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It all began with a group known as the Potluck Players and a production of
Light Up The Sky. The Arlington Community Theatre was established in 1973 by a group of Arlington citizens interested in providing the community with a professional-quality live theater. In November 1973, a board of directors was formed to organize the theater group, write a constitution and by-laws, and set policies.
Productions were staged at various locations within the city, including the Arlington Community Center, until a 1952 vintage church on Division Street was purchased and renovated in 1981. For the first time, the gypsy troupe had a permanent home that seated 134 patrons.
The theater continued to grow, and in 1989, the theater’s board of directors and staff began developing a long-range plan. The major issues in the plan were to adequately provide the cultural experience of live theater to a larger audience and enhance the educational and outreach programs without sacrificing the intimacy its patrons had come to love. The process began with the sale of the Division Street facility in 1990.
Theatre Arlington moved from its 134-seat playhouse to its new home on Main Street in the heart of downtown Arlington in July 1991. Renovations began, and on New Year’s Eve 1991, the new 200-seat Cabaret-style Theater opened with a successful gala and a dynamite production of Pump Boys and Dinettes. The theater operated with cabaret-style seating as the board and staff continued to raise funds for the next three years.
The opening of the Allan Saxe Mainstage Theater in November 1994 was a tremendous step toward our goal of building a theater center in downtown Arlington. The conversion from cabaret seating to a 200-seat theater with traditional seating and a proscenium stage provides patrons with a comfortable atmosphere to enjoy some of the finest artistic work in the Metroplex. With a second phase of renovation, the theater added a comfortable lobby, 200-seat proscenium theater, box office, dressing rooms, set shop, two prop rooms, an adult and youth costume loft, a full service kitchen, bathrooms and offices, all handicapped accessible. A third renovation installment was completed in September of 2004. Theatre Arlington now boasts new, comfortable theater seating, a new color scheme showcased by new carpeting and paint in both the auditorium space and the lobby, a new, larger concessions area, and improvements to the lighting, air conditioning and heating systems, and the over-all aesthetic experience of the patron.
In August of 2000, Theatre Arlington was donated the use of a 7500 square foot building, directly across the street from the theatre, to use for the expansion of their education programs. The Theatre Arlington Education Center houses the theatre’s administrative offices, rehearsal hall and downstairs box office; providing easier accessibility for our senior and physically challenged patrons to purchase tickets. This additional space has allowed Theatre Arlington to expand our education program from four classes weekly to twenty, with a 200% increase in enrollment.
TIMELINE
1972: The Potluck Players produce first show, Light Up the Sky.
1973: The Arlington Community Theatre is established.
1981: Division Street location is purchased and renovated.
1989: Board of Directors creates a long-range plan to bring productions to a broader audience.
1991: Theatre Arlington moves to its Main Street location in beautiful downtown Arlington.
1994: Theatre Arlington represents Texas at the regional American Association of Community Theatres Play Festival.
1996: Theatre Arlington Theatre Machine begins with year-round classes for kids and adults.
1999: Theatre Arlington wins the Best of Tarrant Award for the musical production of 1776 and the award for Best Theater Company.
2000: Theatre Arlington’s SRO youth touring company is born.
2001: The Secret Garden wins a Best of Tarrant Award and is recognized by the Star-Telegram as one of the top five theatre productions in the Metroplex for 2001.
2005: The Act Ups Educational Outreach program is nominated for a Star-Telegram STARS Award.
2006: BJ Cleveland and Ana Pettit are recognized for their contributions to theater in North Texas by the Live Theater League of Tarrant County.
2007: New digital marquee installed. Exterior paint, exterior lighting and fascia coming soon!
2007: Held 25th Annual Taste of Arlington fundraiser with the
YMCA of Arlington.
2007-08: Celebrated 35th Anniversary Season.
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