Redwood Theatre has been bringing quality community theater to the Redmond, Bellevue and Kirkland area since 1983. You can see a list of our past seasons going back to the very first show that we ever did. Beginning in 2007 we staged our first musical – The Fantasticks!! It was a fantastic success, which we will repeat each spring with a new musical. Starting in 2008 we hope to expand more and continue to make theater thrive in Redmond.
Our History
In late 1983, Wendy Los, feeling that the Redmond, Kirkland, Bothell and Woodinville area should have its own community theater, called together a public meeting to see if there was any interest in such an endeavor – there was – and from this meeting, the Woodinville Players was formed, deciding to produce its first effort in March 1984. After much pavement pounding, and many, many, disappointments, we were finally able to rent the Wellington Hills Golf Club, and we produced our first play Lovers: Winners and Losers, there in March. It was received with great pleasure by the public, and Freddie Brinster, the Journal-American’s theater critic wrote “Woodinville Players make impressive debut”.
By this time we had increased our membership and had incorporated as a non-profit organization. During the summer of 1984, we produced another play at the Golf Club, but, because of the difficulty of staging plays in such a confined space, we were constantly on the trail of another theater space. We remembered that the Little Theatre at Redmond High School was not used for student productions, so we requested the Lake Washington School District to allow us to rent the facility. By this time, our Board had decided that our name should be more geographically all-encompassing, so we changed it to REDWOOD THEATRE – now we were “generic” and could stage our productions anywhere!
We produced two seasons at Redmond High School, but kept running into conflicting school’ schedules, so once again we were looking for new space. In September 1986 we began using the Multi-Service Center in Bothell, but we still ran into conflicts with scheduling as so many organizations use the facility. Finally, in 1989, we moved into our current location at the Fred W. Meitzer Auditorium, located in the Redmond Senior Center.
We’re very proud of the fact that we have produced over 70 plays since 1984 (and still going strong!), and have always operated “in the black”; funds generated by the current play being plowed back into the next productions, paying royalties, printing, postage, lights, rent, etc. etc. – quite an achievement for a community theater!
Our auditions are always open to anyone who wishes to “tryout” for that production, no production is pre-cast and we welcome newcomers – be they novice or experienced. Each season of plays has always been enjoyed by our audiences, and we have received very good reviews from theater critics, and we intend to keep up the very high standard we set. for ourselves!
Our Mission Statement
Redwood Theatre’s mission is to foster the artistic efforts of the Redmond and greater Eastside performing arts community by producing entertaining, enriching, and educational theatrical experiences that stimulate and challenge audiences as well as the cast and production team. Redwood Theatre will remain respectful and responsive to the needs of the community and vigilant with our stewardship of the public fiduciary trust.
