little theater

American  

noun

1. generally noncommercial drama, usually of an experimental nature and directed at a limited audience.

2. a small theater, producing plays whose effectiveness would be lost in larger houses.

3. amateur theatricals.

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Etymology

Origin of little theater

First recorded in 1765–75

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

little theater

“Buyers expect a little theater when they look out of the window, and here, they get it in spades,” the listing agent said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 24, 2026

I was doing a little theater here and there, but I was doing construction.

From Salon ● Jun. 25, 2023

Several prominent figures have emerged from the little theater, among them actors Ludo Vika, Luis Chávez and Tonantzin Carmelo; producer, writer and actor Emanuel Loarca; and the film producer Victoria Alonso.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 20, 2022

In a 1987 letter, Lee said Sergel’s adaptation “admirably fulfills the purpose for which it was written, for amateur, high school and little theater groups, and stock productions.”

From New York Times ● Feb. 10, 2022

The church supper is the grandfather of the country club, just as the Thursday poetry reading in the basement under the vestry sired the little theater.

From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck