34°5′26″N 118°19′39.2″W / 34.09056°N 118.327556°W
The Elephant Theatre Company was a non-profit theatre company based in Hollywood, California. The company "built a reputation for championing new American plays."[1] It ceased operation in September 2015.
History
The Elephant Theatre Company was created in 1995 by David Fofi and Lindsay Allbaugh, along with classmates from the California State University, Long Beach Theatre Arts program, getting their start in a space at the Angel City Brewery artist complex. The space doubled as both a studio theater and a loft apartment. The facility was renovated, creating a small theatre and living quarters, and was given the name of "Elephant Off Main".
In the summer of 1997, the small 45-seat theater could no longer accommodate the production needs or the increasing audience attendance. The Company then moved to Hollywood (and dropped the “Off Main”). David Fofi along with founding member Don Cesario continued to produce Elephant productions in various Hollywood venues.
During their 1998/1999 season, the company moved to 6322 Santa Monica Boulevard, in Los Angeles' Theatre Row District.
In 2015, the theatre building was sold by its landlord to a neighboring school. The last produced show ("The Great Divide" by Lyle Kessler) closed on August 23, 2015. The Elephant Theatre was left without a permanent space.[2][3][4][5]
Chronology of Plays
Summer 2015:
'The Great Divide
Written by: Lyle Kessler
Directed by: David Fofi
Produced by: Bren Coombs and Shannon McManus
Spring 2015:
7 Redneck Cheerleaders
Written by: Louis Douglas Jacobs
Directed by: David Fofi
Produced by: Bren Coombs
Winter 2014:
Hell Cab
Written by: Will Kern
Directed by: David Fofi
Fall 2014:
Scene Workshop Showcase of various company members
Fall 2014:
Elephant Short Play Fest Short plays written and directed by various company members
Summer 2014: Le Butte 1 One acts written and directed by various company members
Summer 2014:
Unorganized Crime
written by: Kenny D'Aquila
Directed by: David Fofi
Spring 2014:
Derby Day
written by: Samuel Brett Williams
Directed by: David Fofi
Winter 2014:
Twilight of Schlomo
written by: Timothy McNeil
Directed by: David Fofi
Summer 2013:
Revelation
written by: Samueal Brett Williams
Directed by: David Fofi
Spring 2013:
The North Plan
written by: Jason Wells
Directed by: David Fofi
2012:
7 Redneck Cheerleaders
written by: Louis Douglas Jacobs
Original Staging by: Amy French
Re-staged by: David Fofi & Louis Jacobs
2012:
Collision
written by: Lyle Kessler
Directed by: David Fofi
June 2011:
Lovesick
written by: Kristina Poe
Directed by: David Fofi
June 2011:
100 Saints You Should Know
written by: Kate Fodor
Directed by: Lindsay Allbaugh
February-March 2011:
The 10th Anniversary of Love Bites: 10 Years Together & Still No Ring
Annual shorts written and directed by various company members
August-September 2010:
Parasite Drag
written by: Mark Roberts
Directed by: David Fofi
May-June 2010:
Supernova
written by: Tim McNeil
Directed by: Lindsay Allbaugh
February-March 2010:
Love Bites Vol. 9
Annual shorts written and directed by various company members
August 2009-September 2009:
Block Nine
written by: Tom Stanczk
Directed by: Emilie Beck & Pete Uribe
May 2009-June 2009:
The Idea Man
written by: Kevin King
Directed by: David Fofi
February-March 2009:
Love Bites Vol. 8.0
Annual shorts written and directed by various company members
2008:
7 Redneck Cheerleaders
written by: Louis Douglas Jacobs
Directed by: Amy French
July 2008-October 2008:
Asleep on a Bicycle
written by: Tony Foster
Directed by: David Fofi
May 2008-June 2008:
Tooth and Nail
written by: Gena Acosta
Directed by: Lindsay Allbaugh
February-March 2008:
Love Bites VI & VII
Annual shorts written and directed by various company members
November 2007-February 2008:
Anything
written by: Tim McNeil
Directed by: David Fofi
August 2007:
One Fell Swoop
written by: Robert J. Litz
Directed by: Christopher Game
March-April 2007:
Love Bites Vol. V
Annual shorts written and directed by various company members
January-April 2007:
In Arabia We’d All Be Kings
Written by: Stephen Adly Guirgis
Directed by: David Fofi
December 2006:
365 Days/Plays (week 4: Los Angeles)
Written by: Suzan-Lori Parks
Directed by: Lindsay Allbaugh, David Fofi, and Christopher Game
August-October 2006:
Seven Redneck Cheerleaders
Written by: Louis Jacobs
Original Staging by: Amy French
Re-staged by: David Fofi & Louis Jacobs
March 2006:
Love Bites
