More than forty years ago, Kathy Brombacher stood on a bare concrete stage with no amenities in an undeveloped Brengle Terrace Park with officials from the City of Vista and the Vista Unified School District. There were no dressing rooms, bathrooms or even running water. Kathy proclaimed that the small stage and grassy tiers could be home to musical theatre under Vista's summer skies.

The original Moonlight stage photographed on a July 4 in the early 1980s.
Photo credit unknown.

That meeting in early 1981 set in motion the development of musicals jointly produced by the City and the school district from 1981 through 1983. In 1984, the "Vista Summer Theatre Festival" was brought under the City's umbrella, and the theatre was renamed the Moonlight Amphitheatre.

The inaugural production of the "Vista Summer Theatre Festival" in 1981, Oliver!
Photo by Jean Belef

Today, Moonlight Stage Productions is recognized as one of San Diego County's major theatres and is critically acclaimed for its Broadway-quality musicals. The Moonlight Amphitheatre was re-constructed in 2008-2009 to create a newer, more technically capable venue. In the fall of 2014, The Moonlight Amphitheatre expanded its entertainment offerings to include concerts as part of its lineup. 

Into The Woods, 2024
Photo by Karli Cadel

Related Content
A Field of Dreams
Simple Gifts
As Good as Broadway