Students Working Alongside Seasoned Professionals

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville is one of just 13 universities nationwide with its own professional theatre associated with LORT (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 eight 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.