Experience the Best Live Theatre in Louisville

Actors Theatre of Louisville

Founded in 1964, Actors Theatre of Louisville is a Tony Award-winning institution. The standard season for Actors includes approximately five plays. Moreover, every spring, Actors launches the Humana Festival of New American Plays, a nationally recognized event that showcases six new plays as full productions over a six-week period. Consequently, Actors Theatre of Louisville stands as the official state theater of Kentucky.

Seating capacity:
Three stages in the Actors Theatre complex include:
– 318 – Bingham Theatre, in-the-round arena seating.
– 637 – Pamela Brown Auditorium, primarily used for main stage and holiday productions.
– 159 – Victor Jory Theatre, featuring stage level seating, ideal for experimental productions.

Location:
Actors Theatre of Louisville
316 West Main St.
Louisville, KY 40202
(502) 584-1205

The Alley Theater

The mission of Alley Theater is “to produce progressive theater and to provide an affordable venue for both traditional and experimental artists.” Notably, the Alley often presents amusing and comedic productions such as the musical versions of Gilligan’s Island and Evil Dead. Furthermore, they offer a children’s programming initiative called The Young Actor’s Workshop, focused on encouraging creativity and providing age-appropriate entertainment.

Seating capacity:
Cabaret style theater.

Location:
The Alley Theater
633 West Main Street
Louisville, KY 40202
(502) 713-6178

The Bard’s Town Theatre

Located below The Bard’s Town Restaurant and Pub, a Shakespearean-themed eatery, this local theater supports artists, musicians, and performers. Known for showcasing local talent, Bard’s Town frequently features works by Kentucky playwrights. Eventually, they plan to host resident artists which include playwrights and actors.

Seating capacity:
Cabaret-style with approximately 50 seats.

Location:
The Bard’s Town
801 Bardstown Rd.
Louisville, KY 40205
(502) 749-5275

Bunbury Theatre

Now located in the historic Henry Clay Building—a neo-classical gem built in the 1920s—Bunbury Theatre produces original and previously staged plays by often incorporating local talent for acting roles. Established in 1985, Bunbury’s mission is “to create enriching, diverse, and live theatrical experiences for the community and its artists in an intimate professional setting.”

Seating capacity:
Bunbury’s third-floor space, which is wheelchair-accessible, is intimate with a capacity of 144 seats.

Location:
Bunbury Theatre
604 S. Third Street
Louisville, KY 40202
(502) 585-5306

Derby Dinner Theatre

Derby Dinner Playhouse enjoys popularity among residents of Louisville and Southern Indiana. Located in Clarksville, IN, it features live performances complete with fancy costumes, a live orchestra, and skilled actors, showcasing Broadway favorites, cheerful comedies, and family-friendly shows.

Location:
Derby Dinner Playhouse
525 Marriott Drive
Clarksville, IN 47129
(812) 288-8281

Louisville Ballet

Most performances, including popular holiday favorites like The Nutcracker, typically occur downtown in the Kentucky Center. They also offer classes for both adults and children across downtown and St. Matthews.

Location:
Louisville Ballet
315 E. Main St.
Louisville, KY 40202
Box Office: (502) 58-DANCE (583-2623)

Stage One Family Theatre

Uniting Music Theatre Louisville and Stage One Children’s Theatre, Stage One Family Theatre offers affordable family entertainment. Moreover, they deliver clean fun for children and adults alike, with performances reaching over 100,000 children, parents, and teachers annually.

Seating capacity:
Stage One Family Theatre utilizes several venues in Louisville, with seating varying by location.

Location:
Stage One Family Theatre
(502) 498-2436
email: stageone@stageone.org

Pandora Productions

For over a decade, Pandora has entertained audiences in Louisville. They are renowned for pioneering productions that highlight the experiences of the gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, and transgender community. This includes staging works from emerging artists and long-standing favorites like The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

Seating capacity:
Pandora Productions utilizes various venues in Louisville, from the Kentucky Center to the Victor Jory Theatre of Actors Theatre of Louisville. Seating capacity varies by venue.

Location:
Pandora Productions
(502) 216-5502
email: pandora.productions@insightbb.com

Theatre 502

Launched in 2011, Theatre 502 has quickly become a favorite in Louisville. They focus on developing exceptional theater during the summer, staging contemporary plays by respected playwrights that resonate with today’s culture. This company is run by four longtime theater collaborators with significant experience in various local performing arts organizations.

Seating capacity:
Theatre 502 utilizes multiple performing venues in Louisville, from the Iroquois Amphitheater to the Victor Jory Theatre of Actors Theatre of Louisville. Seating configurations vary depending on the venue.

Location:
Theatre 502
(502) 509-1595
email: info@theatre502.org