Mountain Play Association facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Mount Tamalpais Mountain Theater
Sidney B. Cushing Memorial Amphitheatre |
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The stage set for the musical Annie in 2003.
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| Location | Mount Tamalpais State Park, 3801 Panoramic Hwy., Mill Valley, Marin County, California, United States |
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| Built | 1930s |
| Architect | Emerson Knight |
| NRHP reference No. | 14001234 |
| Added to NRHP | February 2, 2015 |
The Mountain Play Association is a group that puts on amazing plays in a giant outdoor theater. This theater, called the Sidney B. Cushing Memorial Amphitheater, is located high up on Mount Tamalpais in Marin County, California. Imagine watching a show from a stone seat 2,000 feet up a mountain! The theater is huge and can hold 4,000 people.
The association is a non-profit group, which means it uses the money it earns to create more plays for the community. It was started way back in 1913. Every year in May and June, they perform one big musical. Their goal is to create a spectacular outdoor show that helps people appreciate the beauty of Mount Tamalpais and brings the community together.
Because of its special design and history, the theater was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2015.
Contents
History of the Mountain Play
The Mountain Play Association is one of the oldest theater groups in the San Francisco Bay Area. Before the stone theater was built in the 1930s, people just sat on a grassy hill to watch the shows. The theater is located just below the mountain's 2,571-foot East Peak.
The group was named for Sidney B. Cushing. He owned the company that built the Mount Tamalpais Scenic Railway, a famous old train line.
The Very First Show
The first Mountain Play performance happened in 1913. A politician named John C. Catlin paid for the show and became the first president of the association. Another important person was Congressman William Kent, who owned the land where the theater stood.
The first play they performed was called Abraham and Isaac. Back then, getting to the theater was an adventure! Audience members had to hike eight miles up the mountain. Or, they could take a steam train on the Mount Tamalpais and Muir Woods Railway, which was nicknamed the "Crookedest Railroad in the World."
The Sidney B. Cushing Memorial Amphitheater
In 1916, William Kent gave the theater land to the Mountain Play Association. Later, the association gave the land to Mount Tamalpais State Park.
During the 1930s, a government work group called the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) built the theater we see today. They used huge, beautiful stones called serpentine to build the 4,000 seats.
The theater was also the location of the Fantasy Fair and Magic Mountain Music Festival in June 1967. This was a famous rock music festival that was part of the "Summer of Love."
Making Theater for Everyone
The Mountain Play works hard to make sure everyone can enjoy their shows.
- Sign Language: Since 1980, some performances have sign language interpreters for people who are deaf or hard of hearing.
- Wheelchair Access: In the 1980s, they built special paths and a shaded platform so people using wheelchairs could easily get to the theater and watch the show comfortably.
- Audio Description: For audience members who are blind or have low vision, the play offers audio description. Professional describers explain what is happening on stage through a special headset.
- Day on the Mountain: This program, started in 1993, gives children from low-income families a chance to see a musical and explore Mount Tamalpais. The Mountain Play provides tickets, transportation, and fun workshops.
Famous Plays on the Mountain
For over 100 years, the Mountain Play has performed many famous musicals and plays. Here are some of the shows they have put on.
- 2023: Into the Woods
- 2022: Hello, Dolly!
- 2019: Grease
- 2018: Mamma Mia
- 2017: Beauty and the Beast
- 2016: West Side Story
- 2015: Peter Pan
- 2013: The Sound of Music (for the 100th anniversary)
- 2012: The Music Man
- 2008: Wizard of Oz
- 2003: Annie
- 1986: Peter Pan
- 1967: Kismet
- 1942-1945: No plays were held because the U.S. Army was using the land during World War II.
- 1924: No play was held because of a disease affecting farm animals.
- 1913: Abraham and Isaac (The very first show)
See also
- Marin Art and Garden Center
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Marin County, California
