The Theater:

Since 2006 the Arcata Playhouse and Playhouse Arts have established themselves as vital contributors to the cultural livelihood of Arcata and Humboldt County. By presenting exciting high quality music and theater in an intimate setting for young and old alike, the Playhouse has garnered a stellar reputation as one of our community’s finest cultural gems.

Located in the historic Old Creamery building at 9th and L Streets in Arcata, the Playhouse has flexible seating for 140 and is fully equipped with lighting, sound and projection systems. Known for it’s outstanding acoustics, warm atmosphere and fresh baked cookies, this unique performing arts center is truly an asset to our community. The Playhouse is used by a wide variety of local organizations including community theater groups, local schools and other non-profit groups looking for a quality performance venue.

The mission of Playhouse arts is to use live performance as a tool to build a community that is inspired and empowered to work together for the common good.

Playhouse Arts annually present a bounty of diverse programs from national and international touring acts to local performing artists, offering workshops, informative lectures, presentations and even foreign films.

The Playhouse Visual Arts Annex:

We provide low cost, permanent studio space to two of Humboldt’s finest artists.

Lachelle “Lush” Newton is an artist who lives and works in Arcata, California.
Newton graduated with a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Illustation and Design from the Kansa City Art Institue in 1997.Drawing, painting and creating art have been a passion for her since she was a small child living in rural southwest Missouri.

While in Kansas City, Newton interned as a visual artist with Hallmark Cards. After Hallmark she travelled toLos Angeles, California where she worked as a Character Artist within the Consumer Products Division of the Walt Disney Company. Newton left Disney to work for Winterland in the Bay Area where she made t-shirts for rock and roll bands such as Jerry Garcia, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, and the Backstreet Boys. In 2001 Newton came to Humboldt County, California, where she draws , paints and makes sculpture out of recycled materials. Newton shows annually at Arts Alive! and Arts Arcata. As a commissioned artist she has done set design and sculpture among other works.

Since 2003 Newton has participated in the Kinetic Sculpture Race, the tri-athalon of the art world. In Kinetic Grand Championship 2009 Newton’s team won First Place Art for the Kinetic Chicken.

James Hildebrant bio under construction