About Us

Who We Are

Since 1946, the Santa Monica Theatre Guild has been a source of entertainment, inspiration and education for residents of Santa Monica, the Westside and Los Angeles. At Santa Monica's only community theatre, thousands of performers, designers, technicians and volunteers have dedicated themselves to enriching the cultural life of the area by providing hundreds of outstanding theatrical productions, workshops and showcase performances. We offer a full season of six musical and non-musical plays with a subscription series, single-show and group reservations available, as well as student and senior discounted admissions. The Santa Monica Theatre Guild is a 501(c)(3) [non-profit] organization and is the recipient of grants from the California Arts Council, Los Angeles County Arts Commission and the Santa Monica Arts Commission.

Mission Statement

The Santa Monica Theatre Guild at the Morgan-Wixson Theatre is a not-for-profit volunteer community theatre that provides a balance, varied and challenging season of published plays. Our goal is to serve the community by producing plays which reflect its cultural diversity and allow all who participate the opportunity to grow in their abilities.

History of the Santa Monica Theatre Guild

The Santa Monica Theatre Guild (SMTG) was founded in 1946, with the charter members first meeting in a private home and formulating plans for their initial production to open at the Miles Playhouse in Lincoln Park that same year. In June 1950, member Geoffrey Morgan made arrangements for the group to move to the abandoned naval facility at 5th Street and Ocean Park Boulevard, which was converted by members into the theatre then known as the Ranch Playhouse. For Mr. Morgan's efforts on their behalf, the membership voted to change the name to the Morgan Theatre. On December 26, 1962, a disastrous fire completely destroyed the Morgan Theatre, and once more the SMTG found itself homeless.

The Board of Directors and the Building Committee responded to this challenge swiftly and decisively, arranging to perform at John Adams Junior High School, and finding a location at 2627 Pico Boulevard which could be acquired to build a new theatre. Over the next three years, with the generous support of SMTG members and the community, the land was acquired, plans were drawn, and the theatre building was constructed, much of the hard physical labor being done by theatre members.

Finally, in March 1966, the new Morgan Theatre opened. With the death of Mel Wixson in 1979, the SMTG lost one of its most loyal and hard-working members. In memory of Mel's selfless devotion, the membership voted to rename the theatre the Morgan-Wixson Theatre.

Many an emerging star has graced the Morgan-Wixson Theatre's stage. In 1947, a very young James Dean starred in our production of "The Romance of Scarlet Gulch." Harvey Korman played the title role in the SMTG's first "Hamlet" in 1955. The 1956 revival of "Green Grow the Lilacs" included four songs written for our production by a young songwriter named Rod McKuen. Happy Days star Marian Ross has played at the Morgan and Joyce DeWitt, of Three's Company fame, starred as Charity in our 1975 production of "Sweet Charity."