Yale Repertory Theatre at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut was founded by Robert Brustein, dean of Yale School of Drama, in 1966, with the goal of facilitating a meaningful collaboration between theatre professionals and talented students. In the process it has become one of the first distinguished regional theatres. Located at the edge of Yale's main downtown campus, it occupies the former Calvary Baptist Church.
History As head of Yale Repertory Theatre ("the Rep") from 1966 to 1979, Robert Brustein brought professional actors to Yale each year to form a repertory company and nurtured notable new authors including Christopher Durang. Some successful works were transferred to commercial theaters. Michael Feingold was the first literary manager.
The dean of Yale School of Drama is the artistic director of the Yale Repertory Theatre, with Lloyd Richards (who most notably nurtured the career of August Wilson) serving in this capacity 1979–1991, Stan Wojewodski, Jr., 1991–2002, and James Bundy since 2002. Benjamin Mordecai served as managing director from 1982 to 1993. Victoria Nolan was managing director from 1993 to 2020. Her successor was Florie Seery.
Of the more than 90 world premieres the Rep has produced, four have won Pulitzer Prizes; ten productions have received Tony Awards after being transferred to Broadway, and Yale Repertory Theatre was given a Drama Desk Special Award in 1988 and the Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre in 1991.
In 2002, Yale School of Drama and Yale Repertory Theatre received the Governor's Arts Award from Governor John G. Rowland for artistic achievement and contribution to the arts in the state of Connecticut.
The book The Play's the Thing by James Magruder covers the history of the Rep's first fifty years.
Calvary Baptist Church Building Calvary Baptist Church was erected in 1846 in the Gothic revival architectural style on a plot of land that was the original home of Richard Platt, one of the founders of New Haven. Upon redundancy, the church was controlled by Yale University, which was already served by a nondenominational chapel.
Production history + 2019–2020 SeasonDateShowNotesOctober 4–26, 2019Girls after The Bacchae by Euripides, by Branden Jacob-JenkinsWorld Premiere, choreography by Raja Feather Kelly, directed by Lileana Blain-CruzNovember 29 – December 21, 2019The Plot by Will EnoWorld Premiere, directed by Oliver ButlerJanuary 24 – February 15, 2020Manahatta by Mary Kathryn NagleEast Coast Premiere, directed by Laurie Woolery. First Native American written play at the theater.March 13 – April 4, 2020A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine HansberryDirected by Carl Cofield, cancelled due to COVID-19April 24 – May 16, 2020Testmatch by Kate Attwell World Premiere, directed by Margot Bordelon, cancelled due to COVID-19 + 2018–2019 SeasonDateShowNotesSeptember 28 – October 20, 2018El Huracán by Charise Castro SmithWorld Premiere, Directed by Laurie Woolery, presented in collaboration with The Sol ProjectNovember 2–17, 2018The PrisonerText and Stage Direction by Peter Brook and Marie-Hélène EstienneFebruary 1–23, 2019Good Faith by Karen HartmanWorld Premiere, directed by Kenny LeonMarch 15 – April 6, 2019Twelfth Night by William ShakespeareDirected by Carl CofieldApril 26 – May 18, 2019Cadillac Crew by Tori SampsonWorld Premiere, directed by Jesse Rasmussen and Tori Sampson + 2017–2018 Season Date Show Notes October 6–28, 2017 An Enemy of the People by Henrik Ibsen, New translation by Paul Walsh directed by James Bundy November 24 – December 16, 2017 Native Son by Nambi E. Kelley, adapted from the novel by Richard Wrightdirected by Seret Scott January 26 – February 17, 2018 Field Guide created by Rude Mechsworld premiere March 16 – April 7, 2018 Father Comes Home From the Wars, Parts 1, 2 & 3 by Suzan-Lori Parks directed by Liz Diamond April 27 – May 19, 2018 Kiss by Guillermo Calederóndirected by Evan Yionoulis + 2016–2017 Season Date Show Notes September 30 – October 22, 2016 Scenes from Court Life or the whipping boy and his prince by Sarah Ruhl world premiere, directed by Mark Wing-Davey November 25 – December 17, 2016 Seven Guitars by August Wilsondirected by Timothy Douglas January 20 – February 11, 2017 Imogen Says Nothing by Aditi Brennan Kapilworld premiere, directed by Laurie Woolery March 17 – April 8, 2017 Assassins, book by John Weidman, music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim directed by James Bundy April 28 – May 20, 2017 Mary Jane by Amy Herzog world premiere, directed by Anne Kauffman
