Chautauqua Theater Company

Chautauqua Theater Company CTC is the resident professional theater and Conservatory of Chautauqua Institution

Dedicated to the next generation of theater artists, the development of new work, first-rate productions of modern and contemporary classics, and fresh insight into Shakespeare’s canon, CTC offers/produces the best of a year-round regional theater within an eight-week summer season as the resident theater of the Chautauqua Institution. Internationally known actors, directors, designers, and writer

s join 19 emerging artists drawn from the nation’s top training programs to form a unique company that produces a vibrant summer of work in the historic Bratton Theater. Founded by Michael Kahn in 1983 to be the resident professional theater on the grounds of the Chautauqua Institution, the Chautauqua Theater Company grew under the 18-year stewardship of Rebecca Guy to include a nationally recognized training program for actors. Now under the leadership of Producing Artistic Director, Jade King Carroll, CTC unites world-class theater with the finest summer training program in the country.

Two Mainstage Productions, three New Play Workshops, two FutureNow New Play Labs, three writers’ residencies, and everyt...
08/26/2026

Two Mainstage Productions, three New Play Workshops, two FutureNow New Play Labs, three writers’ residencies, and everything in between, the Chautauqua Theater Company’s 2026 season has officially come to a close!

We are so grateful for the new Roe Green Theater Center, which provided such a collaborative home to CTC this season, bringing happy hours, tours, and late-night entertainment to Chautauqua. And to all of our audience members, donors and supporters, thank you for believing in our work and helping make this incredible season possible.

We have immense gratitude for all the actors, directors, designers, technicians, stage managers, assistants, fellows, production and administrative staff, and everyone else behind the scenes who made this season possible. And a huge shoutout to the Friends of Chautauqua Theater for their continued support — we truly couldn’t do it without you.

Photography: Dave Munch/Chautauqua Institution

Chautauqua Theater Company

08/25/2026

“It’s the best show I’ve ever seen in my life.”

This weekend was our final performance of the season, presenting ‘How I Learned What I Learned’, August Wilson’s celebrated autobiographical tour de force that invites audiences into the dynamic world that shaped both the man and the master playwright he became.

Here’s a look back at the hard work and dedication of our performer Lance E. Nichols and director Jade King Carroll, along with our incredible production and creative teams.

Chautauqua Theater Company

08/18/2026

Follow Emma Battle, our amazing Assistant Stage Manager, through a Day in the Life working on CTC’s final New Play Workshop of 2026, ‘As You Like It’!

Two lovers meet in the Forest of Arden, but all is not as it seems in this sweet and subversive adaptation brought to life by the full 2026 CTC Acting Conservatory alongside professional guest artists, with newly composed music by Bandits on the Run!

🎵 Music featured in this video: “Tilted Universe” by Bandits on the Run

Chautauqua Theater Company

08/17/2026

🎭 Anything Could Happen!

Here’s a look back at our fast-paced, fearless, and completely unpredictable CTC conservatory actors as they took over the Roe Green Theater Center for our first-ever Conservatory Improv Night, resulting in a sold-out show! Audience engagement, quick wit, and plenty of laugh-out-loud moments occurred on this inaugural night of spontaneous comedy and inspired chaos.

Chautauqua Theater Company

Don't miss your final chance this week to tour the new Roe Green Theater Center! Later that evening, come back and enjoy...
08/15/2026

Don't miss your final chance this week to tour the new Roe Green Theater Center! Later that evening, come back and enjoy a Late Night comedy show with Sally Love & Friends.

🎟️ Tickets can be purchased online at tickets.chq.org, at the Main Gate Welcome Center, Visitors Center at Bestor Plaza, at the Roe Green Theater Center 1 hour before the event or by calling 716-357-6250 (option 5). Due to limited seats, we advise audience members to buy their tickets ahead of time.

Chautauqua Theater Company

Final bows are coming for the Chautauqua Theater Company’s 2026 season! As summer comes to a close, join us for the las...
08/15/2026

Final bows are coming for the Chautauqua Theater Company’s 2026 season!

As summer comes to a close, join us for the last two Mainstage performances of our American classic memoir, August Wilson’s ‘How I Learned What I Learned’, and the last New Play Workshop presentation of ‘As You Like It’, a playful spin on William Shakespeare’s classic featuring an original score by Bandits on the Run, and directed and adapted by Peter Andersen!

