Riverside was a much different place in 1926. The population was booming, but we had yet to reach 100,000 people. It was the last production year of the Ford Model T. World War I was well in the rearview, and we were coasting blindly toward the Great Depression. Riverside Community Players had emerged as a cohort of the Riverside Woman’s Club and were now producing and performing shows at the Loring Opera House downtown.
Over the next several decades, the Players performed in several different locations around town until they secured a space at their current location in 1953. Their tenure at the little building hidden on 14th and Brockton was not smooth. The expansion of the Community Hospital threatened to swallow up the theater until a final resolution was made in 1995 to keep it where it was for a while.
For 30 years, RCP has enjoyed its stable home, locally producing high-quality plays and musicals. The upcoming 2026 season is Riverside Community Players’ 100th consecutive season. They have planned an incredible schedule ranging from Midsomer Nights to a pair of Mid-Century Wasserman masterpieces.
Lynne Ennis, an RCP Board Member, is excited about the new season. “RCP has been providing live theatre to Riverside and the surrounding area for 100 years. Our historic season, performed on our unique arena stage, will provide our audiences with an intimate, impactful, and enjoyable entertainment experience. Our current season is retrospective and is filled with popular plays, in part chosen by our patrons.” Lynn encourages season tickets to ensure you get to see all the shows. “You can’t beat the entertainment value for the price of a season ticket!"
Riverside Community Players Centennial Season Main Stage Lineup
On Golden Pond by Ernest Thompson September 6th - 22nd, 2024 A touching drama about an elderly couple spending their summer at their vacation home, dealing with family tensions and the challenges of aging.
Wait Until Dark by Frederick Knott October 25th - November 10th, 2024 A suspenseful thriller about a recently blinded woman who must outwit criminals trying to retrieve a drug-filled doll.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Dale Wasserman January 31st - February 16th, 2025 An adaptation of Ken Kesey’s novel, explores life in a mental institution and the clash between a rebellious patient and the authoritarian Nurse Ratched.
A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare April 18th - May 4th, 2025 Shakespearean comedy about love and magic in the Athenian woods.
Man of La Mancha by Dale Wasserman June 20th - July 6th, 2025 A musical, based on Cervantes’ Don Quixote, tells the story of a man on an idealistic quest during the Spanish Inquisition.
Tickets for the season and individual productions can be found on the Riverside Community Players website. The most expensive season package is an excellent value, and each production costs less than a single, regular ticket at Regal Cinemas. Tickets do sell out, so buy ASAP to ensure a seat. Congratulations on 100 years in Riverside, and we hope the Riverside Community Players will be around for many more seasons.
