San Gabriel Mission Playhouse

Saw a free event listing on Unilocal which featured the Cal State LA’s and Olympia Youth orchestra.
An hour of beautiful music, why not?
Wow, it’s been decades since I’ve last been here.
Nostalgia moment coming up. Back in the 60’s, I made my stage debut here on this stage. Can’t remember whether it was an accordion or dance recital. My parents tried their darndest to make their little darling into some sort of prodigy. Yes, accordion. It was a big thing back in those days.
What I do remember is how awestruck I was entering the theater of the playhouse.
It felt like I was transported into an elegant grand world.
I would have happily just stayed out there looking around.
But nooooo. I had to go up on that stage to do whatever.
Another thing I do remember is that, afterwards, my mom wasn’t very happy with me and my dad couldn’t stop laughing. They nixed their fine arts aspirations and started sending me to Japanese school instead.
Okay, back to current day.
Figured it was time for a return visit!
TIP– If you’re going to an event here (free or paid), you can visit this ticket site to secure your seats ahead of time.

You’ll receive a confirmation e-​mail that can be shown at the door. Or, printed out to expedite entry.
This way, you can bypass the box office (which is located around the left corner of the building).
My husband was wowed by the inside of the theater.
For some reason, he thought it’d be a high-​school-​auditorium-​sized venue.
Nope, this is a seating capacity of 1,600.
The theater décor is beautiful. Just as grand as I remembered.
I loved looking up at the ceiling while listening to the music onstage.
There’s box seats along both sides and a balcony up top.
Parking wasn’t bad. We found a spot on the street a few blocks over.
There is a paid lot next to the Playhouse.
There’s eateries & coffee/​tea bars close by for before or after.
Also, the San Gabriel Mission is a block away if you’d like to visit that historic spot.
Link to events calendar–
Interesting info on the history of the Playhouse–
Enjoyed our visit so much that we looked up the events calendar for future visits when we returned home.

I went to the San Gabriel Mission Playhouse in San Gabriel, CA on 11/​29/​2015. I’ve been there many times before. This time I was there to see the silent film The Mark of Zorro (1920). It was the first of what they call the Silent Sundays series. The price was $ 13.00 at the door. Wonderful music and a great film. Plus, I took photos.

WOW… Beautiful venue, this is the first time that I’ve actually been in the playhouse. But I watched a movie screening instead of a play.
The great part about this venue is that everything thing is already here. You wouldn’t have to change much to make it adaptable to anything. I haven’t seen an orchestra pit in a long time…
This a really a great place to see anything… when I walked in, I felt like I was transported to another time. It was really serene in there.

I thought the San Gabriel Lunar New Year Festival Year of the Ram on February 15 2015 was absolutely a SUCCESS! I enjoyed so many of the Traditional & Cultural stage performances! KUDOS to ALL of YOU involved in the effort! I hope to come back next year again!

This Spanish-​style theatre which can hold 1,300 people is beautiful inside from the tapestries, carved and painted ceilings, and chandeliers. It really takes you back to another time.
I’ve been here every November since my friend from work has 2 daughters who are part of the Elite Ballet Theatre. Every November, they have a performance at the San Gabriel Mission Playhouse. (and yes, I drag my husband with me every year. Sometimes my mom comes too.) They’ve done Swan Lake, The Nutcracker etc.
My friend told me that when they use the theatre for their performances, the lighting and stage guys are provided by the playhouse. This year, one of the lighting guys did not show up so another person had to do the work of 2 people. This left them with poor lighting during their performance.
If you ever want to rent out the Playhouse, the fees are below and a $ 1,000 non-​refundable deposit must be sent to the City to hold the date.
Standard Rates (starting June 2015)
–Weekday Rate (1 single performance within 8 consecutive hours on any Monday — Thursday) $ 1,595
–Weekend Rate (1 single performance within 8 consecutive hours, on any Friday, Saturday or Sunday) $ 2,200
On non-​performance days, parking is free otherwise it’s $ 10.00. Over the weekend, we arrived 30 minutes before the show started. Once we were about to pull in to the parking lot, they informed us it was completely full and coned off the entrance. Parking on the street is a hassle since there was absolutely no space either.
Once inside, my favorite place to sit in the left box seats in sections B-​E. Those are seriously the best seats with plenty of leg room and easy exit access.
Filming and photographing is prohibited during any show.
If you want to grab a bite to eat before seeing a show, there are a few restaurants and coffee/​tea places within walking distance. (Pizza Place California, Lunas Restaurant, Mission 261)
²⁰⁷⁄₁₀₀ Reviews for 2014

