The Ojai Art Center is a community hub for the arts, with a Theater Branch that has yearly theatrical seasons and several one-of-a-kind events, celebrations, readings, and more. Come see a show, lend a hand backstage, or shine on stage in one of our productions!
OACT Show Archive
OACT Slade Library
Our 2026 Theatrical Season:
Presenting stories rooted in the growth, challenges, and all of life’s journeys.
Presented as a Branch of the Ojai Art Center
2026 Season Preview
Our free season preview is on January 11th at 7:00PM – we can’t wait to see you there!
Season tickets for 2026 are now available!
Deadline to order season tickets is February 15th, 2026.
Order online and pick your seats! Click the link below or call our Box Office: 805-640-8797
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Educating Rita
By Willy Russell
Directed by Steve Grumette
Opening January 23rd!
Reserve Your Seats Online Now:
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The Cemetery Club
By Ivan Menchell
Directed by Sindy McKay
Auditions January 18th and 20th!
See Our Full Notice:
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Our 2026 Theatrical Season is here!
Read below to learn more!
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The Ojai Art Center:
Remembering Cecil Sutton
The Ojai Art Center Theater marks the passing of Cecil Sutton, who died on December 9th, 2025.
Cecil was a veteran of community theater for more than forty years, appearing in numerous productions at the Ojai Art Center Theater. He was a focused and disciplined actor who approached his work with professionalism and care, and he was widely respected for his craft, preparation, and generosity as a collaborator.
Ojai audiences will remember Cecil in roles including Jacques in As You Like It, Jack in Dancing at Lughnasa, Marley in Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol, Buffalo Bill in Annie Get Your Gun, Harpagon in Molière’s The Miser, and the Emcee in Cabaret, all here at the Art Center. He also directed Detective Story, a production he was especially proud to be associated with.
In addition to his performances onstage, Cecil contributed his visual artistry to the theater. He hand-drew posters and artwork for several productions, including A Streetcar Named Desire, Rough Crossings, and Private Lives.
Art and Design by Cecil Sutton
We join Cecil’s friends and colleagues in extending our condolences to his wife, Tracey Williams Sutton, and family, and to all who worked with Cecil over the years.
Details about a celebration of life honoring Cecil’s work and legacy will be shared when they become available.
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Educating Rita
by Willy Russell
Directed by Steve Grumette
Weekends, January 23rd – February 15th, 2026
Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 PM, Saturdays and Sundays at 2:00 PM
A spirited hairdresser named Rita enrolls in a University course and upends the life of her weary tutor while on the search for meaning beyond her every-day life. Their unlikely bond leads both to question who they are, and who they might become. Educating Rita is a funny and heartfelt reminder the growth and friendship often begins with one singular step into unknown territory.
Tickets are available now! They can be purchased online, at the door, over the phone at 805-640-8797, or by emailing Herb@ojaiact.org to make reservations. Doors open at 6:45 PM on Friday and Saturday evenings, and 1:15 PM on Sunday matinees.
For information such as special pricing, parking, accessibility and more, please read our FAQ by clicking here.
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Presenting Our 2026 Theatrical Season
We have finalized our 2026 Theatrical Season! We have a lineup of shows whose stories are rooted in the growth, challenges, and journeys life will take us on.
Art and Designs by Haley Culliton
EDUCATING RITA
by Willy Russell
Directed by Steve Grumette
January 23rd – February 15th
THE CEMETERY CLUB
by Ivan Menchell
Directed by Sindy McKay
March 27th – April 19th
COMPANY
by Stephen Sondheim & George Furth
Directed by David Henderson
June 12th – July 12th
SEUSSICAL THE MUSICAL: JUNIOR
by Lynn Ahrens & Stephen Flaherty
Directed by Gai Jones
July 31st – August 9
OUR TOWN
by Thornton Wilder
Directed by evan austin
September 25th – October 18th
THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER: THE MUSICAL
by Jahanna Beecham & Malcolm Hillgartner
Directed by Hayley Beth Silvers
December 4th – December 20th
Season ticket are available now- see all of our shows in 2026 for one bundled price!
WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:
Our weekly theater updates are the best way to stay informed on our current and future seasons,
show dates, tickets, season tickets, behind-the-curtains photos, theater events, and more –
Subscribe to our OACT Newsletter
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AUDITION ALERTS:
Be the first to know when we have auditions notices go up!
We alert these lists before any notices go public, so you can get in the extra prep time.
We have both general and youth-exclusive lists –
Subscribe to OACT Audition Alerts
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VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES:
Want to work with the theater off stage and beyond? Sign up to volunteer for us!
Know when we need help with shows, events, fundraisers, receptions, and more –
Subscribe to OACT Volunteers
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OJAI ART CENTER MEMBERSHIP:
Get perks across the entirety of the Ojai Art Center!
Get theater and sponsored event discounts, voting rights, and much more –
Learn more about OAC Membership
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DONATIONS:
Embrace the arts and help us continue to provide a haven for creativity, expression, and cultural enrichment.
Make a tax-deductible donation, make a difference in your community –
Donate to the Ojai Art Center
For more information about our wonderful Ojai Art Center
as a whole and its many artistic facilities and offerings
for the community, please click the image below:
113 S. Montgomery Street
Ojai, CA 93023
United States