Our Story

For more than a century, Sierra Madre Playhouse has been a home for live performance, shared experience, and community gathering.

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Founded in 1924 as a silent movie house with live musical accompaniment, the Playhouse has continuously presented entertainment for 100 years—making it one of the few venues in the world with such an unbroken artistic legacy. Over the decades, it has evolved alongside its community: welcoming sound films in the 1930s, becoming a nonprofit organization in the 1950s, producing live theater beginning in the 1970s, and growing into a professional producing organization in the early 2010s.

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In 2023, following a period of reflection and experimentation shaped by the pandemic and a changing cultural landscape, the Playhouse embraced its next chapter—transforming into a multi-disciplinary performing arts center. Today, Sierra Madre Playhouse presents a wide spectrum of live experiences including theater, music, dance, film, comedy, and family programming, all within an intimate 99-seat space that brings audiences remarkably close to the art.

 

Hailed as a “jewel” by Pasadena Weekly and “a landmark theater” by ABC7 Los Angeles, the Playhouse has earned Ovation Awards, NAACP Theatre Awards, and LA Times Critics’ Choice honors. In 2023, it was named San Gabriel Valley “Nonprofit of the Year” by Congresswoman Judy Chu, and in 2024, the City of Sierra Madre officially designated the building as a Historic Landmark during its centennial celebration.

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Located on Sierra Madre Boulevard in the heart of town, the Playhouse retains its iconic marquee and historic façade—an architectural reminder of its past—while serving as a living, evolving cultural hub for the region. Each season, more than 140 performances draw audiences from Sierra Madre, Pasadena, Altadena, Arcadia, and across Greater Los Angeles, offering affordable access to bold, resonant work by local, national, and international artists.

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Alongside its performance programming, Sierra Madre Playhouse is deeply committed to education and community engagement. Through partnerships with local schools and its Alison Kalmus Theatre Academy, the Playhouse introduces young people to live performance, often for the very first time, while offering training opportunities for students, emerging artists, and lifelong learners.

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As it looks toward the future, Sierra Madre Playhouse remains grounded in stewardship of its historic home while pursuing thoughtful growth—expanding artistic offerings, strengthening community connections, and preparing for long-term restoration and accessibility improvements. Rooted in history and driven by curiosity, the Playhouse continues to ask the same essential question it has for a century: how can live performance bring people together, right here, right now?

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A Century at a Glance

• 1924 – Opens as a silent cinema with live music

• 1930s – Introduces sound films and concerts

• 1957 – Becomes a nonprofit organization

• 1970s – Begins producing live theater

• 2010s – Transitions into a professional producing theater

• 2023 – Becomes a multi-disciplinary performing arts center; named San Gabriel Valley Nonprofit of the Year

• 2024 – Celebrates 100 years; designated a City of Sierra Madre Historic Landmark