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The Arnoldo Herrera González Theater is the performance venue of the Castella Conservatory, Costa Rica’s pioneering arts-and-academics school. Inaugurated in Sabana Norte in 1953, it remains an active stage where students present concerts, dance and theater to the public at accessible prices.

Location and How to Get There

• Address: Sabana Norte, next to the Nissan dealership, Mata Redonda district, San José
• GPS coordinates: 9.938008, -84.099183 (9°56’16.83″N, 84°05’57.06″W)
• Postal code: 10108

The theater sits on the north side of La Sabana Metropolitan Park, San José’s largest green space. The Nissan dealership on Sabana Norte is the landmark locals use to give directions.

View driving directions from Central Park, San José

Performances and Tickets

The conservatory runs a public season it calls the Cartelera Cultural — performances where the community can see the work of its students. Programming covers three areas:

• Concerts — student musicians in public seasons
• Dance and movement — staged productions across disciplines
• Theater — plays, open rehearsals and dramatic workshops

Productions typically run on weekends, with a Saturday afternoon and a Sunday morning performance. The April 2026 production, Un poquitico de nuestro país, was staged on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. and Sunday at 10:00 a.m.

Ticket prices

Admission to the April 2026 production was ₡3,000 (roughly US$6). Prices may vary by production.

How to buy tickets

Tickets are sold in advance through the conservatory’s Junta Administrativa, and advance purchase is strongly recommended — sales close the day before the performance.

• In person: at the conservatory’s tiendita (school shop), run by the Junta Administrativa
• By SINPE Móvil: transfer to the Junta Administrativa, then send the payment receipt to the same number along with the date of the performance you are attending
• At the door: cash only on the day of the event

Note for international visitors: SINPE Móvil is Costa Rica’s mobile payment system, operated by the Central Bank and linked to a local phone number. It generally requires a Costa Rican bank account, so visitors from abroad will usually need to buy in person or pay cash at the door.

Current dates, prices and the Junta Administrativa’s contact number are published by the conservatory at castellacr.com.

Where to find upcoming performances

The conservatory announces each production on social media, usually before it appears anywhere else. Posters include dates, times, ticket price and payment instructions:

• Facebook — where season posters are posted first
• Instagram
• YouTube — recordings of past performances

• Facebook
• Instagram
• YouTube

About the Castella Conservatory

Founded in 1953, the Castella Conservatory built a model few believed in at the time: a standard academic curriculum combined with daily artistic practice. It was established on land beside La Sabana Park, donated together with 100,000 colones by Carlos Millet de Castella.

The school teaches five artistic disciplines — music, dance and ballet, theater, visual arts, and literary creation — alongside regular schooling. Its main campus is now in Barreal de Heredia, while the original 1953 building in Sabana Norte continues to serve as its theater.

The Legacy of Arnoldo Herrera González

The theater carries the name of the conservatory’s founder. Son of composer Mariano Herrera, he began musical training in early childhood, taught music at fifteen, and at nineteen won a scholarship to Mexico, where he studied composition under Rodolfo Halffter and orchestral conducting under Carlos Chávez.

He returned to Costa Rica in 1948 and led the National Symphony Orchestra, first on an interim basis and later as a guest conductor, while teaching at the University of Costa Rica, the Normal School in Heredia, and Seminario High School. In 1960 he directed the National Opera, contributing to a revival of Costa Rican bel canto.

Thirty-eight years after founding the conservatory, his work was recognized with the Magón Award, Costa Rica’s highest cultural honor. He directed the institution for over 43 years and died on March 4, 1996. His clearest legacy is the long list of Castella graduates who went on to teach themselves.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the Castella Conservatory Theater located?

In Sabana Norte, next to the Nissan dealership, in the Mata Redonda district of San José, on the north side of La Sabana Metropolitan Park. GPS coordinates are 9.938008, -84.099183.

Is the theater open to the public?

Yes. The conservatory runs a public season of concerts, dance productions and theater performances presented by its students. Anyone can attend.

How much do tickets cost?

Admission to the April 2026 production was ₡3,000, roughly US$6. Prices may vary by production.

How do I buy tickets?

In advance at the conservatory’s tiendita, or by SINPE Móvil transfer to the Junta Administrativa with the payment receipt sent to the same number. Cash is accepted at the door on the day of the performance. Advance sales close the day before.

What time do performances start?

Productions typically run on weekends. The April 2026 season had a Saturday performance at 2:00 p.m. and a Sunday performance at 10:00 a.m.

Who was Arnoldo Herrera González?

He founded the Castella Conservatory in 1953 and directed it for over 43 years. A composer and conductor trained in Mexico, he led Costa Rica’s National Symphony Orchestra and received the Magón Award. He died in 1996 and the theater carries his name.

