About the Arden
Since 1988, our mission has been to bring to life great stories by great storytellers.
On the Stage
We produce a wide range of stories in a variety of styles – classic and contemporary, intimate and epic, musical and dramatic – and have a commitment to stories that highlight the diversity of people and human experiences. Producing the great playwrights allows us to measure ourselves against the masters of our craft, while sharing the voices of new writers and emerging theatre companies gives us the opportunity to advance our community and the American theatre.
In the Classroom
Kids are celebrated at the Arden. We nurture curiosity, creativity, and confidence through our educational programming, and ensure that our teaching artists and staff reflect the students whom we are serving. We reach thousands of students each year, introducing many of our region’s kids to theatre for the first time and believe in the power of the arts to shape children’s lives.
In the Community
We believe in the power of stories to bring people together – that they can celebrate our unique identities while reminding us of our shared humanity. We work to build a vital community of artists who excel creatively through shared experiences and to expand the pool of artists with whom we work to bring new energies and perspectives to our stages. The Arden strives to be Philadelphia’s hometown theatre, contributing to the region’s vibrant cultural landscape.
Our story started out like a song…
Arden Theatre Company was founded in 1988 by Terrence J. Nolen, Amy Murphy, and Aaron Posner. The company began producing at the 70-seat Walnut Street Theatre Studio, and was immediately hailed as a welcome addition to the Philadelphia theatre community. After our second season, we co-founded the St. Stephen’s Performing Arts Center, which held a larger theatre and a unified location for classes, education programs, administrative offices, and production shops.
In 1995, the Arden purchased and renovated a 50,000 square foot building in historic Old City, creating a thriving two-theatre complex and a new home. Our presence has helped Old City emerge as one of the region’s most popul...Read More