Lantern Theater Company is committed to an authentic and intimate exploration of the human spirit in our choice of classics, modern, and original works. We seek to be a vibrant, contributing member of our community, exposing audiences to great theater, inviting participation in dialogue and discussion, educating audience members about artistic and social issues, and employing theatrical language and techniques to enrich learning in the classroom.

We reach a loyal, diverse, and growing annual audience of over 18,000 with our eclectic range of work through three award-winning programs.

Mainstage Productions
We are committed to creating theater that is smart, fun, engaging, and connected to our modern world.

Lantern Theater Company: In Conversation
Our audience engagement series offers an insider's look at each production with artists and guest scholars, plus other audience engagement events designed to enhance the Lantern experience.

Illumination
Our innovative education program engages local students and adults in the world of theater and nurtures their artistic expression, reaching the Greater Philadelphia region through in-school residencies, matinee performances for students, and teaching artist training for after-school programs.

Philadelphia Weekly named the Lantern "Best Theater Company" in 2008, describing our selection of plays as "impressively diverse in genre and style." Since the inception of the Barrymore Awards for Excellence in Theatre in 1995, we have received 73 nominations and 15 awards, including the 2009 Excellence in Theatre Education and Community Service Award and 8 nods for Outstanding Overall Production of a Play in the past 8 years.

Founded in 1994 by Charles McMahon and Michael Brophy, the Lantern has been in residence at St. Stephen's Theater at 10th & Ludlow Streets in Center City Philadelphia since 1996, managing the performance space and developing it into an affordable multi-purpose performing arts venue.