The Black Hills Playhouse is an American theater located just off the Needles Highway and Iron Mountain Road in Custer State Park

Custer State Park

Custer State Park is a state park and wildlife reserve in the Black Hills of southwestern South Dakota, USA. The park is South Dakota's largest and first state park, named after Lt...

 in the Black Hills

Black Hills

The Black Hills are a small, isolated mountain range rising from the Great Plains of North America in western South Dakota and extending into Wyoming, USA. Set off from the main body of the Rocky Mountains, the region is something of a geological anomaly—accurately described as an "island of...

 of South Dakota

South Dakota

South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...

. The playhouse is managed by Black Hills Playhouse Inc. It is one of the oldest continuously operated summer stock theaters in America. Founded in 1946 by University of South Dakota

University of South Dakota

The University of South Dakota ', the state’s oldest university, was founded in 1862 and classes began in 1882. Located in Vermillion, South Dakota, United States, USD is home to South Dakota's only medical school and law school. USD is governed by the South Dakota Board of Regents, and its current...

 drama professor Dr. Warren M. Lee, the Black Hills Playhouse and its dormitories for actors had been constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps

Civilian Conservation Corps

The Civilian Conservation Corps was a public work relief program that operated from 1933 to 1942 in the United States for unemployed, unmarried men from relief families, ages 18–25. A part of the New Deal of President Franklin D...

in 1933. The current theater was built in 1955. New Dormitories for its theatrical company were built between 1979 and 1982. Leonard Anderson took over as the Managing Director in 1976. In 1987 Jan Swank became Managing Artistic Director. In 2007 a restructuring occurred and Bruce Halverson was hired as the Executive Director with Dan Workman as the Artistic Director and Debra Kern Workman as the Business Manager. In 2008 Michael Burgraff became the Executive Director.

In December of 2010, Linda Anderson was named Executive Director and Dan Workman was named Artistic Director.

In 2011, a successful fundraising campaign raised $500,000 to make improvements to the historic campus. The theater roof structure was strengthened and the building was brought up to 2011 building codes, including covered stairwells, new fire suppression system, a new sanded paver system and sidewalks outside of the building. In addition, a new dining hall was constructed and the snack bar structure foundation was strengthened.
The Black Hills Playhouse is affiliated with the University of South Dakota. Each summer 5 to 6 plays are offered covering musicals, drama, and comedies. The playhouse also supports an outreach program for children called the Children's Theater Company of South Dakota.

External links

• Black Hills Playhouse Website

43.8066°N 103.42797°W