Regional Theater in The United States - The Little Theatre Movement

The Little Theatre Movement

In the second and third decades of the twentieth century, there was a push to get away from the conservative, mainstream ideology of Broadway. This movement, known as the Little Theatre Movement or the Regional Theatre Movement, was started by theater artists who were concerned that not enough emphasis was being put on the expression of individualism and social issues through the dramatic arts. The belief that theater should be about artistry and not about commerce drove this movement out of New York City and into the regions. The decentralization of theater from New York City was a success and almost every major city now has a LORT member theater. The movement altered the face of the American stage and allowed room for new works and new audiences.