Arena Stage today stands as a flagship American theater. We were one of the first not-for-profit theaters in the United States as well as a pioneer of the regional theater movement. We were the first regional theater to transfer a production to Broadway, the first invited by the U.S. State Department to tour behind the Iron Curtain, and the first to receive a Tony Award. Taking a leadership role in extending theater's horizons, we have implemented groundbreaking policies and programs, promoting diversity in all aspects of theater, from theatergoing to production.

Our legacy of world-class productions includes vast epics, charged dramas, rousing musicals, and probing profiles. From the monumental to the developmental, we've helped build the canon of American theater. While we produce American classics, Arena Stage premieres new American plays and supported works in progress. We've nurtured artistic growth and engaged our community, broadening and intensifying the theatrical experience for one and all. And yet, in spite of it all, in our second half-century we see ourselves as more fresh, restless and dynamic than ever.

See a slide show of Arena Stage images: past, present and future