Arizona Theatre Company facts for kids
The Arizona Theatre Company (often called ATC) is a special theater group in the United States. It is a professional company that puts on plays and shows in two main cities in Arizona: Phoenix, Arizona and Tucson, Arizona. Being a "nonprofit" means they use the money they earn to put on more shows and teach people about theater, rather than making a profit for owners.
Contents
The Story of ATC
How It Started
The Arizona Theatre Company was started by a person named Sandy Rosenthal in 1966. Back then, it was called the Arizona Civic Theatre. Their very first shows were held in the basement of an old building in Tucson called the Santa Rita Hotel.
Growing Up: Becoming Professional
The theater group grew quickly! By 1972, it became a fully professional theater company. This means they hired professional actors, directors, and crew members. They also joined a big group called the League of Resident Theatres (LORT), which includes many of the best professional theaters across the country.
Expanding to Phoenix
The company started performing some of its shows in Phoenix in 1978. Just one year later, in 1979, they changed their name to the Arizona Theatre Company, which is what it's still called today. Since 1983, ATC has been putting on full seasons of plays in both Tucson and Phoenix every year.
New Leadership
In May 2019, Sean Daniels became the artistic director for the company. The artistic director is like the main leader who decides which plays to perform and helps shape the creative vision of the theater.
