Civic Theatre of Allentown

Civic Theatre of Allentown, 501(c)(3), founded in 1927 by two Morning Call reporters, as part of the “little theatre” movement of the late twenties, found its home in the 19th Street Theatre in 1957. Civic has been producing live theatre continuously ever since. With the mission to inspire, enlighten and entertain, the nonprofit theatre company is proud to be home to Civic Theatre School, the area’s first established training program for young actors. The organization also offers year-round arthouse cinema experiences and programming, opportunities for artists, musicians, storytellers and playwrights in the intimate alternative space, Civic's Theatre514, also know as THE HUB, while producing first class non-profit theatre by and for the Greater Lehigh Valley area.

In 2018, Civic Theatre of Allentown completed a major restoration of its historic 19th Street Theatre, returning the space to its original beauty and earning statewide recognition. Completed in partnership with Alvin H. Butz and Mills + Schnoering Architects, this work helped secure the theatre’s listing on the National Register of Historic Places and transformed the audience experience in every public-facing space.

While the main theatre, lobby, and patron areas were renewed, additional behind-the-scenes and educational spaces remain unfinished. Civic is now raising funds to strengthen its infrastructure—upgrading rehearsal rooms, classrooms, and essential building systems that support our professionally-produced productions and the Civic Theatre School.

Civic alumni include actors Christine Taylor, Dane DeHaan, Oakes and Winslow Fegley, Daniel Roebuck, Michaela Conlin, Tim Heidecker and Amanda Seyfried, as well as teachers, authors, public servants, chemists, businesspeople, doctors, lawyers, directors, choreographers, singers, dancers, and leaders throughout the community and across the country. #WeAreAllCivicTheatre