American National Theater and Academy
Encyclopedia
The American National Theatre and Academy (ANTA) is a non-profit theatre producer and training organization that was established in 1935 to be the official United States
national theatre that would be an alternative to the for-profit Broadway houses of the day.
The ANTA, which by law was to be self-sustaining, sponsored touring companies of numerous shows to foreign counties in the post-World War II
in the 1940s and 1950s, owned the ANTA Theatre
on Broadway, played an important role in the establishment of the Vivian Beaumont Theatre
in Lincoln Center, was the main membership organization for regional theatre
in the U.S. before ultimately having a greatly diminished role in the 1980s. Today as an entity its main focus is the National Theatre Conservatory
at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts
.
. Its mission was to set up a theatre for the whole country. It sponsored architectural contests to build the theatre but its mission was overshadowed the controversy enveloping the Federal Theatre which some considered too liberal.
The group holds a congressional charter
under Title 36 of the United States Code
.
After World War II, it reorganized and initially sponsored shows that U.S. shows that toured abroad.
In 1950 it bought the Broadway theatre
Guild Hall which it renamed the ANTA Theatre. President Harry S. Truman
dedicated the rechristened theatre. The ANTA, under chairman Robert W. Dowling
, announced plans to use the theatre bring regional theatre productions into New York City
.
In 1955 the ANTA announced the "Forty Theatre Circuit Plan" involving the 40 largest regional theatres across the country stating the "ANTA's primary task is to bring the best plays, interpreted by the best actors, at minimum cost to the nation." Plans called for construction of new theatres across the country and touring companies.
However ANTA had problems raising funds for the project and regional theatres objected as they had no formal representation on the ANTA board. In fact the board consisted largely of New York City theatre owners.
In the early 1960s it established the ANTA Washington Square Theatre
as the home for the home of the planned theatre company that was to occupy the Vivian Beaumont Theatre. ANTA was to produce its most successful plays there including Man of La Mancha
as well as Arthur Miller
's plays After the Fall
and Incident At Vichy
.
ANTA leased its Broadway house for commercial productions in the 1970s and sold it in 1981.
In 1965 the League of Resident Theatres
was founded to represent the regional theatres.
In 1984, the ANTA started the National Theatre Conservatory in Denver, Colorado
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
national theatre that would be an alternative to the for-profit Broadway houses of the day.
The ANTA, which by law was to be self-sustaining, sponsored touring companies of numerous shows to foreign counties in the post-World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in the 1940s and 1950s, owned the ANTA Theatre
August Wilson Theatre
The August Wilson Theatre, located at 245 West 52nd Street in New York City, is a Broadway theatre.Designed by architects C. Howard Crane and Kenneth Franzheim and constructed by the Theatre Guild, it opened as the Guild Theatre in 1925 with a revival of George Bernard Shaw's Caesar and...
on Broadway, played an important role in the establishment of the Vivian Beaumont Theatre
Vivian Beaumont Theatre
The Vivian Beaumont Theater is a theatre located in the Lincoln Center complex at 150 West 65th Street on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. The structure was designed by Finnish American architect Eero Saarinen, and Jo Mielziner was responsible for the design of the stage and interior.The Vivian...
in Lincoln Center, was the main membership organization for regional theatre
Regional theatre in the United States
Regional theaters, or resident theaters, in the United States are professional or semi-professional, theater companies that produce their own seasons. The term regional theatre most often refers to professional theatres outside of New York City...
in the U.S. before ultimately having a greatly diminished role in the 1980s. Today as an entity its main focus is the National Theatre Conservatory
National Theatre Conservatory
The National Theatre Conservatory is a three-year graduate acting school that operates in the 10-theatre Denver Performing Arts Complex. Its 24 students perform alongside the Tony Award-winning Denver Center Theatre Company in a 10-play season...
at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts
Denver Center for the Performing Arts
The Denver Center for the Performing Arts ' is an organization in Denver, Colorado which provides a showcase for live theatre, a nurturing ground for new plays, a preferred stop on the Broadway touring circuit, a graduate-level training school for actors, acting classes for the community and rental...
.
