Ten Important Regional Productions

There are hundreds, if not thousands, of regional theatre productions that could be discussed and praised for their artistic accomplishments or their popularity. If the purpose of regional theatre was to discover and develop talent (most notably, playwrights), then it is not surprising that most of the productions listed in this chapter are premiere works. However, it is important to note the distinction that this chapter explores productions (as opposed to plays). The accomplishments of a writer may be enabled by the support structure and dramaturgical processes provided by a specific institution, bringing about rave reviews of a play and a healthy licensing life. However, it is just as likely that an untalented director or actors can ruin a production of a play and prevent the positive attributes of a good script from being recognized (and become the darling of the regional theatre circuit). All of the productions in this list beat the odds and received excellent and artful mountings at their respective premieres. However, they are also part of this list because they serve as springboards to discuss other trends or developments in regional theatre.