🎟️ Tickets on sale now, and can be purchased online at tickets.chq.org, at the Main Gate Welcome Center, Visitors Center at Bestor Plaza, at the venue one hour before the event or by calling 716-357-6250 (option 5).

Chautauqua Theater Company

Can you guess the August Wilson Play!? Our wonderful props team created stage displays for specific August Wilson plays...
08/15/2026

Can you guess the August Wilson Play!?

Our wonderful props team created stage displays for specific August Wilson plays, with each one representing a different work. Can you match the display to the correct play? We are giving a copy of August Wilson’s ‘Fences’ to the first person who gets them all right! Leave your answers in the comments below and prove you know your August Wilson!

August Wilson’s ‘How I Learned What I Learned’ runs August 7 – 16 in Bratton Theater.

Tickets on sale now, and can be purchased online at tickets.chq.org, at the Main Gate Welcome Center, Visitors Center at Bestor Plaza, at the ticket kiosk before the event or by calling 716-357-6250 (option 5).

Chautauqua Theater Company

🎶 A Sweet and Subversive New Musical Adaptation Here’s a look at the ‘As You Like It’ spacing rehearsal, the last 2026 N...
08/14/2026

🎶 A Sweet and Subversive New Musical Adaptation

Here’s a look at the ‘As You Like It’ spacing rehearsal, the last 2026 New Play Workshop written by William Shakespeare, directed and adapted by Peter Andersen!

‘As You Like It’ follows two lovers that meet in the Forest of Arden, but all is not as it seems in this sweet and subversive classic. This exciting workshop explores Shakespeare’s text alongside those of his q***r contemporaries, riffing on the play's original lyrics with newly composed music by Bandits on the Run, and brought to life by the full 2026 CTC Acting Conservatory and professional guest artists.

Don’t miss this magical experience and come see the last presentation on August 15 at 2 p.m. at the Bratton Theater!

🎟️ Tickets can be purchased online at tickets.chq.org, at the Main Gate Welcome Center, Visitors Center at Bestor Plaza, at the Bratton ticket kiosk one hour before the event or by calling 716-357-6250 (option 5).

Chautauqua Theater Company

Last week, Lance E. Nichols joined Brian Hannah on WQLN’s NPR program, ‘Classics with Brian Hannah’. Nichols stars in ou...
08/12/2026

Last week, Lance E. Nichols joined Brian Hannah on WQLN’s NPR program, ‘Classics with Brian Hannah’. Nichols stars in our second Mainstage production of the season, August Wilson’s ‘How I Learned What I Learned’. During the conversation, he discussed his preparation for portraying August Wilson onstage, how he came to be cast in the role, and his experience collaborating with Chautauqua Theater Company Producing Artistic Director Jade King Carroll, who directs the piece.

Come see his tour de force performance in August Wilson’s celebrated autobiographical memoir, which invites audiences into the dynamic world that shaped both the man and the master playwright he became.

🎟️ Tickets on sale now and can be purchased online at tickets.chq.org, at the Main Gate Welcome Center, Visitors Center at Bestor Plaza, at the Bratton ticket kiosk one hour before the event or by calling 716-357-6250 (option 5).

Chautauqua Theater Company

Don't miss our final weekly Theater Chat of 2026 this Thursday at 12:15 p.m. at Smith Wilkes Hall! Led by Chautauqua The...
08/12/2026

Don't miss our final weekly Theater Chat of 2026 this Thursday at 12:15 p.m. at Smith Wilkes Hall! Led by Chautauqua Theater Company’s Producing Artistic Director Jade King Carroll and New Works Associate Lily Wolff, this conversation will focus on the creative team behind the upcoming New Play Workshop and musical adaptation of ‘As You Like It’ by William Shakespeare. You’ll hear from Peter Andersen, who is directing and adapting the piece, as well as members of Bandits on the Run, the indie-pop-folk-americana trio who have created the original score.

This exciting workshop explores Shakespeare’s text alongside those of his q***r contemporaries, riffing on the play's original lyrics with newly composed music. All the world’s a stage!

Come see the work-in-progress musical running August 13 – 15 at Bratton Theater!

🎟️ Tickets on sale now! Tickets can be purchased online at tickets.chq.org, at the Main Gate Welcome Center, Visitors Center at Bestor Plaza, at the Bratton ticket kiosk one hour before the event or by calling 716-357-6250 (option 5).

Chautauqua Theater Company

Address

1 Ames Avenue
Chautauqua, NY
14722

Telephone

+17163576250

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Chautauqua Theater Company posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category