Open Fist Theatre Company
The Open Fist Theatre is both a 501(c)(3) non-profit theatre company and 99-seat theatre facility in Theatre Row Hollywood located at 6209 Santa Monica Blvd. The name of the Open Fist Theatre Company comes from two principles: the notion of an open spirit and the fist - a sign of determination and force.[1]
The OFTC was founded in 1990 by Ziad Hamzeh (Artistic Director), Michael Denney (Actor/Playwright/Teacher), Tim Pulice (Actor), Brian Muir (Actor) and Kathleen Dunn (Actor/Teacher). All of whom were graduates of the Theater Program of California State University, Fullerton. Since 2000, the company has been under the artistic direction of Martha Demson.[1] Originally the company was based at 1625 North La Brea [1] in a rehearsal hall once owned by Bob Hope. In 2005 this facility was destroyed to accommodate Hollywood redevelopment and the company moved to 6209 Santa Monica Boulevard - a facility originally operated by the Actors Gang.[2] The Open Fist is notable for its support of both new works and new interpretations of theatre classics in productions typically featuring contemporary production values, ensemble acting, and imaginative direction and design.
It has been the site of significant premieres such as Frank Zappa's rock opera Joe's Garage,[3] deLEARious by Ron West, Fall Off Night by Allison Gregory, The Room by Michael Franco, Eenie Meanie by Teresa Willis, Love Water by Jacqueline Wright, Neil Labute's The New Testament, and Julie Hebert's St. Joan and the Dancing Sickness.
A yearly summer Director's Festival or First Look Festival also features membership-driven new work. The Open Fist has been nominated and received numerous LA Weekly, Ovation,[4] Garland and other awards and is a member of Play 7.[5]
Production history
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
- Etta Jenks by Marlene Meyer
- The Flight of the Earls by Christopher Humble
- Behemoth by Della Vecchia Smith
- The Moke Eater by Ken Bernard
- Blood and Stumbo; Falling by Beth Burns
- Underground by Mark Litton
- The Ghost Diaries by Keith Mason
1996
- A Warring Absence by Jody Duncan
- Time Piece; Guernica by D. O'Brian, Neal Bell
- Fear and Misery of the Third Reich by Bertolt Brecht
- The God Game by Allison Burnett
- Journey of the Fifth Horse by Ronald Ribman
- New York 243 by J.D. Zeik
1997
1998
- Getting Into My Skin by Saleem
- Time Lost by Jack O'Rourke
- God’s Country by Steven Dietz
- Sex, Death and Other Annoyances by Ron West
- The Accompanist by Berberovna/Adapt. Giurgea
- Skin by Naomi Iizuka
- We Won’t Pay! We Won’t Pay! by Dario Fo
- Fall ’98 One-Act Festival by Various Authors
- The Notcracker Project (with Circle-X Theatre Company) by Various Authors
1999
2000
- The Abdication by Ruth Wolff
- Cowboy Mouth; Lobster Man by Sam Shepard, Martin George
- How to Explain the History of Communism to Mental Patients by Matei Visniec
- Talk Show From Hell by Jean-Noël Fenwick
- The King Stag by Carlo Gozzi
- 2000 Directors Festival by Various Authors
- Measure 4 Measure by William Shakespeare
- Three Sisters by Anton Chekov
- Bay of Smokes by Alena Wilson and Alisa Wilson
2001
- The Knacker’s ABC by Boris Vian
- The Wooden Breeks by Glen Berger
- Casanova by Constance Congdon
- 2001 Directors Festival by Various Authors
- Fen by Caryl Churchill
- Sharon and Billy by Alan Bowne
- The Freedom Ball by Chelsea Hackett
- Exmass by Bradley Rand Smith, Lewis Black & Mark Houghtaling
2002
2003
- Songs of Joy and Destitution by Charles L. Mee Jr.
- As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner, adapted by Edward Kemp
- Playhouse Creatures by April De Angelis
- 2003 Directors’ Festival by Various Authors
- The Andrea and Hep Show 2: More Faster More Furiouser by Andrea Fears, Hep Jamieson and Ron West
- The Cosmonaut’s Last Message to The Woman He Once Loved In The Former Soviet Union by David Greig
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
Current and past affiliated artists
References
- ^ a b c http://www.openfist.org/
- ^ http://www.laweekly.com/locations/open-fist-theatre-115421/
- ^ http://www.rollingstone.com
- ^ http://www.lastagealliance.com/
- ^ http://www.play7.com/openfist
External links