Our Mission

At Lompoc Civic Theatre, we're committed to educating, entertaining and providing a creative outlet for the people of Lompoc and the surrounding cities.

 

We know Lompoc is alive with art in all forms. Lompoc Civic Theatre is a place where a newcomer can find friends and instant family. We welcome everyone at every level of experience.

 

LCT is a non-profit, all-volunteer organization. Over the years, LCT directors, actors, playwrights, and crew members have come from all walks of life, including students, teachers, radio DJs, entrepreneurs, accountants, Air Force personnel and even a serving Lompoc Mayor just to name a few.

Kay La Rue

Walter Dundon

Al Thompson

Marian Stave

Our History

Lompoc Civic Theatre was formed in 1973 with the first performance of A Thousand Clowns. Since then, LCT has produced nearly 200 plays, musicals, one-act plays, dinner theaters, murder mystery parties, and variety shows.

 

Before that?

 

The first theatre groups in town were the Lompoc Minstrels and the Whitehill’s Club Minstrels, who staged plays at the Lompoc Opera House on South H Street from 1892 to 1927.

 

For a short time, a Lompoc Dramatic Club was organized in the 1920s. Members met in the basement of the old Lompoc library (now the Lompoc Museum) on South H Street. The club performed only one play. During the 1920s and 30s, local clubs such as the Rotary and the Kiwanis also produced dramas, many at Calvert family’s Lompoc Theatre, built in 1927 at 112 North H Street.

 

In 1948, the Lompoc Community Theater (The first LCT) was formed. Many of these new members belonged to the little theater sections of the Community Women’s Club. From 1948, the group read plays in members houses and started to renovate one of Lompoc’s closed schools into a community theater. They produced several plays of the Lompoc Community Center, which is now the site of the Anderson Recreation Center on Walnut. From 1952-1957, several plays were staged at the Lompoc Junior High Auditorium at 217 North L street.

 

The Valley Playhouse Lompoc, Inc. Was organized in 1962 and operated until 1971. The Valley Playhouse combined forces with another group known as the First Nighters in the mid-60s, but lost steam by the end of 1971.

 

In 1972, interest in community theater was revived when Al Thompson, Walter Dundon and Katherine (Kay) La Rue got together and formed Lompoc Civic Theater (LCT).

 

On February 16, 1973, Herb Gardener’s A Thousand Clowns was presented as LCT’s first production, starring Marian Stave, who was the constant driving force behind LCT until her death in 2020.

 

The global COVID-19 pandemic paused productions for several years, but thanks to the efforts of president Larry McLellan and treasurer Anne Ramsey, LCT continues to put on engaging and entertaining shows and provide opportunities for our community to create live theatre!

Our Board

LCT board members are nominated in late fall, and voted on at the December Membership meeting every year. Each board member serves a term of two years. Only current members in good standing are eligible to vote in board member elections, or run for a board position.

 

Current Board members are:

President - Larry McLellan
Vice-President - Anastasia Helfinstein
Recording Secretary - Emma Recher

Corresponding Secretary - Michelle Pittenger
Treasurer - Anne Ramsey
Members-at-Large -  Michael Callahan

Partners

Friends of LCT

A very special thank you to the friends of LCT:

 

 

Angels ($200+) 
Anonymous
Contreras Insurance & Investment Services
Scott & Kaaren Hollister
T. A. Krinsky
Craig Scott
Timothy R. Smith
Robert & Mary Vossler
Matt & Emily Wilson
Jason Wolfe & Ely Jimenez 

 

Patrons ($100-199) 
Michael Callahan
Margaret Courtney
Patricia Jordan
Rev. Shirley Landis
Larry McLellan & William Koseluk
Sally Prentiss
Jayne Scalise
Surf Connection
H. James Tellefson
Susan Warnstrom 

 

Sponsors ($50-99) 
Sarah & Paul Barthel
James & Sally Bass
Virginia Bentley
Shirley Cram
Barbara & Warren Culberson
Walter & Lola Day
Dave Dorey
Darlene Fraser
Mike & Peggy Gaertig
Daniel & Karen Ginder
Rich Gracyk
Gary James
Loretta Johnson
Janice Keller
Douglas & Diana Ludden
Barry Marks & Mary Fahning
MaryLou Kerwood
Val Scott
Maria Slizys
Al Thompson
Betty B. Todd