Lexington theatre group forced to shut down after 8 years

AthensWest Theatre Company has announced that it has closed after eight years and 17 live productions.

Like all theaters, AthensWest was waylaid by the COVID pandemic, having to cancel shows and find other ways to perform, including radio plays on WUKY-FM 91.3.

With two successful productions this year, it appeared AthensWest was back. But in a July 12 letter posted to the AthensWest website, Producing Artistic Director Bo List explained things were not as good as they seemed and had to shut down.

“From our very first show, our aim was to build a theatre that created productions of the highest quality and one that put artists to work,” List wrote, noting that it was an expensive endeavor they company hoped would one day achieve sustainability.

“Unfortunately, we find that the obstacles separating us from fulfilling our mission responsibly and, again, sustainably, are insurmountable. We cannot keep up with increasing costs, increasing duties, and increasing obligations, and do so in a manner consistent with our values. As such, the best course of action is to close while we are able to do so mindfully and well. We believe that we end on a high note, proud of every single play we produced and so very grateful for the community that invested in our work.”

List said it is likely another theater will emerge trying to operate under a similar model to AthensWest and encouraged support for that endeavor when it happens.

When it opened, the local company achieved what had been something of a holy grail in the Lexington theater community: a professional company operating under contract with Actors Equity, the stage actors union, providing local and regional artists a stage to perform in collaboration with local talent.

The same year it opened, the Lexington Theatre Company also started under a similar model, though it is focused on Broadway musicals while AthensWest primarily produced classic and contemporary plays geared to adult audiences like Shakespeare, even trying to give the Bard a Kentucky twist. Lexington Theatre Company is still performing, having just completed a run of “Disney’s The Little Mermaid” at The Lexington Opera House.