Showbusiness, famously, takes a village. But even before scripts are read, actors are cast, sets are built and rehearsals get underway, the first necessity is also the hardest to come by: a theater.

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More than three decades ago, AutoZone executive and philanthropist Andrew Clarkson saw that while there was no lack of artistic ambition in Memphis, few venues were available – or affordable — for part-time theater companies. What about a communal theater, he wondered? 

Teaming up with Playhouse on the Square’s founder Jackie Nichols, the pair conceptualized a small but versatile “black box” style stage run mainly by volunteers and the companies themselves. A small piece of land in Overton Square was donated to the project. And in the summer of 1995, TheatreWorks went from groundbreaking to full operation in 90 days. 

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Since its inception, dozens of grassroots theater companies have called TheatreWorks home. And nearly 900 productions later, it remains one of the most diverse performing arts collectives in the city. 

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Hal Harmon, co-founder of Emerald Theatre Company, was among the first to see the space’s potential.

“It was difficult to find a venue that would allow us to produce work that gave voice to the LGBTQ community,” he said.

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Since 2010, Emerald has been joined by Friends of George’s, renowned for its productions starring popular Memphis drag queens.

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For Mary Ann Washington, founder of Actor’s Renaissance Theatre, the local performing arts scene was short on authentic, homegrown voices. Mary Ann says of TheatreWorks, “it gives us the freedom to create our own stage—tell our own stories- especially stories that affect women of color. On our terms, in our own voice.”

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TheatreWorks’ 13 resident and associate companies — along with scores of other arts organizations — now entertain thousands of audience members each year with more than 30 unique productions.