| Round House Theatre | |
| Location: | 4545 East-West Highway, Bethesda, MD |
| Artisticdirector: | Ryan Rilette |
| Notable: | Ed Zakreski, Managing Director |
Round House Theatre is an American professional theater company located in Bethesda, Maryland. Founded in 1978, it operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The theater produces contemporary plays and classic works, with a focus on American playwrights.
Round House began in 1970 as “Street ’70”, a program by the Montgomery County Department of Recreation that provided educational outreach in the schools and performances throughout the county.
In 1977, the company moved permanently to the Round House Theatre, located in the former Bushey Drive Elementary School in Silver Spring.
In 1982, the company was incorporated as a nonprofit under the name "Round House". The company remained a part of the County’s Department of Recreation until 1993, when it became a separate and independent professional theater group.[1]
Round House presents a combination of modern classics, new plays, and musicals for approximately 55,000 guests each year.[2] Round House has been nominated for 181 Helen Hayes Awards and has won 39.[3] Round House has also been honored for four consecutive years with the 50/50 Applause Award from the International Center for Women Playwrights.[4]
Round House’s educational programs serve more than 3,000 students at its Education Center in Silver Spring and other schools in Montgomery County. These programs include theatre classes for adults and youth, summer programs for grades K–12, and a teen performance company run by high school students. Round House also organizes Free Play, a program that allows teenagers and college students to attend theatre shows for free.[5]
Round House is a member of the League of Resident Theatres (LORT) and the League of Washington Theatres (LOWT). The theatre is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization, with major support from Montgomery County, the Maryland State Arts Council, and the Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County.