Pennsylvania is known for its large theaters in the major cities of Pennsylvania and Pittsburgh. Visitors can enjoy performances in these major metropolitan areas, or they can visit smaller towns to seek out more intimate theater experiences. Whether your destination is a big city or a rural area, theater companies and festivals can be found in abundance.
Theater in Philadelphia
In the commonwealth's largest city, the Philadelphia Theatre Company is a great option for visitors whose theater tastes tend toward the experimental and artistic. Around the Philadelphia area, there is no theater company more popular, and visitors who attend performances will be treated to an interesting cross-section of the city's arts and entertainment community. Founded in 1974, the company focuses upon works written by contemporary playwrights. Due to its concentration on new, emerging work, the company has long been at the forefront of American theater developments. The annual season runs between September and June, and tickets are available in a range of prices. Performances are held in the company's own theater.
Also in Philadelphia, the Walnut Street Theatre bills itself as the oldest theater in the United States. Presidents and political figures going all the way back to Thomas Jefferson have attended performances at this theater. The theater has also hosted many world-famous plays. During a period in the mid-20th century, the theater was used to pilot works that would soon be on Broadway, including A Streetcar Named Desire with Marlon Brando, A Raisin in the Sun with Sidney Poitier, and several other high-profile classics. Today, the theater's main stage runs five popular productions each season, while its two other stages host a variety of productions for adults and children. The theater is located in one of Philadelphia's most historic neighborhoods, and it is surrounded by plenty of shops and restaurants.
Philadelphia's primary venue for large, touring Broadway shows is the Forrest Theatre. Built in 1927, the Forrest Theatre is deeply connected to the history of Philadelphia performing arts, having hosted nearly every kind of performance during its existence. Currently, the venue hosts large-scale productions that are fun for the whole family. Known as the Cadillac Broadway Series, the Forrest Theatre's productions run all year.
For a festival that is slightly out of the ordinary, the University of Pennsylvania campus is home to the annual Alternative Theatre Festival. With a goal of presenting experimental and avant-garde theater to visitors and the Philadelphia community, the festival takes place outdoors, and features performance groups from throughout the country. The event takes place over a Saturday in April, and it also provides visitors with an opportunity to explore the exciting neighborhoods that surround the campus.
Pittsburgh Theater
Pittsburgh, the commonwealth's second largest city, has a theater scene to rival that of Philadelphia. One theater company in the city that specializes in modern plays is City Theatre. Producing plays from local playwrights, as well as classics from American history, City Theatre is known for its adventurousness and highly artistic standards. The company is a non-profit organization, performing most of its plays on the main stage of its own theater on Pittsburgh's Bingham Street. The season of six productions runs from fall through spring, and the company also hosts several special events, along with the Young Playwrights Festival.
For family-oriented theater productions, the Saltworks Theater Company focuses on wholesome plays that celebrate life, education, and positive social change. Founded in the 1980s, the company is deeply involved in the local community. The company performs at its own downtown theater.
Also in Pittsburgh, the Gemini Theater Company, founded in 1996, focuses exclusively on interactive children's theater performances. Always creative and original, the company seeks to inspire the fertile imaginations of children through performances that both entertain and educate. Located on Pittsburgh's Penn Avenue, the company performs from September through April, and its tickets are available online.
Other Theater Offerings
In the capital city of Harrisburg, the Gamut Theatre Group runs the Popcorn Hat Players Children's Theatre and the Harrisburg Shakespeare Festival, two companies that are devoted to telling classic stories in innovative, modern ways. The Popcorn Hat Players, similar to Pittsburgh's Gemini Theater Company, focus on performances designed for children. Utilizing creative comedic techniques and improvisation, the group reinterprets traditional plays to make them fun and educational for today's children. With an annual attendance approaching 10,000, Popcorn Hat presents seasons of eight productions on the Gamut Theatre Group's main stage. The group also tours around the region and hosts special shows for both Christmas and New Years Eve. Recently, the group was the only entertainment company to be named one of the "Top 10 Most Innovative Non-Profits in Central Pennsylvania" by a local business journal.
Also under the direction of the Gamut Theatre Group is the Harrisburg Shakespeare Festival. It takes place at the Levitt Pavilion in central Harrisburg, in the city's historic Reservoir Park. Free shows are performed Wednesdays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. over two weeks in mid-June. In addition to this summer event, the company also performs an annual season of Shakespeare and other classical plays.
In addition to these theater festivals and companies, theater experiences can be found in almost every town throughout the commonwealth. From large to small events and performance companies, theater can be enjoyed by visitors across Pennsylvania.
