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Merrimack Repertory Theatre is a non-profit professional theatre located in Lowell, Massachusetts. Performances are presented September–May at the historic Liberty Hall, a 279-seat theatre located adjacent to the Lowell Memorial Auditorium. Known for its contemporary productions and classic revivals, the company currently produces seven plays each season, plus a number of education programs for students and adults. == History == Merrimack Repertory Theatre was co-founded in 1979 by Barabara Abrahamian, John Briggs and Mark Kaufman. Barbara Abrahamian met actor and directors Mark Kaufman at a summer stock in NH (where Michael Chiklis played a teen in Bye, Bye, Birdie). There they planned the beginnings a of professional non-profit theatre company in Lowell, MA. Returning to Lowell in the Fall of 1978, the three formed the Committee for Legitimate Theatre of Lowell. Kaufman and Briggs wrote the "proposal" and commuted in Kaufman's car from NYC to Lowell meeting and planning with Barbara and husband, Al. Merrimack Regional Theatre's first venue was provided by University of Lowell President John Duff, who allowed the company use of the university's Mahoney Hall. Merrimack Regional Theatre incorporated on February 1, 1979, and Nancy Donahue assumed presidency of the company. Merrimack Regional Theatre opened its first production, ''The Passion of Dracula'' on October 23, 1979. Mark Kaufman was the theatre's first Artistic Director, and John Briggs the first Managing Director. In 1980, 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 and Bruce Sullivan (tv Actor )and appeared in the Film (The Fighter ) in 2009 The free summer theatre program was canceled after just one season. In 1982, the Broad of Trustees hired Dan Schay as Producing Artistic Director. One year later, Merrimack Regional Theatre moved to its current location at Liberty Hall. During the 6 month relocation, Merrimack Regional Theatre changed its name to Merrimack Repertory Theatre. During this period, the theatre's subscription base increased to 2400 and the theatre's budget grew to 500K/yr. In 1989, the Board of Trustees hired David Kent to become Producing Artistic Director. Over the course of the next twelve years, David Kent tripled the operating budget and contributed income, and brought subscriber levels to 5400/yr. Kent built a highly talented and award winning group of actors, designers and writers together in Lowell, and the group's bold and unique undertakings marked a significant artistic decade in MRT's history. The Lowell Trilogy was developed and produced during this period with Kent as Director and Jon Lipsky adapting Kerouac's Maggie Cassidy into Maggies Riff, and Haign Ngor's Cambodian Odyssey into The Cambodian Odyssey. In 1992, Merrimack began Partners in Education growing the outreach program in a few short years to serve 14,000 students yearly. In 1997 The Young Artists at Play summer theatre camp for student’s grades 1-12, was founded. It continues today. In 2000, Kent left the company, and Charles Towers was hired as Artistic Director. In 2005, the company hired its first Executive Director Tom Parrish. In December 2010, Parrish announced he would leave at the end of February 2011 to take a similar position at a much larger theater in Rochester, New York. Steven Leon was hired to succeed Parrish in June of 2011, but was forced to resign for health reasons in the fall of 2012. Elizabeth Kegley was hired as MRT's new Executive Director in May of 2013. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Merrimack Repertory Theatre」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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