The Footlight Club

The Footlight Club

Theatre

Website: http://www.footlight.org

 617-524-6506

 7A Eliot Street, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130

Nestled in a residential area near Jamaica Pond, The Footlight Club, America’s oldest community theatre, has performed every year since 1877. For over 120 years Footlight Club members have sustained the organization’s mission: To present the best in non-professional theater to a broad-based audience, and to preserve and maintain Eliot Hall as a community resource. Increased membership and audience sizes are evidence that The Footlight Club is once again taking its place among the sisterhood of community theatres. Founded by an energetic group of young socialites. The Footlight Club has evolved along with its neighborhood. Once, wealthy aristocrats arrived in coaches to enjoy the society of their own kind in an atmosphere of gentility and wealth. The performances sometimes seemed secondary to the social function. Today the Footlight Club draws its membership from Jamaica Plain, other Boston neighborhoods and surrounding communities. Members and guests range in age from teens to senior citizens and come from every social and economic stratum. Doctors and lawyers, waiters and cooks, husbands and wives, come together to perform, to enjoy, and to support exciting amateur productions and the other activities that make up live theater. The Footlight Club, through its long history, has held to high standards of creative excellence, working to provide quality amateur entertainment at affordable prices by using the talents and creative energies of the people in its community.

The Footlight Club is a training ground for theater professionals from throughout the Boston area, Generations of families, neighbors, and friends participate, attend, learn from, and enjoy the club’s welcoming atmosphere and solid productions. Although an amateur theater, our productions not amateurish. While the Footlight Club’s members never aspired to attain professional recognition, the club has been an innovative force in the Boston Theater scene. Between 1929 and 1939, the Footlight Club presented 15 Boston theatrical premieres, three of which were American premieres as well What we do in Eliot Hall is exciting, rewarding, and creative. Young and old alike continue to discover The Footlight Club and make it an exciting place to practice theater. We provide opportunities for members who range in age from teens to seniors to work as a team to produce vibrant, quality theater. Serious, accomplished performers combine with creative, experienced directors and producers. Supported by devoted and capable back stage help, they turn Eliot Hall into The Footlight Club on show nights, and all the wonder and magic that is theater is born. What we do in that building is exciting, rewarding, and creative. There is a place for each of our members who range in age from teens to seniors, working as a team to produce vibrant, quality theater. It may be amateur, but it’s not amateurish. Serious, accomplished performers combine with creative, experienced directors and producers. Supported by devoted and capable back stage help, they turn Eliot Hall into The Footlight Club on show nights, and all the wonder and magic that is theater is born. In addition to its full season of plays and musicals. The Footlight Club is committed to preserving this resource which is so much a part of its community. The theatre, Eliot Hall, is undergoing a long-term renovation as its members and friends in the community return it to its former magnificence. We look forward to seeing you at a show soon.