The Actors Studio West is wrapping up rehearsals for its upcoming children’s theater project, “Santa Quits.” This family-friendly production is penned by David Field and directed by Barbara Bain, offering a delightful experience that’s not only funny but also free of charge.
“Santa Quits” is an hour-long seasonal spectacle slated for the weekend before Christmas, with performances at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16, and Sunday, Dec. 17. The show features a motley crew of famous figures from holiday folklore including Jack Frost, the Man in the Moon, a Halloween Witch, the Easter Bunny, and of course Santa Claus himself.
The ensemble cast includes Gena Acosta, Curtis Belz, Sile Bermingham, Yaz Canli, Katelyn Ann Clark, Mitch Levine, Stephen Mendillo, Iona Morris-Jackson, Kate Patel, Christian Rodrigo, Sofia Vassilieva, and Stewart J. Zully.
The Actors Studio West emphasizes its commitment to the community by making the event accessible to everyone, hence the free admission. However, they welcome donations, which are appreciated for their contribution to the arts and community engagement.
Attendees must RSVP to [email protected], as seating is limited at the prestigious Actors Studio West located at 8341 DeLongpre Ave, West Hollywood.
The venue advises attendees to allow ample time for parking, suggesting street parking or the Kings Road parking structure at the corner of Kings Road and Santa Monica Blvd.
ABOUT THE ACTORS STUDIO WEST
The history of the Actors Studio West in West Hollywood is quite rich and significant in the context of American theater and film. Founded in 1966, the West Coast branch of the Actors Studio was established in response to the growing number of East Coast actors moving to Los Angeles for work in Hollywood. Notable members such as Jack Garfein, Paul Newman, Lee Grant, Mark Rydell, Lou Antonio, Dennis Weaver, and Bruce Dern were instrumental in its creation. Initially, there were concerns about whether Hollywood would support a serious acting workshop, but despite these concerns, the branch was successfully established, initially operating in an upstairs loft on El Centro in Hollywood. Within a year, they moved to the William S. Hart house in West Hollywood, which remains the home of the Actors Studio West to this day.
Lee Strasberg, known for his work in method acting, would spend six months of the year moderating sessions at the West Hollywood location and the other six months in New York. Following his passing, various individuals took over the artistic reins of the Studio, including Jack Garfein, Lonny Chapman, Lou Antonio, Clyde Ventura, Mark Rydell, Martin Landau, and others.
Actors Studio West has also been actively involved in the community, offering free theatre projects developed by Studio members, as well as making appearances at schools and senior citizen facilities. The membership on the West Coast has continually grown, welcoming many members from New York who either moved to the West Coast or visited regularly for work, thus enabling them to participate actively in the Studio’s work.
Over the past decade, the Playwright/Directors Unit at Actors Studio West, under the leadership of Mark Rydell and Bruce Goldsmith, has gained significant momentum. They have developed many plays, ranging from obscure works by Arthur Miller and Tennessee Williams to new plays by contemporary playwrights. Notably, Mark Kemble’s “Bad Hurt on Cedar Street” was developed here and went on to a successful production and film adaptation.
From 2004 to 2006, Studio West managed and produced projects free to the public at the Tiffany Theatre in West Hollywood, featuring a variety of staged readings, original plays, and notable works like August Wilson’s “Fences”.
