Santa Maria city feature
About this landmark
The Central Coast's only resident professional theatre.
PCPA – Pacific Conservatory Theatre operates out of the Marian Theatre, located at 870 S. Bradley in Santa Maria, California. The Marian Theatre is a 440-seat venue with a thrust stage, complemented by the adjoining Severson Theatre, a flexible black-box space seating up to 204. Box office hours are Wednesday through Saturday from 12:30 PM to 7 PM and Sunday from 12:30 PM to 5 PM. The phone number for the venue is (805) 922-8313. PCPA is described as the only resident professional company on the Central Coast and the only training program of its kind offered at a community college.
Founding and early years
PCPA began in the fall of 1964, with its first summer season in 1965. The organization was founded by Donovan Marley. According to the company's history, Allan Hancock College President Walter Conrad wrote that the college had an obligation to develop artistic experiences, stating the area was "geographically isolated from population centers where artistic experiences are readily available." The first company consisted of twenty-one actors who called themselves the "Platform Players." They converted an old barracks building into the "Interim Theatre," which seated 100 people and hosted the inaugural production of "A Man for All Seasons," which played to standing-room-only audiences over ten performances.
The organization grew to establish its current venues over the following decades. Today, PCPA's professional Acting and Technical Theatre programs are accredited career and technical education programs of Allan Hancock College. The company has trained over 10,000 alumni since its founding in 1964 and currently employs over 50 theatre professionals while training more than 100 students each semester in acting and technical theatre.
Today and impact
The theatre serves the local community and broader regional audience. Notable alumni of PCPA include Robin Williams, Zac Efron, Jessica Chastain, Kathy Bates, Kelly McGillis, Mercedes Ruehl, Boyd Gaines, and Harry Groener. The company is supported by Allan Hancock College, an endowment, ticket revenue, and fundraising by the PCPA Foundation. Current leadership includes Jennifer Schwartz as Managing Director and Mark Booher as Artistic Director and Dean.
Beyond its main stage productions, PCPA maintains a significant educational outreach program. The company brings theatrical performances to more than 20,000 kindergarten through 12th-grade students in the region each year. This combination of professional theatre, educational training, and community outreach has established PCPA as a cultural anchor for Santa Maria and the Central Coast.
Insurance connection: Earthquake coverage for historic buildings
Theatre buildings require earthquake insurance consideration. The California Earthquake Authority offers earthquake deductible options from 5% to 25%, with higher minimums for homes over $1 million or lacking seismic retrofitting. CEA dwelling coverage matches the underlying homeowners policy limit, while personal-property coverage starts at $5,000 and increases to $25,000. Insurers must offer earthquake coverage in writing every other year. A CEA policy must be purchased through the same insurer holding the customer's residential policy. California law requires homeowners policies cover fire damage caused by or following an earthquake, regardless of separate coverage. Policy details depend on the individual policy. The issued policy controls.
Primary sources: PCPA's theatres and venue page, PCPA's history and about page, and Wikipedia article on Pacific Conservatory Theatre.
Insurance context is general information only. The issued policy and its endorsements settle coverage.