Raleigh Little Theatre (RLT) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community theatre that has been enriching, educating, and entertaining its community by providing a superior theatre experience for over 75 years.  Created in 1936 as a result of efforts by Cantey Venable Sutton and other community leaders, the City of Raleigh, and the Works Progress Administration Federal Theatre Project​, Raleigh Little Theatre is a keystone of the Raleigh community.

RLT is currently led by Executive Director Charles Phaneuf and Artistic Director Haskell Fitz-Simons.  Current artistic and technical staff include Thomas Mauney (Scenic Designer)​, Jenny Mitchell (Associate Costume Designer), Linda O'Day Young (Youth Theatre and Education Director), ​Kathleen Rudolph (Associate Education Director), ​Vicki Olson (Costume Designer), and Jim Zervas (Technical Director).  Staff members work closely with community volunteers to teach new skills while constructing their monthly productions.

RLT produces 10-12 full productions annually and offers dozens of classes, camps, and workshops for children and adults.  The productions for each season are selected in advance by the professional artistic staff in cooperation with the theatre's board of directors.  Tickets range in price from $12 to $26.  Student, senior, military, and group ticket discounts are available by calling the RLT box office at (919) 821-3111.​

2011-2012 Season

• Sutton Series
  • Ruthless! The Musical (musical) - August 2011
  • The Woman in Black (thriller) - October 2011
  • The Miss Firecracker Contest (comedy/drama) - February 2012
  • The Crucible (classic drama) - April 2012
  • The Boy Friend (musical)​ - June 2012
• Youth Series
  • Gooney Bird Greene and Her True Life Adventures (comedy) - July 2011
  • Merry Christmas, Strega Nona (musical) - November 2011
  • The Adventures of Nate the Great (mystery) - March 2012
  • Dear Edwina Junior (musical)​  - May 2012
• Holiday Show
  • Cinderella (musical) - December 2011
• Special Shows
  • Zenph Sound presents An Evening with Jazz Legends (music concert) - September 2011
  • Dead Man’s Cell Phone (fantasy) - January 2012

Volunteering

RLT is also a great place to volunteer — learn new skills while acting onstage or working backstage!  While the theatre has a professional staff to handle the highly-skilled directing and design work, volunteers are the muscles of the organization that allow it make dreams into reality.  Professional staff, along with experienced volunteers, are always happy to help newcomers learn the skills needed to feel right at home.  Opportunities include backstage crews, costume-sewing, crew leadership, scene painting, set construction, and much more.

History & Architecture 

The Raleigh Little Theatre, organized in 1936 as an outgrowth of the Works Progress Administration's Federal Theatre Project, stands at the edge of  the best-planned, best-integrated, and best-preserved of Raleigh's park spaces. William Henley Deitrick donated the initial design for the theatre and garden complex; landscape architect R. J. Pearse designed the amphitheater and adjacent landscaping. Architect Thaddeus Hurd prepared the working drawings for the theatre and his classical lines represent one of the earliest local examples of stripped-down modern classical style. Local architect Brian Shawcroft designed the Gaddy-Goodwin Teaching Theatre, built at the north end of the existing theatre in 1988-1989. The theatre, amphitheater, and rose garden is a Raleigh Historic Landmark.