Did You Know?

  • Since its inception, Theatre Downtown has produced more original world premieres than any other theatre in the State of Alabama.

  • During a production of "The Crucible" (2009), the power went out, which forced the cast/crew to perform the third act entirely by candlelight.

  • TDT created the SL dressing room at the Martha Moore Sykes Studio Theatre @ Virginia Samford Theatre. We were the first to use it.

  • Kelsey Crawford has been in more TDT productions than any other performer.

  • Hobo Night was created during the very first production, "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?".

  • The Hobo Awards were first held in 2008 and celebrated the first two seasons of the theatre.

  • The very first musical TDT produced was "We Three Queens" in 2009, though "Torch Song Trilogy" (2008) contained musical numbers.

  • TDT has produced three Shakespeare adaptations: "Titus Andronicus", "Hamlet", and "The Comedy of Errors", with more to come!

  • The honorary "Bill Shanks Happy Hobo Award" was named after the late Bill Shanks who helped TDT obtain its 501(c)3 non-profit status.

  • The TDT musical "Skanks in a One Horse Town" was the subject of the documentary, "Skanks", now available to stream on Tubi.

  • The first TDT show to enjoy a sold out weekend of shows was "Harvey" (2007), which performed at the Children's Dance Foundation.

  • The TDT show that made the least amount of money was our second show, "Vanities", a record that it still maintains to this date, thankfully.

  • TDT received its first 5-star review from The Birmingham News for its production of "Glengarry Glen Ross" (2008) at Playhouse.

  • TDT received its second 5-star review from The Birmingham News for its production of "Proof" (2009) at Birmingham AIDS Outreach.

  • The first TDT show to ever add performances due to popular demand was “Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead” (2008).

  • TDT has performed multiple works from the following playwrights: Edward Albee, Charles Busch, Arthur Miller, William Shakespeare, Tony Kushner, Sarah Ruhl, Qui Nguyen, David Lindsay-Abaire, Del Shores, Buddy Thomas, Daniel Martin, and Billy Ray Brewton.

  • TDT has performed at the following venues: Playhouse Costume Cooperative, Martha Moore Sykes Studio @ Virginia Samford Theatre, Children’s Dance Foundation, Levite Jewish Community Center, Birmingham AIDS Outreach, Fifth Avenue Antiques, South City Theatre, Alabama School of Fine Arts, Edgewood Dance @ Brookwood Village Mall, Birmingham Festival Theatre, Encore Theatre & Gallery, and THEATRE DOWNTOWN!

  • Members of the TDT family who are no longer with us include: Barry Austin, Mike Bratton, Cassidy Cochran, Dave Crabb, J’Mel R. Davidson, Christophe Nicolet, Chris Pass, Michele Santiago, Bill Shanks, Barry Thomas, Tommy Thompson, Brandon Wayne, John Wright, Jr., and Drew Brown. We love and miss them all.

  • The first TDT production to utilize our iconic red seats was "Inspecting Carol"(2011).

  • The first production performed at Fifth Avenue Antiques was "The Crucible" (2009).

  • The final production performed at Fifth Avenue Antiques was "Mr. Burns" (2019).

  • The first show performed at TDT's new home space was "Duck Hunter Shoots Angel" (2024).

  • 99% of TDT's show posters have been designed by local artist, Delaine Derry Green.

  • All of TDT's black and white cast photos were taken by local photograher, Kim Riegel.

  • The individuals with the most TDT directing credits include: Billy Ray Brewton, Daniel Martin, J.J. Marrs, Kelsey Crawford, Mel Christian, Sara James, Carron Clark, and Rhonda Erbrick.

  • If anyone knows what happened to the haunting goat portrait that once called Fifth Avenue Antiques home, please let us know. We are offering a $100 reward for its whereabouts.

  • TDT participated in the ACT (Alabama Conference of Theatre) for multiple years with productions of "The Crucible" and "Living Together", winning four awards.