Pegge Forrest

When it comes to developing a loyal fan base, Troubadour Theater Company has found the secret: do outstanding work, stay true to your aesthetic, and give the people what they want - a great time at the theater. Artistic Director Matt Walker started the troupe and, with the help of longtime friend and foil, Beth Kennedy, continues to lead his merry band into the great theatrical unknown. Next up for the company is JULIUS WEEZER, which combines Shakespeare's JULIUS CAESAR and the music of Weezer to tell its tale of political intrigue Troubie style. Today, they talk about what it's like putting together a new show and why they keep on coming back for more.

In NoHo this season the Troubies are loose in their new home for the holidays The Historic El Portal Theatre. The joint will be jumping as the Ovation Award winning, Los Angeles-based Troubadour Theater Company presents How the Princh Stole Christmas, a musical parody directed by the company's Master of Mayhem and Artistic Director Matt Walker.

Fans of the unforgettable Debbie Reynolds and members of the Thalians, an organization she helped found, flocked to the El Portal Friday June 30 for a dedication of the mainstage and grand party to celebrate her life and career. It was an SRO event, with celebrity guests, whose proceeds benefited the great charity work of the Thalians - 'Hollywood for Mental Health', to which Reynolds devoted tirelessly of herself since its inception in 1955. Debbie had history with the El Portal. It was one of her favorite venues, as she used to ride her bicycle there to go to the movies as a young girl living in Burbank...and she performed there with her fabulous night blub act and the play Love Letters 46 times between 2003 and 2015 So, it is totally apropo to name the mainstage in honor of this great star and humanitarian.

Jay Irwin & Pegge Forrest Producers and The Thalians proudly present Debbie…A Night to Remember: A Dedication and Renaming of the historic El Portal Mainstage Theatre at 5269 Lankershim Blvd in the NOHO Arts District, North Hollywood, California on Friday, June 30, 2017 at 7pm.

Rapid Fire International and the El Portal Children's Theatre proudly present Lewis Carroll's ALICE IN WONDERLAND for 6 madcap performances the historic El Portal Mainstage Theatre, in the NOHO Arts District, North Hollywood, CA.  This special six-performance engagement will be presented February 10, 11 & 12, 2017.

The El Portal Theatre leadership, Jay Irwin and Pegge Forrest announce the newest addition to the historic arts center by signing a long-term lease with Artistic Director, James Bailey of ComedySportz Los Angeles to occupy the 99 Seat Monroe Forum Theatre.

Akin to a Las Vegas show, We 3 Kings works dynamically as a showcase for its 3 artists: Luca Ellis, Shawn Klush and Brandon Michael Jones, especially for Jones, currently considered the premiere tribute artist of Michael Jackson. Now onstage at the El Portal in NoHo through New Year's Eve, it's enjoyable fare for those of us who grew up with and lived through the music of all three. Frank Sinatra (Luca Ellis) was the King of Swing of the 40s on up, Elvis Presley (Shawn Klush) the King of Rock and Roll in the 50s and Michael Jackson (Jones) the King of Pop commencing in the 60s as the tiniest member of The Jackson 5 (Jacquez Shanigan).

El Portal Theatre and 22Q Entertainment -- Robert Levinstein& Alan Wager present Always...Patsy Cline, starring Sally Struthers and Carter Calvert as Patsy Cline, through August 3, 2014 at the historic El Portal Theatre, in the NOHO Arts District, North Hollywood, CA. Check below for photos from the opening night!

Sam Harris has perfected a pretty good stand-up act over the years. He loves to expound on everything from show business and Liza Minnelli ... to surgeries and artificial body parts ... to dieting and even whine about how a toddler can radically alter one's comfortable lifestyle...he's into sharing news, issues, trends, gossip...take his New Year's resolutions over the course of three years: 'Don't look back!...Don't look!...Don't.' In there somewhere is a valuable lesson on how to downsize. Wait a minute, does all this jabber need a point? Even if he says absolutely nothing, Harris' greatest talent is to entertain, to put on a show. And that he blessedly does. As witnessed by Saturday evening's joyful Sam Harris & Friends on the El Portal Mainstage, boy oh boy, he can also still SING! So can all of his guests: Tony winner Levi Kreis, David Burnham, Todd Schroeder and Olivier/Ovation winner Lesli Margherita. It's been a while since I've seen this much overwhelmingly glorious talent assembled on one stage.

El Portal Theatre in association with producers Jay Irwin and Pegge Forrest proudly present a very special New Year's Eve celebration December 31, 2011 with an all-star lineup for two performances only at 4 pm and 10 pm. The all stars are headed by Sam Harris with Todd Schroeder at the piano, 2010 Tony Winner Levi Kreis, 2011 Ovation Winner Lesli Margherita and David Burnham one of Broadway's bright lights.

El Portal Theatre in association with producers Jay Irwin and Pegge Forrest proudly present a very special New Year's Eve celebration December 31, 2011 with an all-star lineup for two performances only at 4 pm and 10 pm. The all stars are headed by Sam Harris with Todd Schroeder at the piano, 2010 Tony Winner Levi Kreis, 2011 Ovation Winner Lesli Margherita and David Burnham one of Broadway's bright lights.

The new musical, JOLSON AT THE WINTER GARDEN starring Broadway veteran, MIKE BURSTYN as AL JOLSON, made it's Los Angeles debut to a prolonged standing ovation on Thursday evening, September 8, 2011 at the historic El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood, CA.

The new musical, JOLSON AT THE WINTER GARDEN starring Broadway veteran, MIKE BURSTYN as AL JOLSON, made it's Los Angeles debut to a prolonged standing ovation on Thursday evening, September 8, 2011 at the historic El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood, CA.

El Portal Theatre and Artistic Director Dee Caspary present the first annual Nvitational Dance Festival from July 28 through August 14, 2011. Performances will be held at the historic El Portal Theatre in the NOHO Arts District, encompassing both the Mainstage and Forum Theatres.

El Portal Theatre and Artistic Director Dee Caspary present the first annual Nvitational Dance Festival from July 28 through August 14, 2011. Performances will be held at the historic El Portal Theatre in the NOHO Arts District, encompassing both the Mainstage and Forum Theatres.

'Ballroom With A Twist' at the El Portal Theatre drew, quite possibly, the most eclectic audience in the history of the landmark venue.

Against all odds, Los Angeles' El Portal Theatre celebrates 10 years of live theatre, following the rebuild of the historic movie venue, severely damaged by the Northridge Earthquake of 1994. To mark the anniversary, producers Jay Irwin and Pegge Forrest have programmed a line up of audience favorites and special events specifically catering to the historic theatre's loyal audience, including the return of the one and only Debbie Reynolds, Renee Taylor & Joe Bologna, Rip Taylor, Fritz Coleman, Adam Corolla, and brand new large-scale holiday musical extravaganza produced by the Lythgoe Family (So You Think You Can Dance, Dancing with the Stars), plus a breath taking Parisian follies/cirque special for the summer.

Civic Light Opera of South Bay Cities and Executive Producer James A. Blackman, III proudly presents a full scale production with orchestra of BARK! THE MUSICAL! conceived by David Troy Francis, with book & lyrics Mark Winkler and Gavin Geoffrey Dillard, lyrics by Robert Schrock, and music by David Troy Francis. The show runs through Feb. 28.