Avalon Theatre Company History

Founded in 2005 by Larry Mabrey and Erin Kelley, Avalon Theatre Company is a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3)professional theatre company dedicated to the professional theatre artists who have chosen to live and work in St. Louis.

In recent years, several mid-sized St. Louis theatre companies have closed their doors resulting in fewer opportunities for local professionals. As a means to highlight local Equity actors and to raise awareness of plans to found a theatre company, Mabrey and Kelley mounted an Actors' Equity Members Project Code (showcase) production of Arthur Laurents' Invitation to a March in March 2004.

The name Avalon was chosen for the mythical significance of the Isle of Avalon as a place to rest and refresh; to remove the weight of the world from one's shoulders, and a magical place where women hold positions of prominence, great value, and importance. Avalon's inaugural production (October 2005) was the St. Louis premiere of David Mamet's Boston Marriage. It was followed by A Walk in the Woods by Lee Blessing (Spring 2006) at its initial home space at Union United Methodist Church. UUMC was home to the next four Avalon productions through the Spring of 2008 which included Molly Sweeney by Brian Friel, Closer Than Ever by Maltby & Shire, Bus Stop by William Inge and the world premiere of the Avalon commissioned Little Bosnia by Cristina Pippa.

Avalon was fortunate to acquire a lease on a new performance in ArtSpace at Crestwood Court in December 2008 which would provide the opportunity to have performance, rehearsal, and office space all in one location. Avalon opened this new venue in February 2009 with the sold out run of Frank D. Gilroy's The Subject Was Roses. Their next show, Quilters by Newman and Damashak, was performed at the Missouri History Museum as part of their newly launched performing arts series.

Avalon's fifth season included, Barrymore by William Luce, An O. Henry Christmas by Peter Ekstrom, The Country Girl by Clifford Odets, and the launch of their educational outreach production, Portrait of My People, written and performed by Erin Kelley. Season six consisted of Neil Simon's The Good Doctor, Arthur Miller's The Price and Agnes of God by John Pielmeier.

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