TheatreZone

Chelsea theatre works (ctw): Theatrezone, Inc., dba apollinaire theatre company, opened its new performing arts center in 2003. The ctw houses our 100-seat theatre, exhibition space for local artists, and serves as the anchor the chelsea's proposed cultural district in historic chelsea square. In 2016 we opened two new theaters in the ctw building: the riseman family theatre, home to our youth program, and the black box theatre, a co-work and rental theater space that is home to our teatro chelsea and resident artist programs. Teatro chelsea, launched in 2020, is a bilingual community theatre project that celebrates latin cultures, builds community in chelsea through arts engagement and collaboration, and is establishing a hub for latin artists in the boston area. The resident artist program, launched in 2019, supports a select group of performing artists in the development and production of their work.

Theatrical productions: apollinaire theatre company is known for adventurous contemporary plays, regional premieres, and for breathing new life into classics. In addition to the main theater on the third-floor, we also utilize unconventional spaces in the building to stage. (imagine each act of a chekhov play performed in a different antique room.) Every summer we produce three weeks of free outdoor theatre through apollinaire in the park. This program provides vital access to great works of theater in an underserved community. For the past three years we have produced apollinaire in the park in chelsea square, partnering with the city of chelsea to create a downtown event that includes a beer garden, tables to enjoy takeout from local chelsea eateries, and pre-show live acts leading up to the main theatre event. Summer 2023 we produced "hamlet- and our youth program students performed "pirates, the musical" as part of the pre-show the final weekend. Summer 2022 we produced -and your little dog too," a bilingual adaptation of "the wizard of oz" that featured our youth program students alongside the professional cast in three key scenes. In summer 2021 we produced a bilingual adaptation of "romeo and juliet" complete with juliet giving her "wherefore art thou, romeo" speech from a second story window of the ctw to romeo in chelsea square below. We are proud recipients of several elliot norton awards and irne awards, the kenneth a. macdonald award for theatre excellence, and the new england theatre conference regional award for outstanding achievement. Last season we were nominated for five elliot norton awards

Apollinaire play lab (apl) serves youth ages 4-16 from chelsea and the surrounding communities offering classes in acting, art, and dance, as well as performance opportunities. An ebt cardholder discount rate, scholarships, and payments plans ensure that any child can participate regardless of a family's finances. The apl runs a fall and spring session as well as summer classes or intensives. The apl is held in the riseman family theatre (rft), which was opened on the ground floor of the chelsea theatre works in 2016. The rft features a reception area for families, a professionally outfitted theatre for classes and youth plays, a teachers' room, and a class studio.

Theatre in the park: our free outdoor bilingual summer theatre continues to be one of our most important community programs. By eliminating financial and language barriers, the program offers unparalleled live theatre access to chelsea and area residents and brings the community together for the shared experience of theatre. In 2019 we launched the resident artist program, which supports a select group of performing artists with free space to develop and/or produce and opportunities for the artists to share resources and knowledge. In 2020 we launched teatro chelsea, a bilingual community theatre project. Each season teatro produces a-tpico, a latinx new play festival, and then produces a world premier of one of the selected plays.