What We Believe

Camps

VISION

Theatre 605 will be the region’s model for professional and educational theatre, championing innovation, inclusivity, and accessibility.

MISSION

Theatre 605: Telling stories. Changing Lives.

VALUES

INCLUSION Theatre is an integral part of the human experience and needs to be accessible to all. We embrace shared humanity, in order to experience transformation through theatre.

ARTS / COMMUNITY IMPACT Arts are impactful vehicles for social, civic, cultural, and educational engagement and vital to the growth of dynamic communities.

RELATIONSHIPS Strong, deep, and meaningful relationships are key to sustainability and extend the reach of the Theatre 605 mission.

SUSTAINABILITY Responsible management, strategic planning, and engaged teams are essential to the success of Theatre 605.

WHAT WE DO

Theatre 605 is associated with the University of South Dakota, and was established in 1946 as a summer stock theatre in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Theatre 605 Black Hills Playhouse is one of the oldest continuously running summer stock theatres in the nation. In Custer State Park, Theatre 605 Black Hills Playhouse provides high-quality, professional theatre productions and diverse artistic opportunities for theatre professionals and students in an idyllic, natural environment. Since its inception, hundreds of thousands of people have enjoyed productions, and thousands of students have received training.

Since 1999, through Theatre 605 Tours, we have toured high-quality theatre residencies designed to make learning fun. We teach young people how to work as a team, the experience raises their self-esteem, and preparing for the performances gives them the confidence to present in public. Kids come away with a sense of belonging and love for the arts. We do our best to go wherever there is a need so youth can experience the magic of theatre wherever they live. Over 25 years, our actors/directors have logged over 203,000 miles, taught over 33,000 students, played to almost 141,000 audience members, and provided youth with over 44,000 teaching hours!

Since 2013, in East River, we have provided people with disabilities opportunities to learn about theatre and appear on stage through our Theatre 605 Expanding Stage programs, with DakotAbilites and LifeScape as partners.

And since 2016, each summer, youth from all over the state have converged Theatre 605 Jr. Camps each summer. Kids meet new friends, explore the world of performing arts, and make memories for a lifetime!

At Theatre 605 our mission is more than words—it’s a living, breathing commitment to fostering creativity, inclusion, and the magic of live theatre. Behind the scenes, a dedicated group of board members volunteers their time and treasure to ensure that mission thrives.

STRATEGIC GOALS

Goal 1 - Programs

Produce theatre and educational programs that exemplify excellence and prioritize sustainability, equity, and accessibility for people of all ages, abilities, identities, and socio-economic backgrounds.

Goal 2 - Accessibility

Provide access to creative opportunities and representation on and off the stage by securing and pledging resources that ensure participation for people regardless of their circumstances.

Goal 3 - Communication

Tell the stories of the impact we have on artists, audiences, and participants to elevate and strengthen Theatre 605 programs and preserve Theatre 605 Black Hills Playhouse as a vibrant cultural treasure of South Dakota.

Work with key stakeholders, including the State of South Dakota, USD, local communities and Tribal Nations, BHP Alumni Association, artists, donors, and funders to ensure Theatre 605 thrives as an inclusive space where theatre, culture, and heritage are accessible for all.

Goal 4 - Governance

Fortify the future of Theatre 605 by building a diverse and inclusive professional staff and an engaged, representative board of directors.

We will prioritize recruiting and retaining individuals who bring a wide range of perspectives, ensuring operations reflect and serve the communities we represent, while fostering an equitable and supportive environment for growth and leadership.

LAND AKNOWLEDGEMENT

Theatre 605 Black Hills Playhouse acknowledges that our program resides on the ancestral lands of the Cheyenne and Octi Sakowin. These lands, water, and waterways are the unceded territories and the homeland of the Lakota, the Dakota, and the Nakota Nations. The Playhouse is committed to reflecting the continued legacy of all the original peoples of South Dakota, including the Cheyenne River, Crow Creek, Flandreau Santee, Lower Brule, Sisseton-Wahpeton, Standing Rock, Yankton Sioux, Rosebud, and Oglala tribes. We acknowledge the harms of the past, are committed to improving relationships in the spirit of reconciliation, and appreciate the opportunity to live and learn on these traditional lands with mutual respect.

We acknowledge the Lakota people as the traditional custodians of the Black Hills. We pay our respects to their elders, both past and present, as well as emerging. We also pay our respects to the Indigenous men and women who have contributed to the defense of the United States of America in times of peace and war.

DIVERSITY STATEMENT

Theatre 605 is dedicated to creating an inclusive, equitable, and welcoming environment where theatre reflects and amplifies the full spectrum of the human experience.

To achieve this we commit to:

Foster an environment where everyone has equitable opportunities for growth and expression through the transformative power of performance art;
Collaborate with, employ, and share the stories of individuals from diverse backgrounds and lived experiences;
Examine and re-envision our policies, practices, and structure, and dismantle barriers to participation.
Hold ourselves accountable and cultivate a space where every voice is valued and empowered.

What We Believe

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