Mission:
The mission of the Douglas Morrisson Theatre is to involve and enlighten the community through the experience of live theater. We do this by providing the performer with an opportunity for artistic expression and social participation; providing the highest quality theater experience for our audiences; and providing a creative and supportive professional staff.
About Us:
The Douglas Morrisson Theatre is owned and operated by the Hayward Area Recreation and Park District. 25% of the theatre's budget is supported by the property taxes of the people who live in our district, which includes Hayward, Castro Valley, San Lorenzo and other portions of unincorporated Alameda County.
Our 250 seat theatre has become a valuable resource for the entire Bay Area Theatre community. The theatre's extensive costume, scenery and property inventory is available for rental to the community at www.dmtrentals.org.
From its inception in the 1960's with the HARD Community Players, the District's theatre program has flourished. The HARD Community Players performed at Chabot College from 1967 to 1975. Youth Programs were added in 1969 and operated out of the Carriage House Theatre on the grounds of the Meek Estate in San Lorenzo, California. The Carriage House Theatre produced plays by young performers ages 6 through 12 as the Katzenjammer Players. Teens performed as the Carriage House Masquers.
Today local actors perform at the Douglas Morrisson Theatre, located on the grounds of the Hayward Japanese Gardens. The District oversaw the development and construction of the theatre in 1977-78. It was named The Little Theatre at its dedication on November of 1978. The theatre presented its first public performance in January of 1979 with a production of the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic, The King and I. The theatre operated under The Little Theatre name until 2003 when it was renamed the Douglas Morrisson Theatre.
The theatre produces a season of plays and musicals opening in September of each year. The theatre also produces three concerts by the Morrisson Theatre Chorus each year. In the summer, children from 7 to 14 participate in one to two-week Theatre Camps for Young Performers. Adults and teens enjoy classes in voice, acting, scene study and other theatre disciplines.
