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Overview of Smaller Stages in LA
El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood
Overview: As you might expect in a city dubbed the entertainment capital of the world, Los Angeles has countless live performing arts theaters and each district or area in Los Angeles has its own stage theaters. The “entertainment capital” moniker typically refers to Los Angeles’ television and movie industry but stage theaters in L.A. are alive and kicking.
Secret Rose theatre in North Hollywood
We know the big stages: the Pantages Theatre, Ahmanson Theatre, Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Wadsworth Theatre, Pasadena Playhouse, Mark Taper Forum, Geffen Playhous and more. What about the little guys? One of the biggest little guys is the award-winning Odyssey Theatre (in West Los Angeles), the winner of Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle’s the Margaret Harford Award in 1982. The Odyssey Theatre is known as the oldest and largest 99-seat theater with its three 99-seat stage spaces. As the 1982 award reflects, the Odyssey holds to its mission as an experiment theater, presenting challenging and provocative shows.
Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills
In Beverly Hills, the Wilshire Theatre provides excellent, exciting and classy entertainment in the historic landmark, Wilshire Theatre, now Saban Theatre. Nearby Culver City also has something to be proud of in the The Actor’s Gang, which highlights the achievements a small theater and ensemble can obtain.
NoHo Stages (North Hollywood)
It’s not easy to wade through the crowd of stages but North Hollywood, known as the NoHo, epitomizes the stage theater scene. After all, NoHo’s streets have one theater after another. Check out the well-respected NoHo Arts Center Ensemble. Their mission is “to provide theatre that is affordable, entertaining and provocative and that explores the human condition and its many facets” combined with participation in the community.
Hollywood and Downtown
Serious subject matters aren’t the only focus of L.A.’s productions. You can find some of the best talent at The Groundlings, a famous improvisational comedy troupe who put on productions as well as classes in Hollywood on Melrose. The 99-seat theater, Open Fist Theatre Company in Hollywood (6209 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90038, site: www.openfist.org, ph: 323.882.6912) races with quality and sometimes racy productions like The Devil With Boobs. See the comedy section to find out more info. For more diversity and culture, check out some productions put on by the East West Players at the David Henry Hwang theater.
Smaller stage productions in Los Angeles have a few advantages. The first is of course the intimate feel of the theatre and the visibility of the stage. Another is the cost. Mainly, the smaller stages in Los Angeles give you an opportunity to see some of the most talented actors and actresses around as well as productions that really do push the interpretive boundaries of human experience. Depending on the show, theater and of course the actors, you even have a chance to interact with them after the show.
Tickets: Visit the LA Stage Alliance website, www.lastagealliance.com, to find half price tickets to most performing arts venues – even the large stages – via the LAStageTix. LA Stage Alliance is a non-profit organization that champions performing arts in Los Angeles.