The 1871 will operate a multi-functional facility that produces theater, hosts professional and local artists, creates educational opportunities, and brings people together through the art of storytelling.
A Vibrant & Active Hub for the Performing Arts in Chico.
In a town full of thriving community theater, the 1871 Theater will provide a vibrant and active space for small professional productions in downtown Chico. Our facility will be designed to host exceptional performances—with local professionals and the larger theater community in mind—and will be equipped for a range of uses from rehearsal space to international touring shows. The future home of the 1871 Theater will be in the historic Collier Building in downtown Chico. The theater takes its name from the year the building was constructed.
Professional Partners
The 1871 Theater will seek partnerships with professional theatre organizations to provide opportunities to engage with working artists and present professional productions.
Hosting Professional Tours
We hope to bring smaller-scale professional performing arts productions to Butte County and create moments for the community to come together to experience exceptional storytelling.
Community Rentals
Rentals for concerts, dance, guest productions, educational events, and private functions.
A Vibrant & Active Hub for the Performing Arts in Chico.
In a town full of thriving community theater, the 1871 Theater will provide a vibrant and active space for small professional productions in downtown Chico. Our facility will be designed to host exceptional performances—with local professionals and the larger theater community in mind—and will be equipped for a range of uses from rehearsal space to international touring shows. The future home of the 1871 Theater will be in the historic Collier Building in downtown Chico. The theater takes its name from the year the building was constructed.
Professional Partners
The 1871 Theater will seek partnerships with professional theatre organizations to provide opportunities to engage with working artists and present professional productions.
Hosting Professional Tours
We hope to bring smaller-scale professional performing arts productions to Butte County and create moments for the community to come together to experience exceptional storytelling.
Community Rentals
Rentals for concerts, dance, guest productions, educational events, and private functions.
A Vibrant & Active Hub for the Performing Arts in Chico.
In a town full of thriving community theater, the 1871 Theater will provide a vibrant and active space for small professional productions in downtown Chico. Our facility will be designed to host exceptional performances—with local professionals and the larger theater community in mind—and will be equipped for a range of uses from rehearsal space to international touring shows. The future home of the 1871 Theater will be in the historic Collier Building in downtown Chico. The theater takes its name from the year the building was constructed.
Professional Partners
The 1871 Theater will seek partnerships with professional theatre organizations to provide opportunities to engage with working artists and present professional productions.
Hosting Professional Tours
We hope to bring smaller-scale professional performing arts productions to Butte County and create moments for the community to come together to experience exceptional storytelling.
Community Rentals
Rentals for concerts, dance, guest productions, educational events, and private functions.
A Vibrant & Active Hub for the Performing Arts in Chico.
In a town full of thriving community theater, the 1871 Theater will provide a vibrant and active space for small professional productions in downtown Chico. Our facility will be designed to host exceptional performances—with local professionals and the larger theater community in mind—and will be equipped for a range of uses from rehearsal space to international touring shows. The future home of the 1871 Theater will be in the historic Collier Building in downtown Chico. The theater takes its name from the year the building was constructed.
Professional Partners
The 1871 Theater will seek partnerships with professional theatre organizations to provide opportunities to engage with working artists and present professional productions.
Hosting Professional Tours
We hope to bring smaller-scale professional performing arts productions to Butte County and create moments for the community to come together to experience exceptional storytelling.
Community Rentals
Rentals for concerts, dance, guest productions, educational events, and private functions.
During Restoration & Construction
During Restoration & Construction
During Restoration & Construction
We are planning to implement as much programming as we can to introduce Chico to the 1871 Theatre.
We are planning to implement as much programming as we can to introduce Chico to the 1871 Theatre.
We are planning to implement as much programming as we can to introduce Chico to the 1871 Theatre.
1871 THEATER's PRIMARY GOALS:
HONOR
THE PAST
CELEBRATE
THE PRESENT
AMPLIFY
THE PERFORMING ARTS COMMUNITY
BUILD
COMMUNITY CONNECTION
A New Home for the Performing Arts
Upon completion, the 1871 Theatre will be a bustling performing arts hub, with two performance venues, rehearsal and classroom space, and a full scenic and costume shop.
Future Features of the Physical Space
Future Features of the Physical Space
The Entrance
The Entrance
There will be a box office and lobby entrance on Broadway in Downtown Chico.
There will be a box office and lobby entrance on Broadway in Downtown Chico.
Ground Level
Ground Level
Scenic and costume shops towards the back of the former Collier’s hardware space
Scenic and costume shops towards the back of the former Collier’s hardware space
The 2nd Floor
The 2nd Floor
A small Black Box rehearsal and performance space, along with a green room and dressing rooms that will serve both performance spaces.
A small Black Box rehearsal and performance space, along with a green room and dressing rooms that will serve both performance spaces.
The 3rd Floor
The 3rd Floor
A theatre capable of producing and hosting a variety of professional productions, located in the former Arroyo Room space, seating up to approximately 200 patrons.
A theatre capable of producing and hosting a variety of professional productions, located in the former Arroyo Room space, seating up to approximately 200 patrons.
Office Spaces
Office Spaces
The 1871 Theater will have a variety of office spaces sprinkled around the building, but primarily on the 2nd floor.
The 1871 Theater will have a variety of office spaces sprinkled around the building, but primarily on the 2nd floor.
Classroom Spaces
Classroom Spaces
Accommodating all sorts of activities, from meetings to dance to theatre classes to recording arts to everything in between.
Accommodating all sorts of activities, from meetings to dance to theatre classes to recording arts to everything in between.
A Year of Introduction, Connection, & Community
Over the next year, and through the construction phase, we will begin producing performances and piloting local partnerships. We look forward to meeting you and connecting with the community through theatre camps, productions, and pop-up performances at local events.