History
It was established by Congress in 1935 at the same time as the Federal Theatre ProjectFederal Theatre Project
The Federal Theatre Project was a New Deal project to fund theatre and other live artistic performances in the United States during the Great Depression. It was one of five Federal One projects sponsored by the Works Progress Administration...
. Its mission was to set up a theatre for the whole country. It sponsored architectural contests to build the theatre but its mission was overshadowed the controversy enveloping the Federal Theatre which some considered too liberal.
The group holds a congressional charter
Congressional charter
A congressional charter is a law passed by the United States Congress that states the mission, authority and activities of a group. Congress issued federal charters from 1791 until 1992 under Title 36 of the United States Code....
under Title 36 of the United States Code
Title 36 of the United States Code
Title 36 of the United States Code outlines the role of Patriotic Societies and Observances in the United States Code.*Subtitle I—Patriotic and National Observances and Ceremonies*Subtitle II—Patriotic and National Organizations...
.
After World War II, it reorganized and initially sponsored shows that U.S. shows that toured abroad.
In 1950 it bought the Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
Guild Hall which it renamed the ANTA Theatre. President Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman was the 33rd President of the United States . As President Franklin D. Roosevelt's third vice president and the 34th Vice President of the United States , he succeeded to the presidency on April 12, 1945, when President Roosevelt died less than three months after beginning his...
dedicated the rechristened theatre. The ANTA, under chairman Robert W. Dowling
Robert W. Dowling
Robert W. Dowling was a real estate investor and philanthropist in the New York City area. Dowling College is named for him.-Biography:...
, announced plans to use the theatre bring regional theatre productions into New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
In 1955 the ANTA announced the "Forty Theatre Circuit Plan" involving the 40 largest regional theatres across the country stating the "ANTA's primary task is to bring the best plays, interpreted by the best actors, at minimum cost to the nation." Plans called for construction of new theatres across the country and touring companies.
However ANTA had problems raising funds for the project and regional theatres objected as they had no formal representation on the ANTA board. In fact the board consisted largely of New York City theatre owners.
In the early 1960s it established the ANTA Washington Square Theatre
ANTA Washington Square Theatre
The ANTA Washington Square Theatre was a small theatre located on 40 West 4th St., in Greenwich Village, in New York City, and run by the American National Theater and Academy . The theater was located away from the mainstream Broadway district, and was originally designed as a prototype for the...
as the home for the home of the planned theatre company that was to occupy the Vivian Beaumont Theatre. ANTA was to produce its most successful plays there including Man of La Mancha
Man of La Mancha
Man of La Mancha is a musical with a book by Dale Wasserman, lyrics by Joe Darion and music by Mitch Leigh. It is adapted from Wasserman's non-musical 1959 teleplay I, Don Quixote, which was in turn inspired by Miguel de Cervantes's seventeenth century masterpiece Don Quixote...
as well as Arthur Miller
Arthur Miller
Arthur Asher Miller was an American playwright and essayist. He was a prominent figure in American theatre, writing dramas that include plays such as All My Sons , Death of a Salesman , The Crucible , and A View from the Bridge .Miller was often in the public eye,...
's plays After the Fall
After the Fall (play)
After the Fall is a play by American dramatist Arthur Miller. The original performance opened in New York City on January 23, 1964, directed by Elia Kazan and starring Barbara Loden and Jason Robards Jr., with an early appearance by Faye Dunaway. Kazan also collaborated with Miller on the script...
and Incident At Vichy
Incident At Vichy
Incident at Vichy is a 1964 play by American dramatist Arthur Miller focusing upon the subjects of human nature, guilt, fear, and complicity using Vichy France for the setting. Miller, a Jew himself, wrote the one act play about a group of detainees waiting for inspection by German officers during...
.
ANTA leased its Broadway house for commercial productions in the 1970s and sold it in 1981.
In 1965 the League of Resident Theatres
League of Resident Theatres
The League of Resident Theaters is the largest professional theater association of its kind in the United States, with 76 member Theaters located in every major market in the U.S., including 29 states and the District of Columbia...
was founded to represent the regional theatres.
In 1984, the ANTA started the National Theatre Conservatory in Denver, Colorado
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
.