The ghost of theatre past
In August 2011, the digital landscape for independent theatre looked very different. For many of us in central Ohio, Theatre Vault was the digital home for the ‘fringe,’ the indie troupes, and the playwrights working out of black-box basements. It was a place for reviews that the big papers ignored and casting calls that helped stars-in-the-making find their first stage.
But as the industry shifted and life moved on, the Vault was locked. For years, the archives sat still—but the passion for the community never left.”
Fast forward to 2026. We have more technology than ever, yet small theatre companies and playwrights are still struggling with the same old hurdles:
- Visibility: Getting noticed in a sea of digital noise.
- Sustainability: Managing the ‘business’ side of the arts without a Broadway-sized back office.
- Community: Finding a dedicated space that isn’t a cluttered social media feed.
It’s time to unlock the doors, but a ‘Vault’ is for keeping things in. We realized that what the community needs now isn’t just a place to store information—it needs a platform to accelerate.
Introducing Theatre Boost
That is why we aren’t just ‘reopening’—we are evolving. Theatre Boost is the spiritual descendant of Theatre Vault, rebuilt from the ground up (literally – we’re back at the keyboard building this from scratch, just like the old days).
Theatre Boost is designed to be the engine behind the art. While the old site was about recording what happened, the new site is about making things happen. We’re starting with a focus on the two pillars of the industry: the Playwrights who dream up the worlds and the Theatre Companies who build them.
We are currently in the ‘Soft Launch’ phase. There are no corporate boards or bloated frameworks here—just a tool built by theatre people, for theatre people.
We’re looking for our First 50 Founding Members. Whether you’re a playwright with a script that needs a home or a company looking to streamline your royalty payments and reach a new audience, we want you in the room from the beginning. Your feedback will literally shape Theatre Boost’s evolution.