Mission & Values

Center REP is the resident professional theatre of the Lesher Center for the Arts.

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Founded in 1968, Center REP is one of the oldest professional theatres in the region, serving the East Bay and beyond with a diverse program of classic and contemporary works and arts education programs. For nearly six decades, Center REP’s legacy endures as a vital community hub that fosters creativity and belonging among audiences and artists alike.

Our Mission:
Center REP's mission is to celebrate the power of the human imagination by producing emotionally engaging, intellectually involving, and visually astonishing live theatre, and through Outreach and Education programs, to enrich and advance the cultural life of the communities we serve.

Our Values:
Center REP is deeply committed to inclusion in how we engage our community, diversity in what and how we produce, and equity in our producing methodology. To realize the ambition of our mission, Center REP has developed an evolving set of values from which to work:

CENTER REP BELIEVES IN ARTISTIC INTEGRITY FIRST

We produce stories that are relevant to how we live today, the challenges we face, and the joy we share.
We believe art must be fearless. Our productions are conceptually rich, visually bold, narratively courageous, and wholly entertaining. Whether the stories we produce depict a crucial turning point in history, or an intimate moment across the family dinner table, they are all unflinching when it comes to depicting the truth of the human condition.
We produce work that prioritizes asking questions rather than answering questions, as a way to jumpstart artistic engagement and civic dialogue.

CENTER REP IS A COMMUNITY ANCHOR

We believe in the power of diversity and inclusion. Our differences make us stronger, not weaker. We aspire for all to feel welcome, seen, and heard on and off our stages at Center REP.
The stories we present on our stage should expand our world view rather than reinforce our world view. This deepens our own sense of self, our place in the world, and how we connect to one another.
As a program of the City of Walnut Creek, it is incumbent upon us to produce work that speaks to the entire community. We purposefully produce a broad cross section of work to attract a diverse audience base in terms of age, gender, sexuality, and ethnicity.
We believe in the importance of access for the entire community, allowing those who might not be able to afford the cost of a ticket the ability to join our community.
We take safety seriously. We are continually evolving our producing practices to ensure the safety and well being of our artists and fellow theatre makers.
Above all else, we believe in the transformative potential of live theatre to increase the quality of life for our audiences and artists alike. Theatre is an ancient tradition, and we at Center REP have a sacred responsibility as storytellers to care for our community through sharing stories that connect us to one another and to something greater than ourselves.

CENTER REP IS AN ECONOMIC ANCHOR

The story of Center REP is the story of how a theatre can strengthen civic life through driving economic development.
Center REP was a founding force when the Lesher Art Center was built 35 years ago because it had a successful 20+ year track record of bringing people together in downtown Walnut Creek.
Three and a half decades later, our success is inextricably linked to the success of our local businesses and residents. The livelihood of our community is central to our vision and values as a cultural hub.

About Center REP:
Center Repertory Company is a program of the City of Walnut Creek's Arts + Recreation Department. At Walnut Creek Arts + Rec, we recognize that implicit and explicit disparities exist due to historical and systemic barriers to equality. We believe we can support a more equitable community by uniting people through shared experiences. We aspire to intentionally learn, create, and grow together with our community. We strive to foster a diverse and reflective staff that propels our efforts toward accessible, inclusive, and culturally meaningful arts and recreation experiences. Learn more about Arts + Rec efforts towards diversity, equity, and inclusion.

We invite you to explore our current season offerings and the multitude of ways you can engage with our artistic community.

CenterREP

Mission & Values

Center REP is the resident professional theatre of the Lesher Center for the Arts.

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Lost in Yonkers

Alanis Morissette’s Jagged Little Pill: The Musical

Young REP Theatre Lab