Live Theatre in Louisville

Founded in 1964, Actors Theatre of Louisville is a Tony Award-winning institution. The standard season for Actors includes approximately five plays. In addition, every spring, Actors launches the Humana Festival of New American Plays, a nationally recognized event. The festival takes place at the close of the season, and is an event where the company takes on the challenge of staging six new plays, as full productions, during a six-week period. Actors Theatre of Louisville is the official state theater of Kentucky.

Seating capacity:
There are three stages in the Actors Theatre complex; the capacity for each is listed.
318 - Bingham Theatre, in-the-round arena seating.
637 - Pamela Brown Auditorium, often used for main stage and holiday productions.
159 - Victor Jory Theatre, stage level seating, ideal for experimental productions.

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

The mission of Alley Theater is “to produce progressive theater and to provide an affordable venue for both traditional and experimental artists. The Alley Theater strives to include the entire community in its audiences and on its stage.” The Alley often offers amusing and comedic productions such as the musical versions of Gilligan’s Island and Evil Dead. There is also children’s programming—The Young Actor’s Workshop—which is dedicated to encouraging creativity and providing age appropriate entertainment.

Seating capacity:
Cabaret style theater.

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

The Bard’s Town Restaurant and Pub, a Shakespearean-themed restaurant, is below this local theater. The bar and restaurant sales help to support the artists, musicians and performers who utilize the space. Known for mining local talent, Bard’s Town frequently features the works of Kentucky playwrights. In time, the Bard Town would like to have resident artists—playwrights, actors and a technical staff. In preparation, they now stage their own productions as well as host comedians and poets.

Seating capacity:
Room is cabaret-style with approximately 50 seats.

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

Now located in the historic Henry Clay Building—a neo-classical beauty built in the 1920s and was once a hotel and then a women’s community center—the Bunbury produces original and previously produced plays, often bringing in local talent for acting roles. The group was founded 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:
Located on the third floor, but handicapped accessible, Bunbury’s space is intimate and comfortable, with 144 seats.

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

Derby Dinner Playhouse is popular with residents of Louisville and Southern Indiana alike. The organization is located in Clarksville, IN. With fancy costumes, a live orchestra and skilled actors, Derby Dinner is a great spot to see Broadway favorites, cheerful comedies and shows designed for kids.

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

Most performances—including holiday favorites such as The Nutcracker—take place downtown in the Kentucky Center. Classes for adults and children are offered downtown and in St. Matthews.

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

Uniting Music Theatre Louisville and Stage One Children’s Theatre, Stage One Family Theatre presents affordable family entertainment. Offering clean fun for children and adults, Stage One performances reach over 100,000 children, parents and teachers each year. The talent of Music Theatre, and the high-scale musicals they produce, are an asset to the merger.

Seating capacity:
Stage One Family Theatre utilizes several performing venues in Louisville. Seating varies depending on venue.

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

For over a decade, Pandora has been entertaining Louisville. Known for pioneering productions that illustrate the trials and tribulations of the gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgender community, Pandora has staged both the work of emerging artists and long-standing favorites like The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

Seating capacity:
Pandora Productions utilizes several performing venues in Louisville, from the Kentucky Center to the Victor Jory Theatre of Actors Theatre of Louisville. Seating varies depending on venue.

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

Launched in 2011, 502 is a new favorite in town. Developing great theater on the off-season (summer), Theatre 502 stages contemporary plays by respected playwrights, works that often speak to the concerns prompted by living in today's culture. The company is run by four longtime theater collaborators—friends, coworkers and couples—who have experience working for other local performing arts organizations, such as Actors Theatre, the Alley Theatre and ZFX Flying Effects.

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

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