As a community theatre which has entertained our patrons for over 100 years, Theatre Memphis strives to make an environment that is inclusive and welcoming to all. From greeting patrons at the front door to conducting educational workshops in the community to celebrating the hundreds of our volunteers with a year-end party, all the efforts are geared toward making Theatre Memphis an open and safe place to experience live theatre and social interaction as a participant or audience member.
We believe in honoring words with commitment. We pledge to strive to advance and represent equity, diversity, and inclusion in all facets and experiences at Theatre Memphis. Adherence to these principles builds a brighter future for humankind. The values of diversity and inclusion allow us to continue to deliver excellence in our artistic endeavors, community outreach, and storytelling. We want our every interaction and achievement to express the sense of what it is to be a human being.
As a subscription-based community theatre, we have two performance venues where we perform up to twelve scheduled productions each season (seasons run historically August – June). The Lohrey Theatre is a 400+ seat proscenium stage, and The Next Stage is an up to 100-seat black box theatre. Both spaces are enabled with state-of-the-art sound and lighting instruments and equipment. Both venues are handicap accessible with accessible restrooms on the same level as the venues.
As a community theatre, all of our casts and crews are volunteers, as are many of the “front of house” and “back of house” workers who do everything from ushering to the construction of our sets and costumes (up to 750 volunteers annually). With an open-door policy, we hold open auditions that are publicly advertised. Our Outreach and Education Department will, from time to time, conduct classes for the public … many times geared toward an upcoming production. This department is also heavily involved in the community with mentor and residency programs that serve children typically underserved in the arts.
Both the Lohrey Theatre and the Next Stage Theatre are wheelchair accessible with a handicapped accessible restroom on the same level as the main lobby to both venues. The Lohrey Theatre also provides hearing assisted equipment to any who may require or request it, at no charge.
(Next Stage is open seating)
The black box Next Stage seats up to 110 and is also wheelchair accessible with state of the art equipment for sound and lighting.