Building community through collaborative theatre education and performance.

To help our community thrive by nurturing the artist in anyone and inspiring the arts in everyone both on and off stage.

The Premiere Playhouse is the leading educational community theatre of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. With more than twenty years of history as a non-profit theatre organization, our ultimate objective is to provide enriching theatrical experiences to all members of our talented community. In 2025, TPP finds its success through an active working board full of leaders in their respective fields and an inspired staff made up of accomplished professionals of various backgrounds.

Throughout the year we produce three divisions of programming: Mainstage, Underground and Artist Development. These performance series contain family-friendly productions, experimental theatre presentations and original work by local artists, all for a wide range of ages and abilities in a variety of venues throughout downtown Sioux Falls.

We elevate our community impact through teaching residencies in area school districts, collaborating with other non-profits and local businesses on community-wide events, and consistently offering classes in several areas of theatre. Come see what the buzz is about!

1954 – The Sioux Falls Community Playhouse purchased and regularly performed in The Orpheum Theater.

2002 – The Sioux Falls Community Playhouse dissolved and ownership was transferred to the City of Sioux Falls.

2003 – The Sioux Empire Community Theatre was born after a number of local theatre enthusiasts banded together with the belief that local theatre is vital to the fabric of the community. The community theatre maintained performing in the Orpheum Theater under the city’s ownership and in conjunction with an expansive renovation resulting in the birth of the Orpheum Theater Center.

2004 – The Sioux Empire Community Theatre became a 501(c)3 non-profit organization in order to continue providing theatre experience opportunities to all members of our community. The community theatre embarked on educational endeavors that allowed area youth to participate in local theatre experiences.

2021 – The Sioux Empire Community Theatre rebranded to The Premiere Playhouse to return to their roots and honor the original Playhouse theatre group. Following the rebrand, the community theatre officially launched The Premiere Playhouse Education program, bringing forth such initiatives as the all abilities Penguin Project, the Premiere Playwriting Program – which culminates in an annual Premiere Premieres performances of local writers’ creations, free and low-cost Community Classes, and the Passion Project – a producing platform for local theatre makers looking to generate innovative artistic visions.

2025 – Under the leadership of current Executive Artistic Director, Oliver Mayes, The Premiere Playhouse announced new central headquarters at the Rock Island building in a multi purpose studio space across the street from the Orpheum Theater Center as well as embodying a deeper commitment to their educational approach and variety in producing wings. Bringing clarity to their programming, they designated a structure of three core divisions: Mainstage Series, Underground Series and Artist Development Series, all of which focus on collaboration, education and community building in unique ways through dynamic class and performance offerings.

President: Tammi Waltjer-Haverly
[email protected]

Vice Presidents:

• Thomas Kapusta
• Scott Ostman

Treasurer: Sarah Tuntland

Secretary: Kelly Boyd

Directors:

• John Schlimgen
• Clinton Store
• Lary B. Etten
• Mary McClung
• Kent Hartsuiker
• Pedro Assis
• Casey Kustak

If you would like to learn more about our Board of Directors, please click here.