LORT serves as a way for member resident theaters, also called regional theaters, to bargain collectively on behalf of theater management with Actors' Equity Association, the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, and United Scenic Artists.

[1] LORT was formed by the largest of regional theatres to combat unions.

the Guthrie Theater), Thomas Fichandler, general manager of Arena Stage, and Morris Kaplan, an attorney.

Peter Zeisler was appointed the first president, with Thomas Finchandler as vice president and William Bushnell, manager of Baltimore's Center Stage, as secretary.

In some instances the theaters operated under the terms of Equity's new stock contract, however, resident theater managers have long felt burdened by what they call Equity's "one production" type of contract used on Broadway.