Mountain Play Association

The Mountain Play Association, commonly known as the Mountain Play, is a nonprofit theatrical organization based at Mount Tamalpais in Marin County, California. Founded in 1913, it is responsible for producing outdoor theatrical events at the Sidney B. Cushing Memorial Amphitheater, a 4,000-seat stone venue within Mount Tamalpais State Park. The amphitheater sits at approximately 2,000 feet above sea level, below the mountain's 2,571-foot East Peak, and is one of the defining features of the organization's identity and operating model. The association's first production was staged in a natural, bowl-shaped clearing before the permanent open-air amphitheater was built. The inaugural presentation, Abraham and Isaac, was financed by John C. Catlin, who became the organization's first president. Congressman William Kent, who owned the land on which the theater stood, served as one of the association's vice presidents. Early audiences reached the site by hiking from Mill Valley or by traveling on the Mount Tamalpais and Muir Woods Railway, a scenic railway once promoted as the world's crookedest railroad. The venue was deeded to the Mountain Play Association by Kent in 1916. In 1936, the association transferred the theater to the Mount Tamalpais State Park, which by then surrounded the site. During the 1930s, Civilian Conservation Corps workers constructed the substantial serpentine-stone amphitheater that remains the organization's principal performance venue. The theater was later renamed the Sidney B. Cushing Memorial Amphitheater in recognition of the railroad executive associated with the mountain railway and the original theater site. The venue was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2015 because of its architectural and cultural significance. For much of its history, the Mountain Play has centered its public program on one large musical each year, generally performed during May and June. Since Marilyn Smith became executive director in 1977, the organization has emphasized Broadway-style musical productions adapted to an outdoor setting. Its repertoire has included South Pacific, Hairspray, Fiddler on the Roof, and Hair. The performances combine professional and community participation with the distinctive experience of attending theater in a state-park environment. Accessibility and community engagement have also been important parts of the association's public role. Sign-language interpretation was introduced for selected May performances in 1980. In the early 1980s, the organization developed wheelchair accommodations, including an improved access path and a shaded wheelchair platform. Programs for blind and visually impaired patrons were expanded in 1993 through professional live audio description, and upgraded equipment later allowed users to sit throughout the theater rather than in a designated area. The association's outreach includes Day on the Mountain, introduced in 1993 for low-income and at-risk children. In cooperation with Bay Area social-service agencies, the program provides transportation and tickets, pre-performance theater workshops, and guided nature walks on Mount Tamalpais. Since 1995, the Mountain Play has also presented an annual performance at the Redwoods retirement center in Mill Valley for older patrons who are unable to travel to the mountain. The organization describes its mission as producing an annual, spectacular outdoor theatrical experience that encourages appreciation of Mount Tamalpais, strengthens the community, and builds on the region's long theatrical tradition. It is affiliated with Theatre Bay Area and the North Bay Theatre Group.

The Mountain Play Association was founded in 1913 as an outdoor theater organization on Mount Tamalpais in Marin County, California. Its first presentation, Abraham and Isaac, took place in a natural amphitheater before construction of the permanent stone theater. John C. Catlin financed the production and became the association's first president, while theater director Garnet Holme guided the organization from its founding until his death in 1929. Congressman William Kent, who owned the land where the theater was located, was among the association's early vice presidents. The mountain setting shaped both the organization's audience experience and its early logistics. Patrons could hike approximately eight miles from Mill Valley or travel by the Mount Tamalpais and Muir Woods Railway, a scenic line known for its exceptionally winding route. The railway ceased operation in 1930. In 1916, Kent deeded the theater to the Mountain Play Association. The site was subsequently transferred to Mount Tamalpais State Park in 1936, after the park had come to surround the venue. During the 1930s, Civilian Conservation Corps workers built the large serpentine-stone amphitheater that replaced the earlier lawn setting. The venue, now known as the Sidney B. Cushing Memorial Amphitheater, seats approximately 4,000 people and stands at about 2,000 feet in elevation below East Peak. Its architecture and role in the region's cultural history led to its listing on the National Register of Historic Places on February 2, 2015. The Mountain Play became one of the area's long-running nonprofit theater companies. Beginning in 1977, when Marilyn Smith became executive director, it increasingly concentrated on an annual Broadway-style musical, usually presented during May and June. Productions cited in reference material include South Pacific, Hairspray, Fiddler on the Roof, and Hair. A 2014 production of South Pacific ran from May 18 through June 15. The organization operates around the distinctive challenge of staging large-scale theater in an open-air state-park venue, making the mountain landscape part of the product and brand experience. Access and outreach developed alongside the performance program. Sign-language interpretation was introduced at May performances in 1980. During the early 1980s, the association added wheelchair accommodations, including a graded route and a shaded wheelchair platform. Its services for visually impaired patrons were expanded in 1993 through simultaneous professional audio description; equipment upgrades in 1997 allowed patrons using the service to sit anywhere in the theater. The Day on the Mountain program, also introduced in 1993, brought low-income and at-risk children to performances through partnerships with Bay Area social-service agencies and included transportation, workshops, and nature hikes. Since 1995, the association has also presented an annual program at the Redwoods retirement center in Mill Valley for elderly people unable to make the trip to the mountain. The association is a 501(c)(3) organization and belongs to Theatre Bay Area and the North Bay Theatre Group. Its stated mission centers on producing an annual outdoor theatrical event, encouraging appreciation of Mount Tamalpais, involving and strengthening the surrounding community, and extending a tradition that began in the early twentieth century. Beyond the productions themselves, the Mountain Play's significance lies in preserving a historic venue, sustaining regional live theater, and connecting performance with public access to the mountain environment.

