Stories shaped by community.
Impact that reaches beyond the stage.
Based in Cincinnati, American Legacy Theatre creates accessible, socially relevant theatre in partnership with the communities it serves.
Who We Are
American Legacy Theatre was founded in 2016 with a simple belief: theatre should belong to everyone.
At its core, theatre has always been a tool for reflection, dialogue, and social change. Over time, access to that power narrowed, becoming a luxury rather than a shared civic experience. ALT was created to push back against that shift and to restore theatre’s original purpose — amplifying voices that are too often unheard.
Our work is grounded in accessibility, relevance, and community collaboration. We partner directly with communities, placing lived experience at the center of the creative process and allowing local voices to guide the stories we tell.
When thoughtfully organized and purpose-driven, theatre creates impact that extends beyond the stage. At ALT, that impact begins with individuals and grows outward, strengthening communities and fostering empathy, understanding, and connection.
What Drives Our Work
We generate inviting, reimagined theatrical experiences for all people to have a voice in enriching society. Mission
We aspire for a day when every American has access to the empathy-building art form of theatre, and has a respected voice “in the room where it happens”.Vision
Where Our Work Lives
In Classrooms, With Students at the Center
We partner with schools to bring professional theatre directly to students. Through touring performances, students engage with themes like mental health, conflict, and belonging, while residencies invite them to explore issues that matter to them by creating and performing their own original work.
In Communities, With Stories That Matter
We collaborate with artists, neighborhoods, and organizations to develop original work rooted in community stories. These projects invite dialogue and reflect the priorities of the people they serve.
On Stage and Wherever It’s Needed
From staged readings and full productions to digital and workplace-based experiences, ALT uses theatre as a tool for connection, reflection, and social impact.
The Difference This Work Makes
When people see their experiences reflected through theatre, it opens the door to empathy, understanding, and connection.
What we’re seeing:
82% of participants reported reduced mental health stigma after engaging with ALT programming
86% reported increased empathy toward others
76% said they were motivated to think or act differently as a result of their experience
