The Post and Courier

The heart of Charleston theater is alive and well — and it exists online.

The League of Charleston Theatres' Web site, TheatreCharleston.com, is a gold mine for showgoers, seekers of the arts and anyone who has at one point or another experienced a love affair with the stage. It's one-stop shopping for the member theater groups.

"It's amazing how many people just forget that live theater is an option," says Emily Wilhoit, executive director since 2006 of TheatreCharleston.com.

In 2004, representatives from five Charleston theaters returned from a visit to Chicago, inspired by that city's league of theaters. A year later, with a grant from the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelly Foundation, which supports "artistic vitality" in the Lowcountry, the League of Charleston Theatres was born. Since then, membership has grown to nine theatres and a number of programs promoting Charleston as a city synonymous with the stage year-round, not just during Spoleto Festival USA in May.

An actor herself, Wilhoit performs in the theaters she promotes and is excited about new programs designed to increase show attendance and participation. The league's goal is twofold: to increase local interest and encourage tourists to travel to Charleston as a destination for the arts.

Most recently implemented, the "Free Night of Theater" encourages newcomers to attend their first show and regular theatergoers to check out a new venue. Fast action is a must, however; October's tickets sold out in less than 10 minutes. The site is updated regularly with upcoming offers.

The Footlight Players, Charleston's oldest theater, located in the heart of the French Quarter downtown, also has begun "Late Night at the Footlight," a series that chooses its productions based on appeal to a younger audience.

By younger, that means 18 and up because many of these productions have content for adults only. J.C. Conway helped start the series last year and has directed five out of the six of shows since.

In addition to celebrating its 76th anniversary this year, Footlight also is distinguished by its audition policy: auditions are open to the public. The goal of the theater is simple, according to Jocelyn Edwards, who runs Footlight as well as sitting on the league's board. "We're a place for the community to come and hang out," she said.

Yet the range of productions reveals the complexity of such a goal: Beginning Oct. 17, it will launch "Puttin' on the Ritz," the latest musical from Broadway's Robert Ray, followed Nov. 6 by a gutsy "Peanuts" parody, "Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead," a Late Night at the Footlight production.

"We each have our own little niche, which is very cool," Edwards says, citing the league as a catalyst for bringing Charleston theaters together to achieve more than they could alone.

All of the member theaters strive to support each other via league inserts at each show advertising simultaneous and upcoming shows at other theaters, and 25 cents of every ticket is donated to the league, which can promote nine theaters more effectively than just one.

"Everybody does something different and there's room for everybody. Charleston's not that small," Wilhoit says. "It's really cool to see Julian Wiles from Charleston Stage and Jocelyn Edwards from Footlight all sit in the same room together."

Charleston Stage upholds accessibility as a must for the flourishing of theater attendance in Charleston. It offers

$10 bargain seats at every performance and a $6 "student rush" one hour before curtain, as well as "pay what you will" nights. Theater founder and director Wiles says, "We're trying to make it as accessible and affordable to people as we can possibly do."

Charleston Stage makes niche classics and original works, and sometimes both. The theater's seasonally appropriate productions include "Frankenstein," an original adaptation by Wiles himself, opening Oct. 15; and "A Christmas Carol," opening December 4.

The theater company has performed almost 30 original plays since it began 31 years ago and is a reliable staple for popular musicals such as "West Side Story" and "Fiddler on the Roof."

"If you are looking for a specific kind of theater, you're going to find it," Wilhoit promises of TheatreCharleston.com.

For example, Pure Theatre combines a focus on newer plays with a strict devotion to excellence in contemporary theater. For the past 10 years, Art Forms and Theatre Concepts has chosen plays that explore the African-American experience. The Village Playhouse, with its cabaret feel, promotes lesser-known as well as classic 20th-century works, and the Actors' Theatre of South Carolina performs plays that have a local and historical focus.

The league also includes The Company Company, Sheri Grace Productions and College of Charleston department of theater.

The group's goal in turning Charleston into a destination spot for live performance is realized not only by promoting theater attendance to locals and tourists — the public can see performance listings and special offers, and buy tickets and gift certificates — but also by encouraging behind-the-scenes action.

Volunteer opportunities, job listings, and auditions are posted, as well as opportunities for directors and writers. Individuals who join the site receive theater discounts, and there are a variety of full membership options for established theaters, including the Youth Theatre Education Associate Membership designed for pre-college level and educational groups.

In fact, education is a big part of local theater's contribution to the community. The Actors' Theatre of S.C. offers acting, filmmaking and writing classes. Charleston Stage holds classes for schoolchildren during the year and at summer camp.

Emily Avent can be reached at anglofyle@gmail.com.