Arden Theatre Company

The Arden Theatre Company is a professional regional theatre company located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The company includes three theatres: the 175-seat Arcadia Stage and the 360-seat F. Otto Haas Stage, located in the main property at 40 N 2nd Street; and the 100-seat Bob and Selma Horan Studio Theater at the Hamilton Family Arts Center up the block at 62 N 2nd Street. In addition to the theater spaces, the two properties also house the Arden's administrative offices, production shops, rehearsal space, and classrooms for its educational programming through Arden Drama School.[1]

Arden Theatre Company
The Arden Theatre in 2009
Address40 North 2nd Street
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
United States
Coordinates39.953767°N 75.143609°W / 39.953767; -75.143609
TypeRegional theatre
CapacityF. Otto Haas: 360
Arcadia: 175
Opened1988 (company)
Website
www.ardentheatre.org

History

Founded in 1988 by Terrence J. Nolen, Amy Murphy, and Aaron Posner, the Arden Theatre Company began producing at the Walnut Street Theatre Studio.[2] After the second season, the St. Stephen's Performing Arts Center was co-founded to provide a larger theatre (150 seats) and a unified location for classes, education programs, administrative offices, and production shops.

In 1994, Arden Theatre Company purchased a 50,000-square-foot (4,600 m2) former post office building in Philadelphia's Old City neighborhood.[2] The building was renovated to contain a 360-seat main stage theatre (F. Otto Haas Stage); a 175-seat studio theatre (Arcadia Stage); a bi-level lobby with box office, elevator, and restrooms; rehearsal and classroom space; and administrative and production offices. The company claimed that its move played a role in the economic revitalization of the area and during his term as Mayor, Ed Rendell said, "When I think of nonprofit organizations that are having a major economic impact on their neighborhoods, none comes to mind sooner than the Arden."[3]

The company has produced over 90 professional productions with 24 world premiere productions among them.[4][5] The Arden Theatre Company created the Independence Foundation New Play Showcase in 1999, with a goal of staging a new play every season as well as holding workshops and a free public reading of an additional new play. The theatre was awarded grants for past and future development of the arts.[6][7]

Education

The Arden Theatre company has an educational program included in the company's Arden Drama School.[8]

Awards

As of 2008, the Arden has received eight Philadelphia Magazine "Best of Philly" Awards, four "Theatre Company of the Year" citations from The Philadelphia Inquirer, and six Philadelphia City Paper Reader's choice Awards. Arden Theatre has also received 250 nominations and 53 awards from the Barrymore Awards for Excellence in Theater.[9][10]

Notable productions

References
  1. "Sweeney Todd at the Arden Theatre Company". TalkinBroadway.com. Retrieved 2007-12-24.
  2. Timpane, John (2017-09-17). "Arden Theatre: 30 years old, and a force that helped Old City happen". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 2022-08-26.
  3. Van Allen, Peter (June 22, 2009). "Theaters' impact isn't just show". Philadelphia Business Journal. Retrieved 2012-09-11.
  4. Nash, Pati (November 23, 2001). "Boot camp for theater lovers". Philadelphia Business Journal. Retrieved 2007-12-24.
  5. "Nine Theatres to Sprout Premieres in First Philly New Play Fest in Early 2007". Playbill News. Archived from the original on 2007-09-30. Retrieved 2007-12-24.
  6. "2001 Grant Awards: Creativity". National Endowment for the Arts. 2001. Archived from the original on 2007-09-29. Retrieved 2007-12-24.
  7. "Philadelphia Theatre Initiative Awards $870,000 for the Development and Production of Adventurous Theatre Work". The Pew Charitable Trusts. June 21, 2006. Retrieved 2007-12-24.
  8. Musbach, Julie (2019-02-07). "Arden Theatre Company's Treasure Island Puts A Unique Female Twist On The Swashbuckling Tale". BroadwayWorld. Archived from the original on 2022-08-26. Retrieved 2022-08-26.
  9. "Arden, 'Adrift' Among 2006 Barrymore Award Winners". Broadway World. October 24, 2006. Retrieved 2007-12-24.
  10. "Arden Theatre Company honored with twenty-four 2006 Barrymore Award nominations". Arden Theatre Company. August 16, 2006. Archived from the original on September 8, 2008. Retrieved January 21, 2008.
  11. Fried, Daisy (March 20–27, 1997). "Third Act From Oprah to Lopez to the streets of North Philly — the Arden Theatre Company's long journey to Third & Indiana". Philadelphia City Paper. Archived from the original on August 1, 2012. Retrieved January 19, 2009.
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