Limelight Actors Theater
Limelight provides a unique theater experience for our audiences. We present a variety of quality shows in an intimate cabaret-style space. Our “Bring Your Own Dinner & Wine” offer encourages friends and to-be-friends to mingle and enjoy the ambience and camaraderie of the environment. All performances are at the Gilroy Center for the Arts, 7341 Monterey Road, at the corner of 7th and Monterey Streets, in downtown Gilroy.
Effective January 1, 2020, South Valley Civic Theatre (SVCT) has assumed management of Limelight. The opportunity to produce small shows in an intimate performance setting wonderfully complements SVCT’s traditional five show season at the larger Morgan Hill Community Playhouse.
Limelight's History
The Journey
Limelight Actors Theater opened in January 2011 and has been described as "the brainchild" of popular local actor Kevin Heath. LAT is Gilroy's newest and only downtown theater. It is also the only theater in the Bay Area that offers "Bring Your Own" Dinner and Wine. The journey started late November 2010 when a local restaurant owner asked Kevin to bring a play to the restaurant's banquet room in 2011. He was then asked to bring theater to the brand new Gilroy Interim Center for the Arts. Opening a theater wasn't in the "5 year plan" of life, but he could see fate was intervening. Kevin convinced local Realtor/Broker Alan Obata to join in on the project and Limelight Actors Theater was born January 21, 2011.
Limelight has been voted Best Theater in South County by Out & About Magazine Best of poll every year since they opened. In June 2014, they were voted Best Theater In Gilroy, in the very first year Gilroy Dispatch added the category, and every year since.
As the plan came together on what kind of theater experience to create, there were four goals
1. There was no live theater in downtown Gilroy, so the theater had to launch there. It began at the Interim Center for the Arts. The mission...bring people out in the heart of the City, help support the Gilroy Arts Alliance and the revitalization of downtown.
2. There had to be wine. Our area is known for wine and theater goers love a glass at a show. There weren't any theaters in south county that offered that until we came along. LAT is proud to have started the trend!
3. It must be "Theater with a Twist". The "twist" being high quality, variety for patrons, and challenging roles for actors. Something new for Gilroy.
4. Create a partnership with other theaters to promote each other. Limelight has since partnered with South Valley Civic Theater and San Benito Stage Company in marketing shows. We've also created relationships with City Lights, Tabard and SBMT. LAT offers up to five shows a year. A little comedy, a little drama, staged readings, cabaret performances, musical reviews, one act series, premiere plays never before presented in Gilroy (or the Bay Area) and traditional two act shows. They created a stylish theater experience audiences in the area were craving. Local Directors and Actors showcase their talents in a smaller, more intimate and upscale cabaret theater style. There is always an art exhibit to enjoy at each performance. In addition, an Artisan's Corner Gift Shop is always open before the show, at intermission, and after the show. Unique gifts and art made by local artists are available for purchase
