The institute's inaugural productions began in September 1992 with two Euripides plays: Dionysus and Orestes.

Funding initially came from the Japan-United States Friendship Commission, Arts International and All Nippon Airlines, according to then-executive producing director Stephen Nisbet.

[2] The company believed that contemporary American theater must incorporate artists from around the world and learn from a cross-cultural exchange of dance, music, art, and performance experiences.

Both techniques are alternatives to the Stanislavski-based Method training which has dominated American stage and screen for generations.

[3] In October 2020, SITI announced they would stop producing shows in 2022, although classes would continue.