How To Get Involved In Los Angeles' Theater Community
As the movie making capital of the world, people flock to Los Angeles in droves to seek out fame and fortune. A big break could be right around the corner, but as any disciplined thespian or writer knows, it's always a good idea to practice their craft while they wait. Sure, waiting tables is an opportunity to give award-winning performances or gather enough fodder for a long-running TV series on a nightly basis, but it's not exactly something you can put on your resume. For experience you can actually list, there's theater.
Joining a theater group is the best way to hone your skills and get exposure in the business. And if there's one thing LA has plenty of, it's theater groups. But which one to join is just as tough of a question as "to be or not to be." Some require monthly dues and/or an equity card while with others, all you have to do is walk through the door. Check out these top five theater groups in Los Angeles.
Archway Studio Theater
305 S. Hewitt St.
Los Angeles, CA 90013
(213) 237-9933
www.archwayla.com
Archway Studio Theater is always looking for "new family members" and behind-the-scenes work is a great way to get involved. Directors, stage managers, set designers and the like only need to submit a resume. As for actors, auditions are open to anyone looking to be in Archways' next production. This friendly theater troupe also offers acting workshops to help with cold reads, choosing the proper monologue, audition etiquette and techniques, and many other things that can help land you the part.
Ensemble Studio Theatre Los Angeles
The Atwater Village Theatre
3269 Casitas Ave.
Atwater Village, CA 90039
(323) 644-1929
www.ensemblestudiotheatrela.org
Sometimes inspiration strikes while you're doing something unrelated. Volunteering for a theater group is another way to keep the creative juices flowing. Established in 1979, Ensemble Studio Theatre Los Angeles produces about 90 performances per season and many of its productions have been recognized with awards. It takes a lot more people than just the actors to put on a nightly performance: concessions, front of house, publicity, production, load-ins and strikes (that's theater speak for set-up and break down). These are all much-needed and important jobs for a theater group and you get to see stellar plays for free.
The Hudson Theater
6539 Santa Monica Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90038
(323) 856-4252
www.hudsontheatre.com
Another way to be a part of a theater group is not to join one but to create one of your own. The Hudson Theater in Hollywood has affordable rates and several sizes of theaters to accommodate your production and anticipated crowd. Day rates are hourly to hold auditions and rehearsals. An adjoining café makes intermissions for theater goers convenient. All that's left is to come up with is a brilliant story, plot, cast an ensemble and find funding. If you write it, they will come…hopefully.
Lee Wochner
Words That Speak, playwrite workshop
(818) 848-1700
www.leewochner.com
If you're a playwright that's having trouble getting traction with your script, you might want to think about adapting it into a play. It may seem like a long and backwards route to reach your goal, but as we have learned from Robert Frost's famous poem "The Road Not Taken," it could very well make all the difference. Who better to lead you down that road than award-winning playwright and director Lee Wochner, co-founder of Moving Arts theatre and lecturer in playwriting at USC? His workshop "Words That Speak" will help you target your strengths and weaknesses of your work in progress and teach you how to successful write for the stage.
Son of Semele Ensemble
3301 Beverly Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90004
(213) 351-3507
www.sonofsemele.org
Convinced you're the next Harold Pinter or Eve Ensler but "traditional" theater groups find your work too bold? Son Of Semele would like to read it. SoSE is all about taking risks and supporting like-minded artists and believes that "a theatrical experience should resonate beyond the theater door." And these risks have paid off. To date SoSE has produced over 30 productions and earned two LA Stage Alliance Ovation Awards (nine nominations), five LA Weekly Theatre Awards (11 nominations), four Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards, a SAGE Award and an NAACP Theatre Award (four nominations). Its production of "Cyclops: A Rock Opera" was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in 2012.
Kristine G. Bottone is a freelance writer living in Los Angeles. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.
