LORT Company - League of Resident Theatres
UT is one of just 17 universities nationwide with its own professional theatre associated with the League of Resident Theatres. The Clarence Brown Theatre Company is a LORT D company produced by the Department of Theatre and fully integrated into its academic curriculum. Three of the department’s seven subscription productions are produced on the CBTC LORT contract – allowing students the opportunity to work alongside seasoned professionals and hone their crafts at the highest professional level. Founded in 1974 with Sir Anthony Quayle as Artistic Director, the CBTC is one of the older companies in the LORT system and has a distinguished history of hosting artists of national stature including Mary Martin, John Cullum, Zoe Caldwell, Carol Mayo-Jenkins, and David Keith among others. In addition to its regular season on campus, CBTC tours productions to national and international festivals. Recent venues include the Avignon "Public Off" Festival in France and the Piccolo Spoleto Festival in Charelston, South Carolina.
All faculty members of the Department of Theatre have dual appointments with the professional company in their area of expertise. MFA Performance students may join the Equity company in their third year of study. MFA Design students have the opportunity to work on LORT productions throughout their graduate training.