For centuries, humankind has been producing performances, sometimes for very different reasons. In the earliest days, these performances were mainly storytelling efforts made to preserve history and traditions. Later, they became ways for us to entertain ourselves. The overall goal of any theater company is to fill the seats of the theater. Even a nonprofit company could lose its funding if its fare isn't appealing to the market. For-profit companies depend on selling tickets as well as program advertising to earn revenue. If a theater company is going to maintain a full house through most of its season, it needs to produce plays that its audience wants to see, and then provide a quality performance. If there is more than one theater in the vicinity, or it is competing with other entertainment options, such as the ballet or movies, then it is even more important for the theater company to stand out from the competition.

The ancient Greeks and Romans were among the first civilizations to produce plays for audiences similar to those performed in the modern world. In 16th century Europe, theater also rose to prominence, due mainly to playwrights, such as Shakespeare, whose plays are still being produced five centuries later. The first American acting company was established in Williamsburg, Virginia, in 1752, and by the early 20th century, new forms of theater—vaudeville and burlesque—were popular. It was also during this time that major theater centers in New York and London were established. Plays that were successful there would tour the country to other major cities for performances. By the 21st century, many large metropolitan areas such as Chicago, Seattle, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, and San Francisco were also considered important theater centers. The growth of nonprofit companies also occurred during the early 21st century, as a way of funding more experimental theater companies or those that wished to produce work outside of the mainstream. Some nonpr...