Gretna Theatre

As we head into our 99th Season, all of us here at Gretna Theatre are more excited than ever about the future of professional theatre in Mount Gretna! 

In addition to our 6 MainStage productions each summer, we are shining a spotlight on arts accessibility through every opportunity offered at America's OLDEST Summer Theatre. Your gift can make it possible for someone to appreciate theatre and arts-education for the very first time. 

- Super Saver Seats: Live theatre experiences should be open to everyone - despite financial obstacles - which is why Gretna Theatre is committed to offering the last two rows of the theatre for every production in our Mainstage season at a discounted rate of $15. That's 1,110 seats for those who may have felt burdened by the cost to attend theatre. 

- Student, Industry and Military Discounts: In addition to our super saver options, we also offer discounted tickets to students, theatre industry members, as well as members of our military for all seats in the theatre at any performance.

- Gretna Theatre Family Series: One-hour, family-friendly plays and musicals anchored in improving youth literacy. Each production is based on popular children's literature, and each attending family receives a free children's book that complements the show.

- Gretna Theatre Touring Outreach Program: This outreach program brings professional theatre to local schools, community centers, and special venues across south-central Pennsylvania.

- Professional Summer Apprenticeship Program: Independent to the Family Series program, this provides job opportunities and educational career experiences for aspiring performers and theatre technicians during our twelve-week summer season.

Thank you for your generosity as we work to provide creative, unique programs that impact over 17,000 individuals annually. 

Who We Are

Gretna Theatre is considered America’s oldest summer theatre having opened in 1927 in the Chautauqua community of Mount Gretna. Gretna Theatre’s mission is to grow community by producing and presenting live, professional theatre that engages, transforms, entertains and educates; our ongoing commitment to serving both our loyal audience base and the community at-large is a major reason Gretna Theatre has thrived over the past nine decades as a hidden gem of Central PA.

The backbone of Gretna Theatre’s artistic programming is our summer Mainstage productions staged at the historic 700 seat Mount Gretna Playhouse, which features Broadway plays and musicals. While our reputation has been built on the quality and success of this artistic programming, we are particularly proud of our impact on the broader community through a series of arts-education programs, featuring performances that take place at the theatre and directly in local spaces. Examples include: our Professional Apprenticeship Program, Family Series and our Touring Outreach Program bringing professional curriculum based theatre into schools and community centers. Each year over 5,000 students and community members are introduced to live theatre through our Educational Programs.