History of the KTC

It's always been hot in the Kitchen.

The Kitchen Theatre Company burst on the scene in 1991. It was the dream of a group of talented and determined theater artists to create a place where they could work together and hone their craft. Lead by Matt Tauber and co-founder Tim O'Brien, the Kitchen Theatre Company made an auspicious debut with its ambitious production of Sam Shepard's Buried Child. The season choices were bold and brash. The productions were infused with the high energy and drive of hungry young artists setting out to change the world.

For the first three seasons the company produced in several venues in the downtown area–Ithaca Music Hall and then the Women's Community Building–before joining the new arts organization complex forming in the Clinton House. The KTC was the first tenant in the building and opened its season while the renovations were being completed around them.

For the fourth through the sixth seasons, Norm Johnson, Jr. took up the artistic reins. Norm championed the challenging and difficult over easy entertainment. Under Norm, the theater also served as a launching pad, giving main stage opportunities to promising students, notably Jesse Bush and Joe Calarco. Joe, now a recipient of both a Helen Hayes and Lucille Lortel Award, returned during the 2001-2002 season to direct his award-winning R&J.

After three years of nurturing the KTC, Norm stepped down and Rachel Lampert stepped up to the plate.

Lampert began her tenure with a bang, an invigorating sold-out production of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? She brought an even greater interest in the integration of movement and theatre along with passion and experience in creating new works. Her abundant energy has not only spun off new programs (Family Fare, Kitchen Counter Culture and Kitchen Sink series), but also brought the artistic quality and funding up to new levels. Along the way, she has enchanted us with her own theatre adventures (The Soup Comes Last and The Lampert Variations); used the theatre in exciting new ways (Our Town); engaged underserved audiences (Cloud Tectonics, Pretty Fire); and given younger artists, especially women, many opportunities. Her favorite project–the Kitchen Counter Culture presenting series–has brought alternative theatre formats to Ithaca. Her interest in new work has been seen in the choices on the Main Stage, throughout all production programming and in the outreach to area playwrights.

This current period is one of growth and continued stabilization of the theatre as an organization. From a skeleton staff of three, the Kitchen Theatre Company now has seven artistic and production people on staff. In addition to the staff are over sixty actors, directors, designers and crew, each making their contribution to the artistic life of the Kitchen Theatre Company.

Ithaca and the region have responded to this dynamism. Audiences fill our 73 seats and support in the community is strong and generous. Moreover, many artists have a place they can now call "home". The vision behind the Kitchen from the start!