Trinity Repertory Company facts for kids
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Trinity Rep
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 Trinity Repertory Company
Location in Rhode Island
Trinity Repertory Company
Location in the United States
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| Address | 201 Washington Street |
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| Location | Providence, Rhode Island, US |
| Coordinates | 41°49′19″N 71°25′1″W / 41.82194°N 71.41694°W |
| Owner | The Foundation for Repertory Theater of Rhode Island, Inc. |
| Type | Regional theatre |
| Capacity | Chace Theater: 500 Dowling Theater: 300 |
| Opened | March 21, 1963 |
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Trinity Square Repertory Theatre
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U.S. Historic district
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| Built | 1916 |
| Architect | William R. Walker & Son |
| Architectural style | Beaux Arts |
| Part of | Downtown Providence Historic District (ID84001967) |
| NRHP reference No. | 72000004 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | June 5, 1972 |
| Designated CP | February 10, 1984 |
The Trinity Repertory Company, often called Trinity Rep, is a special theater in Providence, Rhode Island. It's a non-profit organization, meaning it uses its money to help the theater, not to make a profit for owners. Trinity Rep is part of a group called the League of Resident Theatres.
It started in 1963 and is known as one of the best regional theaters in the United States. Trinity Rep has the last long-standing group of actors who work together all the time in the U.S. They perform new plays, modern plays, and classic stories. Each year, about 110,000 people come to see their shows, including their yearly production of A Christmas Carol.
In over 50 years, Trinity Rep has put on nearly 67 brand new plays. They have also taken their shows on tours across the country and even to other parts of the world. Through their MFA program, they have taught many new actors and directors.
Trinity Rep also has a great program called Project Discovery, which started in 1966. This program helps over 15,000 high school students from Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut experience live theater. They do this through special daytime shows and workshops in schools. By 2016, Trinity Rep's programs reached students in about 60% of Rhode Island schools.
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Trinity Rep's Story
Trinity Rep began when a small group of people in Rhode Island wanted to create a professional theater company. They officially started "The Foundation for Repertory Theater of Rhode Island, Inc." on March 21, 1963. They hired Adrian Hall, a director from New York.
Their very first play was The Hostage by Brendan Behan. It opened on March 14, 1964, at the Trinity United Methodist Church. In 1968, Trinity Rep was the first American theater company to perform at the Edinburgh International Festival in Scotland.
The company won a special award, the Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theater Company, in 1981. They also made four TV shows for PBS and toured in India and Syria. Trinity Rep is also dedicated to helping create new plays.
Training Actors and Directors
The Trinity Rep Conservatory opened in 1977 to train actors. In 2001, Trinity Rep teamed up with Brown University to create the Brown/Trinity Rep MFA program. This three-year program helps actors and directors earn advanced degrees in theater. It is now considered one of the best theater schools in the country.
A New Home
Trinity Rep started in a church, but in 1973, they moved to their current home. This building is called the Lederer Theater Center and is in downtown Providence. It used to be a historic vaudeville theater called the Emery Majestic Theatre.
The Lederer Theater Center has two performance spaces: the Chace Theater, which can seat over 500 people, and the Dowling Theater, which holds 300 people. The building also has offices, workshops for making sets, and rehearsal rooms. This historic building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Artistic Leaders
The Artistic Director is the main creative leader of a theater company. They choose the plays and guide the artistic vision. Here are the people who have been Artistic Directors at Trinity Rep:
- Adrian Hall (1963–1989)
- Anne Bogart (1989–1990)
- Richard Jenkins (1990–1994)
- Oskar Eustis (1994–2005)
- Amanda Dehnert (2005–2006, Acting Artistic Director)
- Curt Columbus (January 2006 – present)
Pell Awards
Since 1997, Trinity Repertory has hosted the Pell Awards. These awards are named after Senator Claiborne Pell from Rhode Island. He was a big supporter of the arts and helped create the National Endowment for the Arts.
The Pell Awards honor people for their lifetime achievements in the arts. They also recognize excellence in the arts in New England and strong leadership. This event also helps raise money for the theater.
Many famous people have won Pell Awards, including Ruby Dee, Ossie Davis, Viola Davis, Robert Redford, John Krasinski, and Debra Messing. Rhode Island winners include Richard Jenkins, Rose Weaver, Umberto Crenca, John Chan, and Len Cabral.
See also
