After 20 Years on Borrowed Stages, Cardboard Playhouse Opens Permanent Home in Northeast Albuquerque

Cardboard Playhouse Theatre Company celebrated its first permanent home with a grand opening and ribbon-cutting Saturday at 11 a.m. at 6011 Constitution Ave. NE. The nonprofit children’s theatre company, which describes itself as specializing in musical theatre, says it has officially moved into the space on the northeast side at Constitution and San Pedro, as KOB 4 reported.

The move follows more than two decades of bringing youth theater productions to borrowed or rented stages across Albuquerque.

The celebration opened with a performance by current company members and alumni, Hoodline reported, and the ribbon cutting featured short live performances by youth actors, KRQE and KOB 4 reported. KOB 4 reported the program included speeches and guided open house tours of the new facility. Hoodline reported visitors could explore its rehearsal and creative spaces. Guests could enjoy on-site food trucks, a DJ and refreshments, KRQE and Hoodline reported, and take photos with the Breaking Bad RV, KOB 4 reported. Saturday’s program also included a 2027 season reveal.

The company was founded by Doug Montoya and Kristin Berg in December 2004, according to cardboardplayhouse.org, and has produced almost 100 productions casting more than a thousand local adult and child actors. Hoodline described the prior years as “lawn-chair rehearsals” on “borrowed stages,” noting parents sometimes hauled their own lawn chairs to rehearsals because there was nowhere else to sit.

Executive Director Doug Montoya said finding a permanent space has become critical as available venues have become harder to find and more expensive to rent, KOAT reported. He said the company spends significant time and energy coordinating show dates, securing trucks, moving sets and equipment, and repeatedly setting up and tearing down productions, and sometimes has to remove everything from a venue during the week and bring it all back later because materials cannot stay in place. “If we had our own venue, then we would be in control of our ticket sales,” Montoya said. He said a permanent home would allow the company to reduce added fees and focus more resources on productions and students.

The April 2026 24-hour Stream-a-thon helped the company reach the goal of opening a new building, KRQE reported. The livestream ran from 5 p.m. April 11 through 5 p.m. April 12 across YouTube, Facebook and Twitch, with some live segments at The Box Performance Space in Albuquerque, The Paper reported. KOAT reported the 24-hour stream raised $101,146, above its original $100,000 goal, while Hoodline reported the broader HOME Project campaign ultimately raised more than $114,000.

At the time of the April report, the money was intended to help fund a down payment on a building near Menaul Boulevard and Wyoming Boulevard that was still under negotiation, KOAT reported. Montoya said then that if that deal did not go through, the fundraising success would still allow the company to continue searching for another permanent location. He said the funds put the company in a stronger position to secure a long-term space. Montoya said alumni, volunteers and supporters helped drive the campaign, and community members helped run multiple stages, organize activities and keep the event moving throughout the 24 hours.

Hoodline reported the new facility includes dedicated rehearsal areas and workspaces that allow multiple projects to happen at the same time, plus areas where parents can work or wait near their children. The additional room has already allowed staff to plan their entire upcoming season. Berg said the permanent location lets the organization celebrate its history while planning for the future, and said she hopes the building becomes a gathering place for the surrounding neighborhood.

The company says it remains committed to tuition-free participation, casting young performers based on ability rather than family financial circumstances. It plans to offer more programming to more families around Albuquerque and is exploring outreach with local elementary schools, with potential programming including poetry, Shakespeare, film, media production and other performance opportunities. More than 120 students came through its Training Center in a single week for rehearsals and classes, according to the group’s Home Project page.

Larger productions will continue using theaters throughout Albuquerque for now, while smaller shows could potentially land at the Box Performance Space downtown. The organization hopes to eventually transform part of the new building into a smaller performance venue.