ABOUT THE HIPPODROME
THE
HIPPODROME STATE THEATRE
is North Florida's only professional regional theatre. Celebrating
its 30th year of artistic excellence, the Hippodrome is designated as a
Cultural Institution and a State Theatre of Florida. A cornerstone of
the
artistic life of North Florida, the Hippodrome is also a landmark of
the
downtown Gainesville landscape, occupying a beautifully restored
historic
building built in 1911.
- MAINSTAGE
- Utilizing members of Actors' Equity
Association,
the union of professional actors and stage managers, not-for-profit
company
presents six mainstage plays each season, comprising the best in
contemporary
theatre. The Hippodrome has produced over 236 mainstage theatre
productions
featuring over 100 world and southeastern premieres and playing to over
1 million audience members.
- EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
- The Hippodrome Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA, now known
as
Building
Audiences of Tomorrow, BAT) was established in 1979 with an important
goal
- to link theatre and education in an enjoyable, enlightening and
educational
way, using professional theatre as the forum. The program seeks to
build
discriminating audiences of tomorrow by providing the best in
children's
theatre for the school children of today. Full, professional theatre
productions
tour schools throughout state. Since its inception, the BAT program has
created 23 original productions and provided theatre and education
outreach
to over two million young audience members who may not otherwise have
the
opportunity to experience professional theatre.
- OUTREACH PROGRAMS
- The Hippodrome Improvisational Teen Theatre (H.I.T.T.)
was created in 1984 in a response to an outcry from teenagers to
address
critical problems that confront them daily. The philosophy is that
teens,
given accurate information can make responsible decisions about their
own
lives. The H.I.T.T. program provides prevention and intervention
services
in a unique theatrical format for at-risk youth. This program recently
was recognized as the best Program in the nation and received First
Place
at the National Service Learning Conference in Philadelphia.
- OTHER PROGRAMS
- Hippodrome has created such innovative programs as the Cinema
Program, Visual Arts Exhibition program, Theatre
Arts Series for children and adults, and the New Play Reading
Series
and has hosted more than 200 visual arts exhibits, festivals, artistic
residencies, and guest artist presentations.
OUR MISSION
STATEMENT
- The mission of the Hippodrome is to explore the truth of the
human experience
and the human spirit through the examination and presentation of
dramatic
work. Our purpose is to accomplish this through our commitment to the
following
goals:
- To create an artistic home.
- To nurture a strong company of actors, directors, designers,
technicians
and administrators.
- To provide an environment that helps us understand our past,
accept
our present and work toward positive change for our future.
- To attempt to continuously rediscover the dynamic quality of
the
theatrical
process, encouraging experimentation.
- To awaken new ideas, stimulate change and encourage dreams.
- To nurture collaboration and individual creativity.
- To explore new works and new forms.
- To inspire and challenge artists and audiences.
- To provide a training and a proving ground for future
theatre
professionals.
- To enrich our community and our world through the art of
theatre.
Our creative focus,
the work that we produce, the programs that we develop
and the spirit our company resonate with this artistic vision while
reflecting
a sincere search for new audiences and new vital theatrical
voices.
The Hippodrome State Theatre 25 SE 2nd Place Gainesville Fl 32601
(352) 373-5968 Box
Office (352) 375-4477 Fax (352) 371-9130
E-mail hipp@thehipp.org
