Poncan Theatre

The Poncan Theatre opened on September 20, 1927, at a cost of $280,000 — and 1,200 people showed up for the first night. It was designed as an "atmospheric theatre" — meaning the auditorium ceiling is painted to look like a starry night sky, with twinkling lights and projected cloud effects. The lobby holds what is reportedly the largest collection in the world of hand-painted lobby art from the 1930s. The theatre was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985 and underwent a major restoration completed in 1994. Today it hosts concerts, plays, comedy, classic film series, and is home to the Evans Children's Academy of Performing Arts and the Ponca City Concert Series. The Poncan is the cultural anchor of downtown Ponca City — and walking into the auditorium for the first time is genuinely something. Check the events calendar for shows.