The Open Fist Theatre Company Inc

OPEN FIST THEATRE COMPANY IS A SELF-GOVERNING COMMUNITY OF THEATRE ARTISTS WHO BELIEVE IN THE TRANSFORMATIVE IMPERATIVE OF INCLUSIVE AND COLLABORATIVE THEATRE. DEDICATED TO EXPANDING SOCIAL AWARENESS THROUGH ART, WE SEEK, THROUGH DIVERSE VOICES AND ARTISTIC VISIONS, TO CELEBRATE DIFFERENCE, NURTURE EMPATHY AND ADVANCE SOCIAL CHANGE.

DURING 2023, OPEN FIST THEATRE COMPANY RESUMED ALL ASPECTS OF OUR ACTIVITY. COMPANY CLASSES WERE OFFERED IN SCENE STUDY; IMPROVISATION & SKETCH WRITING; "MONSTER REP": INTERPRETATION AND PERFORMANCE OF THE MOST CHALLENGING EPIC AND POETIC TEXTS; AS WELL AS PLAYWRITING & NEW PLAY DEVELOPMENT. OUR IMPROVISATION AND SKETCH WRITING CLASS RESULTED IN THE CREATION OF AN ONGOING WEEKLY SKETCH SHOW, DIRECTED BY ORIGINAL SECOND CITY MEMBER RON WEST, DRAWN FROM CURRENT NEWS HEADLINES. OUR MONSTER REP WORKSHOP FOCUSED ON KING LEAR, AND CULMINATED IN A WORKSHOP PRESENTATION OF THE FIRST TWO ACTS. BASED ON ITS SUCCESS, A FULL PRODUCTION HAS BEEN SCHEDULED FOR 2025. AND FROM OUR PLAYWRITING AND NEW PLAY DEVELOPMENT GROUP WE GOT A WORKSHOP PRODUCTION OF BETH ROBBINS' STRAINED RELATIONS, AND STAGED READINGS OF SCHUYLER MASTAIN'S BALDWIN/KENNEDY AND JAMES FOWLER'S RESPIRE NAN (THE STORY OF THE ONLY BLACK FAMILY ABOARD THE TITANIC.)IN ADDITION, HANDS-ON OPPORTUNITIES WERE SUPPLIED AS FOLLOWS: 843 HOURS OF IN PERSON REHEARSAL (FOR ACTORS, STAGE MANAGERS, DIRECTORS, WRITERS); 1,567 HOURS OF IN PERSON DESIGN/PRODUCTION TIME (FOR DESIGNERS, DIRECTORS, PRODUCERS); AND 340 HOURS OF IN PERSON PERFORMANCE (FOR ALL ACTORS/SINGERS/MUSICIANS/CREW/STAGE MANAGERS.)

THE OPEN FIST THEATRE COMPANY'S 2023 SEASON WAS COMPRISED OF THE WORLD PREMIERE OF IVA BRDARS AND IF I DON'T BEHAVE THEN WHAT; A REVIVAL OF THE MUSICAL STARMITES; THE EXTENSION OF OUR REVIVAL PRODUCTION OF ANATOMY OF GRAY; AND THE WEST COAST PREMIERE OF DOMINIQUE MORISSEAU'S BLOOD AT THE ROOT. WE ALSO PRODUCED THE WEEKLY SKETCH SHOW THIS WEEK THIS WEEK (AND CELEBRATED ITS ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY WITH BEST OF BEST OF THIS WEEK THIS WEEK.) IN DECEMBER, THE COMPANY REVIVED ITS EXUBERANT ANNUAL CHARITY CONCERT -- AT THE BROAD THEATRE IN SANTA MONICA -- FEATURING THE TALENTS OF 49 SINGERS AND INSTRUMENTALISTS, AND IN OCTOBER, WE PRODUCED OUR FIRST GALA POST-PANDEMIC AT THE LA ZOO.THE COMPANY'S PROGRAMMING IN 2023 INVOLVED 126 ACTORS/SINGERS, 12 OTHER COMPANY MEMBERS, AND 52 GUEST ARTISTS (DIRECTORS, PRODUCERS, CHOREOGRAPHERS, DESIGNERS, AND MUSICIANS.) IN PERSON PERFORMANCES WERE ATTENDED BY 5,573 PATRONS (4708 PAID ATTENDANCE; 865 FREE ADMISSIONS) AND VIRTUAL PROGRAMS WERE ATTENDED BY APPROXIMATELY 156 PATRONS (TICKETS WERE FREE BUT 56 CONTRIBUTED.)