![]() However, some months before the Irish Players tour, several “definitely conscious little theatres” were begun in Wisconsin and Illinois, devoting themselves to production of native local drama. According to Robert Gard and Gertrude Burley, they “fired the American imagination ” their tour “aroused the antagonism of American citizens against the feeble productions of the commercial theatre, and seemed to be the catalyst that caused countless dramatic groups to germinate all over America, as a protest against commercial drama.” ( Community Theatre: Idea and Achievement, 1959). tour of the Irish Players seemed to have the greatest impact on us. The size of their performing halls led to the name “little theatre.” The 1911 U.S. The European Art Theatre Movement, which is usually credited for having given impetus to the American Little Theatre Movement, had begun prior to the turn of the century with revolutionary changes in theatre technique, playwriting, and acting style. The movement has been called “art theatre,” “little theatre,” “amateur theatre,” even “tributary theatre.” “Community theatre” was coined by Louise Burleigh in 1917.Īn identifiable “movement” was definitely underway in the early 1900’s. In 1877, the Footlight Club was founded in Jamaica Plain, MA and has been declared by AACT to be the oldest continuously producing community theatre in the U.S.Įven the name “community theatre” took some time to evolve. In 1874, two groups were founded: the Aurora Drama Guild in Illinois and the Concord Players in Massachusetts (by Louisa May Alcott). We know there were amateur theatricals during the Colonial and Revolutionary War times, and the Mormons founded the Deseret Theatre around 1850. No one seems to have been conscious it was a “movement” which needed to be set down for posterity. The beginnings of community theatre in the U.S. Theatre in America: Appraisal and Challenge It engages more people in theatrical activity, albeit part-time, than all the rest of the American theatre put together, including schools and colleges.” Googletag.cmd.“Community Theatre occupies a peculiarly important position in the American theater picture. This program is supported in part by a grant from the Boston Cultural Council, a local agency which is funded by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, administered by the Mayor’s Office of Arts, Tourism and Spe-cial Events. The Footlight Club membership strives to present the best in nonprofessional theater to a broad-based audience and to preserve and maintain Eliot Hall as a community resource. Nestled in a residential area near Jamaica Pond, the Footlight Club has had performances every year since 1877. Russo and used in the show will be raffled off to benefit women in the Sudan through My Sister’s Keeper (an organization that “…envisions a world where women all across the globe can imagine, create and sustain vibrant and joyous communities.” Recent contributions to My Sister’s Keeper helped build a school for 1,000 new enrollees in an area that has been devastated by 20 years of civil war. Tickets can be purchased in advance at Three quilts handmade by Philip B. Performances at Eliot Hall at 7A Eliot St. ![]() Her talent al-lows her freedom experienced by few African-American women in 1905, but what she really wants is love. In the play, hard work and creativity are no strangers to Ester, a successful 35-year-old African-American seamstress whose business of creating sensual ladies’ un-dergarments can take her from a bawdy bordello to a high-class boudoir in the span of a day. The Footlight Club, America’s oldest community theatre, will stage the Boston community theatre debut of “Intimate Apparel” by Lynn Nottage this month. ![]() ![]() This quilt and two others will be raffled off at the Footlight Club’s performances of “Initmate Apparel” to benefit My Sister’s Keeper, an organization that helps women in the Sudan. ![]()
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