After its second production, The Crucible, some students were beginning to plan the next play, said Maresca, who plays Benedick in Much Ado. But a number of others had different ideas, and NRT had its official start. That one act of defiance has grown into a group of about 80 members, Maresca said. An unofficial group, NRT relies on the volunteer work of its members to get the business work done. Many of the props and costumes are contributed by members.
Volunteers take care of money matters and keep members informed through E-mail.
But NRT is not completely on its own. Since it was formed almost entirely by University Scholars, NRT has received repeated support from the Scholars Program. NRT has its own storage and practice space in Atherton Hall. When they have to get their own supplies, the group looks for discounts and loans from outside businesses. Even with all this frugality, White promises that NRT is not cheap theater.