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West Coast Enseble Discontinues Membership

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West Coast Ensemble is saddened to announce that after 30 years as a membership company, it is discontinuing its membership component effective November 1.

Comments Co-Artistic Directors Les Hanson and Richard Israel, "Over the past few years, it has become increasingly challenging for West Coast Ensemble Theatre to provide an artistic home for its membership. While WCE has continued to present award-winning theatre in a variety of spaces over the last several years, the membership component of the company has suffered due to the lack of a dedicated space. Without the ability to provide a true artistic base, it no longer makes sense to maintain a corps of dues-paying actors without providing them with the creative outlet that brought them to WCE in the first place. Therefore, after careful consideration and soul-searching, a decision has been made to discontinue the membership of West Coast Ensemble Theatre. We are tremendously proud of the journey West Coast Ensemble has taken in its 30 years in Hollywood and we applaud the courageous actors and artists who have comprised our membership, served our patrons and graced our various stages over the years. We hope that this decision will not be seen as an end, but as the beginning of new opportunities for all of us. West Coast Ensemble Theatre will continue to operate as a non-membership theatre producing entity, and is actively pursuing opportunities for co-productions, as well as options for partnerships with other companies."

Founded in 1981 by Les Hanson, West Coast Ensemble Theatre has been a part of the Los Angeles theatre community for 30 years. A membership theatre ensemble, WCE is dedicated to presenting high quality theatrical productions which address the social, cultural and artistic needs of the Los Angeles community while providing an artistic home for its membership. Recent award-winning productions include Lynn Nottage's FABULATION, Brian Christopher Williams' ANITA BRYANT DIED FOR YOUR SINS, Stephen Sondheim's ASSASSINS, Tim Acito's ZANNA, DON'T!, Jim Geoghan's TWO GENTLEMEN OF CORONA, and Adam Guettel and Tina Landau's FLOYD COLLINS.

http://westcoastensemble.org/West_Coast_Ensemble/Home.html

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