BUILDING ON TRADITION

Your generous donation will allow Theatre West to continue our tradition of producing unique, entertaining, and thought-provoking productions in-house from our democratic artistic cooperative of actors, writers, directors, producers, and technical professionals.

Established in 1962, Theatre West is an internationally acclaimed nonprofit arts organization and the oldest continually running theatre company in Los Angeles. We are also many children's first experience with live theatre via our Storybook Theatre shows.

Our productions have toured both sides of the Atlantic, including the Edinburgh and Dublin Festivals, New York City, Atlanta, South Carolina, Seattle, San Francisco, and throughout California.

Some of Hollywood’s brightest lights have made Theatre West their artistic home, including Betty Garrett, Naomi Caryl, Marvin Kaplan, Lee Meriwether, Richard Dreyfuss, Carroll O’Connor, Harold Gould, Beau Bridges, Martin Landau, Bridget Hanley, Philip Abbott, Jim Beaver, and Chazz Palminteri.

FORGING A NEW FUTURE

Theatre West's "Light Our Stage" campaign will help keep the legacy of our founding members alive by allowing us to continue to create new, original, and compelling works. Our campaign goal is to raise $140,000 by June 30, 2025 so that we can produce 3-4 mainstage shows with 6 week runs during the 2025-26 season, in addition to Theatre West's other flagship shows. Each mainstage show costs approximately $35,000 to produce, and ticket sales cover only a small portion of a show's expenses, so theatre companies must raise funds to cover the majority of a show's expenses in addition to general operating expenses such as rent, insurance, and utilities. Therefore, we greatly appreciate every dollar we receive to "Light Our Stage" and support our proposed 2025-26 season outlined below.

Proposed Production Calendar for the 2025/26 Season:

2025

July: Fall Mainstage Auditions
Sept 5 – Oct 12: Fall Mainstage Show
Nov: WestFest
Nov-Dec: Winter Cabaret/Millennium Magic Show

2026

Jan 9 - Feb 15: Winter Mainstage Show
February: Fall 2026 WestFest Qualifications Begin
March 20 - April 26: “Wrighters” in Residence I (Mainstage Show)
May 22 - June 28: “Wrighters” in Residence II (Mainstage Show)

And: Reading Series, Solo Series, Cultural Celebrations, Stage Disaster Stories, and more!

OUR TWO MAINSTAGE PRODUCTIONS

Theatre West Writers In Residence Presents

CASSATT

By Arden Teresa Lewis

On the grounds of her French country estate Mary Cassatt burns her early paintings. What led this celebrated American impressionist to destroy such an important part of her legacy?

In an age when men dominated the art world, Mary Cassatt made her mark in the salons of Paris, alongside great masters like Degas and Renoir. An example of a 19th “New Woman”, her paintings celebrated the dignity and deeper meaning of women's inner lives.

Developed in our writer’s workshop, “Cassatt” is a multi-media play that explores the life and art of this innovative and inspirational genius of La Belle Époque . Written and Directed by Emmy Award winning filmmaker Arden Teresa Lewis.

INCITATION TO THE DANCE

By Michael Van Duzer

It takes two to tango. What happens when a third cuts in?

A TEAM EFFORT

We are asking each Theatre West member to raise at least $1,000 each in order to meet our fundraising goal. In order to receive credit for the donations they help obtain, we are asking donors to share the name of the Theatre West member who asked them to donate to this campaign. So, please have this name ready when you submit your donation via the DONATE button above or else you can write "N/A" if this is not applicable.

REWARDS!

$25 – Receive two Light Our Stage bookmarks! In our books, you’re aces!

$45 – Got an Insta you want to promote? This donation will get you an official shout-out from our Theatre West account! Also two bookmarks!

$75 – Signed autograph from famed character actor Jim Beaver! You know him as Whitney Ellsworth from cult favorite Deadwood, Bobby Singer from cult favorite Supernatural, Robert Singer from future cult favorite The Boys, and an IMDb too full to describe. (Quick list: “Young Sheldon,” “Watchmen,” “NCIS,” “Bones,” “Better Call Saul,” “Justified,” “Dexter,” “Breaking Bad,” etc etc etc.) Note: There are only 25 of these! Limit 2 (each for a $75 donation) per donator.

$100: Merch pile! Two Light Our Stage bookmarks, two autographed programs from the mainstage play of your choice, one complimentary cup of wine in a TW sippy cup.

