- A Brief History -

In the mid-1950s on Nantucket, an isolated winter community with no television reception and rather infrequent movies, theatre was a natural for home grown entertainment. The informal Nantucket Players gave rise to the formal incorporation of the Theatre Workshop of Nantucket. Joseph M. (Mac) Dixon was named artistic director of the new organization and held that post for 25 years until his retirement in 1981. Since that first curtain went up on Heaven Can Wait at the Straight Wharf Theatre in 1956, Nantucket community theatre has endured.

The organization flourished for years simply as an off-season undertaking, but in 1968, Theatre Workshop ceased its practice of turning the Straight Wharf Theatre over to off-island companies for the summer and undertook its own seasonal productions. While culturally successful for the most part, the summer routine experienced financial fluctuations and ended abruptly in April 1975, when the old theatre on the wharf was destroyed by fire.

Reverting to off-season productions, TWN negotiated with the First Congregational Church for the occasional use of Bennett Hall, then a gymnasium, at 62 Centre Street. In 1980 Theatre Workshop, in cooperation with the church, rebuilt Bennett Hall, installing permanent seats, a lighting booth, rest rooms, and a lobby. Summer operations were restored in 1983, supplementing the off-season productions and workshop opportunities were made available to the year-round population in the less frenetic winter months. In 2000, with the year-round population of the island nearing 10,000 the First Congregational Church reviewed it's needs for communal space and Theatre Workshop's access to Bennett Hall would be terminated at some point in the future. The search began for a permanent home. The 2004 closing of Actors Theatre of Nantucket afforded TWN the opportunity to move into the pair of performance spaces at the Nantucket United Methodist Church. After 20 years there, ATN's Artistic Director, Richard Cary decided to retire and Associate Artistic Director, Jane Karakula became TWN's new full time Artistic Director. As tenants at 2 Centre Street since October, TWN is enjoying the challenges of upgrading the spaces, planning for the two stages and providing other island organizations the ability to do the same. The Theatre Workshop welcomes all who have interest in creating and producing theatre on Nantucket.

There are many reasons why community theatre is costly. TWN currently leases performance space from the Nantucket United Methodist Church and must also rent space for storage. In today's climate, organizations with the scope of TWN require paid staff and technical expertise. Royalty, accounting, insurance, and legal expenses are higher than ever, and Nantucket's island situation elevates production costs that are expensive even for mainland theatres: set construction, equipment purchases and rentals, and even electricity. Our revenue stream is derived from box-office receipts, playbill advertising, grants, fund raising events and an annual appeal to the community. This year we are also pursuing individuals and businesses as underwriters for specific productions in an attempt to fully cover operating expenses. If you or anyone you know is interested in becoming a part of our family of supporters please contact Jane Karakula or Pam Murphy or any of our board members at 508-228-4305.

TWN's Artistic Directors