Our History
Since our inception in 2016, Out Front Theatre Company has existed to serve artistic excellence to the LGBTQIA+ communities of Atlanta by producing outstanding theatrical experiences which focus on the voices of the LGBTQIA+ cannon. Though other companies in Atlanta have explored these themes in their respective programing, no theatre existed specifically to cater to the LGBTQIA+ audiences who regularly crave outstanding professional theatre that reflects their shared experiences. As Atlanta has the largest self-identified LGBTQIA+ population in the Southeast and with the prospective boom of the entertainment industry in our own backyard, it seemed disorienting that a theatre like ours wasn’t already thriving as was the case in many other major regional cities like San Francisco and Chicago. Bearing this in mind, our leadership set out to create a company that would successfully fill the void.
After great forward momentum and notable growth, Out Front Theatre Company is determined to solidify a permanent place within our city’s theatrical and nonprofit landscape. Exceptional theatrical programming alongside competent financial policies and decision making enabled Out Front grow from a company of only volunteer staff to one with a full time Producing Artistic Director and three part time staff members all while honoring our mission and serving our target audience.
Out Front Theatre Company is first and foremost a theatrical entity focused on producing the best work possible for our audiences and it is our unique mission that sets us apart from other small and mid size theatres in the city. Our programing includes landmark queer pieces like The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told, to cult classics like The Rocky Horror Show, award-winning musicals like Kinky Boots, and world premieres like The Ethel Merman Disco Christmas Spectacular!. We are committed to inclusivity and have implemented internal policies of color-conscious casting (in which race is acknowledged and ideally deepens theatrical conversations), ensuring season programming includes female identified playwrights and playwrights of color without exception, employing minority identifying creative teams, and we continue to work on identifying and implementing strategies that further diversify our patron base as well as our artistic hires.
In addition to being the center for LGBTQIA+ theatre for the Southeast, we also opens our doors to numerous other organizations and groups that have similar missions to Out Front Theatre Company. It is a core value of ours to make our space available, when possible, to associations from around the metro Atlanta area to help them achieve their goals. We believe that in partnering with these organizations it will strengthen our place in the community and, as a whole, we will all prosper. We have hosted events for other arts non-profits like Voices of Note and Out on Film, welcomed meeting with civic groups like Atlanta Pride and the Atlanta Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce and welcomed The Gathering Place church and the Cobb County Pride Alliance Pride Prom into our space.
In 2021, Out Front Theatre Company was selected as a Grand Marshal for the 2022 Atlanta Pride Parade. Nominated directly by the Atlanta Pride Committee and the members of the LGBTQIA+ community, this honor recognizes vital work done for the queer community, focusing on a variety of issues that currently impact them.
During their 2022-23 season, Out Front produced the critically acclaimed, Tony-award winning musical Kinky Boots, which played to a completely sold out run and rave reviews. This production broke several records for Out Front, including being their most profitable show to date.
