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Our Story
Redwood Playhouse:
This building was originally constructed as a public school by the Federal Public Works Administration in 1939.
Later used as School district administrative offices, In the 1970's it became an important hub of a thriving Southern Humboldt Theatre and Dance renaissance as a performance space, The Osprey Learning center, and a teen center, the building was in decay, and was declared surplus by the School Board.
In 2009 the College of the Redwoods purchased & rehabilitated most of the building as a satellite instructional site.
The college administration was very supportive of our community vision of refurbishing the former gym, remembered fondly by long time residents as "The Theatre" to serve local performing artists, & community gatherings. Organizers meeting for a year, became The Redwood Community Theatre Board of Directors and entered into a lease agreement with the college that led to reopening the theatre Know known as The Redwood Playhouse, as a community non-profit in January 2013. As a performing arts theatre space we have hosted Dance, Music & Theatre Performance, Recitals & Rehearsals, Film Festivals, Children's Programs, State & County Meetings & voting place, Organizational Meetings, Fitness, Exercise, Martial Arts, Safety & Training Classes, Educational Presentations, Private Parties, & Memorial Gatherings.
The site—historically known locally as the old school—was acquired in 2019 by the Southern Humboldt Health Care District (SoHum Health) now established as the So Hum Health Sprowel Creek Campus, to replace and expand aging community healthcare infrastructure with offices, meeting rooms and a Pharmacy in the main building. With Plans to build a new Hospital on the former sports field behind the building.
SoHum Health continues its support of the Playhouse mission.
The building is now listed with the livingnewdeal.org The Living New Deal’s mission is to document the extraordinary material contributions of the New Deal, 1933-1942, to every city, state and territory of the United States; to educate the American public about the New Deal and its long-term impacts; and to keep alive the New Deal vision of large-scale government programs to meet the nation’s challenges and serve the common people.