These unsung indie theatres across the city promise enthralling shows, proving that LA’s theatre scene offers captivating experiences beyond the bright lights and glamour of Hollywood.
LA continues to bear the false impression that its theatre industry is not at par with high-end drama districts in other parts of the US.
Of course, New York remains the country’s theatrical district thanks to Broadway. Cities like Minneapolis and Chicago are not far behind with their performing arts industry comparable to the best in the world. On the other hand, the glitz and glamour of the silver screen dominate the LA scene to such a degree that live theatre often takes a back seat and goes unnoticed.
The truth is that LA’s thriving theatre industry rivals the top playhouses in the country. This thriving theatrical landscape attracts and invites countless performers, directors, writers, and singers to the city, hoping to make it big in La-La-Land. Most of today’s star performers on the big screen have inspiring personal histories of hustling, grinding, and perfecting their craft at these underrated joints and destinations.
However, locating the right local theatres can get confusing with attractions like Hollywood, LA’s beaches, theme parks, and the rich blend of pop culture in the city. The challenge of finding a quality playhouse is real for locals and visitors alike.
Here’s a handy list of unheralded theatres and playhouses to catch show-stopping performances and spectacular encores!
The Antaeus Theatre Company
Fans of classical theatre should visit this destination to experience a sophisticated theatrical experience while relishing the finesse and intricacies of classical plays. You’ll catch a Shakespearean play or works by playwrights like Arthur Miller, Samuel Beckett, or GB Shaw on any given day.
Masterpieces of the past like Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” or “The Wedding” by Anton Chekov are examples of the timeless classics to witness here. Grab tickets for one of their Classic Sundays, where traditional plays meet excellent artistry.
The Antaeus isn’t just oldies and classics, though. Their shows often include dynamic renditions of modern plays and stories composed more recently. Postmodern productions like “Downstairs” by Caryl Lesley Churchill and “The Lonesome West” by Martin McDonaugh often grace the stage in this elegant theatre.
Broadcasting station KCRW 89.9FM calls the team “the strongest acting ensemble” in the whole of Los Angeles. So, lovers of the performing arts in LA should not miss out on the exclusive shows presented by this company.
The Antaeus Theatre Company operates from Kiki and David Gindler Performing Arts Centre which is located at 110 East Broadway. Don’t wait till you’re around Glendale to check out this place. Go through https://antaeus.org/ and see what upcoming shows grab your attention.
The Sacred Fools Theatre Company
The Sacred Fools Theatre is a company not afraid to throw seeds on the ground and see what takes root. They love experimenting and giving most ideas a try to see what resonates with their audience.
LA Weekly described them as the most “whimsical” and “provocative” troupes to ever grace the theatre scene in the city. Their distinct standards of performing arts have not gone unnoticed. Sacred Fools boasts over 100 recognitions and almost 200 nominations in different theatrical categories, with the most recent win being the award for Sustained Excellence by the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle.
Comedic musicals like “LOUIS & KEELY: Live at the Sahara” are now popular acts at mainstream centers like the Geffen Theatre thanks to the premiers and visibility the show got through Sacred Fools.
Since 2016, they’ve occupied a new lot in Hollywood’s Theatre Row, making them even more accessible.
Sacred Fools also organizes a recurring Summer Theatre Camp that young people can attend to pick up acting chops, improvisation skills, and playwriting techniques.
Located at 1075 Lillian Way, this one’s another must-see theatre in the City of Angels. Check out http://www.sacredfools.org/ for show details and tickets.
The Hollywood Fringe Festival
Theatre fans wondering what trends lie at the frontier of modern theatre should check out The Hollywood Fringe Festival at least once! The festival remains a melting pot of diverse productions and presentations across over a dozen venues, mainly located along Santa Monica Boulevard.
Hundreds of live shows run across diverse venues along the boulevard. Many of these plays run simultaneously. So, it’s wise to check the festival’s live schedule online and plan your day accordingly.
The festival typically falls in the summer months of June or July. Visitors enjoy a wide selection of shows that range from remade classics to avant-garde productions that push the boundaries of theatrics. It’s a destination where hundreds of new artists and productions converge to create a den of spectacular and unforgettable performances.
The magic of this festival comes from the diversity of performances that make it to the stage without strict curators filtering the applicants. Expect unseen sights and one-of-a-kind presentations that will keep the LA theatre community abuzz for the remainder of the year.
Check out the https://www.hollywoodfringe.org/ for how to get started!
The Echo Theatre Company
If you want to see future theatrical successes developing in their nascent stages, The Echo Theatre Company is the place to go!
The company has an unmatched track record of spotting and showcasing potential stars in the making, whether it’s star performers on stage, exceptional musicians, or talented writers; the Echo Theatre Company has a knack for identifying unseen diamonds in the rough when it comes to the theatre industry.
There’s a good chance some of your favorite playwrights and performers got their beginnings from Echo Theatre’s sprawling stage.
Well-known industry writers like Rick Cleveland, Sara Ruhl, and David Lindsay Abaire found their first opportunity to showcase their abilities at The Echo Theatre. Author, screenwriter, and Pulitzer finalist Adam Rapp also contributed to his first production at this company.
The Echo Theatre is among the few smaller companies to nurture award-winning productions from the grassroots to coveted destinations like the Geffen Playhouse. They did it once in 2003 with the epic symphony “War Music,” they repeated this accomplishment with “The Cake” in 2018.
For running shows, tickets, and information on their events, check the company’s site at https://www.echotheatercompany.com/.
