Visalia
Community
Players

Our Mission & History

50 Years of Community Theatre

Our Mission

The Visalia Community Players is a California non-profit corporation dedicated to the development of community theatre in the greater Visalia area. The organization is entirely supported by ticket sales and tax-deductible contributions. Each year, The Players members put in thousands of hours of their own time to bring community theatre to Visalia. Every job needed to run the theatre — from acting to ticket sales, from building sets to maintaining the building — is performed by volunteers dedicated to community theatre. Membership in the organization is open to anyone who shares an interest in community theatre.

The basis of community theatre is that it is open to all. It is a place for community members to come together and perform for the entertainment of the community. To this end, we have actively encouraged new members in the organization, and have struggled to keep ticket prices low enough to be affordable for anyone, while meeting the substantial costs of operating the theatre. We have established low-cost Sunday matinees, with the hope that senior citizens and families could take advantage of the lower ticketed prices. Tickets for students with proper identification are only half-price.

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Our History

The Visalia Community Players was founded in June of 1957. The first play, Suds in Your Eyes, was performed in the backyard of Bridget Berryman's home. Other early productions were performed in the Legion room of the Civic Auditorium, the AAUW Club House, the side yard of Visalia Trailer Sales, Sierra Vista Auditorium, and Recreation Park.

In July of 1962, the City of Visalia gave The Players the Legion Room of the Civic Auditorium as a “permanent home.” The Players developed and redecorated this room and used it for all productions until the end of March 1964. It was known as “The Players Room.”

In 1964, the Civic Auditorium, including “The Players Room” , was to be demolished, so the search for a new home began.

The Loft

In February of 1965, the old AFL Labor Temple on South Court Street, above what is now “Times Place,” was rented as new quarters for The Players. Extensive improvements were made to what became known as “The Loft.” Improvements included a new stairway, seating risers, stage construction, and painting. The Players incorporated as a non-profit organization at this time.

“The Loft” was The Players’ home for eight years, until the spring of 1973. Blythe Spirit was the last production at The Loft. A total of 48 productions were presented at The Loft. This facility was closed due to the need for extensive renovations. The Players felt they would rather invest their money in a theatre of their own instead of moving to another  rented facility.

Wandering About

A three-year search for our own building began in the summer of 1973. We explored the possibility of building our own theatre, buying an existing building to remodel, or any other opportunity that might present itself. During this period, we kept active with three productions a year, using the L. J. Williams Auditorium, Sons of Italy Hall, YMCA, Visalia Women’s Club, Gottschalks Community Room, a ranch near Tulare, and, for the last year, the Title Insurance Building on Main Street.

The Ice House Theatre

Early in 1976, the City of Visalia offered us either the old Linwood School or the Ice House building. We chose the Ice House. The first play was, optimistically, scheduled for November, and we began the tremendous task of converting a huge, empty building, constructed in the 1920s, into a comfortable theatre. This was accomplished through a special grant with Proteus Adult Training; members and friends volunteering time and money; some hired labor; generous donations of money and materials from individuals, organizations, and businesses of the community; and assistance from the City of Visalia and the County of Tulare. The Players’ members became carpenters, plumbers, and electricians, doing whatever was necessary to concert the old manufacturing plant into a theatre. As the opening date approached, the work reached a fever pitch. Many Players would head straight from work to the theatre, staying until midnight or later, and then dragging themselves off to work the next day — only to return to the theatre that night.

The theatre did open in November. Many things were not completed, but we had a 150-seat theatre of which we could be very proud. Opening night for the new “Ice House Theatre” was on November 10, 1976. The play Gypsy was performed with only a spotlight for lighting, as the stage lights were still not connected.

The Future

We now have been in "business" for over 50 years, and over 30 years have passed since opening the Ice House Theatre. Each season, we present a mix of plays and musicals for the local community. We feel that as we grow our services to the greater Visalia community are increasing and the quality of our productions continues to improve with increased membership and financial support.