Mission
BRT is dedicated to being a premiere regional theatre for Bucks County and surrounding communities. We believe theatre has an essential contribution to make to our quality of life. OUR MISSION IS: to engage audiences and artists alike with exceptional performances, inspired writing and superior productions that motivate us to think harder, to feel more deeply, to laugh more joyfully, and to reflect on ourselves and the world in which we live.
“Art teaches nothing, except the significance of life.” – Henry Miller
History
Bristol Riverside Theatre (BRT) is a professional regional theatre in the historic district of Bristol Borough. The theatre, located in a renovated movie house, combines the excitement of a large stage with the intimacy of a 300-seat theater, along with outstanding lighting and sound technology. Since 1986, BRT has brought consistently acclaimed professional theater to Bucks County and maintained a long-term commitment to finding and developing new plays. BRT has developed such new works as country music star Larry Gatlin’s musicals Alive and Well (And Livin’ in the Land of Dreams) and Texas Flyer; Jules Tasca’s critically acclaimed and Barrymore Award-winning drama The Balkan Women; Mark Medoff’s The Majestic Kid, Garson Kanin’s Happy Ending, and Shielah Rae, Thomas Edward West, and Michele Brourman’s I Married Wyatt Earp.
BRT has also brought nationally renowned theater artists to the region in a number of capacities, including Gregory Peck, Micki Grant, Adrian Pasdar, Kim Hunter, John Henry Redwood, Stephen Schnetzer, Keir Dullea, Hugh O’Gorman, Ron Link, Susan Powell, Bethe B. Austin, Aileen Quinn, Rita Taggart, and Richard White.
BRT is the recipient of over 84 nominations for the Barrymore Awards for Excellence in Theater, given annually by Theatre Philadelphia. A few of the past winners are Ryan O’Gara, winning for best lighting for Man of La Mancha, Larry Gatlin, winning for the best original music of Texas Flyer, Bethe B. Austin winning for Best Supporting Actress in a musical for Texas Flyer, Jules Tasca, winning the Best New Play Award for The Balkan Women, Brad Little winning for Best Actor in a musical for Evita, Christopher Gatelli winning Outstanding Choreography/Movement in a Musical for Altar Boyz and Douglas Campbell winning for Best Actor in a play for The Dresser.
Now in its 35th season, the theatre has grown to produce over 200 performances every year, including four Mainstage productions, presented events, a summer music fest series, a play reading series, a Christmas concert, and a summer camp every year. BRT has produced 165 works, premiered 23 plays and musicals, and developed international touring and producing relationships.
