Live theater remains one of the most enduring ways people come together for stories, conversation, and a night out. The 2025 season at Santa Fe Playhouse offers that opportunity just steps from the Santa Fe Plaza, inside a historic adobe theater in the Barrio de Analco. As New Mexico’s oldest continuously operating theater, the Playhouse returns with a full calendar of performances.
This historic Santa Fe venue presents work that, according to their website, aims to be “fearless theater that challenges, inspires, and entertains.” The upcoming season reflects that spirit, with programming that spans musical comedy, historical drama, satire, and reimagined classics, all staged within the adobe walls that have housed performances for more than a century.
Behind the Curtain: About Santa Fe Playhouse
Established in 1919 by writer and social activist Mary Hunter Austin, the Santa Fe Playhouse has been a continuous presence in the city’s artistic community for over 100 years. Initially founded as the Santa Fe Players and later incorporated as the Santa Fe Little Theatre in 1922, it is the oldest theater in New Mexico and among the oldest west of the Mississippi.
Throughout its history, this historic Santa Fe theater has presented a range of performances, including dramas, musicals, satires, and original works, attracting both emerging and established talent. Notable alumni include actors such as William Shatner, Marsha Mason, and Ali MacGraw.
In 2022, American Theatre magazine featured the Playhouse in its “Know a Theatre” series, highlighting its leadership and commitment to artistic risk-taking. The theater contributes to Santa Fe’s cultural heritage not only through its performances but also by providing year-round employment, supporting local artisans and vendors, and attracting thousands of attendees annually.
For more information on the Playhouse’s history, visit their History Page.
Santa Fe Playhouse 2025 Mainstage Productions
The Playhouse’s new season features five mainstage shows, each presenting its own story of drama, music or satire.
SOMETHING ROTTEN!
July 10 – August 2, 2025
This Broadway hit, Something Rotten, presents a high-energy musical comedy set in Renaissance England, where two playwright brothers scramble to outshine Shakespeare by inventing the world’s first musical. Written by John O’Farrell and Karey Kirkpatrick with music and lyrics by Karey and Wayne Kirkpatrick, this Renaissance comedy production offers a playful satire of the theater world itself. Local talent brings regional flair to this Broadway show in New Mexico. Originally nominated for 10 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Something Rotten! has earned praise for its clever script and catchy score.
PUEBLO REVOLT
August 14 – August 31, 2025
Written by Dillon Christopher Chitto (Mississippi Choctaw, Laguna, Isleta), this new work presents a dramatic look at the 1680 Pueblo Revolt through the story of two brothers caught in the uncertainty of colonial New Mexico. One is drawn to rebellion, the other to self-expression, and both must confront what survival means when history begins to turn. Directed by Tara Moses (Seminole Nation), Pueblo Revolt brings Indigenous voices to the foreground of this historic Santa Fe theater’s 2025 season. This New Mexico historical drama reflects the growing prominence of Native American playwrights in national theater conversations.
DRACULA (A Feminist Revenge Fantasy)
October 16 – November 2, 2025
Playwright Kate Hamill, known for her bold adaptations of literary classics, reimagines Bram Stoker’s Dracula through a feminist lens — balancing gothic horror with incisive social commentary. With dark humor and theatrical intensity, the production arrives just in time for Halloween theater events in Santa Fe. Hamill’s signature style transforms the traditional vampire tale into a pointed critique of power and gender, resonating with the Playhouse’s ongoing interest in contemporary, feminist theater.
THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD (BROADWAY REVIVAL VERSION)
December 4, 2025 – January 4, 2026
Based on Charles Dickens’ final, unfinished novel, Rupert Holmes’ Tony Award-winning musical, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, invites audiences to choose the ending. This interactive theater piece brings Victorian-era intrigue and music to the stage, making it ideal holiday entertainment. Each performance offers different resolutions through its unique audience participation element.
THE MELODRAMA
Various dates, fall 2025
A beloved Santa Fe Fiesta tradition, The Melodrama is written and performed by locals, lampooning the year’s events through song, satire, and spirited audience participation. Produced by the Santa Fe Playhouse and performed annually since the 1920s, it continues selling out as one of the most anticipated events in Santa Fe’s community theater calendar. The production runs during Fiesta and reflects the Playhouse’s roots in local engagement.
Santa Fe Playhouse Events 2025
In addition to the mainstage productions, the calendar encompasses workshops, community festivals and special events, giving audiences reasons to return to the stage throughout the year.
505 ALIVE!
June 5 – July 27, 2025
A Santa Fe summer arts festival, 505 Alive! features short performances, experimental work, and local collaborations celebrating regional creativity. With music, theater, and family programming, it contributes to the broader Santa Fe summer activities season.
YOUTH THEATRE INTENSIVE
July 8 – 26, 2025
This three-week program provides pre-professional acting training for teens entering grades 6 – 12. Sessions focus on audition techniques, script work, technical skills, and performance. Guest instructors and college preparation resources are included, concluding with a showcase for friends and family.
PLAY. WRITE.
July 2025
This incubator for emerging playwrights guides new work from first draft to staged reading. Participating writers receive support from dramaturgs and feedback from live audiences.
Planning Your Visit
Location
The Santa Fe Playhouse is located at 142 E. De Vargas St., Santa Fe, just steps from the historic Santa Fe Plaza. The building, one of the oldest still in theatrical use in the United States, offers an intimate setting within its preserved adobe architecture.
Tickets and Box Office Hours
Tickets can be purchased online or in person at the box office. Box office hours are as follows:
- Monday – Tuesday: Closed
- Wednesday: 12 – 3 p.m. (phone only)
- Thursday – Sunday: 1 hour before showtime
Parking and Accessibility
Street parking and paid public lots are available nearby, including along De Vargas Street. The Playhouse is wheelchair accessible, and assistive listening devices are available upon request. Additional parking details are provided on the SantaFePlayhouse.org
Nearby Attractions
The Playhouse’s downtown location makes it easy to pair a performance with dinner or sightseeing. Restaurants, galleries, and museums are all within walking distance, offering a full evening out in the Santa Fe’s cultural district.
Santa Fe Playhouse Education and Community Programs
The Santa Fe Playhouse offers year-round performing arts education through workshops for youth and adults, school outreach programs, and volunteer training. Educators can arrange class visits, talkbacks, and special sessions with teaching artists. Seasonal internships provide hands-on experience in areas like production and stage management, while community members can get involved through structured volunteer opportunities.
Support Santa Fe Playhouse
Support from individuals and organizations helps sustain the work of the Santa Fe Playhouse. Patrons can donate or volunteer. Corporate partnerships also play an important role in keeping ticket prices affordable and programming accessible to the wider community.
Grab Your Seat for Live Theater in Santa Fe Today
Santa Fe Playhouse’s 2025 season brings musicals, laughs, gripping history, and sharp local satire to the stage, all within a theater that’s part of the city’s story. The performances capture the spirit of Santa Fe in ways you won’t forget.
Experience live theater that sparks conversation and connects the community just steps from the Santa Fe Plaza. So plan your visit, grab your seat, and see what’s on stage!
For details on showtimes, tickets, programs, and more, visit the Santa Fe Playhouse website.
This article was posted by Jess
