Theatre Palisades

In 1963, Theatre Palisades was founded by three television writers, Ken Rosen, Sheldon Stark, and Jacquie Chester. They wanted to produce original plays, starting with their own.

Soon, it became a non-equity community theatre and ever since, has continually produced high quality live performances.

As time went on, and the theatre expanded, the members wanted to build their own theatre. Lelah and Townley Pierson, two members, offered to donate the property on which the theatre now stands. The Board of Directors found an architect, John G. Wallis, elected a Building Committee Chair, Cynthia Wright, and Fund Raising Chair, Eva Holberg, who worked with Bob McMillin, until he moved to San Diego in 1985. John Whitcombe supervised the actual construction and Don Johnson was the contractor.

In November, 1988, just in time for the 25th anniversary of the group, Theatre Palisades opened the new 125 seat theatre, which they voted to call the Pierson Playhouse.

The current busy schedule of Theatre Palisades includes five major productions with a run of 15 to 22 performances, all on Friday and Saturdays at 8 pm with a Sunday matinee at 2pm. TPYouth produces two shows a year by children. The theater also offers chamber music concerts, special shows, meetings, and independent new films every last Sunday of the month, provided by Bob Sharka's Friends of Film.

It offers all these events at reasonable prices and has a supportive subscription base and a faithful audience.

Theatre Palisades has a group of volunteer members who help in all facets of production and administration. Members help to plan parties, prepare mailings, sell programs ads, serve refreshments during intermissions, or take tickets. The more courageous ones swing the hammer and the paintbrush during set construction or run sound and light and movie projectors. Other committees select the shows and directors for the season.