Celebration Theatre

The Celebration Theatre is a 501(c)(3) non-profit theatre company in Los Angeles, founded in 1982. The company is located in West Hollywood, on the west end of Theatre Row, and specializes in works representing the LGBTQ+ experience.

Celebration Theatre
Formation1982
TypeTheatre group
PurposeLGBT theatre
Location
  • 6760 Lexington Ave..
    Los Angeles, CA 90038
Notable members
Michael Kricfalusi, Executive Director
Michael Matthews, Michael A. Shepperd, Co-Artistic Director
Websitewww.celebrationtheatre.com

History

Celebration Theatre was founded in 1982 by Charles Rowland, who leased a storefront in the Silver Lake area of Los Angeles, to start a company dedicated to producing gay-themed material. In 1993, Robert Schrock took over as artistic director and moved the company to a 99-seat Equity waiver space in West Hollywood. Since 1999, Schrock has been succeeded by Richard Israel,[1] Derek Charles Livingston, Michael Matthews,[2] Michael A. Shepperd[3][4] and John Michael Beck. The current Co-Artistic Directors are Michael Matthews & Michael A. Shepperd.[5][6]

Mission

"Celebration Theatre is a community of artists dedicated to presenting innovative, provocative and relevant work that examines the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer experience. We endeavor to challenge society's perception of this community and give a vibrant voice to its evolving identity. "[7]

Awards
  • R. Christofer Sands, 2002 Ovation Award - Lead Actor in a Musical, Pinafore![8]
  • Play it Cool, 2006 Ovation nomination - World Premiere Musical
  • Jessica Sheridan, 2006 Ovation nomination - Lead Actress in a Musical, Play it Cool
  • Louis Durra, 2006 Ovation nomination - Musical Direction, Play it Cool[9]
  • The Bacchae, 2007 Ovation nomination - Play Production, Intimate Theatre
  • Beautiful Thing, 2007 Ovation nomination - Play Production, Intimate Theatre
  • Michael Matthews, 2007 Ovation nomination - Direction of a Play, The Bacchae
  • Michael Matthews, 2007 Ovation nomination - Direction of a Play, Beautiful Thing
  • Tim Swiss, 2007 Ovation nomination - Lighting Design, Intimate Theatre, The Bacchae
  • Cricket Myers, 2007 Ovation nomination - Sound Design, Intimate Theatre, The Bacchae[10]
  • Francesca Casale, 2008 Ovation nominee - Featured Actress in a Play, The Fastest Clock in the Universe[11]
  • Jennifer R. Blake, 2010 Outstanding Performance by a Lead Actress in a Musical for the role of Susan in [title of show] from StagesceneLA's Best of LA Theatre Awards 2009-2010[12]
  • Women of Brewster Place, the Musical, 2010 Ovation Award - Best Production of A Musical, Intimate Theatre
  • Michael Matthews, 2010 Ovation nomination - Best Director of A Musical, Women of Brewster Place, the Musical[13]
  • Ameenah Kaplan, 2010 Ovation nomination - Best Choreographer, Women of Brewster Place, the Musical
  • Women of Brewster Place, the Musical, 2010 Ovation award - Best Acting Ensemble
  • Michael Matthews, 2011 Ovation Nomination, Director of a Play Intimate Theatre, Take Me Out
  • Brian Pugach, 2011 Ovation Nomination, Book for an Original Musical, The Next Fairy Tale
  • BASH'd! A Gay Rap Opera, 2011 Ovation Nomination, Best Musical Intimate Theatre
  • Ameenah Kaplan, 2011 Ovation Nomination, Director of a Musical, BASH'd! A Gay Rap Opera
  • DJ Jedi, 2011 Ovation Nomination, Music Direction, BASH'd! A Gay Rap Opera
  • 2010/2011 Best Season Ovation Nomination

Current season
  • The Boy from Oz, Music and Lyrics by Peter Allen. Book by Martin Sherman and Nick Enright. Directed by Michael A. Shepperd. April 29, 2016
  • Dream Boy, by Eric Rosen, Based on the novel by Jim Grimsley. Directed by Michael Matthews. January 29, 2016 - March 2016
  • Bootycandy, by Robert O'Hara, Directed by Michael Matthews, - October 29, 2015 - December, 2015

