Theater History

More than seven decades have passed since Carmel’s Sunset School celebrated the opening of its new auditorium. In 1931, it was the finest assembly hall of any school in the area with seating for over 700. In 1963, the City of Carmel bought the Sunset School complex and renamed it the Sunset Community and Cultural Center. The school's auditorium, originally built as an addition to the grammar school during the Great Depression, became the Sunset Center.

For nearly forty years, the Sunset Center was home to symphonies, chamber musicians, singers, actors, and dancers. By the early 1990’s, however, near-constant performances had taken their toll. For decades, patrons had to overlook the auditorium’s poor acoustics and sight lines as well as the inconvenient, remote restrooms. Meanwhile, performers were regularly hampered by its small stage - too small, in fact, to comfortably hold a complete, modern orchestra.  (read more)