Palo Alto Players

Palo Alto Players. Founded in 1931, it is one of the oldest continuously operating community theatre organizations in the United States. The company has established a long-standing reputation for presenting a diverse repertoire of musical theatre, comedy, and drama on the San Francisco Peninsula. Its operations and performances are centered at the Lucie Stern Theatre in the Palo Alto Community Center.

History

The organization was established during the Great Depression by a group of local enthusiasts led by Ruth M. Thurston. Its inaugural production was A.A. Milne's "The Dover Road" at the Palo Alto High School auditorium. Throughout the 1930s and 1940s, the company performed in various venues, including the old Palo Alto Women's Club building, while contributing to community morale through the World War II era. A significant milestone was reached in 1954 with the move to its permanent home, the Lucie Stern Theatre, a venue built by philanthropist Lucie Stern. The latter half of the 20th century saw expansions in artistic ambition under leaders like Pearl St. John and through collaborations with notable Bay Area directors.

Productions

The company's season typically features a mix of classic and contemporary works. Notable productions have included major American musicals such as "West Side Story", "Sweeney Todd", and "Into the Woods", alongside plays by renowned dramatists like Noël Coward, Tennessee Williams, and August Wilson. It has also staged lesser-known works and, periodically, world premieres of new plays by California playwrights. The annual holiday presentation of "A Christmas Carol" has become a longstanding tradition for many families in Santa Clara County.

Facilities

All mainstage productions are presented at the Lucie Stern Theatre, a historic Mission Revival-style building located at 1305 Middlefield Road. The facility contains a 432-seat proscenium mainstage and a smaller 99-seat black box theatre known as the SecondStage. The theatre complex is part of the city-owned Palo Alto Community Center campus, which also includes the Palo Alto Art Center and Rinconada Library. The company maintains administrative offices, rehearsal spaces, and costume and scene shops within the theatre building.

Community engagement

Beyond its mainstage season, the organization runs several educational and outreach initiatives. The Palo Alto Players Footlite Workshop offers theatre classes and summer camps for youth. A longstanding partnership with the Palo Alto Unified School District provides student matinees and talkbacks. The company also hosts pre-show lectures, post-performance discussions with casts, and operates a volunteer usher corps. Collaborative projects have included work with local groups like the Palo Alto Chamber Orchestra and participation in city-wide events such as the Palo Alto Festival of the Arts.

Awards and recognition

The company has been the recipient of multiple Dean Goodman Choice Awards presented by the Theatre Bay Area organization. Its productions and artists have frequently been nominated for and won Shellie Awards, which honor excellence in Contra Costa County and Tri-Valley theatre, and BATCC Awards from the Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle. In 2011, it was honored with a proclamation from the Palo Alto City Council commemorating its 80th anniversary of continuous operation.

Category:Theatre companies in California Category:Community theatres in the United States Category:Organizations based in Palo Alto, California Category:1931 establishments in California