Theatre of NOTE
This theatre is far from the sprawling, decorated spaces of the Orpheum on Broadway or the El Capitan on Hollywood Boulevard. However, what it lacks in physical spectacles, it makes up for taking artistic risks and emotional honesty in performances.
They also focus on premiering world-class productions that have not appeared in LA before. So, expect novelty and new plays when you head to their premiers. Many of the Westside’s latest entrants and premiers choose the Theatre of NOTE as their preferred premiering playhouse.
The company also hosts a wide range of developmental projects aimed at skilling up young talents for the industry. The Voices of Note is a series of trainings that help budding writers find their creative groove. The NOTEworthy projects focus on finding undiscovered plays and productions that deserve a bigger audience and broader market.
Located at 1517 Cahuenga Boulevard, the Theatre of NOTE remains a breath of fresh air that’s secluded from the loud and vibrant centers on Broadway and Hollywood Boulevard.
If you’re an aspiring writer or creative, you can sign up for their programs at https://www.theatreofnote.com/ or browse their upcoming shows to book a spot.
The Celebration Theatre
Housed at The Lex on Hollywood Boulevard, the Celebration Theatre epitomizes diversity, inclusivity, and equality, standing tall in LA’s theatre landscape.
The company is known for promoting and reaching out to LGBTQ theatre community members in LA and beyond. The theatre is also aptly named, given its culture of celebrating artists of different orientations, lifestyles, and inclinations.
They host remakes and revivals of established productions like Finn and Lapine’s “A New Brain.” Expect progressive plays and new-age productions that break traditional barriers in performance and reach out to new frontiers in artistic thought.
The Celebration Theatre is a recipient of Margaret Harford’s Award for Sustained Excellence and multiple GLAAD and NAACP awards. Today, it’s almost an institution that champions the rights of equality and inclusiveness amongst queer performers and serves as a venue for showcasing sidelined LGBTQ performers and writers on a mainstream platform.
You can catch The Celebration Theatre’s latest updates at https://celebrationtheatre.org/. Their website also includes updated news on ticket prices, shows, and events around the corner.
Rogue Machine Theatre
If you’re tired of CGIs and the limits to artistry on the big screen, live plays at the Rogue Machine Theatre may just be your ticket!
Oscar-nominated pictures like “Oppenheimer” come alive in this theatre’s dynamic performances and emotional recreations. Plays like “Dutch Masters” relive the spectacle of live shows on the Rogue Machine’s hallowed stage. These and countless other productions await visitors and guests at this exceptional but lesser-known theatrical destination.
The LA Times reported that Rogue Machine continues to display the most extravagant and memorable seasons from other theatres in the city. That’s a huge compliment coming from a source critical of under-performing production companies in LA.
It’s not just shows and productions, though. The Rogue Machine’s “Rant and Rave” series brings together the most talented writers and authors for deep conversations that engage and enlighten attendees regularly.
Their “Days of Giving” events include food drives and other philanthropic pursuits that leverage their visibility to find ways of giving back to the community.
There are countless reasons why Rogue Machine deserves the attention of theatre lovers, and world-class productions are only one of them! Discover how you can get involved or book your tickets at https://www.roguemachinetheatre.org/.
The Actor’s Gang
Theatre fans in LA may already know The Actor’s Gang, thanks to its notoriety as a no-nonsense, creative base for upcoming and established performers. But this theatre’s distinct style and identity warrant a mention.
For the uninitiated, this troupe is directed and supervised by Academy Award winner and veteran actor Tim Robbins. Robbins initiated the company back in 1981 as a space for creatives to present and capture the intricacies of live theatre that are often absent on the silver screen.
Holiday classics like “It’s a Wonderful Life,” and other well-known plays are frequently presented on stage here. The team also dabbles in innovative plays that offer social and political messages under its wings. The “(Im)migrants of the State” is an epic story and an example of such message-bearing productions.
The company also presents plays written in-house by the Actor’s Gang writing department. So, you can expect original works never seen in other theatres and likely never appear again in mainstream production houses. The playhouse also hosts star performers like Helen Hunt and Jack Black, who have graced its decorated stage on more than one occasion.
The Prison Project is a unique initiative started and nurtured by The Actor’s Gang. They reach out to convicts and prison inmates, helping them pick up theatre skills or hone existing performing abilities. The initiative is an effort to allow released inmates to rejoin society with better social aptitude and potentially more employable skills.
The company functions from its theatre located at 9070 Venice Boulevard. You can learn more about the troupe and its activities at https://theactorsgang.com/.
Zombie Joe’s Underground
The Zombie Joe’s Underground theatre is about as indie as it gets to niche theatre scenes. Fans of ghoul-like and spine-chilling live plays will love the horror and grim depicted on stage at Zombie Joe’s Underground.
Their shows aren’t meant for the light-hearted or the squeamish. Excellent makeup and performances characterize their remakes of Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein”; meanwhile, productions like “Possession: An American Serial Killer” promise to keep you at the splitting edge of your seats throughout the play. “Blood Alley Christmas” is a gruesome production meant for spectators who don’t mind the sight of fake blood on stage.
Zombie Joe’s Underground also hosts an exclusive event called the 50-hour Drive-by Festival. It’s an event where troupes of talented writers and performers create, produce, and act out a play within a span of two days. During this festival, you’ll see some of the best improvs and creative talents showcasing their work.
One of their most provocative productions is “Urban Death,” a haunted tour of terror that promises to shock and terrify even the most unflinching spectators at the front of the theatre. The joint is located at 4850 Lankershim Boulevard. And you can catch updates on their horror shows and events at http://zombiejoes.com for more information.
