Whittier Community Theater

Whittier Community Theater is a prominent community theater located in Whittier, California, near Los Angeles, and has been a staple of the local arts scene, similar to the Pasadena Playhouse and the Mark Taper Forum. The theater has a long history of producing high-quality shows, often featuring local talent and drawing inspiration from the works of renowned playwrights like Arthur Miller and Tennessee Williams. With a strong focus on community engagement, the Whittier Community Theater has collaborated with various organizations, including the Whittier City Council and the California Arts Council. The theater's productions have been well-received by audiences and critics alike, with many comparing them to those of the Geffen Playhouse and the Center Theatre Group.

● History

The Whittier Community Theater was founded in the 1920s, during a time when community theaters were becoming increasingly popular across the United States, with notable examples including the Barter Theatre in Abingdon, Virginia, and the Chautauqua Institution in New York. The theater's early years were marked by productions of classic plays, such as those by William Shakespeare and Oscar Wilde, which were often performed at the Whittier High School auditorium. As the theater grew in popularity, it began to attract talent from nearby cities, including Los Angeles and Long Beach, with many performers going on to work with companies like the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Long Beach Opera. The Whittier Community Theater has also been influenced by the works of notable directors, such as Elia Kazan and Lee Strasberg, who were known for their contributions to the Group Theatre and the Actors Studio.

● Productions

The Whittier Community Theater has produced a wide range of shows over the years, including musicals like Oklahoma! and The Sound of Music, as well as dramas like A Streetcar Named Desire and The Glass Menagerie. The theater has also hosted productions of classic comedies, such as Arsenic and Old Lace and You Can't Take It with You, which have been compared to the works of Noël Coward and George S. Kaufman. Many of the theater's productions have featured local talent, including actors who have gone on to work with companies like the South Coast Repertory and the La Jolla Playhouse. The theater has also collaborated with other local arts organizations, including the Whittier Museum and the Whittier Public Library, to produce shows that showcase the city's rich cultural heritage, similar to the Pageant of the Masters in Laguna Beach, California.

● Venue

The Whittier Community Theater is currently housed in a historic building in downtown Whittier, California, which has been renovated to include state-of-the-art sound and lighting systems, similar to those found at the Dolby Theatre and the Pantages Theatre. The theater's venue has a seating capacity of over 200, making it an intimate and engaging space for audiences to experience live theater, much like the Globe Theatre in London and the Comédie-Française in Paris. The theater is located near several other cultural attractions, including the Whittier Art Gallery and the Whittier Historical Society Museum, making it a popular destination for arts enthusiasts and tourists, who often visit nearby cities like Santa Monica and Pasadena.

● Organization

The Whittier Community Theater is a non-profit organization, relying on donations and volunteers to support its productions and operations, similar to the Public Theater in New York City and the Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago. The theater is governed by a board of directors, which includes local business leaders and arts enthusiasts, such as those involved with the Los Angeles County Arts Commission and the California State Summer School for the Arts. The theater also has a strong volunteer base, with many community members contributing their time and talents to help with productions, marketing, and fundraising, much like the Seattle Repertory Theatre and the Denver Center Theatre Company. The Whittier Community Theater has also partnered with local schools, including Whittier College and Rio Hondo College, to provide educational programs and workshops, similar to those offered by the Juilliard School and the Tisch School of the Arts.

● Notable Performances

The Whittier Community Theater has hosted many notable performances over the years, including productions featuring actors like Helen Hayes and James Earl Jones, who have also performed at the Broadway Theatre and the Kennedy Center. The theater has also been recognized for its productions of plays by notable playwrights, such as August Wilson and Tony Kushner, which have been compared to those produced by the New York Shakespeare Festival and the American Conservatory Theater. The Whittier Community Theater has also been involved in several regional theater festivals, including the California Theatre Festival and the Western States Theatre Festival, which have featured productions from companies like the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and the Utah Shakespeare Festival. The theater's productions have been praised by critics and audiences alike, with many comparing them to those of the National Theatre in London and the Comédie-Française in Paris.

Category:Theatres in California