$225 – Two private singing lessons from professional opera singer and teacher Elise Walters! With over 25 years of piano and singing experience, international credits (Mittelsachsens Opera House, Germany), and starring roles across California (Pacific Opera Project, Lyric Opera of Orange County, San Luis Obispo Opera), Elise has taught hundreds of singers from beginner to pro. Plus two bookmarks and two cups! Note: Only ONE of these rewards available—first come, first served.

$350 – Executive Producer/Writer Mark Wilding will give notes on your script! Over 30 years in television with credits on (to name a few) Gray’s Anatomy, Charmed, Scandal, Good Girls, Promised Land, Sherriff Country, and many more! (Seriously, IMDb him.) Plus two bookmarks, two cups. Note: Only ONE of these rewards available—first come, first served.

$500 – Show merch pile! Four complimentary passes to the show of your choice, four Light Our Stage bookmarks, four autographed programs from the mainstage play of your choice, four complimentary cups of wine in a TW sippy cup, four complimentary snacks.

$600 – Private magic show by Magic Castle magician Charlie Mount! A renowned magician who’s performed in Vegas at Wonderground and the Sands Casino in Atlantic City and featured in TV shows like “Magic’s Greatest Illusions” and “The MTV Big Show” will put on a private show in your home! Plus you’ll receive two Light Our Stage bookmarks and two complimentary TW sippy cups! Tricks AND treats! Note: Only ONE of these rewards available—first come, first served. It is also subject to the magician’s availability and must be claimed within 1 calendar year of the date of donation. Party size limited to 25.

$1000: Feast your eyes! And your mouth! Two season passes for the 2025/26 season (including fundraisers); four Light Our Stage bookmarks; four autographed programs from the mainstage play of your choice; four complimentary cups of wine in a TW sippy cup; four complimentary snacks.

$2000: Dinner and a show! (And a show and a show and a show and a show…) You and a guest will receive two season passes for the 2025/26 season (including fundraisers), four Light Our Stage bookmarks, four autographed programs from the mainstage play of your choice, four complimentary cups of wine in a TW sippy cup, four complimentary snacks, and a meal for two on us at a local gourmands’ favorite!

$2500: Your name in lights! Your name (or someone else’s if you like them a whole whole whole whole lot) will live on our marquee with our heartfelt thanks for one week! Plus two season passes for the 2025/26 season (including fundraisers), four Light Our Stage bookmarks, four autographed programs from the mainstage play of your choice, four complimentary cups of wine in a TW sippy cup, and four complimentary snacks. Note: One side of marquee only. We still have to tell people what we’re doing.

$3,500 - Kids’ dream party at Storybook! The longest-running children’s show in Hollywood! Up to 30 guests! Comes with facepainter, balloons, and free juice and snacks! (1 of each provided per child.) Plus four Light Our Stage bookmarks, four autographed programs from the mainstage play of your choice, and six complimentary cups of wine in a TW sippy cup! Note: Only ONE of these rewards available—first come, first served. It is also subject to Storybook's availability and must be claimed within 1 calendar year of the date of donation. Party size limited to 30.

$5k and up – The royal treatment! Your name on a gold plaque mounted to the wall in our lobby! VIP access for all shows! Free parking! Seating 15 minutes before open house – watch the actors be weird before the curtain! What are those sounds they’re making? What are those faces?? Plus two season passes, four Light Our Stage bookmarks, four autographed programs from the mainstage play of your choice, six complimentary cups of wine in a TW sippy cup, and six complimentary snacks!

$10k – Variety show! Theatre West will create an entire evening just for you! Singing, dancing, magic, stories, possibly even some ventriloquism! (No promises we’ll be any good at it.) Tell us what kind of acts you like, what genre of music, a few things about yourself, and we will create one night of celebration dedicated entirely to you! This reward also comes with four season passes, bookmarks, programs, cups of wine, snacks, and a partridge in a pear tree! Except for the partridge. But if you really, really, want, we can make the pear tree happen. Note: Only ONE of these rewards available—first come, first served.

All donations over $25 will have the donator listed on all regular season programs. All physical merchandise to be picked up by donator at Theatre West.

Learn more about Theatre West at https://theatrewest.org

Thank you in advance for your support! Theatre West is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization (TAX ID/EIN: 95-6143868) and your donation is tax-deductible within the guidelines of U.S. law.

Light Our Stage!

Help support our 2025-26 season