+ 2015–2016 Season Date Show NotesOctober 2–24, 2015Indecent by Paula Vogelworld premiere, created by Paula Vogel and Rebecca Taichman, directed by Rebecca Taichman November 27 – December 19, 2015peerless by Jiehae Parkworld premiere, directed by Margot BordelonJanuary 29 – February 20, 2016The Moors by Jen Silvermanworld premiere, directed by Jackson GayMarch 25 – April 16, 2016Cymbeline by William Shakespearedirected by Evan YionoulisApril 29 – May 21, 2016Happy Days by Samuel Beckettdirected by James Bundy, featuring Dianne Wiest + 2014–2015 Season Date Show Notes October 3–25, 2014 Arcadia by Tom Stoppard directed by James Bundy November 21 – December 13, 2014 War by Branden Jacobs-Jenkinsworld premiere, directed by Lileana Blain-Cruz January 30 – February 21, 2015 Familiar by Danai Guriraworld premiere. directed by Rebecca Taichman March 20 – April 11, 2015 The Caucasian Chalk Circle by Bertolt Brecht directed by Liz Diamond April 24 – May 16, 2015 Elevada by Sheila Callaghan world premiere, directed by Jackson Gay
+ 2013–2014 Season Date Show Notes September 20 – October 12, 2013 A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams directed by Mark Rucker, featuring René Augesen and Joe Manganiello October 25 – November 16, 2013 Owners by Caryl Churchill directed by Evan Yionoulis November 30 – December 21, 2013 Accidental Death of an Anarchist by Dario Fo directed by Christopher Bayes January 31 – February 22, 2014 The Fairytale Lives of Russian Girls by Meg Miroshnik directed by Rachel Chavkin March 14 – April 5, 2014 These Paper Bullets adapted by Rolin Jonesfrom William Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothingworld premiere, songs by Billie Joe Armstrong, directed by Jackson Gay April 18 – May 10, 2014 The House that will not Stand by Marcus Gardley world premiere, directed by Patricia McGregor
+ 2012–2013 Season Date Show Notes September 21 – October 13, 2012 American Night: The Ballad of Juan José by Richard Montoyadeveloped by Culture Clash and Jo Bonney, directed by Shana Cooper October 26 – November 17, 2012 Marie Antoinette by David Adjmiworld premiere, directed by Rebecca Taichman November 30 – December 22, 2012 Dear Elizabethworld premiere by Sarah Ruhl, directed by Les Waters January 25 – February 16, 2013 Stones in His Pockets by Marie Jones directed by Evan Yionoulis March 15 – April 13, 2013 Hamlet by William Shakespeare directed by James Bundy, starring Paul Giamatti April 26 – May 18, 2013 In a Year with 13 Moons by Rainer Werner Fassbinder adapted by Bill Camp and Robert Woodruff, directed by Robert Woodruff
+ 2011–2012 Season Date Show Notes September 16 – October 8, 2011 Three Sisters by Anton Chekhov new version by Sarah Ruhl, directed by Les Waters October 21 – November 12, 2011 Belleville by Amy Herzog world premiere, directed by Anne Kauffman November 25 – December 17, 2011 A Doctor In Spite of Himself by Molière adapted by Christopher Bayes and Steven Epp February 3–25, 2012 Good Goods by Christina Anderson directed by Tina Landau March 16 – April 7, 2012 The Winter's Tale by William Shakespeare directed by Liz Diamond April 15 – May 7, 2012 The Realistic Joneses by Will Eno world premiere, directed by Sam Gold
+ 2010–2011 Season Date Show Notes September 17 – October 9, 2010 We Have Always Lived in the Castle world premiere musical, based on the 1962 novel by Shirley Jackson October 22 – November 13, 2010 A Delicate Balance by Edward Albee November 26 – December 18, 2010 Bossa Nova by Kirsten Greenidgeworld premiere January 28 – February 19, 2011 The Piano Lesson by August Wilson March 11 – April 2, 2011 Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare April 15 – May 7, 2011 Autumn Sonata by Ingmar Bergman US premiere, directed by Robert Woodruff
See also Yale Dramatic Association
External links Official website
References