The Actors’ Gang

The Actors’ Gang is the place to be! Not only amazing and original shows are produced there. But the troop created after school program for kids. Training for adults in the facility and into the prison system. The Gang is kicking asses and changing life all over the board! Shows have been touring to China, Brazil, France, Italy, Spain in the last few years… This is a rare world class company theater!

Absolutely amazing performances by this acting company.
Truly some of the best writing and creativity I have ever seen. I recently went and saw their latest production Harlequino which Tim Robbins wrote and it was a masterpiece. I got to talk to the actors and even Tim Robbins afterwards and talk about the experience. I also love that Thursdays is pay what you can which is great for people who love the theater but are on a budget.
I will totally recommend this theater to anyone wanting to see amazing live theater!

This company creates amazing work that pushes boundaries. Just attended their workshop production of Harlequino on to freedom, written & directed by Tim Robbins. Loved it! For anyone wanting to see great actors, hear skilled musicians and enjoy intelligent theatre… head to the Actors Gang.

First I can’t believe it took me so long in life to see any version of Shakespeare’s Midnight Summer’s Dream. But that all changed with The Actor’s Gang. What a wonderful play it was. Who knew? I obviously didn’t. I really enjoyed all of the actors roles. So many interesting characters brought to life. The music was simple and totally cool. Just two musicians for the whole play but it really did make it «pop» with life. The way they prepared to take stage was interesting. No set changes, the actors were the set. I went out with girlfriends to see this and I am happy I took the plunge. It was fantastic! This take on a classic was funny, witty, enchanting and just plain entertaining. Better than any movie.

I went to see one of their shows on the lawn in back of the theater, a harry potter Hamlet. The singing and dancing weren’t bad but the show was heavily infused with leftist rhetoric that was completely out of place and seemed to reflect someone’s agenda. I know that Tim Robbins is one of the founders and benefactors of the group. I would avoid if you are wary of leftist brainwashing.
Overall I don’t recommend.

If you are a Black actor, this is not the place for you. 99% of the audience members are White, as are all of the company’s founding members. For all intents and purposes, the Actor’s Gang is a White theatre company. I’m not talking about the interns/​actors that are allowed into entry-​level positions, I’m talking about the overall theatrical aesthetic and the complete absence of people of color in decision making roles. Diversity is not simply about being fair, it is about allowing people’s voices to be heard and celebrating what they have to offer, which can only make a theater company better. Drawing from the beauty, passion, pain, music, dance, grief, laughter, anger and joy of varied groups of people will only strengthen the Art that is created and diversify the demographic of those audience members that so desperately crave it.

This little theater is amazing. The location, at this particular intersection, is really cool. Like I said, it isn’t a large theater. Any seat is a great seat. We went and saw Lysistrata and it was a very good play, even though it was considered a «workshop play». There’s plenty of parking surrounding the venue. They sell drinks and refreshments there. Thursdays are «pay what you can» days, but getting there early doesn’t necessarily guarantee you a seat. This is one of LA’s gems.

This place has become a second home to me. The theater here is powerful, unique, and intimate. I’ve left after seeing their shows feeling impacted and pensive for weeks and months afterward. It takes serious talent both on and offstage to create such incredible art. I can’t say enough good things about The Gang, honestly. The work they do for the local community (not to mention the prison outreach program where they work with inmates to improve their communication skills) is greatly appreciated in Los Angeles and nationwide. Additionally, do look into The Gang’s acting classes. They’ve changed my life for the better.
If you want a theater with raw, gut-​wrenchingly beautiful honesty, look no further. You’ll feel right at home because there’s nothing stuffy about the atmosphere. I recommend The Gang to anyone, especially people who «aren’t really into theater.» It’s likely nothing you’ve experienced before.

Went to my first show here. They have a lounge with couches that sells beverages and snacks and the doors open an hour before the show. You can park at the Trader Joe’s parking structure or try to get lucky with the rows of metered parking right by the theater. We came here to see Ron Burkett’s marionette show. It was pretty good. The theater holds about 100 people and has stadium style seating. Seats are comfy in the theater it looks pretty new and well-​maintained. The bathroom also has about six stalls which is nice. It’s nice to support local theater and I had been wanting to come here. I would definitely come back again if there is a show I wanted to see. The Ron Burkett marionette show is on one of those lists about top 100 things to do in Los Angeles. It’s more for adult audiences so keep that in mind. And it’s funny and very creative. It’s worth checking this theater out that’s run by Tim Robbins.

What a exceptional little venue! I must have driven by, I dunno, 17 billion times and I always thought, «Huh, I wonder what that place is all about…» Well, now I know.
I popped by for a production of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ and it was an exceptional performance, I’m sure Shakespeare would approve. The cast was vibrant, enthusiastic and all contributed equally to a stellar showing. A medium sized stage, the performers created the scenes with small amounts of props, no formal background or setup was in place. In my opinion it rather adds to the value, to see the story come alive strictly on the merit of acting with little to no scenic assistance.
Smaller in scale, there’s maybe 100-​ish seats (I didn’t count) but that means there’s not a sad seat in the house. I think I saw Morgan Freeman was a few rows up from me and if it’s good enough for him it’s certainly good enough for me. I perused the website for the Actors’ Gang and apparently they have a number of accomplished actors within their ranks, so I suppose this is a little out of the way gem as it were.
Seriously glad I finally made the time for a show here, I’ll abosultely be back. If you’re into live art, get at this place.

Great performance space for a group of talented actors!
Although we were fortunate enough to sit in the first few rows, the place is comfy enough that I don’t think there is a bad seat in the house. Convenient nearby parking and lots of nearby restaurants for pre– or post-​show dining.

