Equity Library Theatre

"ELT" Founded in 1943 by Sam Jaffe, representing Actors' Equity, and George Freedley, at the time curator of the New York Public Library Theatre Collection, Equity Library Theatre, or ELT (as it is often referred to), was designed to provide a showcase for young actors, directors, and technicians and to create an audience from among those who could not afford commercial theatre. A non‐profit organization, it originally presented its plays at libraries and charged no admission but asked instead for a contribution to help sustain it. Beginning in 1949, it operated its own theatre, first at the Lenox Hill Playhouse and later at other auditoriums. Actors whose careers were helped by early appearances with the organization include James Earl Jones, Richard Kiley, and Jason Robards. Financial problems forced its closing during the 1989–90 season.

Since Equity Library Theater was established by Sam Jaffe of Actors' Equity and George Freedley, the theater curator for the New York Public Library, some 12,000 actors, directors and stage technicians have worked for no pay in more than 600 company productions. The theater's philosophy was to mount nonprofit productions to provide exposure for actors seeking paying roles in commercial shows. Because a substantial number did get paid acting jobs as a result of their appearances, as many as 700 people would show up to audition for each production.

The long, illustrious list of actors who performed early in their careers at the ELT includes Jason Robards, Jean Stapleton, James Earl Jones, Sidney Poitier, Rod Steiger, Martin Balsam, John Cazale, Danny DeVito, Lee Grant, Richard Kiley and Tony Randall.

Playwright and director Johnny Culver resurrected the name and ideals of ELT and provides new playwrights a chance to present their works in New York City library performance spaces, in a casual play festival format, at no cost to anyone. Many up and coming New York actors have performed with ELT. In 2014, ELT produced a reading of David Garrick's Catherine and Petruchio, a rarely performed 18th Century adaptation of Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew, as well as a presentation of short plays by John Ladd, and KK Gordon, at the NYPL George Bruce Theater. In 2015, they presented a reading of short plays by writers from the Provincetown Playhouse and other early 20th century NYC writers, including OVERTONES by Alice Gerstenberg, as well as a new play by Pamela Robbins, and a staged reading of THE FATHER. The Village Light Opera Guild joined them for a musical cabaret in 2016 as a benefit. Their new play festival is now in its seventh year. ELT encourages writers and actors to pursue their craft in this space. ELT performs at the George Bruce Theater on West 125th street and at the Alvin Ailey auditorium on West 115th street, courtesy of the NYPL. To date, ELT has premiered more than 120 new plays by talented writers, many moving to success around the country.

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