Capital Stage

Capital Stage is a professional nonprofit theatre company in Sacramento whose mission is to entertain, engage and challenge its audience with bold, thought-provoking theatre. Founded in 2005, Capital Stage produces seven full-length live theatre productions each year, as well as various concerts and special events in its Midtown Sacramento home at 2215 J Street. Capital Stage also offers apprenticeships and internships to individuals seeking professional experience in theatre, performing arts classes to the public, and educational theatrical opportunities in association with CLARA, The Crocker Art Museum and McGeorge School of Law. Named by The Sacramento Bee as “One of the most respected arts organizations in the region”, and "One of the area's hottest theatre companies" by Capital Public Radio. Capital Stage continues to grow as a leader of cutting-edge quality theatre in Northern California.

Capital Stage was founded as the Delta King Theatre in 1999. At that time, the company was a division of the Riverboat Delta King, performing in the riverboat's intimate, 115-seat theatre. In 2004, we became a professional Actors' Equity Association company, and in 2005, Capital Stage Company became an independent, nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization, increasing our capacity to stage innovative and thought-provoking productions, and to become a leader in the evolution of the performing arts in our region. In 2006, after only one year of producing as the newly formed Capital Stage, the critics of the Sacramento News & Review voted us the 'Best Professional Theatre' in the greater Sacramento region. Since then, Capital Stage continues to receive praise for 'bringing an edgier, urban sophistication to professional theatre...' (Sacramento Bee). In 2008, the Arts & Business Council recognized Capital Stage with the 'Arts Management Excellence' award. That same year, our Founding Artistic Director, Stephanie Gularte, was selected as one Sacramento Magazine's '40 Under 40' people to watch for 'giving a shot in the arm to local theatre.' In 2010, the Sacramento News & Review named Capital Stage 'the best of the best' for 'an unbroken history of picking great plays for great directors, casting them well and letting the show go on from there.'

With Capital Stage's rapid growth, it was only a matter of time before our small professional company with its quality productions of contemporary plays, would outgrow our home aboard the Riverboat Delta King. In 2011, Capital Stage set to work on renovating the Old Armory in Sacramento's vibrant Midtown district as a custom-designed 125-seat theatre space. We made the bold move to our home on J Street in the fall of 2011 and opened our 7th season with the critically acclaimed "Superior Donuts" by Tracy Letts. This move not only gave us a home of our own, but it also put us in the heart of the vibrant and thriving midtown Sacramento district where we ensure our company's trademark intimate and quality theatre experience, while expanding our artistic possibilities.

In 2014 Founding Artistic Director Stephanie Gularte stepped down and Co-Founder Jonathan Williams was given the title of Producing Artistic Director. Capital Stage joined the E. Claire Raley Studios for the Performing Arts (CLARA) as one of its first community of non-profit arts organizations. In 2015 Williams stepped down as Producing Artistic Director and the Board of Directors hired Michael Stevenson, now in his seventh year as Artistic Director. Capital Stage had reached almost 2,300 subscribers before the pandemic. In 2021, General Manager Keith Riedell was promoted to Managing Director to expand the leadership team.

Capital Stage brings cutting-edge and thought-provoking plays to our community, casting the finest actors, and pursuing an artistic vision that explores the very core of what it means to be human. In our Midtown Sacramento home at 2215 J Street, we keep audiences close to the action with new heights of creativity.