Our History
Lincoln City’s very first community theatre was founded in 1975 by The American Association of University Women. By 1979 it was officially incorporated as the non-profit Theatre West of Lincoln City, Ltd and presenting live theatre entertainment was set to begin.
Local restaurants, schools and anywhere that had an open space became the stage for early Theatre West productions, at least until 1986 when Jack Coyne and his partner, Mark La Rocque, owners of Panache Antiques offered their store as a permanent location for all productions. In 1989 Jack and Mark then donated the store and property to Theatre West and Jack became the first Artistic Director. What a gift that we treasure to this day.
Our little theatre was honored to be the first community theatre permitted to perform the smash hits Lend Me a Tenor, by Ken Ludwig and I Hate Hamlet, by Paul Rudnick. Our highest honor, however, remains being allowed to present an excerpted version of William Luce’s Tony award winning play, The Belle of Amherst, directed by the author at the dedication of Lincoln City’s own Driftwood Library when it moved to its current location in 1993.
