Le Petit Théâtre du Vieux Carré

In 1916, a group of amateur theatre-lovers began putting on plays in a drawing room. The Drawing Room Players outgrew that space and rented the second floor of 503 St. Ann in the lower Pontalba Buildings for $17.50 per month. Irish playwright Lord Dunsany, visiting the city, formally launched the new playhouse. By 1922, they'd bought property at the corner of St. Peter and Chartres Streets, removed three small shed-like buildings, and constructed the present theatre, incorporating a 1790s colonial building on the corner. Architect Richard Koch designed it in Spanish Colonial style. That makes Le Petit Théâtre du Vieux Carré the oldest continuously operating community theater in the United States—a run that survived the financial crisis of 2009, when the board laid off staff and canceled a season, then sold 60 percent of the building to restaurateur Dickie Brennan in 2011 to retire $700,000 in debt. Tennessee Williams attended performances here during his years living on St. Peter Street. The main stage holds 250 seats, close enough to hear the actors breathe. The theatre runs on a board of governors, stages productions with professional staff, and offers Equity and non-union contracts. Brennan's Creole restaurant Tableau now occupies part of the building; the theatre retained the original stage, executive offices, dressing rooms, and an educational space. Check the season schedule online—tickets are available at the box office and the website.