Riverside Community Players stage set for the May 2023 performances of Agatha Christie's 'Murder on the Orient Express.' (Courtesy Riverside Community Players)
Riverside Community Players (RCP) will open its 99th continuous season with a production of "Sherlock's Last Case" by Charles Marowitz and directed by Phillip Gabriel on August 25th. The 2023-24 season will continue with four additional main series plays and two family shows, including a comedy, a drama, two holiday shows, and, after a several-year hiatus, bringing back the musical!
RCP is excited about this current season, but they are already making plans for the following season, the 100th continuously operating season. RCP began inauspiciously in 1925, when Janet Scott brought together a group to form a Drama Club, performing first at the Riverside Women's Club, then the Loring Building, Central Junior High School, and then Washington School at 12th and Almond. Continuing for years and then finding a permanent home in 1953 in its current location, near the corner of Brockton and 14th in Riverside, RCP has continued the tradition of live, quality theatre for Riverside and surrounding areas.
RCP is notable for the unique arena stage, which brings an intimate theatrical experience to the audience, and the fact that the theatre has never had to shut down since it began. Surviving wars, depressions, and pandemics, RCP is one of the oldest continuously running theatres in the country. In addition to the primary season, which highlights a variety of live theatre genres, the theatre offers opportunities for youth theatre, the Spotlight Series, which highlights new, classic, or out-of-the-box productions in a Reader's Theatre format, and membership opportunities. Those who wish to become a member enjoy benefits such as a season ticket, snack bar freebies, and guest tickets.
Riverside Community Players is currently fund-raising to restore the exterior of their building, including structural, cosmetic, and fencing improvements, which they hope to have completed by the beginning of their 100th year.
More information: Riverside Community Players theatre is at 4026 Fourteenth St, donation options and tickets are available at riversidecommunityplayers.com.
