Past Productions

Now that the Chance Theater is starting its second decade of producing theater, it is interesting, inspiring and perhaps enlightening to look back at our past productions.

 

2009 Season
 

Jan. 30 - Mar. 1
JESUS HATES ME
by Wayne Lemon
* West Coast Premiere
* StageSceneLA's Best of 2008-09: Director, Comedy (Oanh Nguyen)
* StageSceneLA's Best of 2008-09: Ensemble, Comedy
* StageSceneLA's Best of 2008-09: Featured Actor, Comedy (Dimas Diaz)
* StageSceneLA's Best of 2008-09: Featured Actress, Comedy (Karen Webster)
* StageSceneLA's Best of 2008-09: Lighting Designer (KC Wilkerson)

Apr. 17 - May 24
THE GIRL, THE GROUCH, AND THE GOAT
by Mark Hollmann and Jack Helbig
* Professional Premiere
* Part of the Festival of New American Musicals
* StageSceneLA's Best of 2008-09: Featured Actor, Musical (David LaMarr)

Jul. 10 - Aug. 23
HAIR: THE AMERICAN TRIBAL LOVE-ROCK MUSICAL
by Gerome Ragni, James Rado, and Galt MacDermott
* 2009 LADCC Award Nominee: Best Revival
* 2009 LADCC Award Nominee: Best Direction (Oanh Nguyen)
* 2009 LADCC Award Nominee: Best Choreography (Kelly Todd)
* 2009 LADCC Award Nominee: Best Music Direction (Bill Strongin)
* 2009 LADCC Award Nominee: Best Ensemble Performance
* 2009 LADCC Award Nominee: Best CGI/Video (John MacDonald)
* 2008-2009 Ovation Award Nominee: Production of a Musical - Intimate Theater
* 2008-2009 Ovation Award Nominee: Director of a Musical (Oanh Nguyen)
* 2008-2009 Ovation Award Nominee: Choreographer (Kelly Todd)
* 2008-2009 Ovation Award Nominee: Costume Design - Intimate Theater (Erika C. Miller)
* 2008-2009 Ovation Award Nominee: Scenic Design - Intimate Theater (Christopher Scott Murillo)
* StageSceneLA's Best of 2008-09: Production, Musical
* StageSceneLA's Best of 2008-09: Director, Musical (Oanh Nguyen)
* StageSceneLA's Best of 2008-09: Ensemble, Musical
* StageSceneLA's Best of 2008-09: Lead Actor, Musical (Armando Gutierrez)
* StageSceneLA's Best of 2008-09: Featured Actor, Musical (David LaMarr)
* StageSceneLA's Best of 2008-09: Lighting Designer (KC Wilkerson)

Sep. 25 - Oct. 25
THE SEAGULL
by Anton Chekhov
adaptation by Richard Nelson
* West Coast Premiere adaptation

Nov. 20 - Dec. 27
LITTLE WOMEN - THE BROADWAY MUSICAL
by Allan Knee, Jason Howland, and Mindi Dickstein

December 1 - 21
THE EIGHT: REINDEER MONOLOGUES
by Jeff Goode
* 6th Anniversary Production

 

2008 Season
 

Feb. 2 - Mar. 16
ASSASSINS
by Stephen Sondheim & John Weidman
* Garland Award Honorable Mention: Performance in a Musical (Paul Kehler)
* Garland Award Honorable Mention: Performance in a Musical (David Lamoureux)
* Garland Award Honorable Mention: Scenic Design (Oanh Nguyen and Joe Pew)
* Garland Award Honorable Mention: Music Direction (Carmen Cortez Dominguez)

Feb. 10 - Mar. 16
TALK ABOUT THE PASSION
by Graham Farrow
* California Premiere
* Back Stage West Critic's Pick

May 3 - Jun. 8
THE BRAIN FROM PLANET X
by David Wechter & Bruce Kimmel
* Orange County Premiere
* Part of the Festival of New American Musicals
* Garland Award Honorable Mention: Production
* Garland Award Honorable Mention: Musical Score (Bruce Kimmel and David Wechter)
* Garland Award Honorable Mention: Lighting Design (K.C. Wilkerson)
* Garland Award Honorable Mention: Sound Desgin (Mitchell Kohen and Dave Mickey)

May 11 - Jun. 15
RABBIT HOLE
by David Lindsay-Abaire
* Orange County Premiere
* Back Stage West Critic's Pick
* Garland Award Honorable Mention: Production
* Garland Award Honorable Mention: Direction (Oanh Nguyen)
* Garland Award Honorable Mention: Ensemble Performance
* Garland Award Honorable Mention: Sound Design (Mitchell Kohen)

