Company One Theatre

Boston, MA

MISSION:
Company One Theatre builds community at the intersection of art and social change.

VISION:
A Boston defined by justice, equity, and artistic innovation.

MANIFESTO:
Welcome to our community, where every audience member, artist, student, and supporter has the opportunity to fight for social justice. At C1…

• We strive to create intentional, authentic theatrical experiences that uniquely integrate content, style, space, and community.
• We amplify new stories and adventurous theatrical forms to define what’s next in the American theatre.
• We focus on growing our students’ authority, voice, and point of view, while developing artists into the next generation of change-makers.
• Our work is responsive to what’s happening in our city, nation, and world.
• We work towards justice by challenging inequity and oppressive systems.
• Innovation, forward thinking, and collaboration lead the way.
• We center our work on reciprocal relationships with community partners.
• Representation is an act of social justice.
• Our growth is motivated by questioning the status quo, internally and externally.
• We strive for artistic excellence as defined by our collective community.

Founded in 1998, Company One has situated itself as a home for social justice and artistic excellence by connecting Boston’s diverse communities through live performance, the development of new plays and playwrights, arts education, and public engagement programming. By establishing a dedicated space for marginalized and alternative narratives to thrive and working with partners and collaborators across the city, Company One has become a local leader in the ongoing conversations that continue to define the era of social change in contemporary America.

Company One Theatre’s work falls into four main areas: Productions, Education, New Play Development, and Connectivity. Over its 20 year history Company One has produced over 80 productions, employed over 1500 local artists, and have been awarded over 30 Boston theatre awards. We have served over 100,000 audience members and 15,000 students.

55% of our audiences are under the age of 35
40% of our audiences identify as people of color
94% of Boston Public School students we serve identify as people of color
79% of our plays were written by people of color over the last five seasons

Select Recent Achievements:
• Filmed version of Idris Goodwin’s HYPE MAN named 2021 Best Virtual Theater Production by Boston Magazine.
• Awarded the 2020 Modeling Equity Organization Award by Boston Cultural Council
• Named Best of Boston by Boston Magazine (2019/2017/2015)
• National Mellon Foundation Resident Playwright Program (2016-2019, 2019-2022)
• Selected to the Barr-Klarman Massachusetts Arts Initiative
• TASC Social Justice Award
• Boston’s Best by Improper Bostonian (2017/2013)
• Selected to TCG’s national Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Institute
• “50/50 Applause Award” for gender parity by the International Centre for Women Playwrights (2017/2015/2014)
• Selected to the Arts Innovation Management program with Bloomberg Philanthropies
• Featured in American Theatre Magazine for innovative audience engagement and dramaturgy
• Named a 2015 Social Innovator by the Social Innovation Forum
• Cited in The Boston Globe as one of the “12 Ideas for Making Boston more Inclusive”
• Awarded Official Resolution by then Boston City Councilor Ayanna Pressley for “countless contributions to Boston’s Art community and dedication to diversifying arts and theater in Boston.”