DAVE AND ROMA MCCOY ARTS AND CULTURAL CENTER CONSTRUCTION AND MANAGEMENT UPDATE

 

Construction of the new Dave and Roma McCoy Arts and Cultural Center is progressing on schedule, coinciding with the Town’s hiring of local resident David Baron as the new Arts and Culture Manager.

 

The project took a major step forward last year when the Town purchased the 8‑acre property from the Mammoth Lakes Foundation and, in July, awarded the construction contract to Spiess Construction Company, Inc. in the amount of $15,862,000. On August 6, 2025, the community celebrated the official groundbreaking of the Dave and Roma McCoy Arts and Cultural Center, marking the start of full-scale construction on what will become the premier performing arts center in the Eastern Sierra.

 

Since that time, construction has progressed through completion of underground utilities, foundations, concrete slab and structural columns, and most recently the perimeter concrete block walls up to 46 feet. The steel roof structure will be installed in the coming months. The crew will then focus their efforts on closing in the building prior to the start of winter. Installation of interior mechanical, electrical, finishes and theater specialties (sound, lighting, projection, etc.) will continue through winter and spring.

 

The approximately 7,482‑square‑foot, 259‑seat custom-built performing arts theatre is scheduled to open in spring/summer 2027.

 

The facility will accommodate live theatre, musical performances, film screenings, lectures, conferences, and a wide range of community events. Resident arts organizations will include Chamber Music Unbound, Sierra Classic Theatre, Mammoth Lakes Repertory Theatre, and the Eastern Sierra Community Chorus, along with performances from Mammoth High School students.

 

Following an extensive, multi‑month recruitment process, the Town selected Mammoth Lakes resident and seasoned theater, media, and technology professional David Baron as the new Arts and Culture Manager.

 

“David brings an exceptional blend of leadership, strategic insight, and experience in theater and media to this position. We are excited to welcome him to this new role and to the Parks and Recreation Department. In addition to launching a new vibrant and community-driven cultural center, David will focus on strengthening and connecting the local arts and culture community, ensuring a strong foundation of talent for years to come,” stated Stuart Brown, Parks and Recreation Director.

 

David holds a degree in Theater from Yale University, with focused coursework in theater management through the Yale School of Drama. His early career included production and theater management roles with institutions such as the Manhattan Theatre Club and Mabou Mines, as well as work with Broadway producer James Freyberg. He also co‑founded and managed The Sacred Fools Theater in Los Angeles, a company that continues to thrive years later. After a three‑decade hiatus from performing, David returned to the stage this past year, appearing as Boolie in Driving Miss Daisy for Mammoth Lakes Repertory Theatre, and more recently taking on the title role in King Lear for Sierra Classic Theatre.

 

“My upbringing in a family of classical musicians and academics, coupled with immersion in New York’s non-profit arts community, gives me deep respect for the cultural and operational nuances of arts organizations. In the middle of all of that, I had a long career at the intersection of media and technology, including being part of the team that founded Hulu and working there as an executive for 14 years. I have never strayed too far from creating opportunities for audiences to enjoy creative entertainment, whether live or on-line and I am incredibly excited to bring my professional experience and passion for the arts to this new position,” stated Baron.

 

The opening of the new 259‑seat, custom‑built performing arts center marks one of the most exciting developments in Mammoth Lakes’ short history. Getting from here to opening day will require deliberate planning, strategic investment, and broad engagement and collaboration. Key questions guide this work: What do our local arts organizations need and hope to achieve in this new space? What types of year‑round programming do our residents want to experience? What performances and presenters can we attract to Mammoth Lakes? And how can this venue serve as a living classroom that nurtures and inspires the next generation of artists?

 

The Arts and Culture Manager is tasked with bringing this ambitious vision to life in a way that showcases the uniqueness and diversity of the Mammoth Lakes’ arts and culture community. Success demands a forward‑thinking, entrepreneurial mindset and a bold, action‑driven plan that delivers operational excellence, financial sustainability, and meaningful cultural impact from day one.

 

Major responsibilities include coordinating with Public Works on the construction of the facility and the planned technical capabilities of the theatre space, hiring and training technical and operational staff, developing a robust two‑year performance calendar, launching a new website, establishing a strong social media presence, and building a dynamic community engagement and region‑wide outreach plan. A significant component of this work also involves selecting, integrating, and coordinating with resident tenants on a new performing arts ticketing system to manage subscriptions, assigned seating, mobile scanning, donations and box office operations.

 

Each of these steps is critical in building excitement and momentum as the community moves closer to opening the doors of its new performing arts center.

 

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