Specialties
Kitchen Theatre Company is Central New York's year-round professional theater, offering an "Off-Broadway" theater experience in its beautifully renovated, intimate, 99-seat theater. Founded in 1991, the Kitchen is nationally known for producing top-notch regional and world premiere plays and musicals. It's the kind of theater usually seen only in major metropolitan areas. Entertaining and thought-provoking, an evening at the Kitchen Theatre is a one-of- a-kind experience.
History
Established in 1991.
The Kitchen Theatre Company burst on the scene in 1991. 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.
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. For the fourth through the sixth seasons, Norm Johnson, Jr. took up the artistic reins. After three years of nurturing the KTC, Norm stepped down and Rachel Lampert stepped up to the plate.
In 2008, the KTC purchased a building in the West End neighborhood of Ithaca, three blocks from its old home in the Clinton House. A $1.2 million campaign allowed us to renovate the building using green A $1.2 million campaign allowed us to renovate the building. The Kitchen is celebrating its 20th Anniversary Season with a move to this beautiful new space.
Meet the Manager: Emily J.
Emily is an artist and organizer who gathers groups of humans together and shares well-made stories. She is thrilled to be back at Kitchen Theatre Company, previously having served as the Artistic Associate and Director of Audience Services. She has also served as the Artistic Director for Sanguine Theatre Company in New York City, has been a member of Lark Theatre’s Literary Wing, and has adapted the works of Italian playwright, Dacia Maraini.
Originally from Dallas, Texas, Emily received her BFA from The University of Oklahoma’s Peggy Dow Helmerich School of Drama. She is happy to be living in Ithaca with her husband, Tyler M. Perry, a lighting designer and theatre educator, and her children, Luma and Rocco.