Amid 'challenging times,' two Louisville theater companies to merge

Since 19th-century circus performers coined the phrase "the show must go on," the idea that tenacity and ingenuity can overcome obstacles has been the backbone of the entertainment world.

On Tuesday, StageOne Family Theatre and Commonwealth Theatre Center announced their version of "the show must go on," as the venerated theater companies said they will merge effective June 1.

“Together, StageOne and CTC have a combined 164 years of serving children and families through the transformative power of live theatre," said Andrew D. Harris, StageOne Artistic Director. "Building on these legacies, we are not only strengthening our foundation but expanding our ability to serve the greater Louisville community and together we will be able to provide theatre for everyone.”

The merged organization will build on the gifts of the 77-year-old StageOne Family Theatre and the 48-year history of Walden Theatre and Blue Apple Players, which merged in 2015 to become Commonwealth Theatre Center.

The change comes as arts organizations, locally and nationwide, face industry-wide challenges.

"For a very long time the arts have been a cornerstone of the Louisville community, but these are challenging times for the arts community," Harris explained. "In a post-pandemic environment, funding for the arts has diminished, the bus driver shortage is impacting schools' abilities to take field trips and engage with outside programming, students don't have access to arts in the schools at the level they did formerly and staggered (school) start times and transportation challenges make it harder for families to commit to after-school programs"

By merging StageOne Family Theatre and Commonwealth Theatre Center, organizers feel they have created a solution to overcome these obstacles and a plan to continue to grow a thriving Louisville arts environment, beginning with arts programming for the city's youngest community members.

"We identified a bright opportunity to buck that trend with theatre for everyone that centers on families and children of all ages," said Cathy Colliver, StageOne Family Theatre Board chair. "We want to proactively design an innovative and sustainable business model for generations to come.”

Through partnerships with local school systems, corporate sponsors and individual donors, StageOne and Commonwealth Theatre will continue to deliver live, in-person and virtual performances to local and national audiences as a vehicle for sparking imagination, fostering empathy and cultivating passion for the performing arts.

The continuum of programming will include:

• dramatic readings of storybooks encouraging early childhood literacy

• rigorous conservatory theater classes proven to increase learning outcomes

• experiential camps and classes offering introductory drama skills and performances

• educational theater performances at schools and community organizations

• professional theater performances for families and children of all ages

Operations will continue in the existing office, classroom, rehearsal and black box performance spaces in two buildings on Payne Street and a production studio on Third Street. Integration work toward a combined operating budget, sustainable business model and continuum of programming will continue into fiscal year 2025.

"The reality is that you don't wake up at age 30 and become an arts patron," Harris said. "If you don't have a foundation of high quality arts experiences in your youth, you are less likely to develop into an artist or an arts supporter. And that's why it's imperative these arts programs continue in our community, and now we're going to do it together."

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: StageOne Family Theatre, Commonwealth Theatre Center announce merger