In 1994, Mark Wilson, Terri Wilson, and Graham Green laid the foundation for a professional regional theatre in Murphys, CA. Establishing nonprofit status and adopting the name Murphys Creek Theatre (MCT), they set out to create something unique—professional productions in a small-town setting. The first few plays were performed at the Black Bart Playhouse, then home to the Black Bart Players, a community theatre company.

In 1996, MCT found a summer home outdoors at Stevenot Winery, thanks to the generosity of Barden Stevenot. Our first outdoor Shakespeare production, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, was a smash hit, featuring local kids as fairies. That experience inspired The Mirror Project, our original youth acting conservatory that combined workshops in acting, stage combat, and more, culminating in a full, student-cast Shakespearean production.

As audiences grew, Barden built an amphitheater to support our expanding summer season. With the addition of rotating repertory productions, our outdoor performances became a community favorite, drawing enthusiastic crowds for nearly two decades.

In 2009, the Black Bart Players dissolved and transferred the lease of the Playhouse to MCT. From that point on, our productions alternated between the Black Bart Playhouse and the Cornelia B. Stevenot Amphitheatre until 2015, when changes in ownership and unforeseen challenges forced us to say goodbye to our beloved outdoor stage. Since then, the Black Bart Playhouse has become MCT’s permanent home, serving as the heart of our productions and a reminder of the deep roots we share with the community.

Our commitment to education continues with programs like Summer on Stage & Screen, which nurtures young talent, and the Quill to Act new play festival, fostering emerging playwrights.

Through challenges like the pandemic, MCT has endured thanks to the dedication of our board, staff, and community. Today, we’re proud to carry forward over three decades of history, presenting top-tier productions and inspiring the next generation of theatre artists—all in the charming, gold-rush town of Murphys.