As is the case with opera, dance, and classical music, New Orleans live theatre is also a popular and long-established tradition dating back to the earliest days of the French colony that was founded as La Nouvelle Orleans in the early 1700s.
The tradition continues to this day with numerous local and touring theatrical presenting companies and smaller community theatres, as well as performing arts groups in several of the local colleges. Some of these New Orleans performing arts organizations are for-profit businesses, most are nonprofit, but all of them exist for the same basic purpose: to present theatrical performances as an artistic form of expression as well as a means of popular entertainment.
The city's crown jewel of the theatrical arts performing season is the Broadway in New Orleans series that typically brings around six touring Broadway musicals to the city each season.
On the next tier of theatrical performing organizations are Southern Repertory Theatre, the Contemporary Arts Center, the Jefferson Performing Arts Society, and Rivertown Repertory Theatre. These are among the larger organizations with governing structures, steady funding sources and varied repertoires that are announced and posted before the start of each season.
Listed below are the major live theatre events for this cultural arts season with links to the sponsoring organization and venue for more information. Also, be sure to check out our events calendar for the latest theatre offerings in the city.
