{{Short description|Theater in Connecticut}} {{Use American English|date=August 2025}} {{Infobox venue | name = Yale Repertory Theatre | image = Yale Rep.jpg | image_size = | image_alt = | caption = The Yale Repertory Theatre, viewed from the Architecture Dept. | image_map = | map_caption = | pushpin_map = | pushpin_map_caption = | address = | city = New Haven, Connecticut | country = United States of America | designation = | architect = | owner = Yale University | tenant = | operator = | seating_capacity = 478 | type = Regional theatre | opened = {{start date and age|1966}} | reopened = | years_active = | rebuilt = | closed = | demolished = | other_names = | production = | current_use = | website = {{URL|yalerep.org}} }} {{Infobox Historic building |name= |image= |caption= |location_town= |location_country= |architect= |client=The Calvary Baptist Church |engineer= |construction_start_date = |completion_date=1846 |cost= |structural_system=Brick masonry |architectural_style =Gothic revival architecture }}
'''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.<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.playbill.com/news/article/92848-Benjamin-Mordecai-Broadway-Producer-Who-Championed-August-Wilsons-Works-Dead-at-60 | title= Benjamin Mordecai, Broadway Producer Who Championed August Wilson's Works, Dead at 60 | first= Kenneth |last= Jones |date= 9 May 2005 |website= Playbill.com | access-date= 6 April 2015}}</ref> Victoria Nolan was managing director from 1993 to 2020.<ref>{{cite web |title=Victoria Nolan |url=https://www.drama.yale.edu/bios/victoria-nolan2/ |website=David Geffin School of Drama at Yale |access-date=1 March 2022}}</ref> Her successor was Florie Seery.<ref>{{cite web |title=Yale Repertory Theatre Staff |url=https://yalerep.org/about/#staff-list |website=Yale Repertory Theatre |access-date=1 March 2022}}</ref>
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.<ref name="yalerep">{{cite web | title=Reviews: November/December 2024 | website=Yale Alumni Magazine | url=https://yalealumnimagazine.org/articles/5944-span-class-article-reviews-november-december-2024-span | access-date=2024-11-08}}</ref>
==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.<ref>{{cite book|first= J. |last= Russiello |title= A Sympathetic Planning Hierarchy for Redundant Churches: A Comparison of Continued Use and Reuse in Denmark, England and the United States of America |publisher= MSc Conservation of Historic Buildings, University of Bath|date= 2008|page=379}}</ref>
==Production history== {| class="wikitable" |+ 2019–2020 Season |- !Date !Show !Notes |- |October 4–26, 2019 |''Girls'' after ''The Bacchae'' by Euripides, by Branden Jacob-Jenkins |World Premiere, choreography by Raja Feather Kelly, directed by Lileana Blain-Cruz |- |November 29 – December 21, 2019 |''The Plot'' by Will Eno |World Premiere, directed by Oliver Butler |- |January 24 – February 15, 2020 |''Manahatta'' by Mary Kathryn Nagle |East Coast Premiere, directed by Laurie Woolery. First Native American written play at the theater.<ref>{{Cite web |first=Tyler |last=Brown |date=January 29, 2020 |title=First Native written play comes to come to Yale Rep |url=https://yaledailynews.com/blog/2020/01/29/first-native-written-play-comes-to-come-to-yale-rep/ |access-date=2020-07-10|website=Yale Daily News|language=en}}</ref> |- |March 13 – April 4, 2020 |''A Raisin in the Sun'' by Lorraine Hansberry |Directed by Carl Cofield, cancelled due to COVID-19 |- |April 24 – May 16, 2020 |''Testmatch'' by Kate Attwell |World Premiere, directed by Margot Bordelon, cancelled due to COVID-19 |} {| class="wikitable" |+ 2018–2019 Season<ref>{{Cite web|title=Yale Rep Production History|url=https://www.yalerep.org/productions-and-programs/production-history}}</ref> |- !Date !Show !Notes |- |September 28 – October 20, 2018 |''El Huracán'' by Charise Castro Smith |World Premiere, Directed by Laurie Woolery, presented in collaboration with The Sol Project |- |November 2–17, 2018 |''The Prisoner'' |Text and Stage Direction by Peter Brook and Marie-Hélène Estienne |- |February 1–23, 2019 |''Good Faith'' by Karen Hartman |World Premiere, directed by Kenny Leon |- |March 15 – April 6, 2019 |''Twelfth Night'' by William Shakespeare |Directed by Carl Cofield |- |April 26 – May 18, 2019 |''Cadillac Crew'' by Tori Sampson |World Premiere, directed by Jesse Rasmussen and Tori Sampson |} {| class="wikitable" |+ 2017–2018 Season<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.yalerep.org/productions-and-programs/2017-18-season|title=On Stage: Yale Repertory Theatre 2017–18|access-date=2017-08-31|archive-date=2017-08-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170831132028/https://www.yalerep.org/productions-and-programs/2017-18-season|url-status=dead}}</ref> |- ! 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 Wright |directed by Seret Scott |- | January 26 – February 17, 2018 || ''Field Guide'' created by Rude Mechs||world 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 Calederón||directed by Evan Yionoulis |} {| class="wikitable" |+ 2016–2017 Season<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.yalerep.org/productions-and-programs/2016-2017-season|title=On Stage: Yale Repertory Theatre 2016–17|access-date=2017-08-31|archive-date=2017-08-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170831171935/https://www.yalerep.org/productions-and-programs/2016-2017-season|url-status=dead}}</ref> |- ! 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 Wilson||directed by Timothy Douglas |- | January 20 – February 11, 2017 || ''Imogen Says Nothing'' by Aditi Brennan Kapil||world 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 |}
