about us
Celebrating over 60 years of theater since its inception, Company of Angels has produced more than 500 plays.
MISSION
Honoring our history as the oldest non-profit professional equity waiver theater in Los Angeles, Company of Angels produces theater that reflects and responds to the richness, diversity, and complexity that is our city. Our Company of diverse theater artists fosters mutual learning partnerships with the residents of Los Angeles through artistic development opportunities, community building enterprises, and life experiences. Company of Angels develops emerging artists, creates new work, and re-envisions theater to entertain new audiences and serve the City of Angels.
VISION
Company of Angels is dedicated to creating theater that is deeply connected to its community. We aim to share and help give voice to the many stories that exist in our community. With a collective of Actors, Directors, Playwrights, Designers, and Administrators, our company forges ongoing and meaningful relationships with the residents of Los Angeles.
HISTORY
In 1959, a group of working actors, including Leonard Nimoy, Richard Chamberlain, Vic Morrow, and Vic Tayback, founded Company of Angels to provide a space for actors and other theater artists to work at their craft free of commercial constraints. Incorporated by legendary entertainment attorney Bertram Fields, Company of Angels has survived through the years and has reached the enviable position of being the oldest not-for-profit repertory theater in Los Angeles.
“the finest small theatre company in Los Angeles”
- Los Angeles Times
Since 1959 the philosophy behind the first company has not changed. It’s goal is to do the best theatre possible, minimizing commercial concerns. To give actors an opportunity to practice their craft, without constraints of making money, to focus on the art itself.
In 2005 the company began to plan for its 50th Anniversary by re-assessing its history and planning for its future. This process resulted in a new mission statement that committed the Company to reflect the City of its birth through the art of theater by producing and showcasing works that reflect the diversity of the City of Los Angeles.
“I feel a thrill and honor to know that we started something
that does
deal with the culture and diversity of this city.”
- Leonard Nimoy
During the past 60 years, the Company has produced more than 500 plays. The Company has been sustained by State and Local Governments, private foundations and by individual donors and finally by its members who continue to create exciting work.
Since 1959 Company of Angels productions garnered over thirty Los Angeles Drama-Logue Awards including a special award for Continued Excellence, nine Back Stage West Garland Awards, eight Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards (three nominations) including a special award for Distinguished Achievement, six LA Weekly Theatre Awards (three nominations), six NAACP Theatre Awards (four nominations), eleven LA Stage Alliance Ovation Awards, five Dimension Robby Awards nominations and seven Broadway World Los Angeles nominations.
“consistently
high standard
of work”
- L.A Drama Critics Circle
“Actors have got to have a place to go, no matter how famous they are, no matter what they’re doing, or if they have all the money in the world. They need to have a place to go to exercise themselves”
— John Astin, Company of Angels Member
OUR THEATRE
For the past 5 years we have presented our work nomadically, and we loved it, but, we craved a black box theatre; a simple performance space, with the flexibility to create a stage in any part of the room. After years of searching, we've found a space east of the river in the historic neighborhood of Boyle Heights. A 1950's U.S. Army armory/warehouse space with high ceilings, no pillars, and plenty of parking.
We need real spaces to make unreal things happen - to not only support the work of Company of Angels but the work of our community partners like Legacy L.A, who provide programming to youth and families living in the Ramona Gardens neighborhood and surrounding communities. We're creating a theatre that we know the community will love to play in - a concrete, committed space that is accessible, that is equipped, that is available. We have begun a journey to create this space and invite you to be part of the process.
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