Mission/Vision
Since 1968, the Alliance Theatre has served as Atlanta’s foremost theatre, working within the local, national and international communities to become one of the leading theatres in America. A national theatre with a local address, the Alliance recently received the 2007 Regional Theatre Tony Award® for outstanding achievement.
The mission of the Alliance is straightforward and ambitious:
As the premier theatre of the Southeast, the Alliance Theatre sets the highest artistic standards, creating the powerful experience of shared theatre for diverse people. Now in its 42nd season, the Alliance Theatre is known for its national role in creating significant theatrical works by launching two Tony Award-winning hits to Broadway: Alice Walker’s
The Color Purple and Elton John and Tim Rice’s
Aida. And, in a rare event for a regional theatre, it originated the national tour of the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Over the years, the Alliance has produced more than 65 premieres including an adaptation of Carson McCullers’
The Heart is a Lonely Hunter, Pearl Cleage’s
Blues for an Alabama Sky and Alfred Uhry’s
The Last Night of Ballyhoo.
Under the leadership of Jennings Hertz, Jr. Artistic Director Susan V. Booth, the Alliance brings the world’s best resources to Atlanta in one of the nation’s finest venues. The Alliance is committed to extending theatre to an audience that reflects our community with plays for both adults and youth, serving almost 200,000 patrons each year.
But a great theatre is more than a place to view plays. It also serves the community as an entry into the world of art for children and adults. Here are a few examples of Alliance Theatre programs designed to develop an appreciation and love for great works:
• In 2004, the Alliance furthered its commitment to new work with the launch of the first annual Alliance Theatre National Graduate Playwriting Competition, a national program introducing student playwrights to professional networks while producing the world premiere of the winning student’s work on the Hertz Stage. The program was re-named the Kendeda Graduate Playwriting Competition in 2005 (based upon a gift to permanently fund the competition).
• The Alliance Children’s Theatre is one of the nation’s oldest and most respected programs targeting young people. Each year, more than 45,000 students and families experience fully-staged productions by professional actors, directors and designers.
• The Alliance also ventures into classrooms through the Institute for Educators and Teaching Artists, fostering a partnership between the theatre and the community. Throughout the school year, Alliance professionals visit more than 180 classrooms at 45 Georgia schools.
• Every summer since 2002, 15-20 Metro Atlanta teens have taken part in Collision Project, spending a three-week summer workshop “colliding” with a classic script to create a six-person play that tours to high schools the same year.
• For more than 30 years, the Alliance has offered continuing education in stage, film and television acting through The Acting Program.
The Alliance Theatre continuously strives to bring Atlanta the finest talent and the finest art—setting the highest artistic standards. It proves once again that the Alliance is where great theatre lives.
Learn more about the Alliance Theatre by logging on to www.alliancetheatre.org or calling (404) 733-4650.
Alliance Theatre at the Woodruff is a member of Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for the American theatre.
Photos: Pacific Overtures, 2002-2003 Season
Photos by Greg Mooney