The Depot Theater Company Collection

The group began in 1983 as The Boot Hill Repertory Company. All performers were veterans of the Long Branch Variety Show which had been produced for each summer’s tourist season since 1958.

The participants of the Long Branch Variety Show desired an additional outlet for their efforts. They decided to produce a Christmas-themed show to be performed in the Long Branch Saloon in December of 1983. This was designed to be a benefit event to provide some funds to refurbish the stage related assets and to purchase new costumes for the summer variety show. This production was so well received by the community that the theater group decided to expand their work and to produce some shows throughout the year. Thus, the Boot Hill Repertory Company was born.

It was a modest start. The Old House Saloon at the Front Street Replica (known colloquially as simply “Boot Hill”) became available as a venue. The space was cramped and not at all suited for theater productions, but it was all that a limited budget would allow...it was free! Long time Boot Hill Museum Director Jim Sherer, who was involved in many community projects over the years, supported the group’s mission strongly, and he was responsible for making the space available. Mr. Sherer thought that the effort was an immediate asset to the museum, and if it took off, could be such to the Dodge City area.

Over time and due to a lot of dedicated work by many individuals, the company did in fact take off. They produced a number of shows in the Old House Saloon for 13 years. Lessons were learned and minor improvements were made to the facilities as time and budgets allowed. Eventually the group outgrew the Old House Saloon and began looking for another venue. In 1996 the company vacated the Old House Saloon.

Plans were made to occupy the old Elks Club Lodge, a brick building adjacent to the Santa Fe Depot downtown. Some remodeling was required to the old Elks building before it could be used; during a short period a few shows were performed at the Little Theater on the campus of Dodge City Community College. When the new space was ready, it was christened The Homestead Theater. Boot Hill Repertory Company used the Homestead Theater for 6 or 7 years. It was a definite improvement over the Old House Saloon, but much bigger things lay in store for the years ahead.

The Santa Fe Depot in Dodge City, a noted landmark, had fallen into disrepair. Only a tiny portion of the complex was still being used, serving as the Dodge City station for the Amtrak passenger rail service. The Santa Fe had periodically reduced its activities there, beginning in 1948. Eventually the railroad ceased any active presence. The issue of what to do with the old depot was bantered about for years. In 1996 the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway donated the property to the city of Dodge City. Federal grant funds were attained for the purpose of preserving the depot, and using it as the home for the Boot Hill Repertory Company’s theater. After 8 years of renovation and restoration, a new state of the art dinner theater space existed in the old depot. The members of the theater group were elated; this facility was indeed a dream come true. In honor of entire project the players and staff of the company changed their name to Depot Theater Incorporated, and obtained status as a non-profit Kansas corporation.

Since 2004, the Depot Theater Company shifted into high gear and has never looked back. By the end of 2013, their 30th anniversary, they had produced 120 “main productions” plus many other smaller events. The group has made the building available for other meeting purposes to groups around the area. More people than ever are involved. Community support is strong. Some professional management has become needed over the years. Many of the players also fulfill part-time management roles; often these people donate their salary back to the company, to support the troupe in every way they possibly can. Producing live dinner theater events is a labor of love and without all the volunteers who help, the company could not function nor even exist. The Depot Theater Company has become a local treasure that improves the quality of life here in Dodge City for countless area residents. The depot building itself is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and its preservation and upkeep is thus assured by federal law.