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Oliver Mayes wants everyone to experience theatre.

As an actor. An audience member. A set designer. Anything, really.

“Our organization is an environment for people to learn about how to be an artist and feel comfortable and welcomed,” said Mayes, the managing artistic director for the Premiere Playhouse in downtown Sioux Falls. They’re doing that through programming and deeper connections with students, volunteers, team members and the community.

“Now, when you come to a show, you’re only seeing a small slice of what we’re doing, because behind closed doors, we are giving you a ton of educational opportunities, a ton of performing opportunities,” Mayes said.

Starting in the spring of 2025, the Premiere Playhouse will be taking its community education role to new venues – the Community Learning Centers through the Sioux Falls School District. The theatre group recently was awarded a grant from the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation to host a teaching artist residency at Laura Wilder Elementary School in April.

“We know after-school care can be so enriching for students in the area,” said Patrick Gale, vice president of community investment for the Community Foundation. “This program is a great example of how our nonprofits can help be part of the everyday lives of these kids and show them more of what the world has to offer.”

Paul Keizer, executive director of the Community Learning Centers, called the artist-in-residence program “thoughtfully designed to blend theatrical skills with broader educational objectives like teamwork, communications and critical thinking.”

It’s just one way the group is bringing theatre to the community.

Right now, they’re working on the “Premiere Premiers,” which is out of their education department, showcasing the work of local writers, directors and actors. Playwrights submit their work for review, then work with the group on feedback – how to massage a manuscript to get it ready for the stage.

Then, for those that are accepted for performance, there’s the work with a director and actors and everything from the process of being a playwright to the business of being an artist to learn. And everyone else is learning, too, on a brand-new piece of work.

“For the directors, it’s knowing changes can happen in the space, and actors learn how to work in that environment, which is different than doing something like a musical that’s already been published,” said Mayes, who has a background in developing new plays. “I’ve been able to hone that and curate that. What happens before an audience sees it is so intentional and educational and communal, and that’s what we’re doing.”

He said they stand on their values of artistic excellence, but that good products come from good processes.

“We can’t be quite as good if we’re not teaching people how to get to the goal that we’re looking toward,” Mayes said.

It’s no longer just an audience coming to a play, or a camp rehearsing with the goal of a performance for parents at the end.

To Mayes – and the rest of the group at the playhouse – it’s all about finding as many possible points of entry into the theatre world as possible for people.

“We have classes, camps, festivals, workshops, performances, outreach events,” he said. “I want us to check a box for everyone in the community, so they can find their way in. And the minute we do that musical or small experimental play, that’s cool for someone, and they’ve found their community.”

He said they have story after story of people who have participated in a small way only to discover a larger world for themselves, new friendships and hidden talents.

And, to Mayes, it’s about so much more. It’s about learning from one another every step of the way.

The response has been positive.

Staff members, volunteers and board members have celebrated their successes. That helps create a meaningful work environment for everyone involved.

“We are trying to make this huge machine work,” said Mayes of the small operations staff. “It would not be possible if we didn’t have our volunteers as well as our board.”

Mayes joined the Playhouse in 2022, starting out as a freelance director for “Cabaret.” In that time, he’s been part of driving the organization toward bigger picture thinking and fiscal responsibility.

And, again, it all comes back to outreach – bringing the theatre experience to the community. “We do a lot of events, and that’s how people find out about us.”

Awareness is the first step to making people ambassadors for the organization, in every sense.

“We’ve become more fiscally mindful, examining how we do things and how we can bring quality work and find partners to help us pay for things we need,” he said. “It’s a mixture of visibility and financial management. Before, we were operating as a community theatre company, and not leaning into what it means to be a nonprofit, and what our duty to the community is. That has been helpful in decision-making.”

Gale said the artist-in-residence program is the perfect example of serving the community.

“Over the years, we’ve been proud to support the Premiere Playhouse,” said Gale, noting the Community Foundation recently supported the Penguin Project, a production for people with disabilities. “They continue to find ways to bring theatre to the community – and then to create that sense of community in everything they do.”

Mayes agrees. He and others spent the past year in some of the elementary schools, doing a test drive and developing the curriculum. He said it’s gratifying to bring theatre to students who might not otherwise be able to participate. He also sees it as a long game – eventually training more people to do the program to expand to more schools.

The program will include everything from acting classes to costuming workshops – fun and practical skills that translate.

“Kids aren’t always exposed to the backstage side or the technical side, so why not give them a slice of that now, and you might find yourself with an electrician or an alteration specialist who learned it through theatre,” Mayes said.

Mayes always brings the conversation back to how the Premiere Playhouse is for everyone. Maybe you want to help build sets. Maybe you want a small walk-on part in a production. Maybe you want two hours on a weekend night to watch a performance and escape for a bit.

There’s room for everyone in this experience.

“This is something that can give people fulfillment in their lives,” Mayes said. “Think about what that does for a person – to help them understand their greatness.”