The Repertory Theatre of New Britain's philosophy is to produce quality community theatre at an affordable price that is suitable for the family. The entire community is invited to participate audition for plays, act, sing, dance, work backstage, clerical, bookkeeping, box office, scenic painting, set construction, musician, props, lighting, costumes, publicity, usher, graphic arts, mailing, sound, concessions, advertising, fundraising, and, of course, be an audience member. Training is provided for students and adults.

The Rep is the first and largest community theatre group in Connecticut to own its own theatre. Its direct antecedents go back to 1931 and the Drama League who produced plays on old Church Street. During the depression, it was subsidized by the WPA (Works Progress Administration) as a vehicle for providing theatre for the schools, and survived until the worst of the depression passed and the government subsidy was withdrawn. It then became the Elihu Burritt Players, still operating out of the YWCA, but playing on such places as front lawns.

This ancestor was a war casualty, but the members reassembled after WWII as the Repertory Players. In 1946, the group organized formally and became the Repertory Theatre of New Britain. in 1955, they acquired the Norden Street Lodge, our present home. To do this, members sold bonds to theatre members and friends. Every year, bondholders received interest on their investment, sometimes as much as 65 cents.

Since 1955, the theatre has regularly produced 4 Broadway or Off Broadway shows each season and, since 1999, have produced cultural events that reflect the current population of the community. In addition, they have had children's theatre, and original one-act playwriting competitions which brought in playwrights from all over the US, Canada, Australia and England. The theatre also co-sponsors events.

The theatre traditionally takes a large photo of actors on the stage in costume after each show which becomes part of the its history. There have been some notable persons who have participated onstage or backstage at the Rep. Meryl Streep was active in childrens' theatre at the Rep while a student at Yale, other recent participants have gone on to Broadway and other theatrical activities, most recently was a student who was in Pippin at the Rep then was on Broadway actor in The Man Who Came to Dinner with Nathan Lane.

In the theatre, we currently have an audience of 4300 persons per season. In addition, we provide complimentary tickets to the community and the state throughout the season to support the causes and fundraisers of other non-profit organizations.