Capital Repertory Theatre (also called Capital Rep or simply the REP) is a 309-seat professional regional theatre in Albany, New York. Capital Rep is the only theatre in the Capital District that is a member of the League of Resident Theatres (LORT). As a member, it operates under collective bargaining agreements with Actors' Equity Association and other theatre worker unions.[1]

The theatre relocated to its new home at 251 N. Pearl St in Albany, New York in 2021, and is one of three venues affiliated with Proctors Collaborative.

Artistic staff include Producing Artistic Director Maggie Mancinelli-Cahill, Associate Artistic Director Margaret E. Hall, along with associate artists Gordon Greenberg, Barbara Howard, Stephanie Klapper, Kevin McGuire, Jean-Remy Monnay, Yvonne Perry, Josh D. Smith and Freddy Ramirez.[2]

History

The theatre's predecessor was Lexington Conservatory Theatre in Lexington, New York, founded in 1976 by artistic director Oakley Hall III. In 1978, Hall suffered a traumatic brain injury, ending his career. That October, LCT staff began to explore developing a resident theatre in Albany.[3]

On April 18, 1979, Lexington Conservatory executive director Michael Van Landingham and artistic director Abraham Tetenbaum held a press conference at the EBA Dance Studio in Albany, NY. They announced that the company would form a theatre in downtown Albany that followed a fall-winter-spring season, to be known as Capital Repertory Company or "Capital Rep." While they had reviewed various buildings in search of a suitable facility, they had decided that refurbishing a non-theatre building into a 450-seat theatre was the most viable option. "Basically, we decided to come to Albany for three reasons," said Van Landingham during the press conference. "We found 40 percent of our patrons last season came down to us from the Capital District; there's no professional theater in this city during the winter, and most importantly, we all really liked the place."

On April 19 and 20, the company presented a series of events called "The Break In", intended to orient the community to the theatre company and its work. It was the first event to carry the Capital Rep name. The event included music and video presentations, a discussion with director Lev Shekhtman, and selections of scenes from past productions.[4][5][6]

In early 1980, the company produced The Tavern by George M. Cohan at the Egg Theatre in Albany, the first full production under the Capital Rep name.[7]In October of 1980, executive director Michael Van Landingham announced that the theatre would not return to Lexington House and instead move permanently to Albany.[8] In December 1980, the group began its first full season as Capital Rep at Page Hall in Albany.

On August 31, 1981, Mayor Erastus Corning 2nd met with recently appointed Producing Artistic Directors Bruce Bouchard and Peter Clough, which secured the fledgling theatre with a new space in a former supermarket on North Pearl Street owned by the city of Albany.[9]

At a press conference the following week, Mayor Corning announced a rent-free, five-year lease of the former Grand Cash Market, which included the city paying for utilities and heat for at least the first year. Clough and Bouchard expressed optimism amidst the need to raise $225,000 for an operating budget, as well as to address an accumulated debt from previous years' deficit. A new board of directors was being organized, with support noted from local community leader Lewis A. Swyer, along with in-kind support from various groups including architecture firm Einhorn, Yaffe, Prescott and Krouner. The theatre planned to open for its new season in March 1982 with Table Manners by Alan Ayckbourn, and teased that the season might include a show directed by Albany native William Devane.[10][11]

After extensive construction, the Market Theatre opened on March 5, 1982 and was the theatre's home for the next 39 years.[12]

In 1995, the Board of Trustees appointed Maggie Mancinelli-Cahill as the producing artistic director.[13]

In 2021, the theatre moved to 251 North Pearl Street.[14]

Notable Productions

The theatre has produced numerous world premieres, including Dreaming Emmett by Toni Morrison,[15] November by Don Nigro,[16] Saint Florence by Elizabeth Diggs,[17] Breaking Up Is Hard to Do by Neil Sedaka,[18] Grand View by William Kennedy[19] and Edges: A Song Cycle by Pasek and Paul.[20]

Mission

According to the website, the mission of Capital Rep is "to create a meaningful theatre generated from an authentic link to the community."

Awards

  • Theatre Communications Group Playwright in Residence Award (1997)
  • American Marketing Association Mark of Excellence Award (1996)
  • Pew Charitable Trust National Theatre Artist Residency Program Award (1993)
  • Kennedy Center Fund for New American Play Award (1988 & 1992)
  • Foundation of the Dramatists Guild/CBS Awards (1984, 1986 & 1987)
  • Business Committee for the Arts First Place National Award (1984)
  • Outstanding New Enterprise - Albany/Colonie Regional Chamber of Commerce (1983)

2009-2010 season

Shear Madness by Paul Portner
The Seafarer by Conor McPherson
My Fair Lady by Alan Lerner and Frederick Loewe
Betrayal by Harold Pinter
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

2013-2014 season

The Sparkley Clean Funeral Singers by Lori Fischer
Venus in Fur by David Ives
A Christmas Carol adapted by Patrick Barlow
The Mountaintop by Katori Hall
Gypsy by Arthur Laurents
The God Game by Suzanne Bradbeer

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Who We Are". League of Resident Theatres. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
  2. ↑ "Artistic Leadership". Capital Repertory Theatre. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
  3. ↑ Wright, Peg Churchill (April 14, 1979). "Albany Resident Theater Considered". The Daily Gazette. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  4. ↑ "Lexington Curtain to Rise June 13". Schenectady Gazette. May 14, 1979.
  5. ↑ Gray, James R (April 19, 1979). "Capital Rep to convert building for new troupe". The Knickerbocker News.
  6. ↑ LeBrun, Fred (April 19, 1979). "Professional acting company will move to Albany". Albany Times Union.
  7. ↑ "LCT Seeks New Home". Stamford Mirror Recorder. October 29, 1980.
  8. ↑ de Lisle, Doug (October 27, 1980). "Troupe Leaves Lexington". The Times Record.
  9. ↑ "Erastus Corning Letter to Capital Repertory Theatre". archive.org. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  10. ↑ Kelly, Martin P. (November 15, 1981). "An optimistic air in Albany's new 'Market Theater'". Albany Times Union.
  11. ↑ Kelly, Martin P. (November 13, 1981). "New theater's press parley 'stars' ad-libber Corning". Albany Times Union.
  12. ↑ "Capital Rep Market Theatre Brochure". archive.org. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  13. ↑ Rinaldi, Ray Mark (April 13, 1995). "CAPITAL REP'S NE􏰠 DIRECTOR HAS PLANS FOR 􏰘PSTATE THEATER". Albany Times Union.
  14. ↑ Barnes, Steve (March 24, 2021). "Sneak peek: a look inside Capital Repertory's new home". Albany Times Union.
  15. ↑ Johnson, Stephanie (January 7, 1986). "'Dreaming Emmett' Opens". The Berkshire Eagle.
  16. ↑ Nigro, Don (2002). November: A Play. Samuel French. ISBN 9780573628122.
  17. ↑ Gussow, Mel (October 15, 1988). "This Florence Nightingale Knew How to Fight a War: [Review]". New York Times.
  18. ↑ Eck, Michael (July 21, 2005). "Staging Sedaka". Albany Times Union. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
  19. ↑ Solomon, Michelle F. (May 10, 1996). "A 'GRAND VIEW' OF ALBANY'S POWER POLITICS". Times Union. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  20. ↑ Eck, Michael. "Could Capital Rep's 'Edges' be next 'Rent'?", Times Union, 2007-10-19, p. E6.

42°39′9.5″N 73°45′1.5″W / 42.652639°N 73.750417°W / 42.652639; -73.750417

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