Arden Theatre Company, Philadelphia

Arden Theatre Company, founded in 1988 in Philadelphia by Terrence J. Nolen, Amy Murphy, and Aaron Posner, is a renowned regional theatre committed to presenting an array of great stories by exceptional storytellers. This professional theatre company operates out of three distinct spaces: the intimate 175-seat Arcadia Stage, the larger 360-seat F. Otto Haas Stage, and the cozy 100-seat Bob and Selma Horan Studio Theater.

The Arden Theatre Company started its journey in a modest 70-seat studio at the Walnut Street Theatre. Quickly gaining recognition in the Philadelphia theatre community, the company expanded after its second season, co-founding the Saint Stephen’s Performing Arts Center. This expansion not only provided a larger theatre but also unified spaces for classes, administrative functions, and production workshops.

A significant milestone in Arden Theatre Company's history was the establishment of Arden Children’s Theatre in 1998. As the city’s first resident professional children’s theatre, it was founded on two fundamental beliefs: that children’s theatre should uphold the same high production values as mainstream theatre and that it should be accessible and affordable for families.

Arden Theatre Company prides itself on producing a diverse range of stories. From classic to contemporary, intimate to epic, and across genres like musical and dramatic, the company showcases a spectrum of human experiences and cultures. Its commitment to presenting works from great playwrights sets a high standard, while also providing a platform for new writers and emerging theatre companies, thereby contributing significantly to the enrichment of the community and the broader American theatre landscape.