Bunbury Theatre: A Gem of Originality in a Cookie-Cutter Dramatic World

Bunbury Theatre remains an original. While Broadway and off-Broadway shows become ever-more commercial and cookie cutter-like, Bunbury Theatre stays committed to producing original works you won’t see anywhere else.

With each season, sprinkled in with some plays that have been produced elsewhere by larger theater companies, Bunbury always manages to include original works. Some of Bunbury’s recent original productions include Holy Tolle, Swallow That Ego!, an affectionate parody of Eckhart Tolle’s best-selling self-help book; Assisted Living?, a clever exploration of the end of life; Images of Mr. Lincoln, in which the 16th president discusses his contemporaries with photographer Matthew Brady, and Schroedinger’s Cat and Other Chaos Theories, an apocalyptic mystery.

One of Bunbury’s original plays, Uncle Smiley’s Comin’ Home, written by the company's producing/artistic director, Juergen K. Tossmann, was turned into a full-length feature film in 2004.

Founded in 1985, the Bunbury Theatre performed for 13 years in the building that now houses 21c Museum Hotel until the theater company moved in 2007. Performances now take place in the 144-seat theater in the renovated Henry Clay Building, located on Third Street at Chestnut. (The building was once the Henry Clay Hotel.) Even though the theater is on the third floor, it is handicap accessible.

Tickets are $10 for children, $15 for students younger than 25, $17 for senior citizens 65 or older and $20 for everyone else.

HelloLouisville Tip: Bunbury Theatre Company holds auditions for its performances several times a year. The theater company is always seeking talented actors, designers and technicians.

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