Bristol Riverside Theatre - Bristol, PA - Professional Award-Winning Regional Theatre

Located at 120 Radcliffe Street in Bristol, Pennsylvania, the Bristol Riverside Theatre is in the historic district of Bristol Borough. Bristol Riverside Theatre is a professional regional theatre. Located in a renovated movie house that was once condemned, the theatre has a large stage and only 302 seats, which allows for an intimate theatre experience. The theatre also has state-of-the-art lighting and sound technology. It is an active community theatre.

Bristol Riverside Theatre has been bringing professional theatre to Bucks County since 1986. Committed to finding and developing new plays, Bristol riverside Theatre has developed works like Mark Medoff's The Majestic Kid, Garson Kanin's Happy Ending, and The Balkan Women, which was Jules Tasca's Barrymore Award-winning drama. In addition, they also developed country music star Larry Gaitlin's musicals Texas Flyer and Alive and Well (And Livin' in the Land of Dreams). Texas Flyer won a Barrymore Award for original music. Musicals performed at Bristol Riverside Theatre utilize a professional live orchestra.

Bristol Riverside Theatre as it is known today is largely the product of Susan Atkinson's efforts. A young director in the late 1970s, Atkinson left Broadway to start her own theatre group. The group was called Bucks County Repertory Theatre and performed in churches, schools, and restaurants. Grundy Foundation invited Atkinson to take over the old movie theatre after demolition plans had already been considered, and this is how Bristol Riverside Theatre began.

Bristol Riverside Theatre brings renowned theater artists to the area. In the past, it has brought Susan Powell, Micki Grant, Gregory Peck, Katherine Hepburn, John Henry Redwood, Stephen Schnetzer, Keir Dullea, Kim Hunter, Rita Taggart, and many others. The theatre has been the recipient of more than 50 nominations for the Barrymore Awards for Excellence in Theater.

The theatre typically has five main stage productions. In addition, they feature a popular summer musicale series, a summer jazz weekend, several children's theatre productions, and a winter musicale in December. December's winter musicale celebrates the winter and holiday season with holiday songs. Including popular classics, contemporary arrangements, traditional carols, and even original songs, the winter musicale is meant to be filled with the season's joy. Frequently, Bristol Riverside Theatre features performances from local artists and holds exhibitions of local visual arts.

One of the recent productions at the theatre is The Foreigner, winner of two Obie Awards, Best American Play, and Best Off-Broadway Production. Other recent productions include Up and Closer Than Ever. Closer Than Ever features songs about second marriages, aging, mid-life crises, working couples, role reversals with parents, and unrequited love.

The theatre can also be rented by groups or for events. The theatre seats a total of 302 patrons. There are 216 seats in the downstairs orchestra seating section and 86 seats in the mezzanine upstairs. There is no elevator to the mezzanine.

Ticket pricing varies, based on production and show type. Matinees are available for some productions. For additional information about Bristol Riverside Theatre, their ticket pricing, and current productions, interested parties can call 215-785-0100.