I loved this place! Tim really knows his stuff and it shows in the performances he puts on. The actors here are all super friendly and recognizable from movies, TV, or commercials.

Here for the holiday show! So awesome! Great performances!

This summer they’ve been doing this free show for the families on weekend mornings, «Twelfth Night: The Superhero Edition.» I must say the presentation of it is brilliant.
They make Shakespeare palpable for the little ones, yet not dumbing it down. They’re still speaking in the Bard’s prose (mostly), but with a bit of a change of cast (Viola becomes Batgirl, Orsino = Superman, Sebastian = Batman, Olivia = Wonder Woman, Malvolio = Wolverine, etc) as well as adding several musical and dance numbers to keep the kids entertained. Spider-​Man served as a narrator, and a guy dressed as the recent incarnation of Bane provided live background music during the performance on his keyboard (worked well for Hulk’s sad walking music).
The company’s adaptation also includes many a moral lesson inserted here and there: recycle, don’t talk to strangers, apologize for your mistakes, and love who you want, not being the least of which.
After the play, they handed out popsicles and the kids took pictures with all the heroes.
Again, it was really well done, silly as it might have been at times. It managed to convey the story well and make it approachable in a different way, and yeah, I did manage to geek out a bit on the little comic jokes they slipped in as well.

I truely LOVE The Actors’ Gang… It’s one of the *ONLY* local & low-​priced theaters in West L.A. or… all of Los Angeles that I feel proud to support and cherish!
The first play I saw he was ‘OY!’, which was fantastic!, the second show I saw ‘Haeart of Darkness’, and recently I saw ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ and It was GREAT… But i would rate the play PG-​13 for (adult (references, gestures (ie: humping), etc.) during the play!

I’ve seen one play there, Tartuffe, and it was just fantastic. Staff was great, actors were incredible and everything was done on a professional level. Need I say more if you want to see a great play in LA? I’m seeing the next one this coming Saturday, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and have no doubt I will love the whole experience.

Spacious stage with comfy seating.
The foyer is cozy and just cramped enough to force audience members to be social. It’s like a game of spot the awkward kid.
Seating is a bit difficult to file into: it’s about 10 seats deep but entryway steps on either side (seats 1 and 10). Do everyone a favor if you ever come here and go to the dead center of the seats (5 and 6) if possible.
Parking’s also a bit of a trial. be sure to leave 10 to 15 minutes free ahead of time to find parking – that or just toss down 3 bucks for garage parking on Washington.

Went here to see the production of ‘1984’. Tickets said doors at 7pm so we got there promptly so we could have choice of seats. We were not allowed into area until 7:45pm. I was annoyed but it really didn’t matter because we still got great seats. The room reminds me of an old firehouse (which it might have been?). The acoustics are very nice in the room and it was really fun to see a play in this setting. They did a great job of re-​telling 1984 and keeping it very accurate to the book while still instilling some of their own flair.
The actors were all really good. They had to constantly change personalities as they were acting as different people and they did it so seamlessly, it really was awesome to watch.
The lead actor, who was also the artistic director was phenomenal. Really great cast! The only woman in the play seemed to have a breakdown at the end of the production but since she kept herself together the audience never knew if it was scripted or not. I believe it was not scripted and have my reasons to think this way ;)
Only complaint is that the front desk girls are not friendly at all. It reminded me of my high school days where some girls were just complete snobs. Honestly, I would probably not come back here just because of the front desk girls. There were 4 of them and they were all pretty awful.

Tonight was the closing show of Break The Whip — a Tim Robbins written and directed performance. What a show!
The stage was filled with a group of about 20 AMAZING actors — some of who learned lines in two separate languages (Kimbundu and Algonquian) to portray multiple characters in this moving story of indentured servants and slaves in Jamestown and the natives in the wilderness outside (no John Smith or Pocahontas).
With cleverly minimal stage props, puppets, lighting, singing, dance, expressive body movements, masks, music, costumes, and a trio of live percussionists, the actors took the audience on an emotional journey. We were riveted through the tragedy of poverty and hunger, slavery, the joy of finding celebration even in oppressive times, forbidden love and finally the kindness that can exist within the hearts of people of radically different cultures.
There was so much emotion that throughout the course of the show, my eyes welled up with sadness, my skin crawled with repulsion, and I got chills and tapped my feet with the music and dancing!
This is the second time I’ve been to this theater, and I always love it here! Parking out front on Venice is score-​able if you get here (like I did) at 6-​ish and then have dinner in the area before the play, there is not one bad seat in the house, the restrooms are large and clean, refreshments are available and everyone is friendly.
The audience also had the pleasure of being seated with Steve Buscemi (Mr. Pink!), Frankie Faison (The Wire) and a couple of other recognizable actors. After looking at the cast list, I noticed that Amanda Faison (I believe Frankie’s daughter) was the Stage Manager, and Adele Robbins (I believe Tim Robbins’ sister) was one of the multi-​lingual cast members.
What a treat! The Actor’s Gang has consistently put on riveting shows, and I’m looking forward to my next visit already!

I saw a performance of «Break the Whip» on a Wednesday night here and there were more people onstage than in the audience. The performance was opened up for free to teachers and it was pay-​what-​you-​can for everyone else. I began to wonder if anyone in the theater had paid full price.
The play was exciting and took a lot of risks. The shadow puppetry was amazing and the night was full of great moments including live music, humor, and action. It was not like seeing the musical Cats. If you want to stick to mainstream fare, don’t go here. But if you enjoy ground-​breaking theater and want to see something new. This place is perfect.
Free parking is available across the street in the Trader Joe’s lot or at a meter on the street.
I think that this kind of live theater deserves our support and I’m glad to have them in the neighborhood.