Earlier this summer Sacramento Theatre Company unwittingly played a cruel joke on itself.

Staffers set up an information table in the courtyard that STC shares with Music Circus during that company's summer season. When telling the Music Circus' incoming audience members that they represented Sacramento Theatre Company, one of the first questions often heard was: "Great, where are you located?"

They pointed back to the building they stood in front of, in a comical, humbling and frustrating experience, but it illustrates one of several challenges for the company that has been at this location for more than 40 years.

They need to figure how to let the region know who they are and what they do – and they need to do it soon.

"I started thinking we're Sacramento's best-kept secret," said producing director Michael Laun, who often manned the table. In many ways, STC has become the Oakland of area theater companies with the feeling "there's no there, there" bouncing around the community.

Of the four professional theater companies in Sacramento, STC has become the least defined artistically and most faceless in terms of leadership. Music Circus, B Street Theatre and Capital Stage (the latter now moving into midtown from Old Sacramento) have carved out specific artistic niches that they consistently occupy. They've also had consistent, transparent artistic and managerial leadership, even in times of difficulty.

STC seems to be re-inventing itself each season, trying to find something that sticks.

This year's season, branded as "Mystery, Music & Mayhem!" opens with an adaptation of Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein." Last year's season was "A Return to the Classics."

With the question of where STC goes on stage also comes the question of who takes it there off stage. Last season opened with STC's first new artistic director in 12 years, Matt K. Miller. Miller replaced Peggy Shannon, who had led the company since 1998.

A popular actor, writer and director with the company, Miller was given an interim title, and STC announced a national search would be conducted to find the new artistic director, with Miller being given consideration as well.

Yet in April, after 11 months on the job and just after the closing of "Brighton Beach Memoirs" (which he both directed and acted in), Miller was let go. The move seemed mainly financial, sacrificing artistic leadership for the salary savings.

In a news release, STC said it was "announcing a management restructure to more fully capture the 'business' of show business, strategically focusing on excellence in programming, education and financial strength."

Steve Barkett, a former Hollywood actor, director and producer, was named executive producer. The move raised eyebrows, as it left the theater company without an artistic director. Barkett said he was "volunteering" at STC and would make an appropriate financial arrangement in time.

Freshly installed in an office at STC in May, Barkett expressed confidence that he could turn the company around with his show business acumen.

"I'm on top of it," Barkett said at the time. "If I can't do it, I can't imagine someone else coming in and being able to, honestly."

With posters on the walls touting his film exploits, particularly his 1982 sci-fi zombie epic "The Aftermath," which he wrote, directed and starred in, Barkett appeared ready for the long haul as he reclined behind his dark desk during an interview.

At some point this summer, however, Barkett and STC more or less parted ways. Board President Linda Clifford said: "He's left to pursue a special project for himself."

Clifford and Laun are united in the message that Barkett's brief tenure was mutually "inspiring."

"Steve brought a point of view that was different," Clifford added. "Steve hadn't been involved in the theater community in Sacramento, so you weren't just churning the same ideas, you had some outside ideas, a different point of view."

Laun now tops the staff directory as producing director, and while he's not called the artistic director, he said he acts as one, among many other things.

Before he quietly slipped out, Barkett helped with putting together marketing materials and branding for the season Laun essentially selected.

Laun said: "I put together a collection of plays, and at that time Steve was here and I ran those plays by him, and he didn't have any objection to them so we brought them to the board because at that time he (Barkett) was the quote-unquote executive director."

The season hopes to build on the successes of last year, which included the surprise hit "The Musical of Musicals." This season's "Ruthless!" is a similarly irreverent musical comedy. Last season, the company presented William Luce's one-woman "The Belle of Amherst." This season, it will be Luce's "Barrymore."

The classic "Frankenstein" recalls the season-ending hit "Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure" of last year.

Clifford said she sees an evolution occurring at STC, and the strategic thought process they have in place is making a difference. She said a plan introduced last year to retire existing debt remains in place and is working. That debt is now around a half-million dollars, down from $600,000 at this time last year. Clifford also lauded the youth and education programs led by Michele Hillen.

"Management and the board feel very strongly that the team effort is producing a great product, enthusiastic supporters and employees, and a quality environment," Clifford said.

Laun said pre-sale for "Frankenstein" has been strong, and he thinks people may start recognizing STC's signage in time. Subscriptions are strong as well.

"We're at about 95 percent of where we were last year on our season subscriptions at this time and for our total subscriptions for our season. Our cabaret, and our youth series, we're actually up 6 percent," Laun said.

For Clifford the bottom line is always the bottom line.

"If people don't want to spend their time at STC, then we're not hitting our artistic goals and we certainly won't hit our financial goals," Clifford said. "I think it's very hard to separate the two."

THEATER FRANKENSTEIN

WHAT: Just in time for All Hallows' Eve, Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" is the opening production of Sacramento Theatre Company's 2011-12 season of "Mystery, Music and Mayhem!"

WHEN: Previews 8 tonight; opens 8 p.m. Saturday and continues at 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 12:30 p.m. Thursdays, and 2 p.m. Sundays though Oct. 30.

WHERE: Sacramento Theatre Company, Main Stage, 1419 H St., Sacramento

TICKETS: $15-$38 (discounts for students, seniors, and groups). Rush tickets: half-price tickets 30 minutes before each performance, subject to availability.

INFORMATION: Call (916) 443-6722 or (888) 478-2849 or www.sactheatre.org.THEATER

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