Aug. 2 - Sep. 7
EVITA
by Andrew Lloyd-Webber & Tim Rice

Nov. 15 - Dec. 21
JACOB MARLEY'S CHRISTMAS CAROL
by Tom Mula
* Orange County Premiere
* Back Stage West Critic's Pick
* StageSceneLA's Best of 2008-09: Lead Actor, Drama (Bryan Barton)

Nov. 23 - Dec. 21
THE GIANT AND THE PIXIE
by Jonathan Josephson
* World Premiere
* StageSceneLA's Best of 2008-09: Outstanding Achievement by an Ensemble (Drama)

Dec. 5 - 20
THE EIGHT: REINDEER MONOLOGUES
by Jeff Goode

 

2007 Season
 

Jan. 26 - Mar. 18
I LOVE YOU, YOU'RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE
by Joe DiPietro & Jimmy Roberts

Feb. 4 - Mar. 11
INVENTING VAN GOGH
by Steven Dietz
* Orange County Premiere

May 4 - Jun. 17
BILOXI BLUES
by Neil Simon

May 13 - Jun. 17
FROZEN
by Bryony Lavery

Aug. 3 - Sep. 16
SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE
by Stephen Sondheim & James Lapine

Aug. 12 - Sep. 16
SHAKESPEARE'S R & J
by Joe Calarco
* Orange County Premiere

Nov. 9 - Dec. 23
ANNE OF GREEN GABLES
by Joseph Robinette & Evelyn D. Swensson
* Orange County Premiere
* #3 Show of the Year - KUCI

Nov. 18 - Dec. 23
VARIATIONS ON A THEME: THE BEST
by John Bolen, Max Espinoza, Jonathan Josephson, John MacDonald, Sarah Moreau, and Peter Schnake
* World Premieres

Nov. 23 - Dec. 22
THE EIGHT: REINDEER MONOLOGUES
by Jeff Goode

 

2006 Season
 

Jan. 27 - Mar. 12
THE LAST FIVE YEARS
by Jason Robert Brown
* Garland Award Honorable Mention: Musical Performance (Jocelyn A. Brown)

Feb. 4 - Mar. 12
HOT 'N' THROBBING
by Paula Vogel
* Orange County Premiere
* Garland Award Honorable Mention: Ensemble Performance

Feb. 10 - 19
RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN'S
A GRAND NIGHT FOR SINGING
by Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein
* Performed at The Curtis Theatre

Apr. 27 - Jun. 11
WITH THEIR EYES: SEPTEMBER 11TH - THE VIEW FROM A HIGH SCHOOL AT GROUND ZERO
edited by Annie Thoms
* West Coast Premiere
* L.A. Times Critic's Choice
* Garland Award Honorable Mention: Playwriting (Annie Thoms)
* Garland Award Honorable Mention: Ensemble Performance
* Garland Award Honorable Mention: Dialect Coach (Glenda Morgan Brown)

May 6 - Jun. 11
NEVER IN MY LIFETIME
by Shirley Gee
* Orange County Premiere
* Back Stage West Critic's Pick
* Garland Award Honorable Mention: Performance (Courtney Hayes)
* Garland Award Honorable Mention: Performance (John M. Jurcheck)

Jul. 27 - Sep. 17
INTO THE WOODS
by Stephen Sondheim & James Lapine
* Back Stage West Critic's Pick
* Garland Award Honorable Mention: Ensemble Performance

Aug. 5 - Sep. 10
COYOTE ON A FENCE
by Bruce Graham
* Orange County Premiere
* Back Stage West Critic's Pick

Nov. 2 - Dec. 17
ANAHEIM HOME COMPANION
by Tira Palmquist and members of the Chance Theater Company
* World Premiere

Nov. 11 - Dec. 17
THE LYING KIND
by Anthony Neilson
* West Coast Premiere
* Garland Award Honorable Mention: Production
* Garland Award Honorable Mention: Playwriting (Anthony Neilson)
* Garland Award Honorable Mention: Sound Design (Casey Long)
* Garland Award Honorable Mention: Dialect Coach (Glenda Morgan Brown)

Nov. 17 - Dec. 16
THE EIGHT: REINDEER MONOLOGUES
by Jeff Goode

 

2005 Season
 

Jan. 13 - Feb. 20
CLOSER THAN EVER
by Richard Maltby, Jr. & David Shire
* L.A. Times Critic's Choice

