Open Fist Theatre Company

The Open Fist Theatre is both a 501(c)(3) non-profit theatre company. Originally operating a 99-seat theatre facility in Theatre Row Hollywood located at 6209 Santa Monica Blvd, it is now in residence at the Atwater Village Theatre. The name of the Open Fist Theatre Company comes from two principles: the notion of an open spirit and the fist - a sign of determination and force.[1]

The OFTC was founded in 1990 by Ziad Hamzeh (Artistic Director), Michael Denney (Actor/Playwright/Teacher), Tim Pulice (Actor), Brian Muir (Actor) and Kathleen Dunn (Actor/Teacher), all of whom were graduates of the Theater Program of California State University, Fullerton. As of January 2020,[2] Martha Demson has been the company's artistic director for 20 years, taking on the role in 2000.[3][4] Originally the company was based at 1625 North La Brea [1] in a rehearsal hall once owned by Bob Hope. In 2005 this facility was destroyed to accommodate Hollywood redevelopment and the company moved to 6209 Santa Monica Boulevard - a facility originally operated by the Actors Gang.[5] The Open Fist is notable for its support of both new works and new interpretations of theatre classics in productions typically featuring contemporary production values, ensemble acting, and imaginative direction and design.

It has been the site of numerous premiere productions of then-new plays, including Frank Zappa's rock opera Joe's Garage, The Room by Michael Franco, Love Water by Jacqueline Wright, Neil Labute's The New Testament, and Julie Hébert's St. Joan and the Dancing Sickness.

A yearly summer Director's Festival or First Look Festival also features membership-driven new work. The Open Fist has been nominated and received numerous LA Weekly, Ovation, Garland and other awards.

Production history

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995
  • Etta Jenks by Marlene Meyer
  • The Flight of the Earls by Christopher Humble
  • Behemoth by Della Vecchia Smith
  • The Moke Eater by Ken Bernard
  • Blood and Stumbo; Falling by Beth Burns
  • Underground by Mark Litton
  • The Ghost Diaries by Keith Mason

1996

1997

1998
  • Getting Into My Skin by Saleem
  • Time Lost by Jack O'Rourke
  • God’s Country by Steven Dietz
  • Sex, Death and Other Annoyances by Ron West
  • The Accompanist by Berberovna/Adapt. Giurgea
  • Skin by Naomi Iizuka
  • We Won’t Pay! We Won’t Pay! by Dario Fo
  • Fall ’98 One-Act Festival by Various Authors
  • The Notcracker Project (with Circle-X Theatre Company) by Various Authors

1999

2000
  • The Abdication by Ruth Wolff
  • Cowboy Mouth; Lobster Man by Sam Shepard, Martin George
  • How to Explain the History of Communism to Mental Patients by Matei Visniec
  • Talk Show From Hell by Jean-Noël Fenwick
  • The King Stag by Carlo Gozzi
  • 2000 Directors Festival by Various Authors
  • Measure 4 Measure by William Shakespeare
  • Three Sisters by Anton Chekov
  • Bay of Smokes by Alena Wilson and Alisa Wilson

2001

2002

2003
  • Songs of Joy and Destitution by Charles L. Mee Jr.
  • As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner, adapted by Edward Kemp
  • Playhouse Creatures by April De Angelis
  • 2003 Directors’ Festival by Various Authors
  • The Andrea and Hep Show 2: More Faster More Furiouser by Andrea Fears, Hep Jamieson and Ron West
  • The Cosmonaut’s Last Message to The Woman He Once Loved In The Former Soviet Union by David Greig

2004
  • Abingdon Square by Maria Irene Fornes
  • The Devils by Dostoevsky, adapted by Elizabeth Egloff
  • Roberto Zucco by Bernard-Marie Koltès
  • Birdbath by Leonard Melfi
  • 2004 Directors’ Festival by Various Authors
  • Lydie Breeze by John Guare
  • The Andrea and Hep Show 3 by Andrea Fears, Hep Jamieson and Ron West

2005
  • The Chekhov Machine by Matei Visniec
  • Papa by John DeGroot
  • General Admissions by Mark Banker
  • The Threepenny Opera by Bertolt Brecht
  • Speaking in Tongues by Steven Bovell

2006
  • Papa (Revival) by John DeGroot
  • 2006 Directors’ Festival by Various Authors
  • The Time of Your Life by William Saroyan
  • How to Explain the History of Communism to Mental Patients by Matei Visniec
  • Autobahn by Neil LaBute
  • Beautiful City by George Walker

2007

2008

2009

Awards and nominations
Awards Production Nominations Wins Notes
2007 Ovation Awards Travesties 1 0
2008 Ovation Awards deLEARious 2 0
2009 Ovation Awards Joe's Garage 4 0
2009 Ovation Awards Light Up The Sky 1 0

Current and past affiliated artists
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References
  1. http://www.openfist.org/
  2. Finley, Tara (2020-01-15). "Neil Simon's Musical Fools Reopens For A Limited Engagement". LA Weekly. Retrieved 2020-03-21.
  3. "History". Open Fist Theatre Company. 2016. Retrieved 2020-03-21.
  4. Barrett, Shari (2019-11-19). "Review: Neil Simon's MUSICAL FOOLS is a Monty Python Version of Fiddler on the Roof Performed by the Original Not Ready for Prime Time Players". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved 2020-03-21.
  5. http://www.laweekly.com/locations/open-fist-theatre-115421/
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