by Molly Gilmore
Published in the Oly Arts Summer 2026 print edition, page 12
A visit to the Kitsap Forest Theater, an hour from Olympia, is as much about the place as the plays. Next up at the outdoor theater, on a 466-acre nature preserve near Bremerton, is Oliver, opening July 25.
The productions, often old-fashioned musicals on a grand scale, boast strong production values, winning performers and well-played live music. But the theater itself — surrounded by Douglas fir trees that filter the sunlight — is arguably the star of every show.
“The space is magical,” said Gala Lindvall, a producer for the theater, owned by the Mountaineers. “As you walk down to it, it’s like it was 100 years ago. We take audiences on a journey away from regular life.”
For those coming from a distance, the drive is the first leg of that journey. The enchanting part begins when you arrive at the theater. There’s a 10-minute hike to the performance space. Along the trail, decorations themed to each show set the stage. (There’s a wheelchair-accessible shuttle bus, too.)
The trail opens an hour before shows, and many people come early to picnic. Refreshments are for sale on site, too; only cash is accepted. Stadium-style folding seats are available to rent, or bring your own or a cushion.
Those who are up for a little more hiking can take the 1.5 mile roundtrip jaunt to Big Tree, a Douglas fir more than 30 feet in circumference.
The theater was created from a natural amphitheater in 1928, and the first show on the land, known as the Rhododendron Preserve, was a roving production of Robin of Sherwood in 1923. (Since then, there were only four years without at least one show, three during World War II and the fourth in 2020.)
Beyond the setting, there is something about the shows themselves that transports the viewer to another reality, one separated by miles and seemingly by decades from computers and cell phones. Last summer’s Big Fish, a musical adapted from Daniel Wallace’s 1998 novel and the 2003 film, and 2024’s Cinderella, with contemporary comic touches, had a wholesome charm, feeling somehow as though they’d been produced in Brigadoon.
The spectacular setting draws actors, crew and audiences from all over Western Washington and beyond. On performance weekends, many of the cast and crew stay on the property and enjoy communal meals, hiking, swimming at nearby Wild Cat Lake and singing around the campfire.
WHAT
Kitsap Forest Theater
WHERE
3000 Seabeck Hwy., Bremerton
THE SHOWS
Oliver: July 25 and 26 and Aug. 1, 2, 8, 9, 15 and 16
Miss Holmes: Sept. 5-7, 12, 13, 19 and 20
WHEN
Performances are at 2 p.m. The trail to the theater opens at 1 p.m, and those needing to ride the wheelchair-accessible shuttle bus must arrive by 1 p.m. for a guaranteed ride.
TICKETS
$12-$25 in advance, $15-$30 at the door, with children under 6 admitted free
LEARN MORE
https://www.foresttheater.com