Jan. 22 - Feb. 20
THE ROVER
by Aphra Behn
adapted by Josh Costello
* World Premiere Adaptation
* OC Weekly Theater Award Nominee: Best Direction (Josh Costello)
* OC Weekly Theater Award Nominee: Best Ensemble

Mar. 10 - Apr. 24
THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK
by Frances Goodrich & Albert Hackett
newly adapted by Wendy Kesselman
* Back Stage West Critic's Pick
* OC Register's Best of 2005: Noteworthy Ensemble

Mar. 19 - Apr. 24
PORCELAIN
by Chay Yew
* Orange County Premiere
* GLAAD Media Award Nominee: Outstanding Los Angeles Theatre
* Back Stage West Critic's Pick
* OC Register's Best of 2005: Top Ten Shows (#4)
* OC Register's Best of 2005: Noteworthy Performances (Nghia Luu)
* OC Register's Best of 2005: Noteworthy Performances (Beach Vickers)
* OC Weekly Theater Award Nominee: Best Production
* OC Weekly Theater Award Nominee: Best Direction (Oanh Nguyen)
* OC Weekly Theater Award Nominee: Best Actor (Nghia Luu)

May 12 - Jun. 12
FIG: R.O. (RETRO OPERA)
by Heather Howe, Robert G. Leigh and members of The Chance Theater
* World Premiere

May 21 - Jun. 12
ONE FLEA SPARE
by Naomi Wallace
* Back Stage West Critic's Pick
* OC Register's Best of 2005: Top Ten Shows (#3)
* OC Register's Best of 2005: Noteworthy Performances (Joshua Jones)
* OC Weekly Theater Award Nominee: Best Production
* OC Weekly Theater Award Nominee: Best Direction (Patricia Terry)

Jun. 30 - Aug. 14
CABARET
by John Kander & Fred Ebb
* Back Stage West Critic's Pick
* Garland Award Honorable Mention: Musical Performance (Erika C. Miller)
* Garland Award Honorable Mention: Musical Performance (Beach Vickers)

Jul. 9 - Aug. 14
BIG LOVE
by Charles Mee
* Orange County Premiere

Sep. 8 - Oct. 23
THE WORLD GOES 'ROUND
by John Kander & Fred Ebb

Sep. 17 - Oct. 23
THE LARAMIE PROJECT
by Moises Kaufman and members of the Tectonic Theater Project
* OC Register's Best of 2005: Noteworthy Ensembles

Nov. 10 - Dec. 18
A CHRISTMAS STORY
by Philip Grecian
based on the screenplay by Jean Shepherd, Leigh Brown, and Bob Clarke, and other short stories by Jean Shepherd

Nov. 19 - Dec. 18
THE EIGHT: REINDEER MONOLOGUES
by Jeff Goode
* OC Weekly Theater Award Winner: Best Ensemble
* OC Weekly Theater Award Nominee: Best Production

 

2004 Season
 

Jan. 9 - Feb. 15
THE CHERRY ORCHARD
by Anton Chekhov
* OC Weekly Theater Award Nominee: Best Director (Jocelyn A. Brown)
* OC Weekly Theater Award Nominee: Best Actress (Wendy Braun)

Jan. 17 - Feb. 15
THE ILLUSION
by Tony Kushner

Mar. 5 - Apr. 18
THE YEOMEN OF THE GUARD
by Gilbert & Sullivan

Mar. 14 - Apr. 18
THE LORD OF THE SCREEN: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE PEN -- THE IMPROV-ICAL
by Alex Bueno, Eric McGregor, and Oanh Nguyen
* World Premiere
* OC Weekly Theater Award Nominee: Best New Play

May 8 - Jun. 13
GOODNIGHT CHILDREN EVERYWHERE
by Richard Nelson
* Southern California Premiere
* OC Weekly Theater Award Winner: Best Actress (Jocelyn A. Brown)
* OC Weekly Theater Award Nominee: Best Production
* OC Weekly Theater Award Nominee: Best Direction (Oanh Nguyen)
* OC Weekly Theater Award Nominee: Best Ensemble
* OC Weekly Theater Award Nominee: Best Actor (Brian C. Weed)
* OC Weekly Theater Award Nominee: Best Supporting Actor (Beach Vickers)

May 15 - Jun. 13
OEDIPUS AT COLONUS
by Sophocles

Jul. 2 - Aug. 1
RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN'S
A GRAND NIGHT FOR SINGING
by Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein

Jul. 10 - Aug. 1
SECOND ANNUAL FIRST CHANCE FEST
presented by the Chance Theater
* Premieres and New Plays

