American National Theater and Academy - History

History

It was established by Congress in 1935 at the same time as the Federal Theatre Project. Its mission was to set up a theatre for the whole country. It sponsored architectural contests to build the theatre but its mission was overshadowed the controversy enveloping the Federal Theatre which some considered too liberal.

The group holds a congressional charter under Title 36 of the United States Code.

After World War II, it reorganized and initially sponsored shows that U.S. shows that toured abroad.

In 1950 it bought the Broadway theatre Guild Hall which it renamed the ANTA Theatre. President Harry S. Truman dedicated the rechristened theatre. The ANTA, under chairman Robert W. Dowling, announced plans to use the theatre bring regional theatre productions into New York City.

In 1955 the ANTA announced the "Forty Theatre Circuit Plan" involving the 40 largest regional theatres across the country stating the "ANTA's primary task is to bring the best plays, interpreted by the best actors, at minimum cost to the nation." Plans called for construction of new theatres across the country and touring companies.

However ANTA had problems raising funds for the project and regional theatres objected as they had no formal representation on the ANTA board. In fact the board consisted largely of New York City theatre owners.

In the early 1960s it established the ANTA Washington Square Theatre as the home for the home of the planned theatre company that was to occupy the Vivian Beaumont Theater. ANTA was to produce its most successful plays there including Man of La Mancha as well as Arthur Miller's plays After the Fall and Incident At Vichy.

ANTA leased its Broadway house for commercial productions in the 1970s and sold it in 1981.

In 1965 the League of Resident Theatres was founded to represent the regional theatres.

In 1984, the ANTA started the National Theatre Conservatory in Denver, Colorado.