Birth of a Theater

The Solvang Festival Theater stands as a tribute to what a community can do when it puts its mind to it. Thirty years ago, with vision, generosity, cooperation, hard work—and sheer will—hundreds of Santa Ynez Valley people put their shoulders to the wheel and built a theater—in less than nine weeks. “Built out of air!” proclaimed the local paper just before opening night. Not quite.

The incredible story has deep roots; the performing arts had long been part of the community. Since 1913, the Atterdag Bowl, on a hillside next to the former Atterdag Folk School, had provided an outdoor stage for local and visiting talent. In 1971, as part of the Danish Days celebration, the Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts (PCPA), then a fledgling program at Allan Hancock Community College in Santa Maria, was invited to stage a production in Solvang. Hamlet, Prince of Denmark was performed for three nights on a makeshift stage in Hans Christian Andersen Park to sold-out audiences. The seeds of the Solvang Festival Theater were sown.

By 1974, the growth of PCPA’s audience and the reputation of its productions led it to seek a second performance space. Solvang’s location and the community’s interest in the
performing arts made it an ideal choice. PCPA’s innovative artistic director, Donovan Marley, together with Earl Petersen, a local builder and businessman, proposed to the Solvang Business Association that PCPA would bring a series of plays to Solvang every summer if the community would build a theater.

In a matter of weeks, a committee made up of local business people and community leaders was formed, the site on Second Street was selected and the first fundraiser for the theater was successfully held. Under the umbrella of the Valley Arts Association, ground was broken for the theater on June 10, 1974, and construction began immediately—led by Erling Pohls and Johannes Jaeger. Just 58 days later, on August 7, 1974, the Solvang Festival Theater miraculously opened with a production of Once Upon a Mattress.

Thus, through the combined effort of community leaders, the overwhelming support of the community and the sweat of just about every tradesman in the Santa Ynez Valley, the Solvang Festival Theater was created. Since its auspicious birth 30 years ago, the Solvang Festival Theater continues to be a special place for those who love the performing arts, many of whom travel to Solvang expressly to experience professional theater in this idyllic setting.

         ©Copyright, Solvang Theaterfest, 2008