Isaac Wade

The Ovation-Winning theatre company, Actors Co-op opens up its 28th season with Charles Ludlam's two-person comedy 'The Mystery of Irma Vep - A Penny Dreadful'.

Director Carla Cackowski is delighted to be making her Actors Co-op debut with this wonderfully ridiculous play. Recent credits include directing shows at The Second City (LA), Curious Comedy Theater (Portland, OR), and Stephnie Weir's one woman show, Vanona Ray at the Comedy Central Stage. She regularly tours around the world performing comedic improv with her two person show Orange Tuxedo. Recent tours include the Copenhagen International Improv Festival, the Vancouver International Improv Fest, and the Warsaw Improv Festival. Carla proudly serves on the Board of Directors at Kickstand Comedy, a non-profit theater that seeks to serve the needs of the community, providing programming and educational outreach that helps people laugh, connect, and thrive together. www.carlacackowski.com. She is about to open The Mystery of Irma Vep - A Penny Dreadful at Actors Co-op on October 4.

Actors Co-op (Ovation Winner 2018 Best Direction of a Musical - Intimate Theatre) is proud to present Charles Ludlam's The Mystery of Irma Vep - A Penny Dreadful, directed by Carla Cackowski, produced by Carly Lopez. This hilarious two-actor, multi-character comedic thriller is a nod to the classic Gothic melodramas and early fright flicks of the 30s and 40s. The play will run October 4 through November 10 at the Actors Co-op Crossley Theatre in Hollywood

Actors Co-op (Ovation Award-Winner 2014 Best Intimate Theatre Musical for 110 in the Shade) presents the second show in its celebratory 25th Silver Anniversary season with the frightfully delightful THE TURN OF THE SCREW by Jeffrey Hatcher from the classic story by Henry James and directed by Robertson Dean (Antigone - A Noise Within).  THE TURN OF THE SCREW previewed on Wednesday, October 12 and Thursday, October 13 at 8pm and opened on Friday, October 14 at 8pm; it runs through Sunday, November 20 at the Actors Co-op Crossley Theatre, 1760 N. Gower St. (on the campus of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood) in Hollywood.

Actors Co-op (Ovation Award-Winner 2014 Best Intimate Theatre Musical for 110 in the Shade) presents the second show in its celebratory 25th Silver Anniversary season with the frightfully delightful THE TURN OF THE SCREW by Jeffrey Hatcher from the classic story by Henry James and directed by Robertson Dean (Antigone - A Noise Within).  

Actors Co-op (Ovation Award-Winner 2014 Best Intimate Theatre Musical for 110 in the Shade) presents the second show in its celebratory 25th Silver Anniversary season with the frightfully delightful THE TURN OF THE SCREW by Jeffrey Hatcher from the classic story by Henry James and directed by Robertson Dean (Antigone - A Noise Within).  

Charles Dickens' last novel, unfinished at the time of his death in 1870, supplied the story for the musical The Mystery of Edwin Drood which won five Tony Awards when it first premiered in 1985. Although it won for Best Book and Best Score, I hardly find either completely satisfying. On the musical side, it's very much like operetta, with pretty singing, but with only one memorable song 'Don't Quit While You're Ahead'. As far as the book is concerned, it is a lengthy attempt to complete Dickens' story by allowing the audience to have its say...certainly a novel concept in 1985. Was he murdered? Was he in fact alive at the end? You decide! On the positive side, it is creative and very theatrical as a play within a play encouraging grande overplaying by the company of actors, and making it an assuredly fun entertainment. Despite mixed feelings about the play, I cannot but laud the current production at Actors Coop which is magnificently staged by director Stephen Van Dorn, wonderfully choreographed by Julie Hall and with an astounding ensemble... through October 26.

In this special collaboration, the Los Angeles Theatre Ensemble (LATE) pairs its professional directors and actors with students from Santa Monica High School's Drama Department to present Shakespearean scenes prior to select performances of the London Globe's Hamlet and Fiasco Theatre Co.'s Cymbeline. Fulfilling the Education and Outreach missions of LATE and The Broad Stage, Pop Up Shakespeare educates and excites local youth about the magic of theatre by involving them, from beginning to end, in the professional process.

