Our History

Founded in 1992, Swine Palace is a non-profit, professional theatre company supporting the educational mission of the LSU School of Theatre.

Since its inception, Swine Palace has produced over 68 productions including many regional and world premieres. Recent productions such as Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley, The Book of Will, People, Places, and Things, Noises Off have all contributed to Swine Palace’s mission to produce plays of social relevance. In 2007, Swine Palace produced the world premiere of Cocktail, written by Vince LiCata and Obie award-winning theatre artist Ping Chong. Also in 2007, Swine Palace toured Wendy Wassersteins The Heidi Chronicles to the Shanghai Dramatic Arts Centre and the Bejing Central Academy of Drama becoming one of only a handful of American companies to perform at either of these prestigious institutions and the first to bring a professional production of a Wendy Wasserstein play to China.

Swine Palace is the recipient of the 2006 Louisiana Governor’s Arts Award for Outstanding Large Arts Organization and the 2006 YWCA Racial Justice Award, given to an individual, organization or business for exceptional or creative contributions to the elimination of racism.

Over the course of more than 20 seasons, we have produced over 68 professional productions (including several World and American premieres) in which Louisiana born, resident and/or trained talent has been featured. As a learning laboratory for Louisiana performing artists, we take great pride in the fact that individuals associated with Swine Palace have also performed at prestigious theatre companies and in feature films, radio and television.

Economic Impact

Since 1999, Swine Palace’s estimated economic impact on Louisiana’s economy is $4 million. (Source: Americans for the Arts economic impact calculator). Our greatest contribution to the economy is intangible. As a cultural entity, our role in enhancing the overall quality of life supports area industries seeking to attract and retain talented employees. With prominent press mentions in publications such a Southern Living, American Theatre Magazine, the Wall Street Journal and Theatre Journal, the positive press Swine Palace generates for Louisiana is a valuable contribution to the state’s national reputation.

Our Timeline

1992	The historic Swine Palace livestock pavilion was saved from demolition through support from the Reilly family and Gresdna Doty. That same year, Swine Palace Theatre was founded by Barry Kyle in association with LSU's Department of Theatre.
2000	The renovated building reopened as the Reilly Theatre, preserving the architecture of the original Swine Palace while becoming the permanent home of Swine Palace Theatre. The inaugural production was A Midsummer Night's Dream.
2006	Swine Palace received the Louisiana Governor's Arts Award for Outstanding Large Arts Organization and the YWCA Racial Justice Award for its artistic excellence and commitment to social justice. That same year they premiered Cocktail, a world premiere developed with Ping Chong and Company.
2007	Swine Palace completed its first international tour with The Heidi Chronicles in China, becoming the first company to perform Wendy Wasserstein's work there.
2017–2019	Swine Palace produced acclaimed works including The Mountaintop, Arcadia, Always... Patsy Cline, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, and Airline Highway.
2020–2021	During the COVID-19 pandemic, Swine Palace continued producing theatre, including Small Mouth Sounds, adapting its work while maintaining opportunities for students and audiences.
2021–2024	Recent productions included Sweat, Craters, Operating Systems, The Book of Will, and Roe, showcasing both new works and modern classics.
2024–2026	Swine Palace presented People, Places and Things, Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley ,and Red Velvet, continuing its mission of producing artistically ambitious theatre featuring LSU students and professional guest artists.
Today	More than three decades after its founding, Swine Palace remains LSU's professional resident theatre company. Since 1992, it has produced more than 68 productions, including numerous regional and world premieres, while serving as a cornerstone of the LSU School of Theatre and Baton Rouge's cultural community.

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