It’s one of the 10 great places to see the lights way off Broadway. It’s also honored by state legislature as “The State Repertory Theatre of Kentucky”, and it also was the recipient of the 2008 Governor’s Award in the Arts. It’s Horse Cave’s own Kentucky Repertory Theatre – and they’re extending their stage into area classrooms.

With the constant cutbacks on both educational programs and arts and humanities, Kentucky Repertory Theatre is looking for ways to fill the void and enrich the imaginations of local students. The theatre has several new and exciting upcoming joint-ventures between schools.

The always popular and highly praised Young Performers Production returns in January with Shakespeare’s masterpiece “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”. Young Performers shows are open to children ages 13 to 18. The theatre also held the first Younger Performers Production last year with “Where the Wild Things Are”. Younger Performers Productions are for children ages 8 through 12. Auditions for these productions will be held November 11th and 12th from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m., and all those interested are asked to call the theatre to set up appointments.

The theatre will also be producing three other student performances in the spring with Louisa May Alcott’s “Little Women” in February, “Twelfth Night”, also by Shakespeare in March, and younger performers can look forward to an original KRT production, “Metamorphosis”, in April. “Metamorphosis” is written by Amanda Rae Jones, associate artist and education assistant at KRT.

Also penned by Jones, was the third installment of the health awareness series for students, “The Good, The Bad, and the Bullies”. The play focused on the issue of bullying, and used fun characters and a fairy tale setting to teach children important lessons. The last performance was held today, and all those involved believe the play was highly successful and effective in educating young minds about sometimes scary situations.

“Discussions were held after each performance, and I hope that they continued in the classroom, and taught children what to do”, explained KRT artistic director, Robert Brock.

An entirely new concept will soon debut at KRT, and some area schools are already excited and thrilled to be a part of a new, groundbreaking idea. Thornton Wilder’s “Our Town” will be performed by three area schools. Students from Edmonson Co. were assigned Act 1, Larue Co. students were assigned Act 2, and Allen Co.-Scottsville students were assigned Act 3. All schools will come together, and perform the entire play at KRT October 16th and 17th, with an educational matinee performance on Friday at 10 a.m., and two performances open to the public on Saturday, October 17th at 2 p.m., and 7 p.m. Tickets for the production are only 10 dollars for adults, and 7 dollars for children and students.

“It’s a new concept that I found at a theatre in Vermont. We go out to these schools and rehearse with them, and then they’ll come here to Horse Cave to perform it”, explains Brock, “And these schools just jumped on the idea. I had no idea what the response would be. But, I know we will be continuing this concept, and extending our relationships with area schools.”

Brock, and others at the theatre, believes that the need for arts and humanities in schools is greater now than it has ever been.

“We’re always trying to figure out how to go forward, and to think out of the box.”

This abstract thinking also applies to the theatre’s fundraising efforts. Brock says that the recent Campaign to Save the Theatre was successful, but adds, there is still a bit of struggle.

The theatre has recently been traveling both north and west, to theatres and performaning arts centers in both Hopkinsville and Elizabethtown.

“Mean Lipstick” is the theatre’s newest upcoming production. Amanda Rae Jones wrote the play about a young girl who was the first female contracted to play men’s baseball and must face such legends as Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. The play is a staged reading, and is open to audience commentary. “Mean Lipstick” will be performed on Oct. 3rd and 4th at 2 p.m.

A crowd favorite will make a return this year, just in time for Halloween, with “Dracula!” Performances will be held in both Elizabethtown and Horse Cave. Brock adds that the need for other performance dates for Dracula was so great, two more weeks of production have been added to the calendar. However, he adds that tickets for this spooky favorite sale out quick. Dracula will be performed Oct. 29th through Nov. 1st at Elizabethtown, and will return to KRT Nov. 4th through the 15th. Times and ticket information can be found on the website, or by calling the theatre box office.

Another upcoming production the theatre has planned is the Christmas Cabarets. Performances are scheduled for December 11th, 12th, 18th, and 19th. These are special events that include a pre-show dinner and tickets to “Christmas Belles”. Reservations are needed for these performances, since seating is limited to only 50 patrons.

Kentucky Repertory Theatre has proved durability and endurance, and the community has certainly helped save this precious resource. And now, all the staff at KRT continue to “think out-of-the-box” by reaching into as many classrooms as possible.

For more information on KRT, you can visit their website by clicking here.

You can also become a fan of Kentucky Repertory Theatre on Facebook by clicking here.

The theatre’s box office number is 800-342-2177.