Each Monday, Theatre Vault shines a spotlight on a theatre company – be it big or small – and posts their mission statement (and/or vision statement or values) to encourage and inspire other theatre companies to update, improve, or create their own.

This Monday we give you the mission statement of Balagula Theatre in Lexington, KY.

The Balagula Theatre Company is an award winning Lexington drama theatre that showcases leading theatre artists in professional quality productions. “The Balagula Theatre tackles a remarkable variety of themes and is best known for its artistic risk-taking and intellectually heavy-hitting fare ” (Lexington Herald Leader). We aspire to contribute to the advancement and preservation of theatre as an art form while delivering intelligent, innovative and inspiring theatre to audiences in Kentucky and beyond through: distinctive and ambitious artistic programming; commitment to artists; intellectual and social relevance; continuous education; and our capacity to engage audiences.

The Balagula Theatre mounts productions of modern classics and new plays that challenge both participating artists and audiences by enticing their imagination and skill, forms of expression and limits of perceptions. We distinguish between tradition and convention; and aim to develop a unique point of view worthy of artists’ engagement, audiences’ attention and community’s resources. We strive for artistic excellence by upholding professional standards in every aspect of our productions. Our commitment to artists is expressed through stimulating and nurturing creative excitement and mutual enrichment; and through rewarding artists financially.

We explore every play within a broad social context and consider its relevance to contemporary audiences. We chose material of high literary quality and rich emotional, intellectual and cultural content. The Balagula Theatre’s capacity to deliver meaning, entertainment and a shared experience makes each production both a community event and a way to build communities.

How do you feel about this theatre’s mission statement? What stands out? What questions would you like to ask this theatre based on it? Let us know in the comments!

This Monday we give you the mission statement of American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco, CA.

American Conservatory Theater nurtures the art of live theater through dynamic productions, intensive actor training in its conservatory, and an ongoing engagement with its community. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Carey Perloff and Executive Director Ellen Richard, A.C.T. embraces its responsibility to conserve, renew, and reinvent the rich theatrical traditions that are our collective legacy, while exploring new artistic forms and new communities. A commitment to the highest standards informs every aspect of A.C.T.’s creative work.

Let us know what you think about this mission statement in the comments!

This Monday we give you the mission statement of Walnut Street Theatre Company in Philadelphia, PA:

The mission of Walnut Street Theatre Company is to sustain the tradition of professional theatre and contribute to its future viability and vitality.

It does so through:

• the production and presentation of professional theatre;
• the encouragement, training and development of artists;
• the cultivation of diverse audiences and the preservation and chronicling of its theatre building, a national historic landmark.

What do you think of today’s example mission statement? Good, bad, or indifferent? Let us know in the comments!

On this – our inaugural Mission Statement Monday – we give you the mission statement of Goodman Theatre in Chicago, IL:

Goodman Theatre, Chicago’s oldest and largest not-for-profit theater, has won international renown for the quality of productions, the depth and diversity of artistic leadership, and the excellence of its many community and educational programs. Under the guidance of Artistic Director Robert Falls and Executive Director Roche Schulfer, the Goodman is committed to producing both classic and contemporary works, giving full voice to a wide range of artists and visions. Central to that mission is the Goodman Artistic Collective, a diverse group of outstanding theater artists whose distinctive visions have given the Goodman an artistic identity of uncommon richness and variety. By dedicating itself to three guiding principles—quality, diversity and community—Goodman Theatre seeks to be the premier cultural organization in Chicago, providing productions and programs that make an essential contribution to the quality of life in our city.

What do you like about Goodman Theatre’s mission statement? What do you dislike? Spout off in the comments and tell us what you think!

That said – who better to ask who today’s greatest living playwright is than some of today’s living playwrights themselves?

That’s exactly what Alexis Soloski did in The Village Voice on November 2, 2011.

Twenty playwrights answered this question, and the list that resulted included:

• Stephen Sondheim
• Tony Kushner
• Caryl Churchill
• Edward Albee
• Agustina Bessa-Luis
• Peter Handke
• Wole Soyinka
• Tom Stoppard
• …and more

And there are a few more choices in the comments of the article as well, so don’t pass those up! You can see the full article by clicking here.

Sure… the list above is only a snapshot in time. But why shouldn’t we ask ourselves this kind of question once in awhile? It gives us a goal to strive for and makes us think and reach out and find out more about other playwrights and scripts that we may not have read before.

It also gives us something to strive for – whether YOUR greatest playwright is on this list; whether YOUR greatest playwright is your choice because of one incredible script or because of an entire body of works – thinking about who WE would name the greatest living playwright makes us think about how WE can improve OUR OWN scripts, our own writing, our own acting, our own directing, our own theatrical lives in whatever goals we have.

Who do YOU think is the greatest living playwright? Tell us in the comments…