This playhouse is gorgeous! This was my fourth time here and every time I like it more.
The building is a beautiful 18^th century mission style gem, full of symbolism and reverberations of desert, Hispanic, and Indian culture. It’s extremely clean and very well taken care of; the AC works great, which is kind of difficult for a building this old, so comfort isn’t an issue; and the fountains outside are a sight in and of themselves.
My only complaint is that there is no hot water in the hand sinks… whatever, the architecture trumps that ten fold.
I really look forward to attending another event here.

Beautiful venue located right in the mission district of SGV. The acoustics were cool for the small graduation that I attended but I can’t vouch for what they would be like for a music based event like a play or concert.
As a note the carpeted isle is super steep so stiletto wearers beware!

I really do enjoy this playhouse both as a performer and as a visitor. The theatre is very old, has a ton of history to it, and comes at a very affordable price– you just have to know which shows are worth watching. Something about the fact that it’s right next to the San Gabriel Mission provides that extra umph of historical significance and romance to it. I really love the location also because it sits next to a cute little street of random restaurants/​stores which makes for a nice walk before and after the show. I suppose that fountain outside the playhouse also adds bonus points to the already beautiful ambiance of this venue.
It’s a very large stage, and having performed here many times, I can say that every seat in the house offers a fantastic view of the show. As far as the sound system goes, it really just depends on who the stage crew is.

I came here for Temple City High School’s «Beauty and the Beast» and was very impressed with both the venue and the performance. The playhouse is charming in its ability to transport to a different time and place. I feel as if I’m in an Italian or Spanish square from 100 years ago. And then the lights go down, the curtains are drawn, and the transformation begins anew. I look forward to future performances here. Oh, and there’s also a historic tree of special significance: worth a look and a picture. My parting advice: come early to secure parking.

A gorgeous playhouse. I came here to see Temple City High’s production of Beauty and the Beast (my girlfriend teaches there so I came along to help her support it).
Come early to walk around and take in all the details of the building. .. and to walk around and enjoy the overall scenery and local shops.

The playhouse is just BEAUTIFUL! I’ve only been here to see my little brother perform with his school’s band but the sound was incredible and it was just an overall amazing experience.
I bet it would be the most amazing experience to actually be able to perform on that stage! Hehe. I believe I just set myself a new goal for 2014! Audition for a part in whatever the playhouse decides to produce this year!
I know you Unilocaler’s will be there to cheer me on! Whoo-​hoo!

This is a beautiful playhouse! All the details of old world charm are still here. I have been to two production here and have delighted in this playhouse. I found the food service (which is basically a table with Smart and Final goods) charming, the seating plush and comfy, and the fountain a great place for a photo op.
This really is a special place — down to every last details. As I see it, there is only one problem, the sound system. It is horrible. I struggled both times to hear the production. I have sat both on the ground floor ‘orchestra’ and the balcony. Each time the sound was awful. So much so that I can’t imagine going back there again. I am sad. However, I must clarify. Both productions where over a year ago. So perhaps they have updated their system — I sure hope so!
Last production was for The Nutcracker 2012 with the Pasadena Dance Theatre which was a nice production — although it may be time for the lead male character (pains me to say this) to retire — sorry but … when the buns start jiggling in the tights, it might be time to retire those tights (there I said it — ugh).
Anyway, back to the Playhouse. It truly is a beautiful place, now if only they could get that sound system working correctly, it would be perfect!

