Judson Lee Pierce

The roots of community theater can be traced back to before the Revolutionary War. In the years that followed, many towns throughout America were fortunate to have both professional and amateur acting companies. The evolution of the moving picture forced many of these professional theaters to close their doors, but theater lovers in small communities still wanted the real thing, live theater. Today there are numerous community theater groups around the Boston area, including the oldest continuing community theater group in the country, the Footlight Club, which was founded in 1877. In the spirit of community, many theater companies donate to charities and sponsor playwriting contests and scholarship programs. They all share a common goal: bring live theater to suburban communities. Greater Boston Community Theater presents rare photographs from more than a dozen community theaters to document and celebrate the rich tapestry of theater life.