Theater

Live theatre is storytelling on stage. With a rich history of storytelling as a favorite way to pass time on the mountain, Highlands offers two groups to entertain and provide you with an intimate experience that brings a story to life right before your eyes.

Mountain Theatre Company, one of North Carolina’s oldest theatre companies, is the legacy of early forward-thinking families of Highlands. They sought to bring the art of theatre to our small mountain town during the height of The Great Depression. Mountain Theatre Company began at The Highlands Playhouse, originally built as the auditorium for Highlands School in 1931. Today, with the expanded, year-round population, Mountain Theatre Company produces live theatrical productions from June through December. In 2023, Mountain Theatre Company became the resident professional theatre company at the Highlands Performing Arts Center. 

Highlands Cashiers Players is powered by the local dramatic community. With a motto of "Good Plays, Well Done," the all-volunteer troupe performs dramas, raucous comedies and musical revues at its home, the Highlands Performing Arts Center. The community is invited to participate in the performances, both onstage and behind the scenes. Whether you have experience or not, the Highlands Cashiers Players invites the community to learn, have fun and, of course, put on great plays!