The building façade has been restored and it is our intention to restore the interior to its 1937 splendor (or as close to it as possible). We will be doing work to discover the original interior color scheme. Some information is available in early newspaper articles published at the time the theater opened. The theater will be cleaned, repaired, renovated and repainted to what we believe are the original colors. We will be modernizing the building with new heating and air conditioning systems, handicapped accessible restrooms, and ultimately a much larger stage. During the restoration we will also be modernizing the performance area with new sound, lighting, and rigging systems, making it one of the most advanced theaters in the area.

It is going to take a considerable amount of work and funding to completely renovate and restore the theater. We have a phasing plan (see below). We would like to have limited performing capabilities by October, 2009 and make further improvements as funding becomes available.

Since there have been major changes made to the building during its 78 year life, we don't know exactly what the interior originally looked like. We're trying to find pictures, descriptions, and drawings of the theater's original appearance. We're especially interested in knowing about the paint colors that were used, information about the lobby, the curtains, and the original ticket booth. If you have any pictures or stories that might help, we'd love to hear from you.

There is an incredible diversity in the Performing Arts and we plan on showcasing as much as we can! Performances will include traditional musicals and dramas, movies, all kinds of music, dance, improvisation, and things you may not even think of, such as vaudeville style shows and even circuses. The most important thing for us is to give our audience what they want to see. We will work with local performing groups and have them perform regularly. If there's something you'd like to see, please let us know. We will bring in entertainers from out of the area and some "name" entertainers.

Yes, we will show movies, but they will be one part of our programming, maybe twice a week. We expect to show classic and contemporary classic, arts films, and films that we all may have forgotten. Until work begins on the interior restoration the current movie operator will continue to show movies.

Yes! The theater will be available for local performing arts groups to use. We will also rent the theater to other groups for private events, corporate meetings and weddings.

We are not offering tours at this time.

The building is in good condition given its age and history, and is currently operating as a two screen movie theater.

The theater is owned by The Auburn Placer Performing Arts Center (APPAC), a 501 © 3 non profit corporation with a 21 person board of directors comprised of local business and community leaders.

Two things must happen for the project to continue:

1) We must continue to broaden our base of community support for annual membership donations ($35 per year) minimum. This means people who are REALLY INTERESTED in seeing the project succeed need to become an APPAC CATalyst, and do this every year. These funds are used to support Alpaca's annual operating expenses. Donations are tax deductible.

2) APPAC must raise an estimated $3.5 million to construct the initially planned 447 seat performing arts center. A capital campaign is planned for Fall, 2008.

Go to our donations page. From there you may print out a form to mail in with your check or credit card contribution, or you may make a secure donation online.

The Auburn Placer Performing Arts Center thanks you for your continued support and donations.