Highfield History

Built in 1876 as a home for Ali Baba and Salaam, Pierson Beebe’s prized horses, this modest building in the woods has since become a destination for audiences in search of a classic New England theater-going experience. Since 1947, the building has housed productions by the Falmouth Theatre Guild, the College Light Opera Company, and a number of other renowned groups. Highfield Theatre has long been known to audiences as a home to intimate stagings and powerful performances.

In 1963, one critic noted that “seeing any theatrical performance at Highfield, good or bad, becomes a pleasurable experience.” In 1972, Mr. and Mrs. Josiah K. Lilly III, saved the Highfield Estate from possible development, and gave the theater and 22 acres to the Cape Cod Conservatory to help ensure the future of the performing arts in the region.