As America celebrates its 250th anniversary in 2026, it’s a natural moment to reflect on the institutions that have shaped our communities and culture across generations. Here in South Dakota, one of those enduring legacies is a little theatre in the woods, now part of something bigger than Doc Lee ever could have imagined.
What started as one man’s “hazy” dream has developed into a year-round company with a statewide reach. Today, that company is known as Theatre 605, the corporate umbrella that brings together the Black Hills Playhouse, touring education programs, performing arts camps, and opportunities on stage for people of all abilities.
At the heart of it all remains the Black Hills Playhouse (BHP), one of the longest-running summer stock theatres in the country, founded in 1946 by Dr. Warren M. (Doc) Lee of the University of South Dakota (USD).
Doc Lee’s Dream Takes Root
Doc Lee’s vision began, as he described it, as “a very hazy idea.” His goals were straightforward but ambitious: bring high-quality entertainment to rural communities while providing training and employment opportunities for students and theatre professionals.
“It really began in the winter and spring of 1945–46,” said Doc Lee, “the idea of a summer theatre in the Black Hills. It had no name; it was a hazy idea. A VERY hazy idea.”
The original company, seven men, seven women, and one baby, moved into abandoned Civilian Conservation Corps buildings constructed in 1934, working in rustic conditions without modern facilities. They performed with the same dedication as today’s company members.
“We were willing to compromise on living comforts and almost every other necessity, except our performances!” said Doc Lee.
In those early days, audiences trekked on dirt and gravel roads, sometimes on foot, to experience the magic of theatre in beautiful Custer State Park, where tickets cost $1.65. Five shows were produced in 1946, and the theatre performed to 2,844 people that first year. Today, the Black Hills Playhouse draws around 14,000 people annually (as well as a few bison.)
A Campus That Has Grown With the Dream
The only remaining original building from 1934 is the snack bar and office at the head of the BHP campus. The current theatre was built in 1955, and dormitories for the seasonal company were constructed between 1979 and 1982.
In July of 1995, Haberman Hall, an outdoor picnic shelter dedicated to Hap and Ellie Haberman, was constructed as a project of the BHP Alumni Association. 2008 brought a new rehearsal hall, a scene shop named the Barber Shop, air conditioning in the theatre, and a new box office. A new dining hall, grand drape, and stage rigging was added in 2011, and in 2013, a new costume shop was built with the help of an international contingent of the National Guard during Golden Coyote operations.
The theater’s electrical systems and upgraded lighting and sound systems were added in 2014. In 2015, a covered porch was added to the dining hall, and the bridge between upper and lower camp was replaced with the help of the SD National Guard. In 2021, the outdoor New Frontier Theatre was built so the company could play during COVID. In 2022, the theatre was re-sided and insulated. That same year, all roofs on the campus were replaced. In 2024 and 2025, the Copa and Tropicana dorms were remodeled thanks to Scot and Mary Hoscheid. In 2025-2026, a new fire suppression system was installed in the kitchen, handrails were installed in Hab Hall, handicapped accessible toilets were installed in the women’s bathrooms, sprinkler systems were installed in five dormitories, and 53 windows were replaced to make the buildings compliant with modern fire codes. A quarter of a million dollars was invested in these improvements. A recently completed Master Plan concept is under review and will guide the next 5-10 years of campus improvements.
The Custer Mile High Garden Club and Jeff Kingsbury have made many improvements to the flower beds and grounds across campus over the years. Thanks to a strong partnership with the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish & Parks and Custer State Park, which helps keep infrastructure sound on the property, guests experience a beautiful and truly unique setting each season.
A Legacy That Lives On
“There is satisfaction seeing students develop,” shared Doc Lee, “but it is frustrating to realize the limit to what you can ever expect to do when you have a maximum of five years.”
Doc Lee’s goal of molding young theatre professionals while bringing quality theatre to rural communities in South Dakota became a reality, and the Black Hills Playhouse continues to be a part of the College of Fine Arts at USD today. Over the decades, many students and professionals who worked with Doc Lee moved on with a deepened passion for their art, leading and working at theatre programs throughout the country.
Some notable alumni and Playhouse favorites include Robert Neff Williams, Hap Haberman, Graham Thatcher, Norman Fell, Eric Johnson, Jennie May Donnell, Daamon Krall, Dan Workman, Jeff Kingsbury, Jarrod Emick, Debra Christofferson, Noah Michael, and Mary Buss.
A network of BHP alumni continues to support the Playhouse through generous contributions and network opportunities for young professionals.
Theatre 605 Today: Statewide and Growing
In 2025, we updated our corporate name to Theatre 605, a change that reflects just how much Doc’s mission has grown. The Black Hills Playhouse isn’t going anywhere: audiences will still make their way through the picturesque landscape of Custer State Park for an incredible theatre experience each summer. But the new name acknowledges what has been true for years: this organization serves the entire state of South Dakota, from the Black Hills to Sioux Falls and everywhere in between.
What began as a little playhouse in the forest has grown into a statewide organization. Theatre 605 now encompasses four distinct programs: The Black Hills Playhouse remains the flagship. The only professional regional theatre in South Dakota, employing exceptional talent from across the country each summer in Custer State Park.
T605 Tours (formerly Dakota Players) has been bringing exceptional theatre education to communities of all sizes throughout South Dakota and beyond for over 25 years, facilitated by professional touring artists who join the company for a season-long engagement.
T605 Jr. Camps (formerly BHP Jr.) began in 2016 and has been creating memories to last a lifetime for hundreds of young campers who discover their voices, build confidence, and form lasting friendships through the magic of theatre. More than 100 campers joined in 2025 alone, and 2026 will mark the 10-year anniversary of the camps.
T605 Expanding Stage has, since 2013, partnered with LifeScape and DakotAbilities to create theatre programs that welcome performers of all ages and abilities in the Sioux Falls area, cultivating an environment where everyone has the opportunity to shine.
Eighty Years and Counting
As the nation marks 250 years of American history, Theatre 605 celebrates 80 seasons of the Black Hills Playhouse, a remarkable thread woven through the cultural life of South Dakota since 1946. The dream Doc Lee described as “hazy” has proven to be one of the most enduring in the state and country’s history.
The dream lives on through every performance at the Playhouse, every touring show that visits a small community, every camper who finds their voice, and every performer who feels included on an expanding stage. That is the legacy of Theatre 605, and it is only getting started.
We are grateful for all the support we have received over 80 years that makes this possible, and we hope that everyone will take time to celebrate this enormous milestone with us this summer!
All quotes from Doc Lee can be found in “One Man’s Dream: The History of the Black Hills Playhouse, Custer State Park, Black Hills of South Dakota, 1946–1995,” written by Dorothy Delicate.