Community vs. Repertory, An Interesting Question

Last evening while enjoying drinks with my wife at a new establishment, I ran into someone that I had performed with in community theater a few years back. I was telling her about our new Carmel Community Playhouse in Clay Terrace.  She commented that she had heard that there was a new “Repertory” theater in Carmel and asked, “What’s the difference between a repertory theater and a community theater?”  I thought that was quite coincidental since I’d just had that very conversation with someone earlier in the day. 

I gave my pat answer.  A community theater is traditionally run by and open to all members of the community for the benefit of the community.  A true repertory theater usually consists of the same acting company doing a specific repertoire of a particular style or playwright.  She bought it and we moved on to other topics.  But, as I was driving home I wondered how accurate my answer really was.  This was a job for Wikipedia!

Here’s some of what Wikipedia says about a repertory theater.

A repertory theatre, (or stock) can be a theatre in which a resident company presents works from a specified repertoire, usually in alternation or rotation. In the British system, however, it used to be that even quite small towns would support a rep, and the resident company would present a different play every week, either a revival from the full range of classics or, if given the chance, a new play, once the rights had been released after a West End or Broadway run. The companies were not known for trying out untried new work, however.   

Among the benefits of such a system are increased variety and better quality, due to fresh actors and shopped in directors. The theatre can afford to take risks, and a show that is likely to attract a large audience will effectively subsidize a show that is less likely, especially if season tickets are sold.

Drawbacks to the repertoire system are increased production costs as each show will need separate sets, props, costumes and actors, (although sometimes an actor will be engaged to play in more than one production). Many such companies are large, and are able to have a smaller space available to workshopan experimental production or present playreadings. But the standard should be higher than under the old-time repertory system, because there will be more time for rehearsal. Also many repertoire companies today have non-profit status, so that budgets and income should be higher because they will not just depend upon ticket sales. However, the downside is that promotional costs will also be much higher due to having to employ a separate staff.

Community Theater is a bit different. It refers to theatrical perfomance made in relation to particular communities—its usage includes theatre made by, with, and for a community. It may refer to theatre that is made entirely by a community with no outside help, or to a collaboration between community members and professional theatre artists, or to performance made entirely by professionals that is addressed to a particular community. Community theatres range in size from small groups led by single individuals that perform in borrowed spaces to large permanent companies with well-equipped facilities of their own. Many community theatres are successful, non-profit businesses with a large active membership and, often, a full-time professional staff. Community theatre is often devised and may draw on popular theatrical forms, such as carnival, circus, and parades, as well as performance modes from commercial theatre. Community theatre is understood to contribute to the social capital of a community, insofar as it develops the skills, community spirit, and artistic sensibilities of those who participate, whether as producers or audience-members.

So, I wasn’t too far off.  Many “repertory” theaters are really just community theaters. And, community theaters can often be classified as “repertory” is the present the same material and cast their shows from within.  Is there really any difference?  In Carmel, Indiana…no.  It’s still theater by the people, for the people and for the benefit of the communties social and financial benefit.

And as the late Paul Harvey would say… “And now you know…the rest of the story.”