Yale Repertory Theatre Explained
Yale Repertory Theatre at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut was founded by Robert Brustein, dean of Yale School of Drama, in 1966, with the goal of facilitating a meaningful collaboration between theatre professionals and talented students. In the process it has become one of the first distinguished regional theatres. Located at the edge of Yale's main downtown campus, it occupies the former Calvary Baptist Church.
History
As head of Yale Repertory Theatre ("the Rep") from 1966 to 1979, Robert Brustein brought professional actors to Yale each year to form a repertory company and nurtured notable new authors including Christopher Durang. Some successful works were transferred to commercial theaters. Michael Feingold was the first literary manager.
The dean of Yale School of Drama is the artistic director of the Yale Repertory Theatre, with Lloyd Richards (who most notably nurtured the career of August Wilson) serving in this capacity 1979 - 1991, Stan Wojewodski, Jr., 1991–2002, and James Bundy since 2002. Benjamin Mordecai served as managing director from 1982 to 1993.[1] Victoria Nolan was managing director from 1993 to 2020.[2] Her successor was Florie Seery.[3]
Of the more than 90 world premieres the Rep has produced, four have won Pulitzer Prizes; ten productions have received Tony Awards after being transferred to Broadway, and Yale Repertory Theatre was given a Drama Desk Special Award in 1988 and the Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre in 1991.
In 2002, Yale School of Drama and Yale Repertory Theatre received the Governor's Arts Award from Governor John G. Rowland for artistic achievement and contribution to the arts in the state of Connecticut.
Calvary Baptist Church Building
Calvary Baptist Church was erected in 1846 in the Gothic revival architectural style on a plot of land that was the original home of Richard Platt, one of the founders of New Haven. Upon redundancy, the church was controlled by Yale University, which was already served by a nondenominational chapel.[4]
Production history
2019–2020 Season| Date | Show | Notes |
|---|
| October 4–26, 2019 | Girls after The Bacchae by Euripides, by Branden Jacob-Jenkins | World Premiere, choreography by Raja Feather Kelly, directed by Lileana Blain-Cruz |
| November 29 – December 21, 2019 | The Plot by Will Eno | World Premiere, directed by Oliver Butler |
| January 24 – February 15, 2020 | Manahatta by Mary Kathryn Nagle | East Coast Premiere, directed by Laurie Woolery. First Native American written play at the theater.[5] |
| March 13 – April 4, 2020 | A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry | Directed by Carl Cofield, cancelled due to COVID-19 |
| April 24 – May 16, 2020 | Testmatch by Kate Attwell | World Premiere, directed by Margot Bordelon, cancelled due to COVID-19 | |
2017–2018 Season[7] | Date | Show | Notes |
|---|
| October 6–28, 2017 | An Enemy of the People by Henrik Ibsen, New translation by Paul Walsh | directed by James Bundy |
| November 24 – December 16, 2017 | Native Son by Nambi E. Kelley, adapted from the novel by Richard Wright | directed by Seret Scott |
| January 26 – February 17, 2018 | Field Guide created by Rude Mechs | world premiere |
| March 16 – April 7, 2018 | Father Comes Home From the Wars, Parts 1, 2 & 3 by Suzan-Lori Parks | directed by Liz Diamond |
| April 27 – May 19, 2018 | Kiss by Guillermo Calederón | directed by Evan Yionoulis | |
2016–2017 Season[8] | Date | Show | Notes |
|---|
| September 30 – October 22, 2016 | | world premiere, directed by Mark Wing-Davey |
| November 25 – December 17, 2016 | Seven Guitars by August Wilson | directed by Timothy Douglas |
| January 20 – February 11, 2017 | Imogen Says Nothing by Aditi Brennan Kapil | world premiere, directed by Laurie Woolery |
| March 17 – April 8, 2017 | Assassins, book by John Weidman, music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim | directed by James Bundy |
| April 28 – May 20, 2017 | | world premiere, directed by Anne Kauffman | |