Beautiful playhouse. Old fashioned in the best way ⁵⁄₅ stars. The people who work at the box office/​ushers are completely helpless and rude. They double sell tickets for the seats, rude to customers and helpless.

(Attended 6÷30÷13 SU @ 2:30pm…and previous times before): A piece of California history steeped in tradition and a proud beacon of the city of its namesake.
I believed this was my 3^rd year at the San Gabriel Mission Playhouse in support of the Vonder Haar for the Performing Arts
for their annual summer show. This year’s production was their rendition of «Pinocchio».
The Show — The famous story of a wide-​eyed wooden boy who got mixed-​up with bad seedy characters while on his path of new discoveries and trying to fit in as a newly live individual. Vonder Haar’s version mainly kept the well-​known story intact with slight embellishments added for more artistic and dramatic flair. The lead role of Pinocchio was brilliant played by Bianca Bulgarelli. She literally brought Pinocchio to life and accentuated the foibles and mishaps the character endured. Her joy and playfulness for the character easily shown throughout her performance. Other key roles included Ava Robles as a Music Box Dancer (of course you needed one in a ballet version!), Carina Robles as the Cat (aka «Figaro»), Madeleine Franck did a wonderful job as the Cricket (aka «Jiminy»), Alexandra Wilson as the beautiful Blue Fairy, and co-​owner of the studio Logan Hutt as the patriarch of the story, Gepetto. The supporting cast of studio members filled out the remaining various ensemble roles and stagings. The set design was more about backdrops and projections rather than actual scenery as in previous shows, so it was something fresh for me. Don’t expect the Kirov, ABT, Joffrey, or the Australian Ballet. But expect young girls with a passion for dance, self-​expression, and building high self-​esteem. Please support your local arts, especially if young kids are involved.
Service — It was pretty hands-​off and self-​explanatory. The attendants in the parking lot took your money, gave you s stub, and directed you were to park. The experience with the ticket takers and ushers was rather seemless and routine. ‘Nuff said.
Parking — I parked on their own private lot ($ 7.00 cash only) which had a ton of stalls. Otherwise, there was scant street parking on the main drag of Mission Dr. as well as surrounding streets. Just be mindful of the posted signs. I didn’t happen to notice meters.
Atmosphere, décor, ambience — As part of the entire San Gabriel Mission collection (e.g. schools and church), this Spanish-​styled facility was simply a beautiful reminder of California’s heritage and history. A functioning water fountain
adorned the outside front of the theatre
. There was also a large marquee (image from last year’s show of «Pippi Longstocking»)
. If you walked out in the side courtyard, you’ll be treated to replicas of several miniature California Missions
. Once inside, the architecture and design was highly involved and opulent with decorations abound, high arched ceilings, and a wide-​open lobby
. You were definitely in an older theatre which was part of its charm. The theatre itself was rather large with seating sections on the wings and center. There was also a balcony area. The seats were old, worn, and rickety, but in a place like this I didn’t mind since it added to the period. Your sight lines were unobstructed, and the sound system, although it appeared not to be the most current as I thought I heard a couple cracks, was more than sufficient. No TVs anywhere.
Attire — It’s the performing arts in a theatre so I showed respect and dressed business casual. Sorry, no t-​shirt, boardshorts, and flip-​flops this time around.
Overall, I loved the explicit sense of California history the San Gabriel Mission Playhouse offered, and it acted as a nice recent summer home for this performing arts studio’s summer engagement. I’m sure it’s used for more than performances, but I’d be happy if I just hung out by the fountain as I enjoyed a meal and a drink. I found very good value based on the prices, service, and experience noted above (total bill was around $ 37.00; no tip required), but I’m a huge supporter of the arts, this studio for the years my nieces attended classes, and good performances from the various dancers. Sure, at first glance, the ticket price may seem a bit high, but just remember what you’re supporting. And, although I couldn’t say for sure the payment methods for the playhouse’s onsite ticket window, my credit card of choice wasn’t accepted by Vonder Haar… AMEX (not a factor in this particular case)!

