Look for a grand stone building with tall columns and ornate details sandwiched between two classic brick structures-Actors Theatre of Louisville will be right in front, with dramatic banners hanging on display.
Alright, center stage is yours, friend-right here stands one of Louisville’s most celebrated landmarks, where the magic of theatre leaps out from the mighty columns of the old Bank of Louisville building. Picture it: the year is 1964, and two local theatre troops-Actors, Inc. and Theatre Louisville-are about to become one, giving birth to the Actors Theatre. It’s like a merger with more jazz hands! The team was powered by Louisville’s own Ewel Cornett and Richard Block, and soon enough, this place would become the "State Theater of Kentucky." Now, that’s some applause-worthy status.
But it wasn’t always standing tall in this elegant Greek Revival hall. The very first shows were performed above a luggage company-yes, really, an old Egyptian Tea Room. You won’t find any pyramids here, but the drama was just as grand. By 1965, the theatre packed up and moved to an abandoned train station, its 350 seats filled with anticipation and, probably, hopes that no trains would disrupt a tragic monologue. Yet, fate had its own script-demolition loomed, and in 1972, the Actors Theatre finally settled here in this striking landmark, stitched together from the old bank and the stately Myers-Thompson Display Building.
Inside, nearly 400 performances roll across the stage every year. Think about it: comedies, classics, bold new works, and even an all-you-can-watch buffet of plays at the famed Humana Festival of New American Plays. This festival introduced almost 450 brand-new shows-three of which even snagged the Pulitzer Prize. “The Gin Game,” “Crimes of the Heart,” maybe even a show called “The Scene” where the cast has to explain Twitter to their grandma. During the Humana Festival, there’s a buzz on Main Street louder than a box full of drama students!
If you feel a little inspired by the legends who’ve been here, you’re in good company. Famous directors, talented artistic leaders, and energetic education teams have all left their footprints. Jon Jory-son of screen star Victor Jory-set the pace for thirty years, producing more than 1,300 plays and pushing the theatre’s budget into the millions. Talk about giving “break a leg” a whole new meaning. And don’t get me started on the Professional Training Company-young actors hone their craft, earning both applause and the occasional unplanned onstage surprise. Everyone from students to seasoned playwrights has found their spotlight here.
Even if you can’t see the ghosts of plays past, you might sense that spark-the thrill of opening night, the nervous excitement of a new script, or the laughter echoing after a perfectly timed joke. Step a little closer and you’re stepping right into Louisville’s creative heartbeat, where actors and audiences have been sharing moments of wonder for decades. And honestly, who wouldn’t want to say they’ve stood on the same ground as Tony Award-winning legends, all while surrounded by more history than you could fit in a ten-minute play?
If you're keen on discovering more about the humana festival of new american plays, leadership or the buildings, head down to the chat section and engage with me.
