Heritage sheds Rep

Since 1974, theater buffs have enjoyed Heritage Repertory Theatre's professional summer offerings. No more. After a year off for parking deck construction at Culbreth Theatre, Heritage has been reborn as Heritage Theatre Festival.

"I think the idea of 'Festival' is more... festive," explains artistic director Bob Chapel (pictured). "I thought it was good to have our name be what we do."

Rotating repertory was on its way out by 2006. Before that, all four of the Culbreth shows during the Heritage Repertory season opened and kept coming back. "The last two weeks, we'd do a different play each night," says Chapel. "As the shows got bigger, it began to break our back."

In the summer of 2006, Heritage began to open and close shows without bringing them back. "It was kind of an experiment," says Chapel. "We didn't lose any audience."

He's gearing up to kick off the season June 19 with City of Angels. Heritage audiences will notice one other change besides the new moniker: the new parking garage that can hold more than 500 cars.

"We are the most accessible theater in town," crows Chapel. "Twenty seconds, and you're in the theater. And it's free." The parking, that is.
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