Redlands Theatre Festival Now in its 42nd Summer Season

Long known for its place in Southern California citrus industry history, its many beautiful Victorian era homes and lovely tree-lined streets, the city of Redlands has been for many years one of the most popular places to live in the Inland Empire.

Home to the prestigious University of Redlands and recognized for its parks, schools and historic downtown, Redlands also is home to popular annual celebrations of theater, music, art and community events.

One of Southern California's few repertory theater companies, the Redlands Theatre Festival, is celebrating its 42nd anniversary season this summer. Six plays and musicals will be staged in the outdoor Avice Meeker Sewall Theatre in the city's Prospect Park.

The season opens in mid-July and runs through mid-August every summer, with the 60-plus member company alternating shows nightly in its 400 plus-seat venue, with actors, directors and technical staff all sharing on and off-stage duties.

What began in 1972 as a modest summer theater program at Crafton Hills College in Yucaipa, the festival has grown into a theatrical institution in the Inland Empire and in Southern California itself.

Cliff Cabanilla is the festival's founder and producing director. During the past four decades, the Redlands Theatre Festival has produced more than 200 plays and musicals, staged more than 1,600 performances, featured more than 300 company members on and off stage, and entertained more than 500,000 audience members.