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The Bus Barn Theater does not look like much from the outside. It is a modest building on the Los Altos Civic Center campus that began life as a garage for school buses. Inside, it holds 99 seats close around the stage. For three decades it has been home to Los Altos Stage Company, which puts on plays, musicals and a youth theater season.
This page covers the building's history, the company behind it and the 2026 to 2027 season exactly as the company has published it. For other stages nearby, see our guide to theater in Palo Alto.
From bus barn to playhouse
The fullest account of the building's past comes from a November 2021 presentation to the Los Altos City Council by a community working group studying theater space. It gives this timeline:
| When | What happened |
|---|---|
| 1940s | The building is placed on the site as a school bus barn, when the Los Altos School District owns the land |
| 1976 | A group of private citizens converts it into a theater, with the city's permission |
| 1993 | The city buys the Los Altos Conservatory Theatre property, including the stage, lighting, seats and dressing rooms |
| 1995 | Los Altos Stage Company forms after the Conservatory Theatre closes |
The City of Los Altos still owns the property. The same 2021 presentation described the building as old, poorly placed and in need of major additions such as a lobby, restrooms and offices. The working group proposed a new theater of 125 to 180 seats on a city-owned parking plaza downtown, between Second and Third streets, following the city's 2018 Downtown Vision plan. We could not confirm any decision on that proposal since, so for now the Bus Barn remains the company's home.
Los Altos Stage Company
According to its about page, Los Altos Stage Company was founded in June 1995, rising from the closure of the Los Altos Conservatory Theatre. It was first known as the Bus Barn Stage Company. It incorporated in August 1995 and became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit the same year, with early backing from The David and Lucile Packard Foundation and the Los Altos Community Foundation.
The company says its mission is to present theater that celebrates American art and culture and to serve as a creative gathering place for the community. Its programming covers dramas, comedies and musicals from the American repertoire. Since its founding it has produced more than 150 shows. The company also notes that ticket sales cover only about half of its annual operating costs, with donations making up the rest.
Two strands run through each season:
- Mainstage productions with adult casts. The company says most contain adult themes and are recommended for mature audiences.
- Los Altos Youth Theatre (LAYT), with performers ages 8 to 18. These shows are typically suitable for all ages.
The 2026 to 2027 season
Here is the season as listed on the company's website at the end of October 2026. Dates can shift, so confirm on the company's site before you buy.
| Show | Dates | Strand |
|---|---|---|
| Mean Girls | October 23 to November 1, 2026 | LAYT fall musical |
| Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat | November 27 to December 20, 2026 | Mainstage musical |
| Mr. Burns, a Post-Electric Play | January 21 to February 14, 2027 | Mainstage play |
| The Hobbit | March 12 to 21, 2027 | LAYT spring play |
| Inherit the Wind | April 15 to May 9, 2027 | Mainstage play |
| Floyd Collins | June 3 to 27, 2027 | Mainstage musical |
| The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical | July 23 to August 1, 2027 | LAYT summer musical |
About the shows
- Mean Girls is the musical version of Tina Fey's comedy, with music by Jeff Richmond and lyrics by Nell Benjamin. The youth cast closes its run on November 1.
- Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, is the company's holiday show, billed as a family musical. It fits well with other holiday season outings.
- Mr. Burns by Anne Washburn follows survivors who rebuild an episode of The Simpsons from memory after a collapse, then jumps across decades.
- The Hobbit is Edward Mast's stage adaptation of the Tolkien novel, performed by the youth company.
- Inherit the Wind by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee is the courtroom drama inspired by the Scopes trial.
- Floyd Collins, with music and lyrics by Adam Guettel and a book by Tina Landau, tells the true story of a Kentucky cave explorer trapped underground in 1925.
- The Lightning Thief adapts Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson novel, with book by Joe Tracz and music and lyrics by Rob Rokicki.
Tickets and subscriptions
The company sells single tickets and season subscriptions online and through its box office at 650-941-0551. Its subscription page lists these five-ticket packages:
- Preset dates, Wednesday nights: $162
- Pick your own dates, Thursday, Friday or Saturday nights: $180
- Pick your own dates, Wednesday nights: $162
- Stage Pass: $180, choose your dates now or later
Subscribers get priority seating before public sales, free date exchanges by phone and 10 percent off up to two extra single tickets per production. Single ticket prices are on each show's booking page, so we have not listed them here. In a 99-seat room, popular musicals can sell out, so book early for holiday performances.
Youth theater, camps and auditions
Los Altos Youth Theatre runs alongside the mainstage. It stages a fall musical, a spring play and a summer musical, plus summer camps for kids led by the company's education director. Families can join a separate LAYT email list for announcements.
The company also posts casting notices for its productions and an email list for audition announcements. It recruits designers and production crew for single shows or a whole season. For more options for young performers, see our guides to classes for kids and things to do with teens.
Planning a night out
The theater is at 97 Hillview Avenue on the Civic Center campus, a short walk from downtown Los Altos. That makes dinner and a show easy without moving the car.
- Book a table downtown for an early dinner. Our Los Altos food guide lists restaurants we confirmed are open.
- Park once. Downtown's free public plazas stop enforcing time limits at 6 p.m.
- Walk to the theater across San Antonio Road and arrive early to settle in, since a small house fills quickly.
On a Thursday to Sunday, pair a show with an afternoon at the free Los Altos History Museum, which sits on the same campus. For a full evening plan in Palo Alto, see our date night ideas. Visiting from out of town? Los Altos has few hotel rooms, so you can compare hotels near Los Altos in Palo Alto and Mountain View.
Good to know
- Check each show's content advisory. Mainstage shows are often aimed at adults.
- The theater seats 99, so holiday musicals can sell out.
- Subscribers can exchange dates by phone; single ticket buyers should check the exchange policy before booking.
- Questions about a show's suitability go to the box office at 650-941-0551.
Frequently asked questions
Why is it called the Bus Barn Theater?
The building began as a school bus barn. According to a 2021 City of Los Altos presentation, it was placed on the site in the 1940s, when the Los Altos School District owned the land. A group of private citizens converted it into a theater in 1976 with the city's permission.
How many seats does the Bus Barn Theater have?
Los Altos Stage Company describes its home as an intimate 99-seat theater. The small size means every seat is close to the stage.
What is playing at the Bus Barn Theater?
The company's site lists Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat from November 27 to December 20, 2026, Mr. Burns from January 21 to February 14, 2027, Inherit the Wind from April 15 to May 9, 2027 and Floyd Collins from June 3 to 27, 2027. Its youth theater has its own shows.
Are Los Altos Stage Company shows suitable for children?
It depends on the show. The company says most mainstage productions contain adult themes and are recommended for mature audiences. Its Los Altos Youth Theatre shows feature performers ages 8 to 18 and are typically suitable for all ages. Call the box office at 650-941-0551 with questions.
How much is a Los Altos Stage Company subscription?
The company lists five-ticket subscription packages at $162 for Wednesday nights and $180 for Thursday, Friday or Saturday nights. A Stage Pass, also $180, lets you choose dates later. Check its site for single ticket prices.