In this special collaboration, the Los Angeles Theatre Ensemble (LATE) pairs its professional directors and actors with students from Santa Monica High School's Drama Department to present Shakespearean scenes prior to select performances of the London Globe's Hamlet and Fiasco Theatre Co.'s Cymbeline. Fulfilling the Education and Outreach missions of LATE and The Broad Stage, Pop Up Shakespeare educates and excites local youth about the magic of theatre by involving them, from beginning to end, in the professional process.

Nominees for the 2011 LA STAGE Alliance Ovation Awards were announced on the evening of Monday, September 19 at the Falcon Theatre in Burbank; the complete list of nominees is as follows.

The Los Angeles Theatre Ensemble continues its string of original work with Group: A Musical. This world premiere, written by Adam Emperor Southard and composed by Adam Emperor Southard and Josh Allan Dykstra, uses folk and indie rock to tell a story about finding your peace that is both hilarious and heart-wrenching, melodic and moving. Group: A Musical officially opens January 13th.

The world premiere of GROUP, a new musical by Adam Emperor Southard, opens January 13th at the Powerhouse Theatre in Santa Monica. Southard talks about his writing and partnership with the Los Angeles Theatre Ensemble in this interview.

The Los Angeles Theatre Ensemble continues its string of original work with Group: A Musical.

The Los Angeles Theatre Ensemble continues its string of original work with Group: A Musical. This world premiere, written by Adam Emperor Southard and composed by Adam Emperor Southard and Josh Allan Dykstra, uses folk and indie rock to tell a story about finding your peace that is both hilarious and heart-wrenching, melodic and moving. Group: A Musical officially opens January 13th.

The critically acclaimed Los Angeles Theatre Ensemble continues its commitment to producing original and audacious plays with the world premiere of Trog and Clay at the Powerhouse Theatre, the second play of the season by award-winning playwright Michael Vukadinovich. This dark comedy boasts a talented creative team led by veteran director Gary Gardner. The cast of Trog and Clay includes veteran Ensemble members Isaac Wade, Paige White, Mike Kindle, Ariel Goldberg as well as a actors Travis Murray, Matt Weedman, Andrew Crabtree, and Emma Fassler. Immediately following the April 22nd performance, the audience is invited to join the company at the Opening Night Reception on the Deck at the Powerhouse.

The critically acclaimed Los Angeles Theatre Ensemble continues its commitment to producing original and audacious plays with the world premiere of Trog and Clay at the Powerhouse Theatre, the second play of the season by award-winning playwright Michael Vukadinovich. This dark comedy boasts a talented creative team led by veteran director Gary Gardner. The cast of Trog and Clay includes veteran Ensemble members Isaac Wade, Paige White, Mike Kindle, Ariel Goldberg as well as a actors Travis Murray, Matt Weedman, Andrew Crabtree, and Emma Fassler. Immediately following the April 22nd performance, the audience is invited to join the company at the Opening Night Reception on the Deck at the Powerhouse.

The critically acclaimed Los Angeles Theatre Ensemble continues its commitment to producing original and audacious plays with the world premiere of Trog and Clay at the Powerhouse Theatre, the second play of the season by award-winning playwright Michael Vukadinovich. This dark comedy boasts a talented creative team led by veteran director Gary Gardner. The cast of Trog and Clay includes veteran Ensemble members Isaac Wade, Paige White, Mike Kindle, Ariel Goldberg as well as a actors Travis Murray, Matt Weedman, Andrew Crabtree, and Emma Fassler. Immediately following the April 22nd performance, the audience is invited to join the company at the Opening Night Reception on the Deck at the Powerhouse.

The critically acclaimed Los Angeles Theatre Ensemble concludes its 2008 Season with the World Premiere of a new comedy that is both poignant and timely. Quixotic by Kit Steinkellner, a modern re-telling of Cervantes' classic novel 'Don Quixote,' opens on October 30 at The Powerhouse Theatre in Santa Monica.

The critically acclaimed Los Angeles Theatre Ensemble concludes its 2008 Season with the World Premiere of a new comedy that is both poignant and timely. Quixotic by Kit Steinkellner, a modern re-telling of Cervantes' classic novel 'Don Quixote,' opens on October 30 at The Powerhouse Theatre in Santa Monica.