Such a beautiful, historic and quaint little theater. I love the architecture and the ceiling inside is absolutely stunning! Such thought, time and detail was obviously put into the interior of this theater. It’s amazing that this relic has survived since 1927. The seats are also very comfy, and I don’t think it’s possible there is a bad seat in the whole place. I felt transported back to a time and place long ago. I look forward to seeing another show there in the future.

If you’re a SGV kid, chances up, you grew up with this place. I’ve been backstage as a dancer & ensemble kid performer, and in the seats every single year to watch their shows. This place is lovely and accommodating.
Gorgeous, too. People here are friendly, facilities and restrooms are clean, and the seats are nice and plushy as well. Check out the gorgeous ceiling and interior design, it’s simply breathtaking.
Maybe it’s a little haunted as well? A lot of my fellow students have claimed to seen ghosts, and I had a frightening experience as well, (flickering lights, a falling set that injured a little girl backstage when I was only a few feet away.) Hrm, I suppose it’s up to you to decide.
Anyway, all that aside, this place is lovely and it’s got a lot to offer for everyone. Check out Temple City High School’s musicals, they’re so worth it.

My wife and I have now been to the San Gabriel Mission Playhouse («SGMP») twice. On 1÷7÷12, we attended a performance of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony (having been given free admission by one of the singers, who was authorized to do so). On 2÷19÷12, my wife and I attended the Carmelite Sisters in Concert (having entered and won a contest for two free tickets). Neither the foregoing nor anything else has been or will be given to me in exchange for this review.
I found the SGMP to be a very beautiful and charming venue. It has the look and feel of a historic building from an earlier era of California history. It is located in a neighborhood of buildings with a similar look and feel, adding to the atmosphere. The playhouse itself appeared to be clean and well-​maintained. Our seats were comfortable and we were able to hear everything well enough. We were readily able to find free parking nearby. My only warning is that if you are tall, watch that you don’t bump your head when you descend the stairway to the restroom. Like many historic buildings, it was designed at a time when percentage-​wise there were substantially fewer taller people than there are today.
I highly recommend this venue.

Beautiful historic venue. From the painted ceiling to the friendly staff, a great place to see an event!
We saw the Wurlitzer organ in action. We are so lucky to have such a wonderful instrument right here in the city of San Gabriel.
If you have an opportunity to visit here you should definitely attend.

Surprisingly the venue is well maintained and beautiful decorated inside. The sound and lights systems are awesome too, I really enjoyed the performance held there last night. Will go back if there is any good performance. The parking is only $ 5 for that performance, don’t know if it is a usual price. Street parking is also available if you don’t mind workinig a few blocks.

It was a magical evening. We lucked out with wonderful seats to watch Tchaikovsky’s classic, «The Nutcracker.» Although it was the abridged version, the performance was laudable, with lavish sets and costumes, and over 70 dancers from the Pasadena Dance Theater. With a vast number of them, child-performers…showing off their pointe work.
We arrived early enough to be able to steal a few shots of all the intricate details of this elaborate mission. We marveled at the old-​world sights, the beauty of Spanish and Indian influences of the architecture. Inside, genteel side boxes line against the walls of the auditorium. Perfect for couples! I could get into the history of how this mission once used to be a motion picture theater, but perhaps, I will save a history lesson for another review.
If you haven’t watched the «Nutcracker,» to watch it here is an alluring experience. However, if you find that you have missed this performance, attend the next event. It will satisfy both your desire to watch a performance, and to stroll through an enchanting venue; much like a museum.
If you are lucky to catch the show, you will love the scene where the Prince and Clara move through a whimsical winter wonderland, and into the kingdom of the sweets, where the sugar plum fairy honors the couple with entertainment from around the world. =)