Theater Profile

Theater Profile. Do a piece on a major regional theatre company in the world. (Such as The Public Theater in NYC, The Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, The Goodman Theater in Chicago, the National Theater in Great Britain and The Alliance Theater in Atlanta). What type of material do they produce? What is their artistic mission? What is their history? Do they have internships for young theater artists? Why does this company appeal to you? What do you find interesting, admirable or inspiring about the work that they do? Don’t just pick a theater at RANDOM to research, rather find one that appeals to you in some way! (500 words min).


West End Theater


What is their history?

The West End Theater is the mainstream theater in London, England. It is right beside Broadway in New York and represents the highest level of commercial theater in the English speaking world. The Theater and The Curtain in London started to flourish in 1576. Both were frequently used for Shakespeare’s plays. In 1599, the woodwork for The Theater was used to build the Globe Theater and in 1642 both theaters were closed. However, in 1660 two theater companies began to perform. This was the true beginning of the “West End” theater. The first theater was known as Theater Royal in Bridges Street. It was later renamed Theater Royal, Drury Lane. In 1683, Sadler’s Wells Theater opened. Theaters continued to open throughout the next decade. The Haymarket Theater, the Theatre Royal Covent Garden, the Patent Theater, and several others were all a part of the foundations for the West End Theater.


 
What Type of material do the produce?

Again, the West End Theater is very similar to New York’s Broadway. The main genre of material they produce is musical theater.

Current List of Shows:
The Rat Pack: Live From Las Vegas, Dirty Dancing, Stomp, Camille O'Sullivan, Wicked, A Christmas Carol, Chicago, Repertory theatre, The Misanthrope, The 39 Steps, We Will Rock You, Morcambe, Speaking in, Tongues, The Woman in Black, Arturo Brachetti – Change, Avenue Q, The Phantom of the Opera, Sister Act, The Lion King, Thriller - Live, War Horse, Calendar Girls, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Priscilla Queen of The Desert, Grease, Blood Brothers, La Cage Aux Folles, Jersey Boys, Mamma Mia!, Les Misérables, Repertory opera and ballet, Legally Blonde The Musical, Hairspray, The Mousetrap, Breakfast at Tiffany's, Oliver!, Othello, Potted Potter, The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, Billy Elliot, and An Inspector Calls





Do they have internships for young theater artists?

There is not a lot that I have found, of information about studying with this company as a young theater artist. However, IES Abroad does have several internships and study abroad opportunities in London that do work in and around the West End Theater. I am very interested however, to make some phone calls about studying abroad in Europe for theater, whether it is with the West End company or a smaller company around the continent.



What does this company appeal to you?

This company appeals to me because I am very, very interested in musical theater. Everyone who knows I am interested in musical theater the automatically think, “Broadway!” However, there are many other places to perform outside of Broadway. Not only are there regional theaters across the country, but there are also theaters across the world. I would love to travel abroad and work in other countries. The West End Theater is like our Broadway and I think it would be Amazing to perform there. It would be just as amazing as performing here in New York on Broadway.



What do you find interesting, admirable or inspiring about the work that they do?

I find the range of shows they do very interesting. Broadway always produces new, “happening” shows. The West End Theater, not only plays the new tours, but it also continues to play the classics. For example: Les Miserable and Phantom of the Opera. They also play a lot of shows that we do not have here in America (that I know of). For example: Sister Act and Dirty Dancing.