as a leading arts institution in the Capital Region. We've worked hard over the last 20 years to make quality theatre accessible to everyone, and we will continue to work to improve our programs and our community involvement as we move forward in the twenty-first century.