theatre coming in April 2026.
What appears to be a sinusoidal past is truly a reflection of the changing times in theaters and in societal culture. Originally called The Louisville Theatre Workshop, ATL was formed in 1964, from the merger of two local theater groups Actors Inc. and Theater Louisville. The first year of the new company was played in the Egyption Tea Room, on the second floor above the old Taylor Trunk Company at 4th Street and now Muhammad Ali Blvd. The current name was quickly adopted. In 1965, ATL began producing plays in a former Illinois Central Railway Station at Seventh and River Road. The Theatre remained there until 1970, when the downtown segment of I-64 forced the demolition of that original site. In 1972, ATL moved to its current location, in the Old Bank of Louisville building that was originally designed in 1837, by James H. Dakin, an architect who designed many notable buildings of the early 19th century.
By 1970, ATL was garnering a strong local reputation which resulted in 1971 with engagement by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Kentucky Foundation for Women. With access to additional capital, ATL was able to enhance its programming, becoming one of the premier regional theaters in the country. The year before, Jon Jory, son of screen actor Victor Jory, came to Louisville with the enthusiasm that helped garner these large grants. After three decades at ATL, Jory retired and was replaced by another nationally known director, Marc Masterson, who served as artistic director from 2000 to 2011, before he left for California and then to his artistic roots in Pittsburgh. Les Waters, a well-known British artistic director was at the helm of ATL until 2018, when he left to be a freelance director. In 2018, Kentucky native Robert Barry Fleming returned from work in Cleveland and Washington, D. C. to become the next Executive and Artistic Director at ATL. This marked the first time that the director at Actors came from the role of choreographer. With the decline of audience support following COVID, Fleming sought to produce works emphasizing the gay and lesbian experience, feminism and racial injustice. With such non-traditional works, Fleming procured a large grant from the Mellon Foundation at the time that local philanthropy was waning.
The past and current versions of Actors Theatre of Louisville have placed emphasis on presenting contemporary productions. The Humana Festival of New American Plays( 1976 to 2021) was the most recognized chapter in the ATL productions of contemporary theater. With its“ Flying Solo and Friends Festival” in the 1990s, ATL brought avant-garde ensemble performances aimed at demonstrating the artistry of marginalized playwrights. This brought in performances by Jane Comfort( modern interpretive dancer), Kevin Kling( author) and Danny Hoch( TV and screen actor). Until cost became prohibitive, ATL had its resident acting company. Many Louisvillians became attached to such actors as Adale O’ Brien, Bob Burrus, Ray Fry, Ken Jenkins, William McNulty, Susan Kingley and Fred Major. Several former resident artists of ATL went on to fame in Hollywood. Kathy Bates and Margo Martindale have had very successful movie careers after being resident artists at ATL.
In the post-COVID period, Emily Tarquin and Amelia Acosta Powell, both of whom have national theater experience, are rekindling the Louisville feel of seeking comfort in standard theater while embracing new works. Community partner theater companies renting space in the Actors Theater Building will be clearly noted, so that the works produced by Tarquin and Powell can be well recognized. The two know and appreciate that art is a sharing experience needing the art form and the audience. They know that Actors Theatre of Louisville is back!
From Amelia Acosta Powell: A statement to members of GLMS
We at Actors Theatre of Louisville( and I as an individual) are galvanized by the abundant data that unequivocally show the positive health outcomes associated with participating in the arts. We know that socializing with fellow audience members over a shared experience of a live performance reduces loneliness. We know that taking an acting class for fun after work increases confidence in public speaking and forms new neural pathways for creative problem solving. We know that seeing a student matinee as a young student opens up vocational possibilities never before considered. These are just a few of the reasons why every community needs a healthy arts ecosystem to thrive.
Acknowledgement: Assistance from Amelia Acosta Powell as Artistic Director, ATL.
References:
1
Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us, Susan Magsamen, Ivy Ross. Random House Publishing Group, Mar 21, 2023- Science- 304 pages
2
Actors Theatre of Louisville https:// www. actorstheatre. org /
3
A Journey Through Our Storied Past on Stage, Actors Theatre of Louisville. https:// www. actorstheatre. org / past-shows
4
Oral History Collection: Actors Theatre of Louisville, University of Louisville Libraries, https:// r. search. yahoo. com /_ ylt = AwrFEe88x8Vo9wEANaAPxQt.;_ ylu = Y29sbwNiZjEEcG9zAzEEdnRpZAMEc2VjA3Ny / RV = 2 / RE = 1759001661 / RO = 10 / RU = https % 3a % 2f % 2fohc. library. louisville. edu % 2fcollections % 2f8 / RK = 2 / RS = ZiX1AlOV53V7Dh7VZqM2FJjVndU-
Dr. James is an internist / pediatrician seeing patients at Family Health Center.
December 2025 21