Sep. 3 - Oct. 17
COMPANY
by Stephen Sondheim & George Furth
* OC Weekly Theater Award Nominee: Best Musical
* OC Weekly Theater Award Nominee: Best Ensemble
* OC Weekly Theater Award Nominee: Best Supporting Actress (Bonnie Wickeraad)

Sep. 12 - Oct. 17
TAPE
by Stephen Belber
* Orange County Premiere
* OC Weekly Theater Award Nominee: Best Actor (Casey Long)

Nov. 11 - Dec. 19
IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE - THE MUSICAL
by Rodgers & Higgins

Nov. 21 - Dec. 19
THE EIGHT: REINDEER MONOLOGUES
by Jeff Goode
* OC Weekly Theater Award Nominee: Best Ensemble

 

2003 Season
 

Jan. 17 - Feb. 22
SAVING THE WORLD
by Jason Burkett

Jan. 26 - Feb. 22
THAT WHICH REMAINS:
DRAMATICULES BY SAMUEL BECKETT
by Samuel Beckett
* OC Weekly Theater Award Winner: Best Director (Robert G. Leigh)
* OC Weekly Theater Award Winner: Best Supporting Actor (Ken Rugg)

Mar. 14 - Apr. 26
THE MIKADO
by Gilbert & Sullivan
* Back Stage West Critic's Pick
* OC Weekly Theater Award Nominee: Best Musical
* OC Weekly Theater Award Nominee: Best Performance in a Musical (Jonathan Talmadge)

Apr. 4 - 6 at The Getty Museum
Apr. 26 - May 18 at the Chance Theater
LEE MILLER: THE ANGEL AND THE FIEND
by Antony Penrose
* OC Weekly Theater Award Winner: Muchos Huevos Award
* OC Weekly Theater Award Nominee: Best New Play (Antony Penrose)

May 16 - Jun. 21
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM
by William Shakespeare
* OC Weekly Theater Award Nominee: Best Actress (Ruby Wendell)

May 24 - Jun. 21
SPRING'S AWAKENING
by Frank Wedekind
* Orange County Premiere

Jul. 11 - Aug. 23
THE FANTASTICKS
by Schmidt & Jones

Sep. 12 - Oct. 12
FIRST CHANCE FEST 2003
presented by the Chance Theater
* Premieres and New Plays

Nov. 14 - Dec. 20
FARNDALE AVENUE HOUSING ESTATE TOWNSWOMEN'S GUILD DRAMATIC SOCIETY'S PRODUCTION OF "A CHRISTMAS CAROL"
by David McGillvray & Walter Zerlin, Jr.

 

2002 Season
 

Jan. 19 - Feb. 24
THE GONDOLIERS
by Gilbery & Sullivan
* OC Register Best of 2002: Best Production (Honorable Mention)

Jan. 27 - Feb. 24
BEETHOVEN: HEAVEN'S VOICE
by Ronald Russell

Mar. 15 - Apr. 14
THREE DAYS OF RAIN
by Richard Greenberg
* OC Register Best of 2002: Top Ten Best Productions
* OC Register Best of 2002: Best Directors (Oanh Nguyen)
* OC Register Best of 2002: Best Performances (Joseph Horn)

Mar. 23 - Apr. 14
DEAD WHITE MALES
by William Missouri Downs
* West Coast Premiere

May 3 - Jun. 2
AS YOU LIKE IT
by William Shakespeare
* OC Register's Best of 2002: Best Performances (Ramlah Frediani)
* OC Register's Best of 2002: Best Performances (Erika C. Miller)
* OC Register's Best of 2002: Best Performances (Joseph Horn)

Jun. 21 - Jul. 28
NINE
by Yeston & Kopit
* OC Register's Best of 2002: Best Performances (Erika Amato)
* OC Weekly Theater Award Nominee: Best Musical
* OC Weekly Theater Award Nominee: Best Performance in a Musical (Erika Amato)

Aug. 8 - Sep. 8
TRAIL OF TEARS
by Joseph Hullett
* World Premiere
* OC Register's Best of 2002: Best Performances (Richard Comeau)

Aug. 18 - Sep. 8
THE WORTHY MASTER OF THE LAW
by Mark Scrivener
* World Premiere

Sep. 27 - Oct. 27
MOLLY SWEENEY
by Brian Friel
* OC Register's Best of 2002: Best Performances (Jill Cary Martin)
* OC Register's Best of 2002: Best Performances (Tom Turnley)
* Creson Theater Award: Best Actress (Jill Cary Martin)

