Theatre Row Hollywood – The Place To Be. |
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StubDog.com :: Event Information And Articles :: Theatre Row Hollywood – The Place To Be.
Who knew this place existed?
LA is the center of entertainment, yet you might not get exposed to it
at all. There are many amazing small theatres throughout LA and this place
is a mine of it. Just drive down Santa Monica and everything is right
there. One theatre follows another and each one has its own unique characteristics.
Just under the shadow of the world-famous Hollywood Sign lies a stretch
of Santa Monica Boulevard (bounded roughly by La Brea and El Centro Avenue)
known as Theatre Row Hollywood! Over 20 stages await you nightly where
you can see plays, musicals, comedy or dramas presented by some of Los
Angeles' most award-winning and critically-acclaimed live Theatre companies!
In 1995, the Elephant Theatre Company (Elephant off Main)
was created by graduates from the California State Long Beach Theatre
Arts Program, initially at the Pabst Blue Ribbon Brewery in downtown Los
Angeles. About 50 young, talented people renovated the warehouse to become
45-seat Theatre. In the summer of 1997, the small 45-seat theatre could
no longer accommodate the advancing production needs or the increasing
audience attendance. The E.O.M. then moved to Hollywood and produced several
critically acclaimed original works at various Los Angeles venues. In
the later years they added three more stages to the global project: The
Elephant Space located within the same building as the Lillian
Theatre, to serve as the Company’s resident home; a classroom
studio and The Lab Theatre. In 2003 the final piece was
added with the opening of the Elephant Asylum Theatre.
(6322 Santa Monica Boulevard)
The National Comedy Theatre, home of ComedySportz
Los Angeles for 20 years have been the place to find consistently funny,
interactive, clean comedy for people of all ages. Although ComedySportz®
is the show that made them famous, they produce a variety of interactive
comedy shows including “homegrown” improvised musicals and more. ComedySportz
alums have appeared on MADtv, Saturday Night Live, Whose Line Is It Anyway?,
The Sarah Silverman Program, Jimmy Kimmel Live and many, many more. They
are one of the best in the business, and you can see them perform live,
every week in Hollywood. (733 Seward Street, just north of Melrose, five
blocks east of Highland).
Founded in 1982 by gay rights activist Chuck Rowland Celebration
Theatre is the only community-based professional theatre in LA
that strives to represent the Gay & Lesbian community through the performing
arts. They moved to their current location in 1993 at the same time starting
to work with the full-time Artistic Director – Robert Schrock. That pushed
them closer to the professional arena of LA’s theatre and allowed the
major recognition amongst the critics and the public. Some of the original
scripts that had their world premieres @ Celebration Theatre were already
staged in other locations, throughout the nation. (7051 Santa Monica Blvd,
one block east of La Brea)
The Blank Theatre Company was founded in 1990 as a non-profit
corporation by its current Artistic Director/Producer Daniel Henning.
With a BFA from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, Henning
moved to Los Angeles and saw an opportunity to increase the quality of
theatre in town. So at the age of 24 he started The Blank. The mission
is clear: The Blank is committed to the enrichment of Hollywood’s cultural
life through production of first-rate theatre, education of current and
future artists, and creation of groundbreaking new works for the theatrical
repertoire. In the past eighteen years, The Blank has won every major
theatre production award in Los Angeles, raised thousands of dollars for
worthy charities and produced over 35 Main Stage Productions. In April
1996, The Company took up residence at the 49-seat 2nd Stage Theatre in
Hollywood. Their Los Angeles premiere of Amy and David Sedaris’ THE BOOK
OF LIZ ran for a year, playing an unprecedented 172 performances. It became
one of the longest running shows in LA history.
Established in 1991 by co-founder Elizabeth Reilly, The Hudson
Theatres have received considerable recognition for their artistic
contributions over the years including numerous awards and nominations
from LA Weekly, Los Angeles Drama Critic’s Circle, Ovations, NAACP, GLAADMEDIA
and DramaLogue. Most notably, in 1992, the Hudson received the LADCC award
for establishing a new vibrant theatre district in Hollywood by creating
the industrious "Theatre Row Hollywood." That same year they were presented
with the Charlie Award given to the Hudson Theatre by the Hollywood Arts
Council for the "meritorious contributions to Hollywood." In 2004, they
again received recognition for their work on Theatre Row Hollywood by
both the California State Assembly as well as the City of Los Angeles
itself. (The Hudson’s three stages are located at 6550 Santa Monica Blvd.).
The Open Fist Theatre Company was founded in 1990 by
five graduates of Cal State Fullerton. Under the Artistic Directorship
of Ziad Hamzeh, the Company immediately established its reputation as
a cutting edge ensemble, willing to tackle difficult plays. Under the
leadership of present Artistic Director Martha Demson, the company has
evolved into a collective, self-producing artistic enterprise with all
facets of its operation run by its artist members. In its 18 year history,
The Open Fist Theatre Company has been the recipient of 2 Ovation Awards,
4 Garland Awards, 11 LA Weekly Awards,20 Drama-Logue Awards, 8 Ovation
Award nominations,32 LA Weekly nominations, 27 Garland Award Honorable
Mentions. (6209 Santa Monica Boulevard).
Unknown Theatre is the ensemble theatre that strives
to create to inject Theatre into the "modern urban ritual," making Theatre
an accessible, integrated, and significant part of people's lives. Their
contemporary dance series @ UT (non-resident artists) are very unique
propositions on LA’s theatre market (1110 Seward Street, three blocks
East of Highland, 50 feet North of Santa Monica Boulevard.)
Also, Theatre Row offers quite a few interesting visiting productions
in the rental-oriented spaces:
The Lounge Theatre is a completely renovated 60-seat
theatre. Their space is unique in that they offer a full kitchen and huge
Lounge area where guests of the show can network on our comfortable couches
in the Lounge while enjoying beverages before or after the theatre show.
(6201 Santa Monica Bld @ El Centro just one block East of Vine)
Artworks Theatre & Studios are located in the beginning
of the Theatre Row on Santa Monica Boulevard between Seward Street and
Hudson Street.
