Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carre
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Le Petit Theatre Du Vieux Carre is a community theater in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana.
Le Petit was founded in 1916, when a group of amateur theatre-lovers began putting on plays in the drawing room of one of the members.
The audiences of the Drawing Room Players grew, and the founders rented space in the lower Pontalba Buildings, for $17.50 per month. Irish playwright Lord Dunsany, visiting the city, formally launched the new playhouse. In 1922, the theatre bought the property for its present location at the corner of St. Peter and Chartres Streets. Three small shed-like buildings facing St. Peter Street were removed and the present theatre building was constructed in 1922. Architect Richard Koch designed it in authentic Spanish Colonial style.
The building complex holds a professionally equipped theatre. The corner building, reconstructed in 1963, holds reception rooms, offices, dressing rooms, and a smaller theatre.
Le Petit is run by a Board of Governors, with productions staged by professional staff. Most of the performers are volunteers, in accordance with the charter designating it a community theatre, though many are professionals in music, dance, TV or other performing arts. Auditions are open.
During its 87 years of operation, Le Petit has been recognized as one of the leading “little” or community theatres in the nation.
