The Masquers Playhouse, Inc., is a volunteer, non-profit, community theatre that produces and stages affordable plays and other live theatrical events for the entertainment and cultural enhancement of the greater Bay Area.
We provide a creative outlet for amateur theatre people, exercise sound financial management, encourage audience participation and involvement, and seek to foster a strong community identity.
MASQUERS HISTORY: THE FIRST 50 YEARS: It all started with … Choir Robes … At the start of 1955, Masquers Playhouse did not exist — no actors, no designers, no stagehands, no season. But then a church choir decided to raise funds for material to make choir robes. Virginia and Basil Cherniak and others agreed that a play might have broader appeal than one of their usual concerts. No one knew how to stage a show, but someone did know of a woman who had directed and taught theater by the name of Josephine Camp. Jo was contacted and she cheerfully agreed to direct “one or two shows.” Calling themselves The Masquers, the energetic group put on three lively productions (Stardust, Gramercy Ghost, and The Curious Savage) at the wooded Hillside Community Church in El Cerrito (which still has a wonderful stage and auditorium!). Presented a year apart, the first two shows played for one weekend in the spring of 1955 and 1956 to happy crowds more than willing to pay the 75-cent ticket price. For their next play, the Masquers confidently doubled the number of performances (to four!) and jacked up their ticket price to one dollar. El Cerrito and its surrounding communities were eager for live theater and the press generously provided the Masquers space for plenty of articles on their plans, activities, and accomplishments. With Jo Camp and Dorth Hadley as permanent director and stage manager, the core group of Masquers was well on its way to establishing a full-fledged amateur theater.