Perseverance Theatre’s mission is to create professional theatre by and for Alaskans. We value community engagement, professional rigor, and regional voice. The Theatre was founded in 1979 by Molly Smith as a theatre by, for and about Alaskans and today is led by Executive Artistic Director Art Rotch. Perseverance was born in Juneau—the state’s capital and a community of 30,000 that is only accessible by plane or boat.

Now into our fourth decade, we’ve grown into the state’s flagship professional theatre, serving artists and audiences annually with classical, contemporary, and world premiere productions on our main and second stages; education and training programs for youth and adults; statewide and national tours; and outreach collaborations with statewide artistic and social service groups. Perseverance Theatre is the resident theatre at the University of Alaska Southeast. Perseverance recently launched a subscription season in Anchorage.

Perseverance Theatre was born as a grassroots organization firmly planted in our community and state. We occupy a unique place in the heart of Juneau’s artistic, cultural and social life and we are committed to developing artists, volunteers, audiences and programming reflective of the Alaskan community. We are also committed to engaging artistic work which speaks directly to the Alaskan experience.

We now look to engage not only our local audiences, but by investing in cultural tourism and making a summer theatre festival in 2014 with a rich mix of full productions, new play development and training opportunities that provide authentic experiences in Juneau, bring to our regional summer visitors a vibrant theatre culture that helps to push the creative potential and diversity of the unique place that is Alaska.