League of Resident Theatres
 | |
| Formation | 18 March 1966 |
|---|---|
| Type | Theater association |
| Location | United States |
Official language | English |
| Website | www |
The League of Resident Theatres (LORT) is a collective bargaining association in the United States with over 70 non-profit theatre members. LORT serves as a way for member resident theaters, also called regional theaters, to bargain collectively on behalf of theater management with Actors' Equity Association, the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, and United Scenic Artists.
LORT was formed by the largest of regional theatres to negotiate with theater unions. Membership is restricted to US theatres considered as "non-profit" by the Internal Revenue Service.
History
The League of Resident Theatres was formally established on March 18, 1966 by Peter Zeisler, managing director of the Minnesota Theatre Company (a.k.a. the Guthrie Theater), Thomas Fichandler, general manager of D.C.'s Arena Stage, and Morris Kaplan, an attorney. Peter Zeisler was appointed the first president, with Thomas Finchandler as vice president and William Bushnell, manager of Baltimore's Center Stage, as secretary. There were 26 member theaters at the organization's founding. Until then resident theater troupes negotiated individual contracts with Equity; most of them used modifications of commercial theater contracts. In some instances the theaters operated under the terms of Equity's new stock contract, however, resident theater managers have long felt burdened by what they call Equity's "one production" type of contract used on Broadway.
On June 7, 2026, the American Theatre Wing awarded a Special Tony Award to the League of Resident Theatres at the 79th Tony Awards held at Radio City Music Hall.
List of Current Member Theaters
References
- ↑ Baskerville, David; Baskerville, Tim; Baskerville, Timothy; Elton, Serona (14 November 2022). Music Business Handbook and Career Guide. SAGE Publications. ISBN 978-1-0718-5422-8.
- ↑ Wilmeth, Don B.; Bigsby, Christopher (1998). The Cambridge History of American Theatre. Cambridge University Press. p. 244. ISBN 978-0-521-66959-7.
In response, the largest regional houses formed a collective bargaining alliance, the LORT, to combat the unions. LORT, which represents approximately one-third of regional theatres (including several in New York City) negotiated its first contract in 1966 with Actor's Equity.
- ↑ Vanden Heuvel, Michael (2019). Modern American Drama : Voices, Documents, New Interpretations. London: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc. p. 57. ISBN 9781350022591. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
- ↑ Donahue, Tim; Patterson, Jim (4 August 2020). Stage Money: The Business of the Professional Theater. Univ of South Carolina Press. ISBN 978-1-64336-075-1.
- ↑ Calta, Louis (4 April 1966). "26 Stage Troupes Form League to Bargain With Actors Equity". The New York Times. p. 26. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
- ↑ "Special Tony Award". Tony Awards. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
- ↑ "Member Theatres | League of Resident Theatres". lort.org. Retrieved 17 December 2024.