Garden Grove Playhouse
Entertainment - Garden Grove, California, United States
Garden Grove Playhouse Employees
Garden Grove Playhouse Details
The Garden Grove Playhouse was a non-profit community theater organization near the western edge of the city of Garden Grove in Orange County, California. The organization was originally called the Garden Grove Community Theatre, but the name changed in 1995 by a vote of the Board of Directors and the general membership.GGP was founded in 1974 – the same year the nearby Westminster Community Theatre began construction on its permanent home. GGP's first production, Desk Set, opened in June 1974 and was presented at Rancho Alamitos High School. Because of conflicts with school schedules, the Rancho Alamitos campus could not continue to be used, but the Garden Grove Unified School District allowed GGP to use Lake High School, an alternative or ‘continuation' campus.While GGP was left homeless, the situation lead to the conversion of another city-owned facility – one with a rather odd history. The building that would become the GGP's permanent home was used originally as an office to sell newly built homes in west Garden Grove. After the homes were all sold, the building became city property and was moved to Eastgate Park to be converted into a teen center. The center was closed during the 1970s due to lack of interest and vandalism, and remained largely unused for several years – though it was periodically used as a rehearsal space for the Gem Theater. GGP's Board of Directors convinced the Garden Grove City Council the space could be converted into a theater, and work began in 1981. The building saw its first opening night in January 1982 with a production of Any Wednesday and served as GGP's home continuously until it ceased operations in 2009.