• 2015

  Amphitheater recognized as historic

  [1]Mountain Play Associationen.wikipedia.org

  The Sidney B. Cushing Memorial Amphitheater was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

• 1997

  Audio-description equipment upgraded

  [1]Mountain Play Associationen.wikipedia.org

  Equipment improvements allowed patrons using audio description to sit throughout the amphitheater instead of in a specially designated area.

• 1995

  Retirement-center performance program begins

  [1]Mountain Play Associationen.wikipedia.org

  The Mountain Play began presenting an annual performance at the Redwoods retirement center in Mill Valley.

• 1993

  Audio description and Day on the Mountain expanded

  [1]Mountain Play Associationen.wikipedia.org

  The association expanded services for visually impaired patrons and launched Day on the Mountain for low-income and at-risk children.

• 1980

  Sign-language interpretation introduced

  [1]Mountain Play Associationen.wikipedia.org

  Selected May performances began offering sign-language interpretation.

• 1977

  Broadway musical era begins

  [1]Mountain Play Associationen.wikipedia.org

  Marilyn Smith became executive director, and the organization developed its continuing focus on annual Broadway-style musicals.

• 1936

  Theater transferred to Mount Tamalpais State Park

  [1]Mountain Play Associationen.wikipedia.org

  The association transferred the theater to the state park that surrounded the venue.

• 1930

  Mount Tamalpais railway service ends

  [1]Mountain Play Associationen.wikipedia.org

  The Mount Tamalpais and Muir Woods Railway ceased operations, ending a historic transport link used by early Mountain Play audiences.

• 1929

  Garnet Holme's directorship ends

  [1]Mountain Play Associationen.wikipedia.org

  Garnet Holme, the association's theater director since its founding, died after directing the organization for sixteen years.

• 1916

  Theater deeded to the association

  [1]Mountain Play Associationen.wikipedia.org

  William Kent transferred the theater site to the Mountain Play Association.

• 1913

  Association founded and first play presented

  [1]Mountain Play Associationen.wikipedia.org

  The Mountain Play Association was founded, and its first production, Abraham and Isaac, was staged in a natural amphitheater on Mount Tamalpais.

A historic, community-oriented outdoor theater organization combining Broadway-style musical productions with the natural and cultural setting of Mount Tamalpais.

• Musical theater · 1913

  Annual outdoor musical

  The Mountain Play's core offering is generally one large musical production presented during May and June at the Sidney B. Cushing Memorial Amphitheater. The format combines Broadway-oriented repertoire with the scale, scenery, weather, and landscape of an open-air venue in Mount Tamalpais State Park.

• Audience services · 1980

  Accessible theater services

  The organization has developed a range of access provisions, including sign-language interpretation, wheelchair access improvements, and live audio description for visually impaired patrons. These services are integrated into selected performances and are intended to broaden participation in the mountain theater experience.

• Arts education and outreach · 1993

  Day on the Mountain

  Day on the Mountain is an outreach program for low-income and at-risk children. Delivered with Bay Area social-service agencies, it combines transportation and admission with pre-performance workshops and guided nature hikes, linking musical theater with an introduction to Mount Tamalpais.

• Community performance · 1995

  Redwoods retirement-center performance

  This annual off-site presentation at the Redwoods retirement center in Mill Valley serves older patrons who cannot travel to the mountain amphitheater. It extends the association's programming beyond its principal venue and supports access for an audience with limited mobility.

• 1993Day on the Mountain

  Marin County · San Francisco Bay Area

  The association created an access and education initiative for low-income and at-risk children, working with social-service agencies to provide transportation, tickets, theater workshops, and guided hikes.

  Outcome. The program broadened access to the annual production while connecting theater participation with exposure to Mount Tamalpais and its natural setting.

  Source
• 1980Accessible May performances

  United States · San Francisco Bay Area

  Sign-language interpretation was introduced for May performances, followed by additional wheelchair and audio-description accommodations in later years.

  Outcome. The initiative established accessibility as a continuing part of the organization's public programming.

  Source

• 1993

  Expand community access and educationStrategy

  Background

  The association sought to connect its theater program with underserved audiences and the cultural and environmental setting of Mount Tamalpais.

  Action taken

  It launched Day on the Mountain, combining subsidized access, transportation, workshops, and guided nature hikes for low-income and at-risk children.

  Aftermath

  The initiative became a central example of the organization's community and educational role.

  Source

• 1977

  Adopt annual Broadway-style musicals as the core programStrategy

  Background

  The organization had a long history of outdoor theatrical presentations and shifted toward a recurring large-scale musical format under executive director Marilyn Smith.

  Action taken

  The Mountain Play centered its season on one Broadway-oriented musical, typically performed in May and June at the mountain amphitheater.

  Aftermath

  The annual musical became the association's defining public offering, with productions including South Pacific, Hairspray, Fiddler on the Roof, and Hair.

  Source

1. 1Mountain Play Associationen.wikipedia.org