User:J Bourbeau/MRT

The Merrimack Repertory Theatre is a non-profit repertory theatre located in Lowell, MA. Performances are presented year-round at historic Liberty Hall, a 308-seat theatre located adjacent to the Lowell Memorial Auditorium. The company currently produces six plays a season for diverse audiences.

History
The Merrimack Repertory Theatre was founded in 1979 by Barabara Abrahamian, John Briggs, and Mark Kaufman. Barbara Abrahamian met actor and directors John Briggs and Mark Kaufman at a summer stock theatre. There they planned the beginning a of professional non-profit theatre company in Lowell, MA. Returning to Lowell, the three formed the Committee for Legitimate Theatre of Lowell. The MRT's first venue was provided by University of Lowell President John Duff, who allowed the company use of the university's Mahoney Hall.

On February 1, 1979, Nancy Donahue helped establish the Merrimack Regional Theatre, and assumed presidency of the group.

The Merrimack Regional Theatre's articles of incorporation declared it their mission to: To educate, challenge and inspire, as well as contribute to and celebrate the cultural, economic, social and spiritual vigor of New England. There was opposition and skepticism from the community, but the MRT was optimistic and willing to take risks. Joining the National League of Resident Theatres, president Nancy Donahue, along with Bob Hatem, negotiated with unions at Skip's Restaurant in Haverhill, MA.

The Merrimack Regional Theatre opened its first production on October 23, 1979. During these early years the theatre struggled financially.

In 1980, the Merrimack Regional Theatre began a season of free outdoor theatre weekends in Mack Plaza local to downtown Lowell, MA. Acting for the theatre during this time was Michael Chiklis], of later TV drama The Shield fame. The free summer theatre program was yet another financial set back for the MRT, however, and was canceled after just one season.

In 1983, the MRT was forced to move to a new location when the University of Lowell wanted it's theatre back, and during the 6 month relocation, the Merrimack Regional Theatre changed its name to the Merrimack Repertory Theatre. During this period, the theatre's subscription base increased dramatically, while the theatre's budget doubled.

The Young Artists at Play, a summer theatre camp for students grades 1-12, was founded in 1997. It continues today.

The Merrimack Regional Theatre Now
The MRT's annual attendance exceeds 40,000. The MRT attempts to be accessible to all members of its surrounding community with a number of of discount programs for low-income communities, students and seniors.

Over the last 29 years, MRT’s education, outreach, and discount programs have served over 100,000 students and 100,000 senior citizens while building working partnerships with more than 50 different community and ethnically based service organizations.

The MRT subsidizes ticket costs and offers a variety of outreach and educational programs, such as Young Artists At Play, or YAAP.

The MRT’s current mission statement reads: To advance the cause of human understanding by creating theatrical productions at the highest level of artistic excellence and making them affordable to the broadest possible community.

2008-09 Season
The 2008-09 Season Included:


 * The Fantastics
 * Skylight - IRNE - Best Actress Amanda Fulks
 * A View of the Harbor - Regional Premier and MRT's 200th Production
 * Tranced - Regional Premier
 * Bade Dates - ELLIOT NORTON - Best Solo Performance Elizabeth Aspenlieder
 * A Moon for the Misbegotten

The 2009-10 Season
The 2009-10 Season will include:


 * Slings and Eros - A World Premier by the The Flying Karamazov Brothers
 * The Seafarer
 * Heroes - Regional Premier
 * Fabuloso
 * Black Pearl Sings! - Regional Premier
 * ''A World Premier Comedy by Frank Dresser
 * The Blonde, the Brunette, and the Vengeful Redhead - Regional Premier

Awards
1989 - Boston Drama Critics Award for production of Waiting for Godot.

1990 - New England Theatre Award for Excellence.

1990-94 - Four Boston Drama Critics Awards for Filumeni.

1992-93 - The Survivor:A Cambodian Odyssey named Best Play at Humana Festival of New American Plays.

1996 - All in the Timing wins Boston Drama Critics Award for Best Play

1996 - Hamlet wins Best of Boston Award

1997 - 'night Mother wins Best of Boston

1998 - Nixon's Nixon wins Best of Boston

2005 -Harold Pinter's The Homecoming named to the Best of 2005 list of the Boston Globe, Boston Pheonix, Boston Courant, Edge Boston, and Lowell Sun.

2007 - A Delicate Balance receives from the Independent Reviewers of New England Awards seven wins, including best production and best director for the MRT's Artistic director Charles Towers.

2009 - Bad Dates wins Elliot Norton Award from Boston Theatre Critics Association for Outstanding Solo Performance