Our History
Georgia Ensemble Theatre and Conservatory is a professional regional theatre company incorporated in 1992
under the direction of Robert J. Farley, nationally respected and successful artistic director of major theatre institutions,
including the Alaska Repertory Theatre and Atlanta's Alliance Theatre.
The Theatre provides first class theatre productions and educational opportunities on a year-round basis and is the
resident professional theatre at the Roswell Cultural Arts Center.
The Theatre has earned a reputation for the quality and diversity of its plays.
Productions of particular note have included a world premiere of The Invisible Man by Larry Larson and Eddie Levi Lee,
commissioned by the Theatre. Our Southeastern premiere of The Living was the kickoff event for AIDS Awareness Month
in the Atlanta metro area in '97.
Having Our Say was part of our cross-cultural promotion with downtown's Seven Stages and Jomandi Theatres.
In the 1999-2000 season, G.E.T.'s ambitious The Lion in Winter, directed by world-renowned Russian actor and director Eugene Lazarev,
marked great strides for the Theatre both technically and artistically.
During the 2001-2002 season, Georgia Ensemble added a series of school matinees for our production of The Miracle Worker,
playing to approximately 2100 students.
This initiative has been replicated in seasons since then with critically acclaimed productions of the American
classics To Kill a Mockingbird, Of Mice and Men, and Our Town all playing to large student matinee audiences.
This year the Theatre will produce Great Expectations as part of this Theatre for Youth program.
The Conservatory serves the diverse socioeconomic and multicultural community in the northern sector of the metro Atlanta area.
Ongoing educational opportunities are offered throughout the year in a conservatory setting.
Classes include curriculum for youth as well as adults in all levels of theatre crafts; the professional, avocational and novice artist.
Sessions are offered throughout the year, and many of our most popular courses are unique and not offered elsewhere in the area.
Georgia Ensemble Theatre looks for and embraces opportunities to partner with organizations which have a like philosophy of
inclusiveness within the community.
Evidence of our community involvement is seen in our outreach programming to the under-served areas of our community;
free and reduced price tickets to students and seniors; scholarships, fellowships, and work/study programs into the Conservatory;
and joining as Partner In Education with twelve area schools.
In 2007, Georgia Ensemble Theatre was awarded two CABY Awards: one for Outstanding Organization, and one for Excellence in Arts Education.
The Theatre has been nominated for numerous Suzi Bass Awards for artistic excellence in theatre.
And in November of 2006, Bob and Anita Farley were honored as Lexus Leaders of the Arts by PBA Atlanta.
Georgia Ensemble Theatre enjoys a strong relationship with many of its corporate and foundation partners.
Organizations that have been instrumental in the development and continued growth of the Theatre and Conservatory are:
The AT&T Corporation, The Coca-Cola Foundation, Macy's, SunTrust Bank, the UPS Foundation, The Abreu Charitable Trust,
Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Bank of North Georgia, the Fulton County Arts Council, the Georgia Council for the Arts,
the Georgia Power Foundation, the Harland Foundation, The Kroger Corporation, Publix SuperMarkets Charities,
The Rich Foundation, GE Capital, Atlanta Magazine, Alpharetta/Roswell Revue, Northside Hospital, Roswell/Alpharetta Neighbor,
Kimberly-Clark Corporation, and the City of Roswell.