History

In its early days OSA operated as Dekalb Little Theater, beginning at Callanwolde and in the Decatur courthouse. The Committee that launched the theater included Candy Cresswell, Jim Knoll, Geoff and Pat Webber, Ardelle Blackburn, Bob & Kay Matteson, and Louis & Gail Pucci. This was followed by a period in the Undercroft of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in downtown Atlanta. The theatre changes its name to OnStage Atlanta for the Summer Workshops of 1975.

In 1981, OSA moved into its first “permanent” home at 420 Courtland Street which was converted from a foreign car repair garage by theatre volunteers doing the construction work, with St. Luke’s as its landlord. The Courtland Street facility was lost in 1997 to make room for St. Luke’s soup kitchen (made homeless by the homeless!). Under the guidance of then Artistic Director, Marc Gowan, OSA continued operations by renting other theater spaces including Dad’s Garage and 14th Street Playhouse.

In 2000, the theater hired Scott F. Rousseau as its new Artistic/Managing Director. In 2001, with the help of the Board of Directors, he secured & converted the space in Suburban Plaza. The facility had a main stage theater accommodating 135 patrons in one of the best seating arrangements of any Atlanta theater facility, with tiers of comfortably padded tip-up theater seats and unbelievable leg room. In addition, there was a 70 seat second space for more intimate productions and a large lobby area with a Cafe stage, designed for Cabaret type performances.

Initially, the theater operation was considered purely community theater, run by unpaid but enthusiastic staff & unpaid actors. As time went by and the theater matured, it gradually morphed into today’s semi-professional non-Equity theater where the actors, musicians, directors and technical designers receive stipends, backed up by a group of theater volunteers.

In 2007, under the leadership of its then Chairman of the Board, Barry N. West, the theater convened a Feasibility Committee to discover if and how the theatre company should come out of its large debt. The committee decided to develop a new Artistic Company of actors, directors, designers, and staff, led by Artistic Company Manager, Barbara Cole Uterhardt. This artistic company seeks to continue the legacy that OnStage Atlanta has created and help it reach new heights of artistic quality and creativity.

The newspapers and online blogs were the bringers of surprising news when, in 2011, the company found out that a WalMart would be coming into Suburban Plaza. Not knowing whether this would translate into a termination of their contract, OSA continued producing. In 2012, the powers that be decided OSA had to go. It took many long hours to find the perfect location. Once the new lease was signed for an office and warehouse space near the Dekalb Farmer’s Market, it was only due to all of the glorious volunteers that the theater was able to move it’s 25,000 square feet into an 18,000 square foot space just 2 miles away! The new facility boasted a main stage theater accommodating 180 patrons, including our comfortably padded tip-up theater seats and unbelievable leg room.

After 5 years in the space on East Ponce across from Dekalb Farmer’s market, the owner decided to sell the builidng, and so OSA needed to find a new location. At the end of 2017, OSA had moved out and while looking for a new location, we produced shows at Art Station and 7 Stages Theatre. After an extensive search, OSA signed a lease for the building at 3041 N. Decatur Rd in Scottdale just on the other side of Dekalb Farmer’s Market in the fall of 2018. The building was significantly smaller than the previous space, but we knew that we could “make it work” by downsizing and maximizing our space. After some major renovations and cleaning, OSA produced its first show in this space in May, 2019. Like most theatres, OSA had to shut down in the spring of 2019 because of the coronavirus pandemic, but with safety protocols in place, OSA opened again in the Winter of 2020. In the fall of 2021, we opened the intimate Studio Stage which seats 40 patrons.

Throughout its history, OnStage Atlanta has presented an eclectic mix of high quality productions. For your perusal, we have listed all of the shows from our Past Seasons. We look to continue this great tradition as we move into a new era. We appreciate your support and look forward to seeing you at the theater.