Carmel Community Players is the oldest community theatre in Carmel, IN and has been producing exceptional, affordable, up-close entertainment for over 3 decades. They have staged nearly 200 plays and musicals, and over 30 cabarets and fundraisers all over Hamilton County.
An all-volunteer, not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization, CCP is managed by a board of directors consisting of 8-15 members. Current board members collectively have more than 200 years of community theatre experience.
CCP is part of the Encore Association, a collection of 11 community theatres in Central Indiana, recognizing theatrical excellence. They have received several nominations and awards in theatrical excellence, and earned many scholarships for youth participants.
Established in 1993, Carmel Community Players remains the oldest operating community theatre in Carmel, IN. Their first production, Once Upon a Mattress, premiered in August 1993 at Carmel Middle School. From 1993 - 2009, CCP staged productions all over Carmel in nearly a dozen venues; schools, churches, and frequent outdoor performances at the Carmel Civic Gazebo and Saint Vincent’s Living Nativity.
On August 15, 2008, CCP signed a lease at Clay Terrace and converted a store front into a theatre. Countless hours of volunteer work went into constructing a stage, installing lighting and sound and concessions equipment, equipping dressing rooms, painting, and polishing – all to prepare a new 120 seat Carmel Community Playhouse. CCP performed at Clay Terrace for more than 9 seasons, during which time patronage increased by more than 75%.
In addition to CCP performances, the Carmel Community Playhouse served as a venue for a variety of events including cabarets, concerts, recitals, improv comedy, magic shows, acting classes, art exhibits, wedding parties, and cultural meetings. It served as a temporary home for the Actors Theatre of Indiana (ATI), where they performed most of their 2010 season.
The Clay Terrace lease was cancelled in 2018, as new management at Clay Terrace changed priorities.
Since then, CCP has performed at other local venues including, The CAT, the Switch Theatre at the Ji Eun Lee Music Academy, Carmel Friends Church, and the Ivy Tech Noblesville Auditorium. In 2021, CCP launched a Capital Campaign to raise funds to search for and secure a new home. They remain
committed to securing a permanent space with a larger stage, higher ceilings, ample rehearsal space, and increased seating capacity.
