The Sierra Repertory Theatre Story

Sierra Repertory Theatre is a growing professional non-profit theater located in California's beautiful Sierra Nevada Foothills. Since 1980, Sierra Rep has focused on its original mission: to present audiences with a broad range of theatrical literature at the highest production quality possible; to pay artists and staff a living wage and to make a vibrant contribution to our community's economy, culture and spirit.

History

The five founders of Sierra Rep—David and Kathryn Kahn, Doug Brennan, and Sara and Dennis Jones, met at the Fallon House Theatre while doing summer stock performances with the University of Pacific drama program. As the five worked on sets, costumes and sat together talking late into the night, the idea of Sierra Rep was planted and nurtured. Their dream was to establish a professional performing arts center in this rural setting, and to draw both professional artists and audiences by the level of art created here.

They first converted a tin warehouse into a rustic 99-seat theater in East Sonora. Over 20 years later, their shoestring venture has blossomed into a professional arts organization impressive for a rural area. Sierra Rep consistently earns ovations from audiences and the press, and top ratings for artistic and management excellence from the California Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts. Returning to its roots, Sierra Rep was selected as the resident theater company at the Historic Fallon House in June of 1997, and the company’s first production on the Historic Fallon House stage was Something’s Afoot, which opened in October of that year. Since then, Sierra Rep has produced more than 1,400 performances at the Historic Fallon House and reached an audience of more than 240,000 patrons.

Today

Sierra Rep now presents 10 main-stage shows per year at two locations – the original East Sonora Theater and the Historic Fallon House Theatre in Columbia State Historic Park. We have a staff of 30, employ 200 artists per year, and hold a contract with Actors Equity Association. Sierra Rep plays to an audience of more than 65,000 people per year, more than half of who travel an hour or more to our performances. We provide a year-round draw for visitors and make our community a more vibrant place to live. We enjoy strong community support with 2,400 season subscribers, more than 1,000 donors and hundreds of volunteers who help our professional artists and staff with sets, costumes, box office work and special events. To keep theater accessible to our entire community, we offer student and senior discounts, group rates, and low-cost tickets for school groups and half-price rush tickets. We also hold benefit previews and special events that raise thousands of dollars for community and educational groups.

Current Programs