A new chapter
It has been over three years since Wellesley Repertory Theatre has been able to invite audiences to work in the Ruth Nagel Jones Black Box Theatre. We miss each other and we miss YOU, our steadfast and curious audience.
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and our hiatus, we have appreciated even more deeply what theatre offers: the invitation to gather in the dark and be transported to another world, while we reflect together on the extremes of our collective lives and imagination. We, like you, have a greater appreciation for shared laughter, rolling gasps, contemplative silence, unfamiliar grunts, a sea of nodding, fist-pumping, eye-rolling, weeping, clapping, and lingering post-show to connect with each other over shared experiences. And we appreciate how a dramatic story can transform and galvanize us in turn.
When Wellesley Repertory Theatre was established (as Wellesley Summer Theatre) by Founding Artistic Producer Nora Hussey in 1998, her mission was to provide an artistic home for Wellesley College alums, educators, and local professionals, and to build a bridge for Wellesley College students and graduates into their professional lives. In 2016, the summer theatre company was renamed Wellesley Repertory Theatre. The word “repertory” was deliberately selected to celebrate the close-knit working relationships of the core company. “Repertory” also means a gathering of all available assets, and it is by this broader definition that the Rep will proceed in future seasons. For, our company’s diverse assets are the very folks our mission exists to support: Wellesley graduates working in theatre! Now is time to inculcate new growth, rooted in our mission and strengthened by our community.
As we plan our return, we do so with a renewed dedication to Wellesley Repertory Theatre as a creative incubator and supportive space for both current Wellesley College Theatre students and our amazing alum body. We can’t wait to showcase alum work, community theatre-making, and our wonderful Wellesley College Theatre students. Stay tuned!