Best Kept Carmel

Arts & Culture

Explore Carmel-by-the-Sea's Performing Arts District

Carmel-by-the-Sea is filled with painting and poetry, sculpture and photography. But you could make a strong argument that theater is the foundational art form of the village.

A sudden convergence of writers, actors and wild creative spirits in the early 1900s put Carmel-by-the-Sea on the theater map. Today that legacy lives on with a new generation of theater talent and powerful new stage performances.

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What makes Carmel-by-the-Sea perhaps even more compelling today than a century ago is the array of performing arts spaces that can be experienced in a single visit. The Forest Theater, a magical open-air stage tucked into the tall coastal oaks and pines, holds more than a century of theater lore. Here, heavyweights like George Sterling, Mary Austin and Robinson Jeffers wrote or performed nationally acclaimed plays.

From historic haunts to open-air marvels, every performing arts venue is within easy walking distance from each other, making for a unique walking tour of one of the most diverse and historic groupings of theaters and stages you'll find outside of a metro area.

"It surprises people to be amongst the forest, even though it's called 'the Forest Theater.' There are many outdoor venues in the world and they all have something special. But we have the forest, we have the moths, we have the moon. And some nights you get fog rolling through the stage and that adds to the elements. It's going to be memorable, it's going to be magical when the stars come out."

– Malinda DeRouen, Actor and Singer

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A Golden New Era

And there is new energy coursing through the performing arts scene. The Golden Bough, a theater with a legendary history in Carmel, is being re-built into a modern stage that taps into Carmel's long performing arts tradition. The original "Theatre of the Golden Bough" was built on Ocean Avenue in 1922 by noted Los Angeles attorney Ted Kuster, but burned to the ground in 1935 following a performance of By Candlelight. Kuster then purchased a movie house on Monte Verde Street and eventually named it the Golden Bough Playhouse, but it too burned to the ground in 1949 following a revival of the play By Candlelight. Kuster rebuilt the theater, and after changing hands several times, the theater is once again in the midst of another revival, as the Pacific Repertory Theatre rebuilds it into a state-of-the-art stage. The new Golden Bough will add another featured venue to Carmel-by-the-Sea's already thriving theater scene.

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Feel History in the Forest

The Forest Theater is mystical. Ringed by moss-draped coastal pines, you can feel the history of the place press in around you as you take in a show under the stars. You might even catch a moonrise as actors perform in the open air. This is a huge piece of Carmel-by-the-Sea history, a place that has hosted legends of the stage. Built in 1910, it was the haunt of the early Bohemians like George Sterling, Mary Austin and Herbert Heron. It is one of the oldest outdoor theaters in the West, and its preservation is a tribute to the enduring love of theater that is found within Carmel-by-the-Sea. Catching a show here is truly a glimpse into the founding ethos of the art colony that defines Carmel-by-the-Sea. Open to the elements, surrounded by nature, take in the sights, sounds and spectacle of a production.

Tip: The Forest Theater allows the audience to bring in refreshments to enjoy during the show, so don't be afraid to stop by a local Carmel-by-the-Sea wine or cheese shop and pick out a few favorite items to enjoy during the show.

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See the Spectacular Sunset

The Sunset Cultural Center's stunning gothic architecture and beautiful grounds make it worth a visit regardless of who is performing. But the performances themselves are legendary. Jazz greats. Full symphonies. Rock stars. Comedy geniuses. They've all performed here in a 718-seat space that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Originally a 1926 public school designed by architect John J. Donovan, the Sunset Center has been remodeled into a world-class venue for top performers.

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The Sunset Center's influence extends deep into the Carmel and Monterey County community. The center's no-cost community outreach programs includes arts integration training for teachers throughout Monterey County and free performances in local schools, as well as special matinee performances for local students.

The Sunset Center hosts one of the strongest classical music programs in the country, with over 50 classical performances throughout the year, highlighted by the legendary Carmel Bach Festival.

Catch a show — you could be enraptured by a Bach symphony, happen upon a performance by stage great John Lithgow or see music from the Dave Matthews Band or Rufus Wainwright — but keep coming back for the Sunset Center's ability to surprise and delight audiences time and time again.

Tip: The Sunset Center attracts international and national touring acts, but also showcases the immense local talent of the region. Whether it is the Monterey Symphony or a regional band, there are plenty of opportunities to see Carmel and Monterey Peninsula talent at the center.

"We really have a walking performing arts center here. You know, instead of going up and down floors and escalators and parking lots and such, you just walk down Eighth Avenue from the Forest Theater to the Sunset Center, to this corner down here, and it brings you right to the Golden Bough. And within less than a mile, you've encountered all three of these incredibly historic theaters here in Carmel."

– Stephen Moorer, actor, director and executive director of the Pacific Repertory Theater

Step Into An Intimate Art Encounter

The Carl Cherry Center for the Arts, like almost every art story in Carmel-by-the-Sea, has a fascinating backstory. Founded by modernist poet and painter Jeanne D'Orge and her second husband Carl Cherry, their former cottage is a place to experience intimate performances and rotating exhibits. Cherry was an inventor who developed a patented riveting system that revolutionized aviation manufacturing during World War II, making the couple wealthy. But they still lived a Bohemian art existence, and endowed the Carl Cherry Art Center to grow into the showcase for experimental art that it remains today.

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