Oct. 5 - 27
BASH
by Neil LaBute

Nov. 15 - Dec. 22
A HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN FILM
by Christopher Durang
* OC Weekly Theater Award Nominee: Best Musical
* OC Weekly Theater Award Nominee: Best Ensemble

 

2001 Season
 

Jan. - Feb.
THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE
by Gilbery & Sullivan

Jan. - Feb.
UNRELENTING RELAXATION
by Amanda DeMaio
* OC Register Best of 2001: Top Ten Best Productions
* OC Register Best of 2002: Best Directors (Amanda DeMaio)
* OC Weekly Theater Award Winner: Best Ensemble
* OC Weekly Theater Award Nominee: Best Director (Amanda DeMaio)

Mar. - Apr.
FOR PETE'S SAKE
by J.R. Sussman
* World Premiere
* OC Weekly Theater Award Nominee: Best New Play (J.R. Sussman)

Mar. - Apr.
OUR TOWN
by Thornton Wilders

May - Jun.
STEEL MAGNOLIAS
by Robert Harling

May - Jun.
FACING EAST
by Andy Sarouhan
* Orange County Premiere

Jun. - Jul.
THE ANGELINA PROJECT
by Frank Canino
* World Premiere
* OC Register's Best of 2001: Best Performances (Sigalit Solitto)

Jun. - Jul.
DRAGONS IN NEW YORK
by Pattric Walker
* World Premiere

Aug. - Sep.
PIPPIN
by Schwartz & Hirson
* OC Register's Best of 2002: Best Performances (Jill Cary Martin)
* OC Register's Best of 2002: Best Performances (Tom Turnley)
* Creson Theater Award: Best Actress (Jill Cary Martin)

Oct.
THERESE RAQUIN
by Emile Zola
translated by Neal Bell
* OC Weekly Theater Award Nominee: Best Actress (Liz Simmons)

Oct.
CONFIRMATION
by Joseph Hullett
* World Premiere

Nov. - Dec.
LITTLE WOMEN
by Lisa Duvall
* Orange County Premiere

 

2000 Season
 

Jan. - Feb.
THE STROOP REPORT
by Robert Preston Jones
* World Premiere

Jan. - Feb.
THE STOP MY INSANITY TRILOGY
by Chris Secor
* World Premiere

Mar. - Apr.
THE MIKADO
by Gilbert & Sullivan

Mar. - Apr.
NOBODY KNOWS I'M A DOG
by Alan David Perkins
* West Coast Premiere

May - Jun.
TO GILLIAN ON HER 37TH BIRTHDAY
by Michael Brady

May - Jun.
THE BEACH... WITHOUT LEO
presented by The Chance Theater Company
* Premieres and New Works

Jun. - Jul.
TEN LITTLE INDIANS
by Agatha Christie

Jun. - Jul.
SCREAM 4
by Chris Ceballos and Eileen Dreger
* World Premiere

Aug. - Sep.
HMS PINAFORE
by Gilbert & Sullivan

Oct.
A COMPANY OF WAYWARD SAINTS
by George Herman
* Orange County Premiere

Oct.
X
by David LeMaster
* World Premiere

Nov. - Dec.
WHERE MEN ARE EMPTY OVERCOATS
by Eric Pfeffinger
* West Coast Premiere
* OC Weekly Theater Award Nominee: Best New Play (Eric Pfeffinger)

Nov. - Dec.
THE NON XMAS DECEMBER SHOW
presented by The Chance Theater Company
* Premieres and New Works

 

1999 Season
 

Feb. - Mar.
WASTED WISHES
by Marie Mastrangelo
* World Premiere

Apr. - May
WEDNESDAY NIGHT SAVE THE WORLD SOCIETY
by Dave Eisenstark and Fred Burke
* World Premiere

Jun. - Jul.
MEMORIES ON THE WIND
by Kent Johnson
* World Premiere

Jun. - Jul.
EPISODE II
by The Chance Theater Company
* World Premiere

Aug. - Sep.
BUT I DON'T FEEL GROWN UP
by Chris Ceballos, Erika C. Miller, Jeff Hellebrand and Oanh Nguyen
* World Premiere

Oct.
THE DIARIES OF FRANKENSTEIN
by Brian Newell and Martin Williams

Oct.
TO BE AND NOT TO BE... AND OTHER CONTRADICTIONS
presented by The Chance Theater Company
* Premieres and New Works

Nov. - Dec.
WISH YOU WERE HERE!
by Joseph Hullett
* World Premiere