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Abya Yala Theater, managed since its founding in 1991 by David Korish and Roxana Avila, it is an independent theater in Costa Rica, dedicated to creating original theatrical works. In addition to entertainment, providing entertainment and research spaces, teaching workshops, national and international conferences and seminars, it maintains an active role in field of fields of production and promotion of artistic and cultural activities in Costa Rica and Central America.

Abya Yala Theater has been awarded with the National Award for Best Theatrical Group in 1999, 2002 and 2006, as well as the Aquileo J. Echeverría prize in drama in 2002 for the play “Nos Esperamos”. Its original work “Sade” was Honorable Mention of the Uchimura Award of UNESCO in 2001.

The theater’s workshops are a service to communities, institutions, professional groups and performing arts amateurs. These workshops may involve the collaboration of other members of Abya Yala, according to the number of participants and needs of each workshop.

Besides David Korish and Roxana Avila, the Abya Yala Theater is currently comprised by Andrea Gómez, Oscar González, Janko Navarro, Grettel Méndez y Rolando Salas; together they maintain two types of work – entertaining and rehearsals that allow an integral, intense and personal development. Since 1996, the Abya Yala Theater has held three acting training and theatrical research labs, the first from 1996 to 1997, the second from 1997 to 2000 and the last from 2004 to present.

Address: at Colegio de Costa Rica towers in FANAL on 11th St., between 3rd. and 7th avenues, district: Carmen, canton: San Jose, province: San Jose, Costa Rica. Zone postal code: 10101.
GPS Coordinates: 9.935742,-84.071708 (9°56’08.67″N 84°04’18.15″W)
Website: www.teatro-abyayala.org
Phone:+(506) 2297-1663

Address map: Click here to view directions from Central Park, San Jose, Costa Rica TO the Abya Yala Theater in San Jose, Costa Rica at Google Maps

Mozart Theater is ideal for musical presentations and concerts. It is located 600 meters south of Tierras Colombianas (Colombian Lands) in San Francisco de Dos Ríos.

Address: district: San Francisco de Dos Ríos, canton: San José, province: San José, Costa Rica. Zone postal code: 10106.
GPS coordinates: 9.904312,-84.050583 (9°54’15.52″N, 84°03’02.10″W)
GPS coordinates for the San Francisco de Dos Ríos Church: 9.909922,-84.056383 (9°54’35.72″N, 84°03’22.98″W)
Phone: +506 22181402 / +506 2250-5959
Fax: +506 2250-5959

Address map: Click here to view directions from Central Park, San Jose, Costa Rica TO Mozart Theater in San Francisco de Dos Ríos, San Jose, Costa Rica at Google Maps

Schedule:

Thursday to Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 6 p.m. (Depending on the play, sometimes can be other functions in the afternoon or in the morning on weekends).

Telephones:

+506 2217-0905 / +506 2271-0910

Address:

Momentum Pinares Mall in Curridabat, district: Sanchez, canton: Curridabat, province: San Jose, Costa Rica. Zone postal code: 11803.
GPS Coordinates: 9.912007,-84.017527 (9°54’43.22″N, 84°01’03.09″W)

Website: www.teatroespressivo.com

Address map: Click here to view address map from Central Park, San Jose, Costa Rica TO Espressivo Pinares Theater, San Jose, Costa Rica

The Espressivo Pinares Theater is the new theater in Costa Rica with high quality proposals for the whole family, located in the Momentum Pinares Mall in Curridabat, a place of artistic surprises in a comfortable, modern and safe place, with ample parking and in an easily accessible area.

Espressivo Pinares Theater is one of the few theaters that exist in the east of the capital, which offers works with great cultural and scenic content, designed to be enjoyed by the whole family, produced mostly by Terruño Espressivo, a cultural production of quality stage shows.

The history of Espressivo Pinares Theater began as a dream in the heart of its founder Steve Aronson, a visionary man, inlove of theater and passionate for Costa Rican coffee.

The first fruits of that dream took place in the headquarters of Café Britt in Heredia, in the year 2002, with the birth of Dionysus Theater (Teatro Dionisio in Spanish), in honor of the great theatrical producer Dionisio Echeverria. That was the first home of the producer Terruño Espressivo, and the birthplace of two works that toured Costa Rica: “El Nica” from Cesar Melendez and “La Mujer Que Cayó Del Cielo (The Woman Who Fell From The Sky)” from UBÚ Theater, the National Theater Company, SI Producers and the University Theater. Grew even more, but he saw the need for a larger own home, allowing them to bring new audiences . So, in August 2012, it was decided to give life to Espressivo Pinares Theater with the play “El Cuarto de Verónica” (Veronica’s Room).

