San Antonio’s Community Theatre
About Us
Wonder Theatre is a nonprofit, live performance theatre engaging the San Antonio community with musical productions and educational programming year-round since 2012. We are devoted to creating opportunities for our surrounding community by providing quality, entertaining, educational, and affordable programming for all ages, year-round. Our mission is to grow and sustain performing arts and education in San Antonio.
Every calendar year, we produce six Mainstage musical shows. Wonder Theatre productions feature well-known traditional musicals like Anything Goes and Hello, Dolly! to popular contemporary productions such as In The Heights and Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, to adult-oriented musicals like Avenue Q and Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. Our goal is to bring to the stage diverse musical theatre offerings for a diverse audience.
Our Venue
The theatre is located at the Wonderland of the Americas and is an intimate setting with a beautiful lobby and full-serve concession. The theatre holds 234 floor seats. Free parking is available at the Wonderland of the Americas.
Performers
We hold open auditions for every production for San Antonio area performing artists. We post audition information, once it becomes available, on our Auditions page. Everyone is welcome to audition per each production’s auditions specifications. Each performer, over the age of 18, receives a small stipend for their work.
Wonder Theatre has a live orchesta for each production. Musicians are chosen based on the production’s Musical Director needs.
Awards
We’re not ones to toot our own horn, but we are the humbled recipients of numerous Alamo Theatre Arts Council Globe Awards for Direction, Lead Actor/Actress, Supporting Actor/Actress, Sound Design, Scene Design, Choreography, Music Direction, and People’s Choice Award. Wonder Theatre has been voted “Best Community Theatre” via The San Antonio Current in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018.
A History of Entertaining
The Woodlawn Theatre first opened its doors in 1945 as a venue of esteem and prestige. The theatre was designed by John Eberson (1875–1954), an American architect best known for his movie palace designs in the atmospheric theatre fashion. In 1960, the legendary Academy-Award winner John Wayne hosted the world premiere of his movie, The Alamo. For years to follow, Wonder Theatre continued as an elegant venue for Hollywood films.
In 1975, the theatre was purchased by Santikos Theatres, but it eventually fell upon hard times and was forced to shut down.
Throughout the years, the theatre slowly deteriorated and fell through the hands of a number of tenants. In 1979, an acting group known as San Antonio Theater Center was housed there. In 1986, the Woodlawn premiered the laser-show tribute to Pink Floyd, while hosting a series of jazz and blues concerts. In 2005, the last temporary tenant, known as Actors Theater of San Antonio, vacated the property.
It wasn't until 2006 that the venue was revamped and major portions of the building were rebuilt. The Woodlawn Theatre was then transformed into a live performance community theatre, hosting mostly Broadway-style shows.
In 2012, Woodlawn Theatre Inc. was formed as a non-profit organization by current building owners, Kurt and Sherry Wehner. The theatre continued as a live performance venue offering musical productions, and eventually developed an educational theatre arts program for young performers, Woodlawn Academy for the Performing Arts.
In 2013, Woodlawn Theatre was honored with the official title 'City of San Antonio Historic Structure' and is now known as one of San Antonio's historical landmarks.
In 2023, Woodlawn Theatre rebranded to Wonder Theatre prior to relocating to Wonderland of the Americas.
