Chester Theatre Company

Chester Theatre Company (abbreviated as CTC) is a professional summer theatre located in the town of Chester in Hampden County, near the Berkshires in western Massachusetts. Performances take place in the Chester Town Hall. It was founded in 1990 by Vincent Dowling[1] and H. Newman Marsh as the “Miniature Theatre of Chester.” Since then it has earned a reputation for producing “the best in contemporary theatre.”[2]

Leadership

From 1997- 2015 Byam Stevens was the artistic director of Chester Theatre Company through a period of growth, self-discovery, and economic instability. He saw CTC through the economic recession despite the national lack of funding available for the arts, and helped the theatre in its transition between the Chester Miniature Theatre Company to Chester Theatre Company today. Stevens successfully shifted CTC to fulfill his goals for contemporary theater. “(Theatre) should address the lasting questions of life, and it should serve as a forum for us to address the important issues that are facing us as a society in the present.”[3]

The current producing artistic director, Daniel Elihu Kramer, has been involved with CTC as a director since 2010 and as an associate artistic director since 2012. Kramer has been focusing on language driven pieces with small cast, as the Town Hall which houses the theatre holds roughly 130 people at a time. Kramer is also the chair of the theatre department at Smith College, and a playwright and freelance director.[4]

Education

Chester Theatre Company has created and run a number of education and outreach programs.

Internships

Under Kramer, CTC has been working to expand the internship program, which allows young professionals to gain experience in the theater world. Stipended internships are available in areas ranging from stage management to technical theatre to artistic administration.

Post-show Discussions

CTC is known for a range of post-show discussions[5] following the majority of its performances. These conversations are an essential part of CTC's education programs.

Theatre Trips

CTC brings audience members on theatre tours to London,[6] and to domestic US locations, including Chicago and Washington, DC.[7]

The Gateway and Camp Shepard Playwrighting Projects

Starting in 2005, Chester Theatre Company paired up with Gateway Regional Middle School to help young people write a produce their own work. Chester produces a series of ten-minute plays written by the students, complete with professional designers, directors, and actors. They also helped teach the students during an 8-week after-school writing course and weekend retreat.[8] The Camp Shepard Project was a similar collaboration between Chester Theatre Company, Westfield State College, and the Westfield YMCA. Westfield State College provided actors and designers, while directors from Chester Theatre Company acted as mentors to the young writers. The program was designed for students in 6-8th grade. The course takes place at the Westfield YMCA, and has been a program since 2005.[9]

Notable Productions

Pride@Prejudice - Written by Daniel Elihu Kramer, this was a playful beginning to the 2011 season.

The Darlings - Byam Stevens directed the world premiere of this play in 2002. This is a satirical and modern interpretation of the classic family portrayed in Peter Pan.

Arms on Fire - Chester Theatre Company also showed the word premiere of this play in 2013, by Steven Sater and Duncan Sheik, the creators of Spring Awakening.

References

  1. ↑ "Vincent Dowling, 83; Irish actor, director cofounded Chester Theatre Company - The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved 2017-05-30.
  2. ↑ "History - CHESTER THEATRE COMPANY". chestertheatre.org.
  3. ↑ http://www.gazettenet.com/Archives/2015/06/chestertheatre-hg-070215
  4. ↑ "Daniel Elihu Kramer | Smith College". www.smith.edu. Retrieved 2017-11-18.
  5. ↑ "Post-show Events | CHESTER THEATRE COMPANY". chestertheatre.org. Retrieved 2017-05-30.
  6. ↑ "London Theatre Tour | CHESTER THEATRE COMPANY". chestertheatre.org. Retrieved 2017-05-30.
  7. ↑ "Washington, DC Theatre Tour | CHESTER THEATRE COMPANY". chestertheatre.org. Retrieved 2017-05-30.
  8. ↑ "Chester Theatre Company teams with Gateway Regional Middle School". berkshirelinks.com. 2 April 2008.
  9. ↑ "Chester Theatre Company, Westfield State College and the Westfield YMCA announce student play-writing program". berkshirelinks.com. 5 October 2009.
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