From the outside, 24th Street Theatre appears to be an artsy neighborhood playhouse in a beautiful historic building. When the signature barn doors of the former carriage house open to the public daily, it becomes much more than a performance space. For young people from the surrounding neighborhood, it is a center for them to learn about performance, theater and themselves. When longtime theater professionals Debbie Devine and Jay McAdams opened the space in 1997, they soon realized there was a local need for accessible arts education programming, so they expanded their mission to offer after-school programs that enable youth to express themselves creatively, developing important life skills such as teamwork, communication and problem-solving. Their classes, summer camps and intensive workshops, led by experienced theater professionals, collectively engage thousands of their young neighbors annually.

At the heart of 24th Street Theatre’s work are socially relevant and thought-provoking plays, renowned for innovative staging and a commitment to diversity and inclusion. They cater to audiences of all ages and economic backgrounds, and the surrounding immigrant community through Teatro Nuevo, a Spanish-language theater initiative launched in 2013. As one Cultural Treasures survey participant explains, “They give free tickets to the neighborhood, include low-income folks in culture, and do more than any of the big theaters to encourage first-time theater-goers.” The Theatre’s impact is also evident through its popular annual Day of the Dead Celebration, one of the oldest in the city. This event invigorates the neighborhood with a lively procession, community altars, dance performances and an artisan marketplace.

Through its programs, productions and annual events, 24th Street Theatre serves as a vibrant hub for the arts in the West Adams district, with a mission to inspire, educate and engage audiences of all ages and backgrounds.