Cari M.

Raleigh Little Theatre is a welcoming community using theatre to enrich, educate, entertain, and engage volunteers, students, and audiences of all ages. In 1936, a group of passionate local performers joined forces with the Federal Theatre Project to begin a community theatre in Raleigh, joining a nation-wide movement of little theatres focused on intimate, non-commercial theater. Civic leader Cantey Venable Sutton pushed through bureaucratic red tape and galvanized the federal Works Progress Administration construction of the initial campus, which included a 300-seat proscenium theater, 2,000-seat outdoor amphitheater, and a Rose Garden. RLT's founding united the spirit of the Little Theatre Movement with the mission of the Federal Theatre Project, which aimed to employ artists, create relevant art, and provide entertainment for low-income families. This commitment to accessibility defined the organization early on and continues today, with a focus on keeping ticket prices affordable, choosing accessible while challenging theatrical works, and opportunities for anyone in the community to be involved by getting on stage or working behind the scenes. Though a student or actor going on to become a professional in the performing arts is not the primary mission of RLT, a number of performers have gone on to acclaimed careers. Andy Griffith performed at RLT multiple times, including in a revival of "The Drunkard"​ in the 1951-52 season. Other notable performers and alumni include Randy Jones (later the cowboy in The Village People) and Clay Aiken (platinum-selling recording artist). The education program was recognized with the 2002 Constance Welsh Theatre for Youth Award by the North Carolina Theatre Conference (NCTC). RLT was inducted in to the Raleigh Hall of Fame in 2007. In 2012, RLT received the Community Theatre Award from NCTC for the second time. RLT has won a number of the Independent Weekly's awards for Best Live Theatre, most recently in 2016.