What does LORT mean in RESIDENTIAL

League Of Resident Theatres (LORT) is a professional association of non-profit theatres that produce and present theatre nationwide. It is the largest coalition of its kind, extending from California to Massachusetts and from Texas to Wisconsin, with over 90 members representing hundreds of productions annually.

A resident theatre is a professional theatre committed to presenting a mix of both new works and established plays in their regular season. The artistic staff at a resident theatre typically includes an Artistic Director responsible for selecting plays, directors, designers and the actors who bring the play to life on stage.

Any professional non-profit theatre company may apply for membership in the League of Resident Theatres (LORT). To become a member, your organization must demonstrate financial stability as well as produce at least six professional-level mainstage productions each season. Additionally, you must have been in business for more than three years and have an operating budget of not less than $350,000 per year.

Membership benefits of LORT include access to resources related to collective bargaining with unions; educational programming such as seminars for industry professionals; data about attendance trends; access to production opportunities through co-productions or collaborations; promotional opportunities; interaction with other members within regionally organized networks; updates on legal issues related to producing theatrical works; and discounts on services available through LORT partnerships with vendors.

All theatres accepted into the League Of Resident Theatres are required to pay annual dues which are calculated based on the size of their operating budgets. These dues help cover costs associated with collective bargaining negotiations, educational programming expenses and other resources provided by LORT membership.

Yes — all members are required to participate in collective bargaining negotiations when they occur between LORT theatres and union employees like actors, directors, stage managers and other production personnel. By participating in these negotiations each member can benefit from more uniform labor agreements across the organization while also helping support equity throughout the industry.

Every two years the League Of Resident Theatres hosts its biennial Conference & Awards Ceremony which brings together hundreds of representatives from around the country for four days of networking events, panel discussions, performances and seminars related to leading trends in theatrical production.

Each year during its biennial Conference & Awards Ceremony LORT honors individuals who have made outstanding contributions towards advancing non-profit professionally produced theater. Nominations can be submitted online via the website from January - April prior to each event's occurrence.

Yes — every member organizations must carry General Liability Insurance that meets or exceeds coverage amounts specified by LORT before they can become full members of our association. This helps ensure that each participant has minimal risk exposure when engaging in activities within our network or when working with partnering organizations outside of it.