History of the Santa Fe Playhouse
The Santa Fe Playhouse produces, develops and presents the full spectrum of the theatrical arts for and with Santa Fe's diverse community.
The Santa Fe Playhouse was officially incorporated in 1922 as the Santa Fe Little Theatre and has presented a season of theatre for 85 years. It has created a historic and cultural legacy within the community, preserving a heritage that was created by its founder, Mary Austin, in the early 1900's. She envisioned a theatre that reflected the Anglo, Native American and Spanish cultures of New Mexico. The theatre accomplishes this task with its open door policy; anyone who wishes to participate, either on stage, backstage or front-of-stage, is welcome at the theatre.
The Santa Fe Playhouse is the oldest continuously running theatre company west of the Mississippi. It is distinguished by being housed in an historic adobe building in the Barrio de Analco, one of the oldest town sections in America and is noted for the annual Fiesta Melodrama, a spoof and satire on the City Different.
The Playhouse is dedicated to presenting works that give voice to our many cultures and communities as was intended by Mary Austin. The Playhouse offers a variety of theatre year-round with musicals, comedies, dramas, murder-mysteries and classics. The Playhouse offers its space free-of-charge for rehearsals, meetings and performances to various schools, artistic groups and institutions in the community. In addition, the Playhouse rents the theatre at minimal fees to performing organizations and individuals that do not have their own performance space. These groups include Southwest Children's Theatre, the resident children's educational school & company; Desert Academy, Showtime Santa Fe, and New Mexico Dance Coalition, to name a few. The Santa Fe Playhouse serves an important function in a community where intimate performance space is limited and available for local artists.
Over 150 actors, directors, designers and technicians are enlisted each season, all artists and residents of the greater Santa Fe area. The Playhouse serves Santa Fe's diverse community, professional and amateur, aiming for the highest artistic caliber possible. The Playhouse provides first-time directors, actors, designers and technicians with the opportunity to work and gain hands-on experience at the theatre and supports the work of professionals, playwrights, musicians, comedians, dancers and poets. In addition to the artistic and production personnel, over 350 volunteers are enlisted annually in various capacities for the theatre.
The Playhouse offers its performances at affordable prices and serves a wide cross-section of populations. This includes Senior Citizens, students, Hispanic, Native American, Jewish, Gay and Lesbian populations, teens, children and tourists. Through the "Pay What You Wish" Sunday matinee (average contribution is $8) and the eight-buck Thursday offerings (40 performances in the season fall under these price offerings) many of these groups as well as low-income segments of our community are able to attend. These performances are usually sold out. Free tickets are also distributed to various institutions. No one has ever been turned away for their inability to pay.
The Playhouse is accessible to physically challenged people and accommodates wheelchairs.
