- Purple Rose Theatre Company
The Purple Rose Theatre Company (or PRTC) was founded by Jeff Daniels in 1991. Originally known as the Garage Theatre, 'The Rose' takes its name from Woody Allen's 1985 film "
The Purple Rose of Cairo " starring Daniels. The theatre provides resources for trainingactors ,playwrights and other theatre artists residing in theMidwest region and develops new plays based on life in theGreat Lakes Basin .The main performance space and administrative offices occupy a building in
Chelsea, Michigan once owned by Daniels' grandfather. The theatre produces four shows every year on a 3/4thrust stage in a 168 seat house. The PRTC is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization and operates under a Small Professional Theatre (SPT) Agreement with theActors' Equity Association (AEA).Apprentice Program
The Purple Rose offers a year-long
apprenticeship program for young artists entering a career intheatre . Apprentices are paid a 'modest stipend' and work as many as 60-80 hours per week gaining experience in lighting, sound, stage management, design, set construction, and administrative/box office work. The eight apprentices also maintain and clean the theatre's facilities. The program was inspired by Jeff Daniels' experience as an apprentice with theCircle Repertory Company inNew York City .Production History
Asterisks (*) denotes a world premiere
2007 - 2008
"The Poetry of Pizza" * by Deborah Brevoort
"Vino Veritas" * by David MacGregor
"Growing Pretty" * by Carey Crim
TBA by Jeff Daniels2006 - 2007
"Escanaba In Love" * by Jeff Daniels
"The Subject Was Roses " byFrank D. Gilroy
"When The Lights Come On" * by Brian Letscher
"Sea of Fools" * by Matt Letscher2005 - 2006
"The Glass Menagerie " byTennessee Williams
"Guest Artist" * by Jeff Daniels
"The Late Great Henry Boyle" by David MacGregor
"Honus & Me" bySteven Dietz 2004 - 2005
"The Mystery of Irma Vep " by Charles Ludlam
"Norma & Wanda" * by Jeff Daniels
"Bus Stop " byWilliam Inge
"And The Winner Is" * byMitch Albom 2003 - 2004
"The Good Doctor" byNeil Simon
"Leaving Iowa" * by Tim Clue & Spike Manton
"The Underpants" byCarl Sternheim (Adapted bySteve Martin )
"Duck Hunter Shoots Angel" * by Mitch Albom2002 - 2003
"Across the Way" * by Jeff Daniels
"Stand" * by Toni Press-Coffman
"Hope for Corky" * by Randall Godwin
"Blithe Spirit " byNoel Coward 2001 - 2002
"Guys On Ice" byFred Alley & Frederick Heide
"Months on End" * by Craig Pospisil
"Born Yesterday " byGarson Kanin
"Let It Be" * by Dennis North2000 - 2001
"Rain Dance" * byLanford Wilson
"Orphan Train" * by Dennis North
"Completing Dahlia" * by Annie Martin1999 - 2000
closed for renovations1998 - 1999
"Boom Town" * by Jeff Daniels
"The Hole" * by Wendy Hammond
"The Big Slam" byBill Corbett
"Criminal Genius" byGeorge F. Walker 1997 - 1998
"Escanaba in da Moonlight" by Jeff Daniels
"Julie Johnson " by Wendy Hammond
"Book of Days" * by Lanford Wilson
"Marcus is Walking " byJoan Ackermann 1996 - 1997
"Apartment 3A" * by Jeff Daniels
"Labor Day" * by Kim Carney
"The Hot L Baltimore" by Lanford Wilson
"Off the Map " by Joan Ackermann1995 - 1996
"Escanaba in da Moonlight" * by Jeff Daniels
"Beast on the Moon" by Richard Kalinoski
"The Purple Rose Spring Comedy Festival" * by various playwrights
"The Harmony Codes" * by Michael Grady1994 - 1995
"Thy Kingdom's Coming" * by Jeff Daniels
"Only Me and You" * by Kim Carney
"Hang the Moon" * by Suzanne Burr
"Weekend Comedy" by Jean & Sam Bobrick1993 - 1994
"The Vast Difference" * by Jeff Daniels
"Two Sisters"* by T.E. Williams
"Keely and Du" byJane Martin
"Stanton's Garage" by Joan Ackermann1992 - 1993
"Possessed: The Dracula Musical" * by Robert Marasco, Jason Darrow & Carter Cathcart
"Necessities" by Velina Hasu Houston
"National Anthems" by Dennis McIntyre
"Nooner" * by Joan Ackermann1991 - 1992
"Kuru" by Josh C. Manheimer
"Ties That Bind" * by Kitty S. Dubin
"More Fun Than Bowling" by Steven Dietz
"The Tropical Pickle" * by Jeff Daniels1991 (First Season)
"Blush at Nothing" * by Lisa A. Wing
"Shoe Man" * by Jeff DanielsExternal links
* [http://www.purplerosetheatre.org/ Purple Rose Theatre Company website]
* [http://www.jeffdaniels.com/ Jeff Daniels website]
* [http://www.gemtheatre.com/Escanaba.htm "Escanaba in Love"] information for 2007-2008 run in Detroit
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.