{| class="wikitable" |+ 2015–2016 Season |- ! Date ! Show ! Notes |- |October 2–24, 2015 |''Indecent'' by Paula Vogel |world premiere, created by Paula Vogel and Rebecca Taichman, directed by Rebecca Taichman |- |November 27 – December 19, 2015 |''peerless'' by Jiehae Park |world premiere, directed by Margot Bordelon |- |January 29 – February 20, 2016 |''The Moors'' by Jen Silverman |world premiere, directed by Jackson Gay |- |March 25 – April 16, 2016 |''Cymbeline'' by William Shakespeare |directed by Evan Yionoulis |- |April 29 – May 21, 2016 |''Happy Days'' by Samuel Beckett |directed by James Bundy, featuring Dianne Wiest |} {| class="wikitable" |+ 2014–2015 Season<ref>{{cite web|title=On Stage: Yale Repertory Theatre 2014–15|url=http://www.yalerep.org/on_stage/index.html|access-date=2013-08-30|archive-date=2013-09-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130913010715/http://www.yalerep.org/on_stage/index.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> |- ! Date !! Show !! Notes |- | October 3–25, 2014 || ''Arcadia'' by Tom Stoppard ||directed by James Bundy |- | November 21 – December 13, 2014 || ''War'' by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins||world premiere, directed by Lileana Blain-Cruz |- | January 30 – February 21, 2015 || ''Familiar'' by Danai Gurira||world 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 |}
{| class="wikitable" |+ 2013–2014 Season<ref>{{cite web|title=On Stage: Yale Repertory Theatre 2013–14|url=http://www.yalerep.org/on_stage/index1314.html|access-date=2014-09-02|archive-date=2014-09-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140905150517/http://www.yalerep.org/on_stage/index1314.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> |- ! 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 Jones<br>from William Shakespeare's ''Much Ado About Nothing''||world 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 |}
{| class="wikitable" |+ 2012–2013 Season<ref>{{cite web|title=On Stage: Yale Repertory Theatre 2012–13|url=http://www.yalerep.org/on_stage/index1213.html|access-date=2012-07-13|archive-date=2012-06-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120614221333/http://www.yalerep.org/on_stage/index1213.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> |- ! Date !! Show !! Notes |- | September 21 – October 13, 2012 || ''American Night: The Ballad of Juan José'' by Richard Montoya||developed by Culture Clash and Jo Bonney, directed by Shana Cooper |- | October 26 – November 17, 2012 || ''Marie Antoinette'' by David Adjmi||world premiere, directed by Rebecca Taichman |- | November 30 – December 22, 2012 || ''Dear Elizabeth''||world 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 |}
{| class="wikitable" |+ 2011–2012 Season<ref>{{cite web|title=On Stage: Yale Repertory Theatre 2011–12|url=http://www.yalerep.org/on_stage/index1112.html|access-date=2012-07-13|archive-date=2012-06-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120626090755/http://www.yalerep.org/on_stage/index1112.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> |- ! 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 |}
{| class="wikitable" |+ 2010–2011 Season<ref>{{cite web|title=On Stage: Yale Repertory Theatre 2010–11|url=http://www.yalerep.org/on_stage/2010-11/index.html|access-date=2012-07-13|archive-date=2012-06-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120626094646/http://www.yalerep.org/on_stage/2010-11/index.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> |- ! 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 Greenidge||world 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== *[http://www.yalerep.org Official website] * {{IBDB name}}
== References == {{reflist}} {{coord|41|18|29.74|N|72|55|53.5|W|region:US-NY|display=title}}
{{TonyAward RegionalTheatre 1976-2000}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Performing groups established in 1966 Category:League of Resident Theatres Category:Regional theatre in the United States Category:Tony Award winners Category:Yale University Category:Former churches in Connecticut Category:Churches completed in 1846 Category:Buildings and structures in New Haven, Connecticut Category:Gothic Revival church buildings in Connecticut Category:Victorian architecture in Connecticut Category:University and college theatres in the United States Category:Tourist attractions in New Haven, Connecticut Category:Theatres in Connecticut Category:Theatre companies in Connecticut