2015–2016 Season| Date | Show | Notes |
|---|
| October 2–24, 2015 | Indecent by Paula Vogel | world premiere, created by Paula Vogel and Rebecca Taichman, directed by Rebecca Taichman |
| November 27 – December 19, 2015 | peerless by Jiehae Park | world premiere, directed by Margot Bordelon |
| January 29 – February 20, 2016 | The Moors by Jen Silverman | world premiere, directed by Jackson Gay |
| March 25 – April 16, 2016 | Cymbeline by William Shakespeare | directed by Evan Yionoulis |
| April 29 – May 21, 2016 | Happy Days by Samuel Beckett | directed by James Bundy, featuring Dianne Wiest | |
2014–2015 Season[9] | Date | Show | Notes |
|---|
| October 3–25, 2014 | | directed by James Bundy |
| November 21 – December 13, 2014 | War by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins | world premiere, directed by Lileana Blain-Cruz |
| January 30 – February 21, 2015 | Familiar by Danai Gurira | world premiere. directed by Rebecca Taichman |
| March 20 – April 11, 2015 | The Caucasian Chalk Circle by Bertolt Brecht | directed by Liz Diamond |
| April 24 – May 16, 2015 | | world premiere, directed by Jackson Gay | |
2013–2014 Season[10] | Date | Show | Notes |
|---|
| September 20 – October 12, 2013 | A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams | directed by Mark Rucker, featuring René Augesen and Joe Manganiello |
| October 25 – November 16, 2013 | | directed by Evan Yionoulis |
| November 30 – December 21, 2013 | Accidental Death of an Anarchist by Dario Fo | directed by Christopher Bayes |
| January 31 – February 22, 2014 | The Fairytale Lives of Russian Girls by Meg Miroshnik | directed by Rachel Chavkin |
| March 14 – April 5, 2014 | These Paper Bullets adapted by Rolin Jones
from William Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing | world premiere, songs by Billie Joe Armstrong, directed by Jackson Gay |
| April 18 – May 10, 2014 | The House that will not Stand by Marcus Gardley | world premiere, directed by Patricia McGregor | |
2012–2013 Season[11] | Date | Show | Notes |
|---|
| September 21 – October 13, 2012 | American Night: The Ballad of Juan José by Richard Montoya | developed by Culture Clash and Jo Bonney, directed by Shana Cooper |
| October 26 – November 17, 2012 | Marie Antoinette by David Adjmi | world premiere, directed by Rebecca Taichman |
| November 30 – December 22, 2012 | Dear Elizabeth | world premiere by Sarah Ruhl, directed by Les Waters |
| January 25 – February 16, 2013 | Stones in His Pockets by Marie Jones | directed by Evan Yionoulis |
| March 15 – April 13, 2013 | Hamlet by William Shakespeare | directed by James Bundy, starring Paul Giamatti |
| April 26 – May 18, 2013 | In a Year with 13 Moons by Rainer Werner Fassbinder | adapted by Bill Camp and Robert Woodruff, directed by Robert Woodruff | |
See also
External links
References
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Notes and References
- Web site: Benjamin Mordecai, Broadway Producer Who Championed August Wilson's Works, Dead at 60 . Kenneth . Jones . 9 May 2005 . Playbill.com . 6 April 2015.
- Web site: Victoria Nolan . David Geffin School of Drama at Yale . 1 March 2022.
- Web site: Yale Repertory Theatre Staff . Yale Repertory Theatre . 1 March 2022.
- Book: Russiello, J. . A Sympathetic Planning Hierarchy for Redundant Churches: A Comparison of Continued Use and Reuse in Denmark, England and the United States of America . MSc Conservation of Historic Buildings, University of Bath. 2008. 379.
- Web site: Tyler . Brown . January 29, 2020 . First Native written play comes to come to Yale Rep . 2020-07-10. Yale Daily News. en.
- Web site: Yale Rep Production History.
- Web site: On Stage: Yale Repertory Theatre 2017–18.
- Web site: On Stage: Yale Repertory Theatre 2016–17.
- Web site: On Stage: Yale Repertory Theatre 2014–15.
- Web site: On Stage: Yale Repertory Theatre 2013–14.
- Web site: On Stage: Yale Repertory Theatre 2012–13.
- Web site: On Stage: Yale Repertory Theatre 2011–12.
- Web site: On Stage: Yale Repertory Theatre 2010–11.
