little theater

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.

Word History and Origins

Origin of little theater¹

First recorded in 1765–75

Example Sentences

Sometimes you do a one-nighter, and they would always have a coffeehouse after hours in the cafeteria, or they’d have a little theater or something like that.

From Ozy

Julie was working in little theater groups, writing and acting.

From The Daily Beast

There may be more than a little theater involved in all this, especially with a European Union summit coming up on Thursday.

From The Daily Beast

He had just set up his little theater, and the people were sitting round to see the play.

From Project Gutenberg

Then the little theater was lighted, the improvised orchestra renewed its efforts.

From Project Gutenberg

The cramped little theater itself struck one as mere scenery, which was precisely the intention.

From Project Gutenberg

He seemed to her more distinguished than that other man whom she had seen indistinctly in the orchestra of her little theater.

From Project Gutenberg

He took her back to Paris, where he had a little theater, a hall of the dance—but he grew worse again, and came back here.

From Project Gutenberg