Seattle Repertory Theatre

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Seattle Repertory Theatre, Seattle, Wash., opened at the 895-seat Seattle Center Play House in 1963, its first season including King Lear, Max Frisch's The Firebugs, Christopher Fry's The Lady's not for Burning, and Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman. A financial crisis in 1970 (overcome by 1975) led to reduced emphasis on the classics. In 1983, the Bagley Wright Theatre, consisting of the 868-seat Mainstage and the 142-seat Poncho Forum, was erected at the Seattle Center to house the company. Three production schedules have been established: the Main Season, Oct.–May, on the Mainstage; the more intimate Stage Two; and the Other Season. The emphasis is on new works, and many plays originating at the Seattle Rep. have moved to Broadway and other venues. The company also tours extensively along the west coast. The Seattle Children's Theatre uses the Poncho theatre for its productions. A Contemporary Theatre, also in Seattle, was founded in 1965, and operates a 449-seat theatre with a thrust stage. At one time it worked in close co-operation with the Seattle Rep., but it now produces independently and also operates a Young ACT, founded in 1966, for younger audiences.

Seattle Repertory Theatre. After many years of difficulties, this nonprofit theatre in Washington found national recognition in the 1990s and became a favorite place to test original works before sending them on to Broadway. The company was founded in 1963 by Stuart Vaughan and was housed in a building remaining from the Seattle World's Fair. The troupe struggled with financial difficulties for over a decade, but by 1974 its subscription base and reputation in Seattle were secure and the company added a second performance space, Stage 2. Daniel Sullivan became artistic director in 1981 and helped revitalize the theatre, instituting a New Plays program and expanding the repertory. In 1983 the group moved into the 850‐seat Bagley Wright Theatre at the Seattle Center and added the 140‐seat PONCHO Forum space for new works. By the 1990s the Seattle Rep was sending such works as Wendy Wasserstein's The Heidi Chronicles, The Sisters Rosensweig, and An American Daughter to Broadway, as well as plays by Neil Simon and other established playwrights. The company received the 1990 Tony Award for outstanding regional theatre.