In 1976, the American Renaissance Theatre Company found a permanent home at 112 Charlton Street, a black box theater directly downstairs from Robert Elston’s newly acquired apartment.

On Charlton Street, company members pitched in to create a versatile and attractive theater space and set to work producing five full plays a season, as well as staging readings of new works in progress. Under the leadership of Mr. Elston, plays by Tennessee Williams, Thornton Wilder, William Inge, and Chekhov were presented along with original works as they were developed within the fast growing workshop. The same year, the American Renaissance Theater launched a series called “Women in Concert” with Susan Reed, followed by Martha Schlamme and Ethel Smith, the first theater cabaret series in New York City.

By 1979, new full-length plays were up and running at ARTC’s busy theater. In September of 1979, Stan Edelman’s Ruby Ruby Sam Sam received a full production. Directed by Anita Khanzadian and produced by Robert Elston, the cast included Elizabeth Perry (Ruby), Berkeley Harris (Sam), Jack Davidson (Joe), and Catherine Wolf (Rosalie). In November of 1979, Women of Ireland a performance piece of poetry, song, and dance compiled and arranged by Susan Reed (featuring Susan Reed and Bambi Linn) was produced and directed by Robert Elston.