Mission
Bristol Riverside Theatre engages audiences and artists with exceptional performances, inspired writing, and superior productions that motivate us to think harder, feel more deeply, laugh more joyfully, and reflect on ourselves and the world in which we live.
“Art teaches nothing, except the significance of life.” – Henry Miller
History 
To see our past seasons, click here.
Bristol Riverside Theatre was founded as a merger of two community-driven missions, one artistic, the other community development.
One of Bristol’s most successful mill owners, U.S. Senator Joseph R. Grundy believed deeply in giving back to the community. As he said, “If a man does not take pride in his own town, he isn’t likely to give a rap for his country.” From funding a municipal sewer in 1907 to athletic fields in 1945, Senator Grundy’s impact could be felt throughout Bristol’s two-square mile town. Upon his passing in 1961, The Grundy Foundation was created to support the communities of Bristol Borough and Bucks County in perpetuity.
During the twenty years following his death, mills and factories closed. The impact on Bristol Borough was catastrophic, ultimately leading to the area being classified as “deteriorated, distressed, and blighted.” While during Senator Grundy’s life Bristol was a place to shop and see family-friendly movies in the Borough’s grand movie theatre, by the early 1980s, the area was defined by “that movie theatre,” a 700-seat pornographic movie house.
BRT Founding Director
In 1983, Susan D. Atkinson founded The Repertory Company of Bucks with the aim of producing new and classic works for Bucks County residents. For three years, the organization produced plays in and around Doylestown.
Meanwhile, the Grundy Foundation sought to revitalize Bristol by purchasing properties and creating a safe environment for cultural and recreational activities to thrive. The Grundy Foundation’s then Executive Director, Len Snyder, believed that turning an X-rated movie house into a legitimate live theatre could transform the town’s image and economy. Despite a feasibility study indicating that a professional theatre in economically-distressed Bristol was not feasible, the Foundation renovated the theatre anyway and partnered with Atkinson to create theatre that would rejuvenate the town.
Since inception, The Grundy Foundation has provided annual financial and in-kind support. BRT now stands as the heart of Lower Bucks County’s cultural scene and plays a crucial role in enhancing the community’s economy and overall quality of life. Bristol boasts a vibrant array of restaurants, bars, and breweries, a testament to BRT’s successful fulfillment of its original purpose.
Programs:
BRT’s principal programs are the mainstage season, America Rising (new play development), Mid Penn Bank Summer Music Fest, a presented season, and a suite of Education programs. During a typical season, BRT serves approximately 45,000 patrons from Bucks County, the greater Philadelphia region, and southern New Jersey.
Mainstage Season: Comprised of five productions, the mainstage program is the core of BRT’s annual programming. These five productions, with combined seating of 31,500, include a mix of comedies, dramas, and musicals. For its mainstage productions, BRT has been honored with nearly 100 Barrymore Award nominations and reviews from The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and New Yorker Magazine, as well as regular local coverage.
The Grundy Foundation Executive Director (1968-1990)
Special Events: Each year, in addition to the produced season, BRT presents four to eight additional events, effectively turning BRT into a performing arts center. These events have included comedians (Robert Kline, Louis Anderson, Steve Solomon, etc.), classical music, jazz, and rock concerts, children’s theatre, and variety shows.
Mid Penn Bank Summer Music Fest: Each summer, BRT presents this concert series with a wide range of bands, from local bands to cover bands to nationally renowned bands like The Indigo Girls, The Commodores, and Collin Raye.
America Rising: BRT’s new play development program includes readings, workshops, and residencies. Our goal is to help playwrights develop their from an early draft to a performance-ready script. We are committed to seeing the work that we promote through America Rising find its way to our mainstage and other stages throughout the country.
Education Programs: BRT Education Programs are offered entirely for free and include:
- BRT’s flagship ArtRageous Summer Camp. ArtRageous is a four-week camp designed to increase self-confidence and self-efficacy while building communication skills.
- ArtRageous School Year. Our teaching artists are at Snyder Girotti Elementary School 5 days a week all year, ensuring that every 1st-3rd grader receives dance, music, and theatre education.
- Amplifying Black Brilliance. Each January through March, students ages 7-17 are invited to join us for this program that centers Black and Brown youth studying African American history and culture and writing and performing their own pieces. Run in collaboration with the African American Cultural and Historical Association of Bucks County and No Longer Bound.
- Open Mic Nights. These periodic events offer space for youth (7-12 years old) and teens (13-17) to get in front of a friendly audience.
Bristol Riverside Theatre is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Your support helps us continue to bring high-quality, professional theatre to our community and beyond. All donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.