Underground Railway Theater

CONTACT:

41 Foster St.
Arlington, MA 02474
781-643-6916
undergroundrailwaytheater.org

Debra Wise

DESCRIPTION:

Founded in Oberlin, Ohio (one of the stops on the underground railroad), and moved to the Boston area in 1979, the Underground Railway Theater is one of our best professional theatres. It has toured in 30 states; represented our state and nation in 6 international festivals; won numerous awards for excellence at local, state, and national levels; and performed with 25 symphony orchestras (including two commissions from the BSO). In 1997, its one-woman monologue, "Spackling" won a Boston Globe "Top Ten" award, and in 1998 URT received the second-highest over-all quality rating out of the 33 theatres reviewed for artistic excellence and community service.

URT is exploratory, challenging, and celebratory — of both artistic forms and social concerns. Its performances combine acting, puppetry, music, and audience participation. It seeks community support through involvement in community life; it tours schools, and collaborates with other benefit organizations to help articulate their issues. Performing arts organizations have a common problem: their costs precede their revenues. Can you help?

(1998: CULTURE: Arts: Performing: Theatre and Film)