The Actors' Gang

Description

History: Over the past 28 years, The Actors’ Gang has produced work of the highest quality here in Los Angeles, in 40 U.S. states, and on 4 continents. The company was founded in 1981 by a group of young theatre artists looking for a theatre that would present entertaining, meaningful, socially relevant plays. Fueled by the vision of the Founding Artistic Director, the company provides a supportive environment for a diverse ensemble of artists and the development of their innovative work.

With our productions and tours we strive to bring communities together in a way that only the medium of theatre can. We focus on scripts that contribute to the ongoing dialogue about our society and culture, while never forgetting that theatre’s primary purpose is still to entertain.

A signature of The Actors’ Gang is its acting method: The Style. This is a unique fusion of the broad physicality of commedia dell'arte, California cinema, and the intense discipline of heightened emotional reality. Using this art form, the ensemble develops plays that address the world through a prism of satire, popular culture and imaginative stagecraft.

Education & Outreach:
• Artist Residency in Elementary, Middle and High Schools - The program uses theatre as a catalyst for students to learn about community building, self-expression and empowerment.
• Actors’ Gang Family Theatre Summer Program - We present a free annual program of Theatre for Young Audiences in Media Park, adjacent to our home at The Ivy Substation.
• Actors’ Gang Prison Project - Company members bring workshops to adult prisons, providing theatrical training to inmates, fostering nonviolent expression and helping to reduce recidivism.
• Dead Man Walking School Theatre Project - The Gang offers the stage adaptation of Tim Robbins' "Dead Man Walking" for production by high schools and universities. We have been a force in more than 150 universities and high schools nationwide with this project.
• Pay-What-You-Can Night - Once a week we offer a performance for the entire community where we ask people interested in seeing a performance to pay only what they can afford.
• Accessibility - Audio Description and ASL interpreted performances are available to patrons with special needs. Large print programs are available upon request.