Arizona Theatre Company will present its Valley market shows at Tempe Center for the Arts for at least the next five years thanks to a long-term partnership that will bring professional theatre to the East Valley.

In its first season at TCA, ATC will bring nearly 80 performances and its current subscriber base of over 2,000 to Tempe this October and expects an estimated attendance of 40,000 during its five-show season, according to a press release.

The theatre will open with the American romantic comedy “Barefoot in the Park” by Neil Simon. The Tempe City Council approved the partnership in May, which includes options for three extensions. A short-term agreement for the first year was approved in October 2022.

This long-term agreement brings Arizona’s preeminent professional regional theatre to the heart of Tempe, which is centrally located and easily accessible to the growing Phoenix area. ATC will bring its education, outreach programs and various community partnerships to the East Valley as it begins engagement with the city and the surrounding communities.

“Tempe Center for the Arts is the new home of Arizona Theatre Company, the state’s professional regional member of the League of Resident Theatres,” said ATC’s Executive Director Geri Wright in the release. “We are thrilled to share the power of world-class theatre and serve the Tempe community and surrounding areas with our education and outreach programs.

Tempe Mayor Corey Woods said, “This long-term agreement means that our community will experience exciting theatre for years to come, in addition to opportunities for enriching our youth and inspiring the next generation of thespians.”

ATC announced its 56th season in March. The lineup features five mainstage shows including a holiday musical for all ages. Season tickets and Flex Pass Advantage subscriptions are available now for the best seat availability. Individual tickets go on sale on Aug. 15.

“Get ready for a powerful lineup of five of the best American plays to come out of the last 60 years,” said Matt August, Arizona Theatre Company Kasser Family Artistic Director. “Our upcoming season is filled with Tony nominees and winners, Pulitzer finalists and “Scrooge: The Musical,” that is sure to become your family’s newest tradition.”

ATC and TCA share a vision for supporting and advancing high-quality theatrical presentations, the release detailed.

“ATC’s mission of inspiring curiosity and creativity, sparking empathy and joy and bringing all Arizonans together is something that resoundingly resonates with us in Tempe,” said Brendan Ross, city of Tempe’s Deputy Community Services Director for Arts and Culture.

“This new partnership will directly contribute to a creatively vibrant city and state that draws upon local and national talent to inspire, reflect and be entangled within the community.”

Tempe Center for the Arts is the crown jewel in a city known for its support of the arts, the release stated.

At the heart of the venue is the 600-seat Main Theater where every seat is less than 55 feet from the Broadway-size stage with its own under-seat cooling.

Views of Tempe Town Lake, the Papago Buttes and Camelback Mountain can be seen at various vantage points throughout the venue.

“What an incredibly exciting time to be a part of our ATC Family,” said Char Augenstein, Arizona Theatre Company Board of Trustees Chair. “The City of Tempe has embraced the opportunity to create a home for ATC at their exceptional performing arts venue. We feel most fortunate in partnering with them, making our future shine even brighter.”