Padua Hills Theatre

Padua Hills Theatre is a performance venue in Claremont featuring Spanish Colonial Revival design with three buildings organized around a central courtyard. The complex includes a theater building, a restaurant facility, and residential quarters for cast and staff members.

The theater was founded in 1931 and operated as a nonprofit organization with an integrated performing company until 1974. During these decades, it became an important cultural venue that shaped how audiences in the area experienced live performance.

The Mexican Players company presented Spanish-language performances that introduced traditional Mexican culture and customs to audiences throughout the region. These dinner shows became a way for people to experience another culture in an evening out.

The property is located at 4467 Via Padova in Claremont and currently operates as an event venue called Padua Weddings. The site maintains its original architectural features, making it accessible to visitors interested in the historic building design.

The theater employed a resident acting company whose members performed on stage while also maintaining the facility and preparing meals. This unusual arrangement created a tight bond between the artists and the physical space where they worked and lived.

Location: Claremont

Architects: Marston, Van Pelt & Maybury

Architectural style: Spanish Colonial Revival architecture

GPS coordinates: 34.15110,-117.70100

Latest update: December 10, 2025 20:02