Sierra Repertory Theatre facts for kids

Sierra Repertory Theatre is a special place in Sonora, California, where amazing plays, musicals, and comedies come to life! It's a professional theater company that puts on shows for people of all ages.

The theater was started in 1980 by a group of friends: David and Kathryn Kahn, Doug Brennan, and Sara and Dennis Jones. They all met while studying drama at the University of the Pacific and performing together during the summer at the Fallon House Theatre.

How It All Started

The founders first turned an old warehouse, which used to store beer, into a cozy theater. This new space in East Sonora had 99 seats. Their very first show there was a play about Dracula in February 1980. They used this theater for more than ten years! In the mid-1990s, they made it even bigger, creating a 202-seat theater with sloped seating. This design helps everyone see the stage clearly, making the shows feel very close and exciting.

Home at the Fallon House Theatre

In 1997, something really exciting happened! Sierra Repertory Theatre was chosen to be the main theater company at the historic Fallon House Theatre. This theater is located in Columbia State Historic Park. For the founders, it felt like coming home because it was where they had performed as students.

Their first show at the Fallon House was called Something's Afoot, which opened in October 1997. Since then, Sierra Rep has put on over 1,400 shows at the Fallon House. More than 240,000 people have come to watch their performances there! In 2004, the theater celebrated its 25th birthday with a big show: the famous musical Cats.

Who Runs the Show?

Doug Brennan, one of the founders, is the stage manager for the Fallon House Theatre. He makes sure everything behind the scenes runs smoothly during performances. Scott Viets is the Producing Artistic Director. He directs and creates the dances for most of the musicals, and also directs some plays. He and Becky Saunders, the Managing Director, took over these important jobs in 2017 from founders Dennis and Sara Jones.

Theater in the Community

Sierra Repertory Theatre puts on about 8 shows each year across its two locations. More than 65,000 people come to see their shows every year! But they do more than just entertain. The theater company is also very involved in the community. They host events to raise money for good causes and even put on special performances for local schools.

Youth Programs

In November 2013, Sierra Rep announced a new program just for young people! It started with a children's musical called Jason and the Argonauts in December. This show was created by actor and Education Director Ralph Krumins. These youth programs help young people learn about theater and even get a chance to perform.

Big Milestones

In March 2014, the company started its 35th season with the famous musical "Les Miserables." This was a special year because they welcomed their 1,000,000th visitor! That's a lot of people who have enjoyed their shows over the years.