The Espressivo Pinares Theater is an ideal space for all kinds of shows, both theater as dance, musical performances, film presentations, conferences, recitals, concerts, graduations, and any other event that requires modern facilities and technology in a comfortable and elegant space. It has a modern room with capacity for 260 persons, with air conditioning, the latest in audio, video and special equipments. Ask for the special event packages whether private, cultural, artistic, conferences, congresses, meetings of associations or labor unions, where you can rent the theater for large events, or rent their VIP room for private meetings specially equipped with Smart board, Video conference (Life Size), Apple access point and Apple TV, among others, in addition to coffee shop, first-class service and the latest technology.

The Espressivo Pinares Theater experience wouldn’t be complete without their gourmet coffee shop Pan-Chocolate-Café Espressivo, an unique space, located next to the theater, supplementing the performing arts with a passion for gourmet products. It is a space created for true coffee, chocolate, fresh artisan bread and craft beer lovers. Espressivo is expression, and their gourmet products, prepared with passion, for them are basically a way of making art.

Visit Espressivo Pinares Theater, have fun and expresse with us your passion for art and coffee.

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The School of Performing Arts (EAD in Spanish) was founded in 1968 within the Arts Faculty at the University of Costa Rica, thanks to the initiative of stage director and playwright Daniel Gallegos. However, in 1970 was when it achieved its consolidation. This initiative was supported by the General Secretary of the University of Costa Rica, Dr. Otto Jiménez Quirós and the Rector Carlos Monge Alfaro.

Throughout its history the EAD has been guided by different curricula, which has reflected the ideological, historical, technical and aesthetic concerns of the faculty, students needs, the labor market demands, and the evolution of theater in Costa Rica.

The founding of the University Theater (UT) in 1950 is one of the most important initial events of the national scene activity of the second half of the twentieth century. It was organized under the supervision of Spanish actors from the Lope de Vega Company. Soon after, Lucio Ranucci assumes direction and organizes a realitvely stable and young group. After a brief period of inactivity, the Costa Rican Jose Tassies is responsible for the direction, so that later, in 1963, it passes into the hands of the Costa Rican playwright and director Daniel Gallegos.

Since 1970, thanks to the founding of the School of Performing Arts, the University Theater mounts its plays with casts, mostly comprising students. It was reorganized in 1988 under the responsibility of the Dramatic Arts School, where currently you can enroll in the levels of Bachelor, degree and Masters in Performing Arts.

Some of the foreign teachers, actors and directors who have worked at the UT are: Donald Wadley and William Oliver of United States; Atahualpa del Cioppo, Júver Salcedo, Juan Jones, Lilian Olhagaray and Mario Aguerre from Uruguay; Stoyan Vladich from Peru; and Mohsen Yasseen from Iraq. They brought their expertise into the professionalization of the University Theater.

UT defines itself as a center of theater production, creation and experimentation, and an as active element that participates in the historical evolution of it’s society. It’s a professional theater in the sense that it assumes its artistic duty with the responsibility and ethics of those who practice it as a way of life and as a job. It is an experimental theater because it stimulates searching for new forms of theatrical expression and the transformation and renewal of language stage, taking risks, in the ideological, aesthetic and technical aspects, always looking to raise questions about the cultural identity of the Costa Rican people.

In addition, it aims to bring director, teachers and guests from abroad. It also has the mission to spread the art of theater among the social sectors that don’t have access to theater in the metropolitan area.

The theater has done more than 151 stage productions from Costa Ricans, Latin Americans, U.S.A. and Europeans authors. These productions have won national awards in various years: 44 for students, graduates and debutantes, and 50 for teachers from the Dramatic Arts School and theater productions, and in 1994, it received the National Award for Best Group and Best Scenic Production, in 1997 the National Award as Best Director and Best actress, in 1999 for Best Director. Their productions have made national and international tours and participated in conferences and festivals throughout America and Europe.

The Sol Theater is sponsored by the University Theater and its activities are directed by a committee composed of students and graduates of the Dramatic Arts School. The Sol Theater (Sun theater) is born in 1997 thanks to the initiative of the Board of Directors of the Students Association of Performing Arts, with the goal to offer a new alternative to theater in Costa Rica.

Its creation comes to support performers, directors, musicians, scene technicians, and later authors, seeking to become a collective generator of new values in the theater movement in Costa Rica, since it is an “Experimental Workshop” for students and graduates of the Dramatic Arts School.

Address: At the University of Costa Rica Arts School, district: San Pedro, canton: Montes de Oca, provincia: San José, Costa Rica. Código postal de la zona: 11501.
GPS Coordinates: 9.936456,-84.047961 (9°56’11.24″N, 84°02’52.66″W)
Website: www.teatro.ucr.ac.cr
Phone:+(506) 2207-4095

Address map: Click here to view directions from Central Park, San Jose, Costa Rica TO the University of Costa Rica, San Jose, Costa Rica at Google Maps