Preparing for the Stage: How the Black Hills Playhouse Prepares for a New Season

Each year the Black Hills Playhouse takes on the process of preparing for another summer of live theatre in its historic stock theatre, tucked inside Custer State Park. With nearly eight decades of tradition behind it, the lead-up to a new season is both carefully orchestrated and deeply rooted in community, creativity, and hard work.

Annual BHP Clean Up Day

A Season 78 crew member, working on costumes

Season 78 cast members rehearsing for a show

A woman singing at the Tatanka Teaser at the BHP

A man directing traffic at the Black Hills Playhouse

Nationwide Auditions, Interviews and Design Work

Preparation begins long before the cast and crew arrive in South Dakota. Early in the year, Playhouse staff travel across the country to hold auditions and technical interviews. In 2025, this annual search for talent resulted in a record 2,500 auditions and interviews—a milestone that reflects both the Playhouse’s growing reach and its strong reputation in the theatre community. From actors and stage managers to set designers and technicians, the team assembles a diverse and skilled company to bring each season to life.

A few months before the season, the artistic teams meet to begin the creative design work that brings each play to life. Directors present their vision to the production teams, and the team starts collaborating on creating the distinctive designs that best tell the story.

Fundraising and Creation of Playbill

The work at the Playhouse employs the talents of professional artists from across the country. We are anticipating that the 13 weeks of theatre this summer will cost approximately $700,000 dollars to produce, with a large part of that going to personnel, royalty, food, and production supplies.

Because we work to keep ticket costs as low as possible and we have a small house, it is necessary to fundraise each year to support the program and ensure a responsible cash flow to meet all of our obligations.

We do this through the solicitation of generous donors, sponsors and advertisers, fundraising events such as Leadership Circle Dinners, Dinner with Friends events, the Big Reveal, and new this year, the Black, White, and Red Gala on October 11th.

Campus Clean-Up and Community Involvement

While the Physical Plant Manager, Darryn Witt, and the Physical Plant Committee work year round to keep things in repair, as the season draws closer, attention turns to getting the Playhouse and campus buildings ready for the company to arrive.

Each spring, volunteers, staff, and supporters gather for a clean-up day to prepare the grounds, dormitories, and public spaces for the summer ahead. It’s a practical but essential tradition, one that helps preserve the beauty and functionality of the historic site while also fostering a sense of community and shared purpose. The work breaks at noon with a delicious potluck lunch. Sign Up Today!

Company Arrival and Rehearsals

Members of the Season 79 Company begin arriving in mid-May. With little time to settle in, the company gets straight to work—rehearsals officially begin on May 22nd. In true stock theatre fashion, actors and production crews often juggle multiple shows at once, making this a high-energy and collaborative environment from the very beginning.

The Tatanka Teaser

Before the season officially begins, the public is invited to the Tatanka Teaser, a cabaret-style preview in which company members perform selections from their original auditions. This informal event gives audiences a unique opportunity to see the talent that earned each cast member their place in the season lineup and offers an early glimpse of the energy and skill behind the scenes. It also gives new customer service staff a chance to work with audiences for the first show of the summer. Purchase Tickets

Opening Day: June 8

Season 79 officially opens on June 8th with the first mainstage performance of the summer. Following the show, guests are invited to meet the cast and crew during a special post-show gathering—an opportunity to welcome the company and kick off each production together.

From auditions to opening night, preparing for a new season at the Black Hills Playhouse is a coordinated effort that combines national outreach with local support. It’s a process built on tradition, strengthened by teamwork, and driven by a shared commitment to producing high-quality theatre in one of South Dakota’s most iconic settings. We can't wait to welcome you to the Black Hills Playhouse this summer.