Peoria Players History

Peoria Players Theatre is the nation’s fourth longest consecutively-running community theatre, and the longest in the state of Illinois. Peoria Players originated on October 6, 1919 in Peoria, Illinois, with a one-act play by Oliphant Down entitled "The Maker of Dreams" and has been in continuous operation since. This feat was accomplished in spite of many obstacles – a depression, the construction of I-74, financial difficulties, and several venue changes. We typically perform six shows a year (four musicals, one comedy, and one drama), a special musical in June, our Summer Youth Theatre in August, and a holiday production in December. The mission of Peoria Players Theatre is as follows: 1) the promotion and presentation of live theatrical productions; 2) the study of the art of the theater; and 3) the encouragement of original dramatic works among it members. We encourage participation from many diverse segments of the community. For example, we have staged such shows as "Children of a Lesser God," "The Boys Next Door," "Fences," "The King and I," "Fiddler on the Roof," "Ragtime," and Elton John and Tim Rice’s "Aida," and we will continue to do so. It is our continuing goal to provide culturally inclusive live theatrical entertainment to our area, as well as give the many talented individuals in the area a creative outlet and the opportunity to perform and grow in a safe, artistically challenging environment.