Though the idea of regional theater may summon up thoughts of Moira Rose performing with the Jazzagals in the not-so-glamorous small town of “Schitt’s Creek,” in reality, playhouses are anything but provincial. Working in the regional theater circuit is practically a rite of passage for actors, whether they’re seasoned professionals or college students trying to get a jump on their careers over summer break. Here’s what you need to know about regional theater and how it creates opportunities for performers, from from sea to shining sea.
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Regional theater is a broad umbrella term used to describe professional theaters throughout the country. They come in all sorts of sizes and seating capacities; can be for-profit or nonprofit; and may employ strictly union, nonunion, or a mix of both kinds of talent. Many regional theaters (81, to be exact) belong to the League of Regional Theatres (LORT). For a more thorough breakdown of the LORT categories and pay rates, check out this helpful guide here.
Most stage actors who are employed in a given year will work regionally. LORT boasts that it “collectively issue[s] more Equity contracts to actors than Broadway and commercial tours combined,” and that’s only among their 81 theaters. Just imagine how many actors (both Equity members and nonmembers) are employed annually at the estimated 1,800 non-LORT regional theaters across the country.
Is community theater regional theater?
The short answer is no. While many community theaters have production values and talent that rival that of smaller regional theaters, the main difference between the two is that regional theaters pay their actors and technicians, while community theater is volunteer-based.
How to Get Involved in Community TheaterPerforming: These theaters provide quite a bit of employment and opportunities for actors to practice their craft (not to mention get paid to do it!). The bulk of a stage actor’s professional work is likely to be in regional houses, and most actors who finally end up securing an elusive job on Broadway got their start in (and often eventually return to! regional work. “There’s nothing wrong with dreaming of a Tony or an Olivier, or of wishing for an Obie or a Drama Desk,” according to performing arts expert Harvey Young. “At the same time, let’s acknowledge that the folks who win—or are nominated for—those awards were often honored first by their local communities with Jeffs, Iveys, and Ovations.”
Résumé-building: It’s always great to add new roles and directors to your acting résumé. Some summer stock jobs may even allow you to add three or more roles to your résumé over the course of a single summer.
Networking: Regional theater gigs are also amazing opportunities to network, from building connections with directors and choreographers to meeting fellow actors from all walks of life and parts of the world. And networking can be a way to secure future employment, as many theaters love to repeatedly hire actors who are a joy to work with.
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It may seem intimidating at first, but getting involved with theater at the regional level doesn’t have to be complicated. All you really need to do is follow these steps.
1. Research regional theaters.
Focus your energy and target specific theaters, shows, and locations that excite you. Some actors, especially young ones just starting out, find it helpful to pursue jobs at regional theaters where they may be considered local hires (actors who can provide their own housing). If your hometown has a convenient regional theater, it may be worth targeting work at those venues.
2. Train.
Some regional theaters offer acting classes, such as the La Jolla Playhouse’s Spotlight On series or the Paper Mill Playhouse’s scene study courses. These can be a wonderful way to get your foot in the door, develop your craft, and connect with fellow theater enthusiasts.
3. Audition.
The most important step to getting hired at a regional theater is to audition (we know, we know, easier said than done), so check out our theater auditions database and start putting in the work. Many regional theaters hold auditions both in New York and directly at their own theaters; so while NYC might be the most convenient place to attend auditions for theaters all over the country, you can absolutely pursue regional theater work from anywhere.
4. Be creative.
Sometimes, landing a role in regional theater means getting a little weird with it. Immerse yourself in the local scene by attending shows, joining the crew, volunteering to paint sets and bedazzle costumes, or even writing and submitting your own play.
While these may be some of the most famous and celebrated regional theaters, keep in mind that this is only the tiniest sampling of the hundreds of regional houses around the country.
- American Repertory Theater (Cambridge, Massachusetts): Housed at the prestigious Harvard University and currently co-led by Diane Paulus, the American Repertory Theater is among the most well-known regional theaters. Many shows that premiere at ART eventually make their way to Broadway—recently, “Six,” “Life of Pi,” and the most recent revival of “1776” all made the transfer.
- Arena Stage (Washington, D.C.): Founded in 1950 as one of the first nonprofit theaters in the United States, Arena Stage can lay claim to 22 productions that made the leap to Broadway, including the 2010 Pulitzer Prize winner “Next to Normal.”
- Berkeley Repertory Theatre (Berkeley, California): One regional theater with two different houses on its campus, Berkeley Rep won the prestigious Tony Award for outstanding regional theater in 1997. It’s spawned several popular musicals, including “American Idiot” and “Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations.”
- Cleveland Play House (Cleveland): Founded in 1915, the Cleveland Play House is among the country’s oldest regional theaters and is steeped in rich history. Actor Margaret Hamilton of “The Wizard of Oz” fame made her debut here in 1923, and a 1941 play featured none other than a 9-year-old Joel Grey. CPH won the Tony Award for outstanding regional theater in 2015.
- The Goodman Theatre (Chicago): Another one of the older entries on this list (founded in 1922!), Goodman produces new works and classics alike, and has been home to an annual staging of “A Christmas Carol” for nearly 50 years. It’s also home to the New Stages Festival highlighting new contemporary playwrights.
- Ford’s Theatre (Washington, D.C.): Yes, that Ford’s Theatre. After closing following the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln, the theater reopened in 1968 and has been a mainstay in the D.C. theater scene ever since. It’s produced plays, musicals, and, most recently, a one-man show about Lincoln starring Scott Bakula.
- Goodspeed Musicals (East Haddam, Connecticut): First opened in 1963, Goodspeed boasts more than 20 Broadway transfers, including “Annie,” “Man of La Mancha,” and “Shenandoah.” It’s the first American regional theater to win not one but two special Tony Awards, one for contributions to the American musical in 1980 and the second for outstanding regional theater in 1995.
- La Jolla Playhouse (San Diego): Another winner of the Tony Award for outstanding regional theater, La Jolla Playhouse was first established in 1947 by Dorothy McGuire, Mel Ferrer, and Gregory Peck(!). It has a special focus on new works, boasting a staggering 120 (and counting!) world premieres in its history.
- Maltz Jupiter Theatre (Jupiter, Florida): Recognized by LORT as the largest regional theater in Florida, the not-for-profit Maltz Jupiter Theatre is one of the younger additions to this list as it was founded in 2001. Despite its relatively young age, it has quickly established itself as a prestigious regional house, producing new works and old favorites alike.
- Paper Mill Playhouse (Millburn, New Jersey): Yet another outstanding regional theater Tony Award winner, the aptly named Paper Mill Playhouse was once housed in what used to be the Thistle Paper Mill. Antoinette Scudder purchased the old paper mill and reopened it as a playhouse in 1938. Only a stone’s throw from NYC, Paper Mill is a favorite among New York actors and audiences alike, launching several Broadway transfers such as “Newsies!” and “Bandstand.”
- The 5th Avenue Theatre (Seattle): The history of the 5th Avenue Theatre is a complex one: It originally opened in 1977 in what had once been a vaudeville house–turned–movie theater as a stop for national tours, then closed in 1985. The 5th as we know it emerged in 1989, and has since become a staple in the regional theater scene, producing new works and supporting several educational programs alongside a packed season every year.