“Perseverance, dear my lord, keeps honour bright”
― William Shakespeare, Troilus and Cressida
Our Vision
We envision a world where everyone has access to high‑quality, relevant performances of Shakespeare and other classics, which bring together artists and audiences of all ages and backgrounds, spark curiosity, and foster lasting community connection in Mill Valley and beyond.
Cast of our first production, As You Like It.
Our Mission
To create free and accessible productions of Shakespeare and other theatre classics that celebrate shared human experience and foster a gathering place for community, audiences, and artists.
A brief history of The Curtain Theatre
Our organization was originally formed in 2000 by Mill Valley arts producer John Leonard, set designer Steve Coleman, and artistic director Mikel Clifford to celebrate Mill Valley’s centennial with a production of Shakespeare’s As You Like It.
With city sponsorship from the Mill Valley Arts Commission and Parks and Recreation Department, along with generous community donors, we have continued to produce free summer shows in the city’s beautiful Old Mill Park Amphitheater.
In 2010 the board established the Curtain Theatre as a non-profit, named after one of London’s first public theatres. The Curtain was home to Shakespeare’s company, the Lord Chamberlain’s Men, until they constructed the Globe in 1599. Like our own Curtain Theatre, the 1577 original featured an open-air stage and a conspicuous shortage of curtains.
Open auditions are held in early Spring and announced on our web page. All genders and ethnicities are encouraged to participate.
Steve Coleman’s set from Summer 2009.