Fringe Fest
Fall 2026
The Legacy Stage Fringe Festival takes place Labor Day Weekend. The 1871 Theater is excited to partner with Legacy Stage to present Mary's Wedding at the Bow Truss Building (1334 Park Ave).
Spring Break: TBA
Spring 2027
We're excited to create educational opportunities in the coming months and years alongside community partners. Stay tuned for more details
Sign Up Info To Come
Future Productions: TBA
2027 and beyond!
We're excited to produce future theatrical and performing arts events alongside community partners in the coming years. Titles, partnerships, casting, and location to be announced soon!
Info To Come
Summer Camp
Summer 2027
We're excited to create educational opportunities in the coming months and years alongside community partners. Stay tuned for more details
Sign Up Info To Come
A Year of Introduction, Connection, & Community
Over the next year, and through the construction phase, we will begin producing performances and piloting local partnerships. We look forward to meeting you and connecting with the community through theatre camps, productions, and pop-up performances at local events.
Fringe Fest
Fall 2026
The Legacy Stage Fringe Festival takes place Labor Day Weekend. The 1871 Theater is excited to partner with Legacy Stage to present Mary's Wedding at the Bow Truss Building (1334 Park Ave).
Spring Break: TBA
Spring 2027
We're excited to create educational opportunities in the coming months and years alongside community partners. Stay tuned for more details
Sign Up Info To Come
Future Productions: TBA
2027 and beyond!
We're excited to produce future theatrical and performing arts events alongside community partners in the coming years. Titles, partnerships, casting, and location to be announced soon!
Info To Come
Summer Camp
Summer 2027
We're excited to create educational opportunities in the coming months and years alongside community partners. Stay tuned for more details
Sign Up Info To Come
Photo by: Ashley Carlascio Photography.
Who is behind the project?
Erin Horst, alongside a team of creatives and community partners, is the visionary behind the project. With support from the Lupine Legacy Foundation, our team includes project manager Mahina Gannet, Outlier Architecture, Slater & Son, and Tandem Creative. We plan to partner with local, domestic, and international performing arts organizations to create a thriving, vibrant facility for our community.
What kinds of performances will take place in the space?
All kinds of performing arts, with theatre as the spine of what we do. If you have an idea for performance or partnership, please contact us!
Will you do any performances while construction is taking place?
Yes! We are excited to help produce Legacy Stage's Mary's Wedding at the Bow Truss building on Park Avenue at the Fringe Festival Labor Day weekend, and hope to have a presence at upcoming downtown events. After that, everything is TBA. We hope to continue piloting community partnerships and finding ways to introduce the community to 1871.
When is the estimated start and completion dates of construction?
The timeline is still evolving, and we look forward to sharing dates as soon!
Who is behind the project?
Erin Horst, alongside a team of creatives and community partners, is the visionary behind the project. With support from the Lupine Legacy Foundation, our team includes project manager Mahina Gannet, Outlier Architecture, Slater & Son, and Tandem Creative. We plan to partner with local, domestic, and international performing arts organizations to create a thriving, vibrant facility for our community.
What kinds of performances will take place in the space?
All kinds of performing arts, with theatre as the spine of what we do. If you have an idea for performance or partnership, please contact us!
Will you do any performances while construction is taking place?
Yes! We are excited to help produce Legacy Stage's Mary's Wedding at the Bow Truss building on Park Avenue at the Fringe Festival Labor Day weekend, and hope to have a presence at upcoming downtown events. After that, everything is TBA. We hope to continue piloting community partnerships and finding ways to introduce the community to 1871.
When is the estimated start and completion dates of construction?
The timeline is still evolving, and we look forward to sharing dates as soon!
Who is behind the project?
Erin Horst, alongside a team of creatives and community partners, is the visionary behind the project. With support from the Lupine Legacy Foundation, our team includes project manager Mahina Gannet, Outlier Architecture, Slater & Son, and Tandem Creative. We plan to partner with local, domestic, and international performing arts organizations to create a thriving, vibrant facility for our community.
What kinds of performances will take place in the space?
All kinds of performing arts, with theatre as the spine of what we do. If you have an idea for performance or partnership, please contact us!
Will you do any performances while construction is taking place?
Yes! We are excited to help produce Legacy Stage's Mary's Wedding at the Bow Truss building on Park Avenue at the Fringe Festival Labor Day weekend, and hope to have a presence at upcoming downtown events. After that, everything is TBA. We hope to continue piloting community partnerships and finding ways to introduce the community to 1871.
When is the estimated start and completion dates of construction?
The timeline is still evolving, and we look forward to sharing dates as soon!
Who is behind the project?
Erin Horst, alongside a team of creatives and community partners, is the visionary behind the project. With support from the Lupine Legacy Foundation, our team includes project manager Mahina Gannet, Outlier Architecture, Slater & Son, and Tandem Creative. We plan to partner with local, domestic, and international performing arts organizations to create a thriving, vibrant facility for our community.
What kinds of performances will take place in the space?
All kinds of performing arts, with theatre as the spine of what we do. If you have an idea for performance or partnership, please contact us!
Will you do any performances while construction is taking place?
Yes! We are excited to help produce Legacy Stage's Mary's Wedding at the Bow Truss building on Park Avenue at the Fringe Festival Labor Day weekend, and hope to have a presence at upcoming downtown events. After that, everything is TBA. We hope to continue piloting community partnerships and finding ways to introduce the community to 1871.
When is the estimated start and completion dates of construction?
The timeline is still evolving, and we look forward to sharing dates as soon!
Photo by: Ashley Carlascio Photography.