Santa Barbara High School Theatre

Santa Barbara High School Theatre has been performed continuously for over 100 years, 93 of those years in the same space. We are a public high school in Santa Barbara, California, and we are dedicated to giving as professional an experience to student actors and technicians as is possible--to that end, we employ professional designers, choreographers, musical directors and guest artists. SBHS Theatre is a proud part of the SBHS Performing Arts Department, which currently offers five theatre classes with Department Chair Otto Layman, four choral music classes (including award-winning Acapella and Madrigal Singers under the direction of Mary La Face, 4 instrumental music classes (including a nationally-recognized Jazz Band under the direction of Kearney Van Der Sal), and 5 dance classes (Beth Goldman). We offer an array of entertainment all year round (our summer show attracts current and former high school students from all over Santa Barbara County), in a renovated, 796 seat house featuring state of the art lighting and sound.

We are proud to partner with the Santa Barbara Theatre Foundation, currently headed by Nancy Barry and Laura Lewis. This parent-founded and led organization was formed to support the SBHS Theatre Department as we renovate an aging space (to date their efforts have led to the installation of a sound and lighting system, and the replacement of the entire lower floor with new, comfortable seating). Future plans include continued work on the sound and lighting system, as well as funding the productions themselves.