Actors' Gang News

Ybor City, a new play written and directed by Mariana Da Silva with movement direction by Stephanie G. Galindo, will have thirteen performances only March 7 to March 30 at The Actors' Gang in Culver City. 

The groundbreaking production (Im)migrants of the State, created by and based on the real-life experiences of formerly incarcerated actors, returns to The Actors' Gang for 6 performances. Get more information here!

The groundbreaking production (Im)migrants of the State, created by and based on the real-life experiences of formerly incarcerated actors, returns to The Actors' Gang for 6 performances.

Hallucinatory, astoundingly visual, and provocative, this absurdist, surreal satire runs through December 16

 The Actors’ Gang gift to area families are free performances of a new production – Much Ado About Pooh, a 45 minute mash-up playing every Saturday and Sunday from August 5 – 27 at 11:00am.

The next production to take The Actors' Gang stage is The Darkness: Goddess Revealed, written and performed by Nick Gillie and directed by Dwain Perry. Presented as a special co-production in partnership with Black University and Okan Entertainment, the story is told through the perspective of three vastly different characters (played by Gillie) who enter the afterlife and meet sacred female beings called The We. But have they gathered to hear the new arrivals’ life stories or have a more spiritual lesson in mind? I was curious to hear about the genesis of the play, more about the characters, the purpose of The We in the storyline, and Nick Gille’s personal involvement with Black University.

For seventeen years, the teaching artists of the Actors’ Gang Prison Project have been creating transformational opportunities for incarcerated men and women. Their latest workshop production, (Im)migrants of the State, is performed by an ensemble of their alumni with over 240 years of combined incarceration who have found their way to freedom and now want to share their stories with audiences. I decided to speak with its co-directors, Jeremie Loncka, who also serves as the Director of Programs for the Actors’ Gang’s Prison Project, and ensemble member Rich Loya, about their vision for the project and how it came into being with the two of them at the helm.

The Actors' Gang presents (Im)migrants of the State – a unique workshop production created by and based on the real-life experiences of formerly incarcerated actors.

Ed Rampell in his People's World review of The Actors' Gang Ubu the King said, “With any luck, Ubu will be extended into 2023.  I have a feeling we'll be needing a good laugh in the year to come.”  The Actors' Gang, happy to oblige, is bringing back its smash hit, sold-old revival of Ubu starting Friday, January 27

After playing to sold out shows with their recent revival of Ubu the King, The Actors' Gang will present their family friendly holiday show, Shambles, an unbridled concoction of seasonal charm and sassy cunning all rolled up in a cirque-infused panto.

The Actors’ Gang has extended its fortieth anniversary production of Ubu the King through December 3.  Ubu is a revival of the obscenely funny, deeply offensive, and utterly deranged play that started it all for this now storied theatre company.

In 1896, the bohemian, absinthe-drinking, rebellious writer Alfred Jarry debuted his revolutionary play Ubu the King with a single performance in Paris. The absurd satire shocked audiences, resulting in repeated interruptions throughout the performance and culminating in a riot. This violent reception cemented Alfred Jarry's legacy as a provocative and controversial author.

After two years of most people living in at least semi-isolation, with many unemployed through no fault of their own, the Actors' Gang is returning to the stage with a re-mounting of Can't Pay? Don't Pay! written by Nobel Laureate Dario Fo and Franca Rame on March 19, 2022, with previews beginning March 12, exactly two years from the day the theater was shuttered and had to suspend this hilarious production. Fo's high-energy, satirical farce is again directed by Bob Turton, and I decided to speak with him about the journey he has taken with the production, especially what it's been like waiting for two years to bring the play back to its original location.

'Can't Pay? Don't Pay!' written by Nobel Laureate Dario Fo and Franca Rame is returning to The Actors' Gang Theater in the old Ivy Substation on March 19, 2022, with previews beginning March 12, exactly two years from the day the theater was shuttered and had to suspend this hilarious production. 

The Actors’ Gang Theater will debut We Live On, a new play based on Hard Times by Studs Terkel, on July 22nd. With additional text by Tim Robbins and the cast and under Robbins’ direction, the live virtual production will be presented in three parts and will run through September 4th. With music by Cameron Dye and David Robbins, this world premiere features 30 accounts of the Great Depression, including those of Dolores Huerta, Dorothy Day, and Cesar Chavez.

The Actors' Gang Theater announces a new Axis Mundi evening as part of its digital season: Axis Mundi – In Conversation with Tim Robbins and theatrical legend and visionary director, Peter Brook. The free event, produced in partnership with Fundación Teatro a Mill, will be translated into French and Spanish and will be streamed Thursday, March 25th at 7 pm PST through Zoom and Facebook Live. The live translation is only available through Zoom.

The Actors' Gang Theater announces additional free programming as part of its digital season: Axis Mundi – In Conversation with Ariane Mnouchkine and Tim Robbins. The free event, produced in partnership with Fundación Teatro a Mill, will be translated into French and will be streamed Thursday, March 11th at 7 pm PST through Zoom and Facebook Live. The live translation is only available through Zoom.

The Actors' Gang Theater is holding a food drive during the entire run of their new production of Dario Fo's classic modern farce, Can't Pay? Don't Pay! to support Upward Bound House (UBH). UBH has programs in Culver City (home to The Actor's Gang), Santa Monica, Compton, and Los Angeles.

The Actors' Gang and Tim Robbins announced the upcoming North American Tour of THE NEW COLOSSUS for the 2019-2020 season. Directed and co-written by Academy Award-winning Tim Robbins (Mystic River, Dead Man Walking, The Shawshank Redemption), THE NEW COLOSSUS will play a limited tour and visit cities such as Charlotte, NC (Jan. 28-Feb. 2, 2020 - Knight Theater), Detroit, MI (Feb. 14-16, 2020 - Music Hall), Seattle, WA (Feb. 20-22, 2020 - Moore Theatre), Nashville, TN (April 9-11, 2020 - James K. Polk Theater) and others. A list of announced tour dates for the 2019-2020 season is below. Casting will be announced later.

Based on the iconic novel by George Orwell, a?oe1984a?? is the story of Winston Smith, who has come to the attention of the state of Oceania, the authoritarian state. Initially written in 1949, meaning that it was projecting 35 years into the future at that time, it is uncanny, that, 35 years later, it is being presented yet once again, and, terrifyingly, it is probably more relevant than ever before. With the brutal soul-searching, diary-exposing help of four Party Members of a?oeThe Ministry of Truth,a?? and a maiming stun gun, Winston is forced to confess his Thoughtcrimes before an unseen questioner, and the audience (surrounding the square stage in the middle on all four sides; it's almost as if they are secretly witnesses and jury) is up close and personal witnessing the torture and depredation being dealt to Mr. Smith.