What does Regional Theater mean?
Regional Theater refers to professional non-profit theater companies located outside of New York City — operating across the United States in cities from Los Angeles and Chicago to Atlanta and Seattle. Regional theaters operate under Actors’ Equity Association agreements, employ professional artists, and produce seasons of plays and musicals for their local communities. The regional theater movement, which developed significantly in the 1960s and 70s, was explicitly designed to decentralize American theater away from New York and develop professional theatrical culture across the country. Many Broadway productions originate as regional theater world premieres.
Example:The actor spent three seasons at a respected regional theater in the Midwest, developing her craft across a range of classical and contemporary roles in a professional environment that provided consistent work, artistic growth, and a strong foundation for her eventual New York career.
Example: The casting director explained to the parent that regional theater experience was highly valued in the industry — a young actor who had performed substantial roles in professional regional productions had credentials that self-tape auditions and commercial credits could not match.
Did you know?
The regional theater movement was significantly supported by the Ford Foundation, which in the 1950s and 60s provided millions of dollars in grants to help establish professional theaters outside New York. This institutional support catalyzed the development of theaters like the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, the Arena Stage in Washington D.C., and the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco — organizations that have since become among the most important cultural institutions in American life.
