Arkansas Repertory Theatre
The Arkansas Repertory Theatre, or The Rep, is the largest "non-profit professional theatre company" in the state of Arkansas.
Since its 1976 organization by Cliff Fannin Baker in the Hillcrest neighborhood, the Rep has produced hundreds of productions and been a host to a number of community groups and projects. Funding for the group is derived from a combination of donations, money from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Arkansas Arts Council, and private seasonal subscriptions from some of its close to 100,000 frequenters.
The Rep has been led by Producing Artistic Director Robert Hupp since Baker stepped down in 1999.
Notable Rep Projects/Programs since 1999
- 2001-Present: Kaufman and Hart Prize for New American Comedy annual festival
- 2003, 2006: Selected for Shakespeare in American Communities initiative
- 2006-2007: Land of the Dragon statewide tour
- 2007: Legacy Project
The Rep building is located in the renovated Galloway Building at 601 Main Street in Little Rock. The building contains a 354-seat main stage and 99-seat second stage. The second floor is the home of Club Mezz, the theater bar. In June 2008 The Rep announced that renovations would result in an extra 30-50 seats on the main stage. The company owns a seventeen-unit apartment complex for visiting performers and designers on Sixth Street. The Rep is also negotiating for purchase of the old Brandon Furniture Warehouse, which will become a storage unit for theater sets and costumes.
References
- Bill W. Hornaday, "LR Again Rolls the Dice: Downtown Revival $500 Million Price Tag on Main Street Plan a Hitch, and Developers Aren't on Same Page," Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, May 2, 2005.
- Werner Trieschmann, "The Rep Gets Ready for Renewal, Unveiling $6 Million Campaign," Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, June 4, 2008.
