Larry Cripe

Experience the world premiere of PRELUDE TO A KISS, THE MUSICAL at South Coast Repertory. This modern fable, with lyrics by Sean Hartley and Daniel Messé, explores love's peaks and valleys.

Chance Theater, Anaheim's official resident theater company, announces the Orange County premiere of “The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity,” a dramatic comedy by Kristoffer Diaz that was one of the final nominees for the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and snagged numerous “Best Play” Awards. Directed by Jeremy Aluma, “The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity” previews from September 23rd through September 30th, with regular performances running October 1st to October 23rd on the Cripe Stage at the Bette Aitken theater arts Center.

Chance Theater is making a commitment to the Southern California community in 2021 -- it will produce five shows with local artists during its 23rd Anniversary Season. There will be no cancellations. The shows will be performed either in-person or on a virtual platform. Therefore… “No Risk. All Chance.”

Chance Theater, Anaheim's official resident theater company, is sad to announce that the upcoming production of Little Women - The Broadway Musical has been officially canceled. 

Chance Theater, Anaheim's official resident theater company, is sad to announce that the upcoming productions of Significant Other and Fancy Nancy, The Musical have been canceled. 

Chance Theater announces its 22nd Anniversary Season, which will be the sixth to employ both stages in its home at the Bette Aitken theater arts Center. Next year will feature eight fully-staged productions. 

Chance Theater, Anaheim's official resident theater company, is delighted to announce that we will be extending the sold-out run of Ragtime: The Musical. Based on the novel Ragtime by E. L. Doctorow, Ragtime: The Musical is written by Terrence McNally, and composed by Stephen Flaherty with lyrics by Lynn Ahrens. This production is directed by Casey Stangl, with choreography by Kelly Todd, and music direction by Robyn Manion. Ragtime: The Musical will now run for an additional two weeks through August 11th on the Cripe Stage at the Bette Aitken theater arts Center.

Nearly 40 years ago, Stephen Sondheim's bent-on-revenge barber, Sweeney Todd, sliced his way into the canon of musical theatre. The multi-award-winning Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street is next up on the Segerstrom Stage at South Coast Repertory, Jan. 19-Feb. 16. Kent Nicholson directs the production. Tickets are available at www.scr.org.

Chance Theater is thrilled to announce its 21st Anniversary Season, which will be the fifth to employ both stages in its home at the Bette Aitken theater arts Center. Next year will feature eight fully-staged productions.

Chance Theater, Anaheim's official resident theater company, is pleased to announce its production of Violet, which will kick off its 20th Anniversary Season. The show has book and lyrics by Brian Crawley, music by Jeanine Tesori, direction and choreography by Kari Hayter, and musical direction by Robyn Manion. Violet will preview from February 2 through February 9; regular performances will begin February 10 and continue through March 4 at Chance Theater @ Bette Aitken theater arts Center on the Cripe Stage.

Chance Theater, Anaheim's official resident theater company, is pleased to announce its production of Violet, which will kick off its 20th Anniversary Season. The show has book and lyrics by Brian Crawley, music by Jeanine Tesori, direction and choreography by Kari Hayter, and musical direction by Robyn Manion. Violet will preview from February 2 through February 9; regular performances will begin February 10 and continue through March 4 at Chance Theater @ Bette Aitken theater arts Center on the Cripe Stage.

Chance Theater, Anaheim's official resident theater company, is pleased to announce the fifth show in our 19th Anniversary Season… Tribes. Written by Nina Raine and directed by Marya Mazor, Tribes will preview from September 24 through September 29; regular performances will begin September 30 and continue through October 22 at Chance Theater @ Bette Aitken theater arts Center on the Cripe Stage.

Chance Theater, Anaheim's official resident theater company, is pleased to announce its production of PARADE, with book by Alfred Uhry, music and lyrics by Jason Robert Brown, direction by Kari Hayter, and musical direction by Robyn Manion. PARADE will preview from June 30 through July 7; regular performances will begin July 8 and continue through July 30 at Chance Theater @ Bette Aitken theater arts Center on the Cripe Stage.

Chance Theater, Anaheim's official resident theater company, is pleased to announce its production of PARADE, with book by Alfred Uhry, music and lyrics by Jason Robert Brown, direction by Kari Hayter, and musical direction by Robyn Manion. PARADE will preview from June 30 through July 7; regular performances will begin July 8 and continue through July 30 at Chance Theater @ Bette Aitken theater arts Center on the Cripe Stage.

Chance Theater is thrilled to announce its lineup for 2017, which will be the third to employ both stages in its new home at the Bette Aitken theater arts Center. Next year will feature nine fully-staged productions, a workshop production, and three staged readings of new plays still in development.

Anaheim's official resident theater company, Chance Theater is pleased to the addition of five additional performances of … A Chorus Line. Book by James Kirkwood and Nicholas Dante, music by Marvin Hamlisch, lyrics by Edward Kleban, directed by Chance's Artistic Director Oanh Nguyen, choreographed by Hazel Clarke, with music direction by Ryan O'Connell.  A Chorus Line opened last Saturday and will continue through August 7th on the Cripe Stage at Chance Theater @ Bette Aitken theater arts Center. 

Anaheim's official resident theater company, Chance Theater is pleased to present a fresh and intimate production of the Broadway musical classic ... A Chorus Line. Book by James Kirkwood and Nicholas Dante, music by Marvin Hamlisch, lyrics by Edward Kleban, directed by Chance's Artistic Director Oanh Nguyen, choreographed by Hazel Clarke, with music direction by Ryan O'Connell. A Chorus Line will preview from July 1 through July 8, regular performances will begin July 9 and continue through July 31 on the Cripe Stage at Chance Theater @ Bette Aitken theater arts Center.

Chance Theater is pleased to announce the completion of its $890,000 'Bold New Home' capital campaign. The fundraising drive began two years ago, has received strong support from several prominent community members, and has given the Chance a new theatrical home, which is known as the Bette Aitken theater arts Center, in honor of gifts totaling over $285,000 from community leaders Wylie & Bette Aitken.

Chance Theater is excited to announce that we are entering the final push in our bold new home capital campaign drive, thanks to a $50,000 challenge gift from a group of Chance supporters - community leaders Wylie & Bette Aitken, Larry & Sophie Cripe, Mary Kay Fyda-Mar, and Tod & Linda White. 'So many people have worked so hard and given so much to help make this dream come true,' says Mary Kay Fyda-Mar, immediate Past Chair of the Chance Theater Board. 'They say it takes a village, but I like to say that it takes a family.'

On Saturday, February 7, Chance Theater's Board of Directors, staff and resident artists held a special event to honor their major capital campaign donors and give them a literal standing ovation. The guest of honor at the event was community leader, Bette Aitken, whose husband Wylie surprised her last year with a $250,000 gift to the Chance to name the theater's new home after her.