Celebrating 35 Years, Part 2: 1985-1989

This is part 2 in a 7-part series leading up to our 35th anniversary celebration. Each post reflects upon 5 years of APT history, as well as what was going on in the world around us. What was happening at APT Spring 1985: APT receives a Tony Award nomination for Outstanding Regional Theatre January 1986: APT founders announce the closing of the theatre due to financial problems March 1986: APT reopens with the help of grassroots fundraising and a loan Fall 1987: Anne Occhiogrosso is appointed Artistic Director February 1988: David Kraemer becomes Chairman of the Board of Directors June 1988: Much to the relief of the acting company, backstage bathrooms replace the port-o-potties November 1988: APT purchases the land on which the theatre is located Plays produced The Comedy of Errors (3 times), The Merry Wives of Windsor (3 times), The Bear (2 times), Hamlet (2 times), The Merchant of Venice (2 times), A Midsummer Night's Dream (2 times), On the Harmfulness of Tobacco (2 times), The Proposal (2 times), Twelfth Night (2 times), The Anniversary, The Comedy of Asses (Asinaria), Ivanov, Julius Caesar, King Lear, Oedipus Rex, The School for Scandal, The Seagull [pictured above], Swan Song, The Tempest, The Wedding What was happening in the world Coca-Cola introduces (and subsequently pulls) "New Coke" Mikhail Gorbachev takes over leadership of the USSR The space shuttle Challenger explodes Nuclear accident at Chernobyl George H. W. Bush elected U.S. President Chinese students rally in Tiananmen Square, thousands are killed Pop culture Movies: The Breakfast Club, The Princess Bride, Back to the Future TV: The Cosby Show, Roseanne, The Golden Girls Broadway: Les Miserables, M Butterfly, Phantom of the Opera Music: "Livin' on a Prayer," "Take on Me," "Wind Beneath My Wings" Average price of gasoline $1.10 per gallon Part 1: 1980-1984 Part 3: 1990-1994 Part 4: 1995-1999 Part 5: 2000-2004 Part 6: 20005-2009 Part 7: 2010-2014