Annual shorts written and directed by various company members
November 2005-January 2006:
Los Muertos
Written by: Tim McNeil
Directed by: David Fofi
August 2005:
Seven Redneck Cheerleaders
Written by: Louis Jacobs
Directed by: Amy French
May 2005:
Never Tell
Written by: James Christy
Directed by: Lindsay Allbaugh
December 2004:
Underwear For Christmas
Written by: Tony Foster
Directed by: Daniel McCoy
October 2004:
Love Bites Harder
Annual shorts written and directed by various company members
June 2004:
One World
Written by Robert J. Litz
Directed by David Fofi
April 2004:
21 Stories
Written by: G.W. Stevens
Directed by: Yuval Hadid
October 03
One Act Festival
All Men are Whores, and Bobby Gould in Hell written by David Mamet
Not Enough Rope, and Hotline written by Elaine May
Desire, Desire, Desire, ‘Dentiy Crisis and 1-900-Desperate by Christopher Durang
August 2003:
Robbers
Written by Lyle Kessler
Directed by David Fofi
Workshop Production with Lyle Kessler, not submitted for review
April 2003:
Some Strings Attached
Written by: Amy French and Alexandra Hoover
Directed by: Gina Soto
March 2003:
King of Clubs
Written and Directed by: David Fofi
October 2002:
Zzyxx
Written by: Don Cesario
Directed by: Kimberly Brooks
August 2002:
Serenading Louie
Written by: Lanford Wilson
Directed by: Christopher Game and Gina Soto
April 2002:
Love Bites
Series of one acts written and directed by various company members
December 2001:
Red Cross and 4H-Club
Written by: Sam Shepard
Directed by: Chris Game & Dave Fofi
November 2001:
Greystone
Written by: Tony Foster
Directed by: Kristin Hanggi
June 2001:
Dearboy's War
Written by: Mike Ambrose
Directed by: Danny LaClair
December 2000:
Underwear for Christmas
Written and Directed by: Tony Foster
October 2000:
The Insanity of Mary Girard
Written by: Lanie Robertson
Directed by: Pat McLoy and David Brown
April 2000:
Elephant Shorts, a Collection of Vignettes
Written by: Tony Foster
Directed by: E.O.M. Directors
November 1999:
Search & Destroy
Written by: Howard Korder
Directed by: David Fofi & Anthony Roman
May 1999:
The Actors Nightmare
Written by: Christopher Durang
Directed by: Christopher Game
Gecko Chestnut Genius
Written by: Jimmie D. Hudson III
Directed by: Don Cesario
April 1999:
Line
Written by Israel Horowitz
Directed by: Gary Blumsack
Shooting Gallery
Written by Israel Horowitz
Directed by: Andrea C. Robbins
Stage Directions
Written by Israel Horowitz
Directed by: Pat McLoy
March 1999:
Indian Summer of Our Despondency
Written by: Kelly Wand
Directed by: David Fofi
August 1998:
Halfway There
Written by: Michael Vaez
Directed by: Christopher Game
at the Hollywood Court Theater, Hollywood
July 1997:
Warmth and Doubt
Written by: David Fofi
Directed by: David Fofi & Andrea Robins
The Princess and the Peon
Written by: Jimmie D. Hudson, Directed by: Christopher Game
Candlefish Theatre, Los Angeles
February 1997:
The Love of Nechron
Written and Directed by: Pat McLoy
Elephant Off Main Theatre, Los Angeles
November 1996:
Criminal
Written by: David Canales
Directed by: Jeff Walsh
September 1996:
Holding Cell
Written by: Mike Vaez
Directed By: Joe Matthews
May 1996:
Solitary Ping Pong
Written by: Jimmie D. Hudson
Directed by: Lori Lee Bush
My Only Hopeless
Written by: Jackie Apodaca
Directed by: Christopher Game
March 1996:
King Of Clubs
Written and Directed by: Dave Fofi
Adam and Rhonda
Written by: Matthew Jones
Nov 1995:
The Galaxy Lily
Written and Directed by: Don Cesario
July 1995:
Sam Shepard Tribute
Red Cross
Directed by: Christopher Game
4-H Club
Directed by David Fofi
Fourteen Hundred Thousand
Directed by: Kimberly Brooks
References
- ↑ Ng, David (2015-09-08). "Elephant Theatre Co. in Hollywood bids farewell, for now at least". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 2022-07-01. Retrieved 2022-03-03.
- ↑ Ng, David (September 8, 2015). "Elephant Theatre Co. in Hollywood bids farewell, for now at least". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 16 December 2018. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
- ↑ Mitchell, Colin. "Bitter Lemons - asylum, lillian and elephant stages go dark forever". socal.bitter-lemons.com. Archived from the original on 16 December 2018. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
- ↑ "Blog – Just another WordPress site". Archived from the original on 2015-11-23. Retrieved 2015-11-23.
- ↑ "Elephant On The Move - Departing The Lillian". Splash Magazines. Los Angeles. Archived from the original on 16 December 2018. Retrieved 14 December 2018.