Penfold Theatre Company began in the summer of 2007. Its founders - Ryan Crowder, Nathan Jerkins and Sean Martin - caught a vision for the company during an 18-hour road trip from Chicago to Austin. They pictured a place where artists and residents in underserved areas of Austin could create and enjoy meaningful work that would involve people, inspire people and impact people.
Over the next ten months, Penfold went through a period of intense planning. Providing invaluable advice was the National Advisory Board - a panel of leaders from across the country with heaps of experience in theatre start-ups and management. The organization surfaced from this period with clear focus and determination.
In 2008, Penfold produced its inaugural season. 'Art' opened in May of 2008 to an enthusiastic welcome from audiences and critics, garnering three local award nominations in categories like Best Comedy and Best Ensemble Performance. In December of that year, The Last Five Years brought the organization a new level of public recognition. After playing to sold-out audiences, this little-show-that-could took home nine award nominations, of which it won two for Best Musical and Best Actor in a Lead Role.
In the 2009-10 season, Penfold is focussing its attention on opening a new performance venue in north Austin. The facility, located in Round Rock, will be a complimentary part of the City's Downtown Redevelopment Plan. Round Rock envisions a mix of residential, commercial, retail, dining, entertainment and public spaces in a walkable environment that boosts Round Rock's economy, quality of life, and sense of place.
As plans for a new venue move forward, Penfold continues to produce. This season features Three Days of Rain, a Pulitzer finalist play by Tony Award-winning playwright Richard Greenberg, and the powerfully intimate chamber musical, John & Jen.
Also launching this season are Penfold's first education and outreach programs. They include the Artists in Schools Program, which places working artists in public school classrooms; Student Apprenticeships, which give high school students a chance to work alongside industry professionals; and the StarCo Play Reading Series, which is presented free of charge on a semi-monthly basis.
We hope you'll take some time to get to know us better and to let us get to know you. Surf the site, see a show, volunteer, or drop us a line.
