Swine Palace is a non-profit professional theatre company associated with the Louisiana State University Department of Theatre in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The theatre companies home is located in the Reilly Theatre on the campus of LSU.
History In 1992, a historic livestock judging pavilion called the Swine Palace was slated for and spared demolition by a grant from the Reilly family and the efforts of Gresdna Doty of the LSU Theatre Department. The theater company founded in 1992 by Barry Kyle (former Artistic Director of the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Swan Theatre) in association with LSU Department of Theatre was named after the original name of the building in which it would be located. The Swine Palace building was renamed the Reilly Theatre and was designed to maintain the architectural integrity of its original origins. During the spring of 2007, in conjunction with the LSU Performing Arts Series and Ping Chong and Company, the Swine Palace produced the world premiere of Cocktail, written by Vince LiCata and Ping Chong. Based on the true struggles of Thai scientist Krisana Kraisintu, this play follows the struggle to create an affordable version of the anti-HIV drug AZT for the thousands of Thai AIDS patients.
In June 2007, LSU Theatre and Swine Palace embarked on the first-ever international tour performing Wendy Wasserstein's "The Heidi Chronicles" directed by Michael Tick at the Shanghai Dramatic Arts Centre and the Beijing Central Academy of Drama. As such, they were the first theatre company to perform Ms. Wasserstein's work in China, and one of only a handful of U.S. companies to perform at either of these prestigious institutions.
The China tour was conceived as part of LSU's University-wide China initiative and included five performances at the Shanghai Dramatic Arts Centre, the largest performing arts institution in Shanghai, and three performances at the Beijing Central Academy of Drama, one of the finest academies in Asia. The play was originally performed as part of Swine Palace's 2006–2007 season. In total, 31 people made the month-long trip, including 15 undergraduates and graduate students; six faculty members and a number of friends and family.
Production history Season Play Director2026-2027Intimate ApparelEric J. LittleA Midsummer Night's DreamG.D. Kimbele2025-2026The Totality of All ThingsKeith Arthur Bolden Miss Bennet: Christmas at PemberleySharon Graci2024-2025Red VelvetG.D. KimblePeople, Places, and ThingsJoy Vandevort-Cobb2023-2024RoeLori Elizabeth ParquetThe Book of Will George Judy2022-2023CratersChuck Mike Operating SystemsCandy McLellan2021-2022SweatG.D. Kimble2020-2021Small Mouth SoundsLeigh Fondakowski2019-2020OilJoy Vandevort-CobbGloriaFemi Euba2018-2019Airline HighwayJoy Vandevort-CobbThe Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-TimeRick Holden2017-2018Always...Patsy ClineVastine StablerArcadiaGeorge JudyThe MountaintopFemi Euba2016-2017Stupid F***ing BirdRisa BraininThe SeagullGavin Cameron WebbJulius CaesarJane PageNoises OffVastine Stabler2015-2016Vieux CarréGeorge JudyDisgracedFemi EubaAs You Like ItGeorge Judy2014-2015FrankensteinGeorge JudyAll My SonsJane PageThe Book ClubGeorge Judy 2013–2014 Spill Leigh Fondakowski Dove Sean Daniels Clybourne Park Femi Euba 2012–2013 All The King's Men George Judy Rising Water George Judy & Ben Koucherik A Free Man of Color Paul Russell 2011–2012 The Brothers Size Femi Euba Pride and Prejudice George Judy August: Osage County George Judy 2010–2011 The Metal Children Joanna Battles King Lear Deb Alley Design for Living George Judy 2009–2010 Self Defense (or death of some salesmen) Joanna Battles A Doll's House George Judy The Royal Family John Dennis 2008–2009 Love's Labour's Lost George Judy Satellites Michael Tick Disney's High School Musical on Stage! Paula Sloan 2007–2008 Hair Steve Young Speak Truth to Power Michael Tick King Hedley II Joy Vandervort-Cobb 2006–2007 Cocktail Ping Chong The Heidi Chronicles Michael Tick Metamorphoses Steve Young 2005–2006 Always...Patsy Cline Jennifer Jones-Cavenaugh She Stoops to Conquer Jane Page Tennessee Williams in QUARTER Time John Dennis Arms and the Man Jane Brody 2004–2005 Pump Boys and Dinettes Jennifer Jones-Cavenaugh You Can't Take It with You John Dennis The Exonerated Michael Tick Macbeth Leon Ingulsrud 2003–2004 Always...Patsy Cline Jennifer Jones-Cavenaugh The Laramie Project Leon Ingulsrud Shiloh Rules John Dennis "Ma" Rainey's Black Bottom Joy Vandevort-Cobb 2002–2003 The Louisiana Purchase Dom Ruggiero The Two Gentlemen of Verona John Dennis Fences Joy Vandevort-Cobb 2001–2002 Death of a Salesman Leon Ingulsrud A Christmas Carol John Dennis The Tavern Edward Morgan 2000–2001 To Kill A Mockingbird Vastine Stabler Jesus Christ Superstar Barry Kyle Romeo and Juliet Tina Packer 1999–2000 Waiting for Godot Barry Kyle & Vastine Stabler Three Sisters Barry Kyle A Midsummer Night's Dream Barry Kyle Gumbo Ya-Ya Barry Kyle Four Joans and a Fire-eater Barry Kyle 1998–1999 Angels in America, Part II: Perestroika Barry Kyle Gloria Duplex Barry Kyle As I lay Dying Edward Kemp 1997–1998 Pump Boys and Dinettes Barry Kyle Angels in America, Part I: The Millennium Approaches Barry Kyle Skylight Barry Kyle The Merchant of Venice Barry Kyle 1996–1997 A Confederacy of Dunces Barry Kyle Flesh & Blood Barry Kyle The Rocky Horror Show Barry Kyle Suburbia Barry Kyle Geniuses Steven Soderbergh 1995–1996 The Kingfish Andrew Dickey A Midsummer Night's Dream Barry Kyle The Cure at Troy Barry Kyle The Rocky Horror Show Lucy Maycock From the Mississippi Delta Trellis Steptor 1994–1995 Cat on a Hot Tin Roof Barry Kyle Keely & Du Barry Kyle & Lucy Maycock Tent Meeting Barry Kyle & C.C. Courtney A Midsummer Night's Dream Barry Kyle A Child's Christmas in Wales Barry Kyle 1993–1994 A Confederacy of Dunces Barry Kyle Good Barry Kyle 1992–1993 All the King's Men Barry Kyle The Hypocrite Barry Kyle
See also Louisiana State University Theater in Louisiana
References
External links Official page at LSU.edu