Ann Marie Danimus successfully pursued careers in marketing, wedding planning, acting, and modeling in Seattle before moving to Puerto Vallarta ten years ago in search of adventure. She first became involved with the Santa Barbara Theater as a volunteer director, building a stage with lighting and putting on a cabaret show, all in eighteen days. Today, Ann Marie is the owner and creative director of the theater.
The Santa Barbara is a repertoire theater that features a wide variety of shows each season, such as plays, musicals, historical reviews, dance reviews, comedy, and live music. One of Ann Marie’s goals has been to keep improving the quality of the shows while maintaining a diverse schedule each year.
On the second floor of the theater, there is a restaurant called the Broadway Café that serves American-style breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Also available is dinner and a show, which includes a three-course meal of a salad, a desert, and an entrée such as capellini Bolognese with pesto, pork tenderloin with a honey mustard sauce, or chiles rellenos.
When asked about her favorite memories from the theater, Ann Marie talks about an all-volunteer Christmas show she directed. She says, “There were a lot of children involved in the theater. It was just charming. All the cast was very close. An amazing show with amazing people… it was so rewarding. It was a really beautiful Christmas.”
As for the future, Ann Marie says, “I want to do things in Vallarta that are new and different.” Other plans for the theater include expanding the schedule with late-night shows and developing a volunteer program. If you’re interested in volunteering with the theater, there are a number of opportunities: selling tickets in the box office, building sets, helping backstage, apprenticing in lights and sound, handing out playbills, seating people, writing newsletters, and handing out fliers. All volunteers get to see the show for free.
If you’re interested in seeing a show at the Santa Barbara Theater, there are three ways to book a ticket: by telephone, by email, or in person. Tickets are $275 pesos for a show, or $400 pesos for dinner and a show. See the theater’s website for its current schedule.
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