Past Productions
  • Stories I Can't Tell Mama, Written and Performed by Leslie Jordan, January/February 2012
  • Christmastime is Queer4 more holiday mirth & mary-ment, December 9, 2011 - December 18, 2011
  • What's Wrong with Angry?, Written by Patrick Wilde, Directed by Michael Matthews, - September 9, 2011 - Nov 19, 2011
  • BASH'd! A Gay Rap Opera, Written by Chris Craddock and Nathan Cuckow, Directed by Ameenah Kaplan - June 10, 2011 - July 30, 2011
  • The Next Fairy Tale, Book, Music and Lyrics by Brian Pugach, Directed by Michael A.Shepperd - March 11, 2011 - May 21, 2011
  • Take Me Out, by Richard Greenberg, Directed by Michael Matthews - September 24, 2010 - February 19, 2011
  • Title of Show, Book by Hunter Bell, Music and Lyrics by Jeff Bowen, Directed by Michael A.Shepperd - July 16 - September 11, 2010. In the cast were: Jennifer R. Blake, Carey Peters, Jeffrey Landman, Micah McCain, and Gregory Nabours.[14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22]
  • Women of Brewster Place, the Musical, Book, Music and Lyrics by Tim Acito, Directed by Michael Matthews - April 23 - June 27, 2010
  • Haram Iran, by Jay Paul Deratany, Directed by Michael Matthews - March 5 - April 4, 2010
  • Fucking Men, by Joe DiPietro, Directed by Calvin Remsberg - January 8 - February 14, 2010
  • Women Behind Bars, by Tom Eyen, Directed by Kurt Koehler - November 13 - December 20, 2009
  • Fucking Men, Book by Joe DiPietro, Directed by Calvin Remsberg - September 11 - November, 2009
  • Altar Boyz, Book by Kevin Del Aguila, Music and Lyrics by Gary Adler and Michael Patrick Walker, Directed by Patrick Pearson - July 10 - August 23, 2009
  • Trafficking in Broken Hearts, Written by Edwin Sanchez, Directed by Efrain Schunior - May 15 - June 14, 2009
  • The Prodigal Father, Written by Larry Dean Harris, Directed by Michael Matthews - March 27 - April 26, 2009
  • Missionary Position, Written and Performed by Steven Fales - January 9 - February 22, 2009
  • The Daddy Machine, Book by Patricia Laughrey, Music and Lyrics by Rayme Sciaroni - October 18 - December 20, 2008
  • A Christmas Carol, Adapted by Jason Moyer, Directed by Michael A. Shepperd - November 28 - December 21, 2008
  • Porcelain, by Chay Yew, Directed by Michael Matthews - October 10 - November 16, 2008
  • Sissystrata, by Allain Rochel, Directed by Michael Matthews - August - September 28, 2008
  • Songs from an Unmade Bed, Lyrics by Mark Campbell, Directed by Patrick Pearson - June 6 - August 10, 2008
  • Coffee will make you Black, Book by April Sinclair Adapted by Michael A. Shepperd, Directed by Nataki Garrett - April - May 25, 2008
  • Stupid Kids, by John C. Russell, Directed by Michael Matthews - February - April 6, 2008
  • The Fastest Clock in the Universe, by Philip Ridley, Directed by Lynn Ann Bernatowicz - October 12 - November 18, 2007

References
  1. LA Times Article "And So the Celebration Continues" by Don Shirley, October 17, 1999
  2. "Celebration Theatre Launches 25th Season" in Backstage Bulletins - Back Stage, Oct. 11, 2007; by Les Spindle
  3. LA Times Article "Now, to widen the Celebration" by David Ng, Aug 17, 2008.
  4. "Celebration Theatre names new Artistic Director" by Darren Schroader on LA Stage Blog, Aug. 5, 2008.
  5. "Celebration Theatre Announces New Artistic and Executive Directors" - in Theatre in LA, Aug 17, 2011
  6. "New Leadership at the Celebration Theatre" LA Stage Alliance article by Mark Kinsey Stephenson, Aug 26, 2011.
  7. "Our Mission" on Celebrations Theatre website
  8. 2002 Ovation Award winners announced Archived 2005-02-26 at the Wayback Machine, Nov. 25, 2002 (pdf)
  9. 2006 Ovation nominees announced on TheatreMania online, Sept. 25, 2006
  10. 2007 Ovation nominations announced in Los Angeles Times - Sept. 25, 2007
  11. 2008 Ovation nominees announced on Variety online, Sep. 23, 2008
  12. 2009-2010 StageSceneLA Scenies.
  13. http://www.lastagealliance.com/ovation_nominees.htm%5B%5D on LA Stage Alliance
  14. "Theatre review: "[title of show]" at Celebration Theatre". Los Angeles Times. 22 July 2010. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
  15. "Review: "[title of show]"". Variety. 18 July 2010. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
  16. "[title of show] at the Celebration Theatre". L. A. Theatre Review. 22 July 2010. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
  17. "Theater Review: "(title of show)"". UCLA Daily Bruin. 30 August 2010. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
  18. "Theater Review: "(title of show)"". Stage Happenings. 22 July 2010. Archived from the original on 6 November 2013. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
  19. "L. A. Theater Review: "(title of show)"". Backstage. 21 July 2010. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
  20. "BWW Reviews: L.A. Premiere of Witty '[title of show]' Is Hilarious Fun". Broadway World. 19 July 2010. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
  21. "[title of show], Celebration Theatre, Los Angeles". Huffington Post. 30 August 2010. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
  22. "Singin' in the Rain [title of show] and Dani Girl". L. A. Weekly. 29 July 2010. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
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