History American Repertory Theater

in 1920s george pierce baker gave celebrated 47 workshop playwriting course @ harvard elective in english department. baker s dramatic instruction effective enough attract likes of eugene o neill, philip barry, , s.n. behrman cambridge. when baker requested space in stage scenes plays of students, administration balked. wealthy donor harkness family thereupon offered harvard munificent sum of million dollars build theatre , drama department baker. in 1 of few such actions in long history, harvard turned down bequest. baker took money yale founded called yale school of drama.

under leadership of robert brustein, american repertory theater established @ harvard in 1979 permanent professional arts organization on campus offered undergraduate courses in acting, directing, , dramaturgy, taught professional members of company teaching experience. brustein later described founding of theater groundbreaking event , unusual act of faith administration .

one of reasons founding of a.r.t., , brustein s appointment director of university s loeb drama center, improve quality of harvard-radcliffe drama club (hrdc) shows on main stage, partly through practical courses in craft of acting , directing, partly through professional guidance of hrdc production.

brustein served artistic director of theater until 2002, when succeeded robert woodruff, founder of bay area playwrights festival. in 2008, diane paulus became new artistic director.

the a.r.t. has become leading force in american theater, producing groundbreaking work in cambridge , beyond. during 32-year history, has welcomed many major american , international theater artists, presenting diverse repertoire includes premieres of american plays, bold reinterpretations of classical texts, , provocative new music theater productions. a.r.t. has performed throughout u.s. , worldwide in 21 cities in 16 countries on 4 continents. continues training ground young artists, artistic staff teaching undergraduate classes in acting, directing, dramatic literature, dramaturgy, voice, , design. in 1987, a.r.t. founded institute advanced theater training @ harvard, offers five-semester m.f.a. graduate program operates in conjunction moscow art theater school, institute provides world-class professional training in acting, dramaturgy, , voice.

since becoming artistic director, diane paulus has enhanced a.r.t.’s core mission expand boundaries of theater continuing transform ways in work developed, programmed, produced, , contextualized, including audience partner. productions such sleep no more, donkey show, gatz, blue flower, prometheus bound, gershwins’ porgy , bess, wild swans, , pippin have engaged audiences in unique theatrical experiences. a.r.t.’s club theater, oberon, paulus calls second stage 21st century, has become incubator local , emerging artists, , has attracted national attention innovative programming model.

the theater s productions have garnered 3 tony awards, including best revival of musical productions of pippin (2013) , gershwins’ porgy , bess (2012). a.r.t. received tony award outstanding regional theater, pulitzer prize, , many elliot norton , i.r.n.e. awards. recent premiere production of death , powers: robots’ opera 2012 pulitzer prize finalist.