Playhouse Merced is ready to show what it has planned for its new season
Playhouse Merced, back with a new board of directors and an improving financial situation after a public breakup, is ready to show the community what it has planned for the 2026-27 season.
Fresh off performances of “Oliver Jr!” earlier this month, Playhouse Merced, at 452 W. Main St., will host its season preview on May 29. Tickets for the season preview are $50 and are on sale at playhousemerced.com.
According to a news release, the event will feature “live sneak peeks, behind-the-scenes insights and the official reveal of the theater’s new season lineup.”
“This event is one of our favorite moments of the year,” said RC Essig, Playhouse Merced’s interim executive director. “It’s an opportunity to share what we’ve been working on, connect with our audience and build excitement for a season that truly reflects the talent and spirit of our community.”
Ticket opportunities, special promotions for Playhouse Merced
Those attending the preview will have access to early ticket opportunities, special promotions and the chance to engage directly with the artists behind the productions, the news release said.
The season preview is open to the public, but parental discretion is advised.
The box office will open at 6 p.m., with a cocktail hour starting at 6:30 p.m. The house will open for seating at 7 p.m. and the show will start at 7:30 p.m., the news release said.
This will be the 33rd season at Playhouse Merced, which opened in 1994, according to its website.
Playhouse Merced overcomes split, financial issues
The preview will come seven months after the public breakup of the organization’s board.
It came during a public meeting in which both sides claimed the other was not legitimate. The meeting ended with the Merced Police Department advising participants to disperse. The split led to canceled shows and employee resignations.
In January, Playhouse Merced — which produces live shows and offers youth arts education programs — announced it had a new board and was cleaning up a financial mess.
It also announced Essig as interim executive director. Essig has been involved with Playhouse Merced for more than a decade and also owns The Partisan and The 17th Street Pub on Main Street.
In an email announcing the preview, Sam Yniguez, president of Playhouse Merced’s Board of Directors, acknowledged the organization’s “troubling and very public transition.”
“Thanks to our board, staff, and community support, we have turned the corner and are ready to provide the entertainment and education Playhouse Merced was created for,” Yniguez said.
