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Outside In Theatre, 5317 York Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA (2024)

12/08/2024

Today's "Meet the Cast of Breaking Bread" post is about Eric Carthen! We asked Eric about what the holidays mean to him, and here's what he shared!

Question: What is one of your favorite holiday memories?

Answer: My Sibling, Cousins, and I were crammed in a sedan (6 kids) and we sang Jingle Bell Rock six times in a row acapella. Not too sure if we knew any words outside of the chorus!

Come and see Eric in the upcoming and FINAL Breaking Bread show on Saturday, December 21st, at 8 PM!

12/05/2024

Today's "Meet the Cast of Breaking Bread" post is about Ryan Austin! We asked Ryan a couple of questions about what the holidays mean to him, and here's what he shared!

Question: What is one of your favorite holiday memories?

Answer: Favorite holiday memory is my grandmother, who has never drank alcohol, doing a shot of vodka during our first annual "Reindeer Games" (silly TikTok trending family games). I have the polaroid someone took and it is epic.

Question: What is your favorite holiday food?

Answer: Favorite holiday food is turkey stuffing. I don't even need the turkey. The stuffing is the star.

Come and see Ryan in the upcoming Breaking Bread show this Saturday, December 7th, at 8 PM!

12/04/2024

Join us this Saturday at 8 PM for Breaking Bread, a holiday show that is guaranteed to get you in the festive spirit by serving up hefty portions of laughter and cheer! ❄️☃️❄️

Breaking Bread is about a family gathering for their annual holiday celebration, full of all the delightful dysfunctions that come along with it! Fueled by secret suggestions provided by the audience, this show culminates in a second act where dinner (with actual food!) is served along with the hilarity that clashing family dynamics might bring forth! Because with family, anything can happen…

Breaking Bread has two more shows - December 7th and 14th - at 8 PM! And the cast members who will help us break bread this coming Saturday are Arlo Sanders, Andy Hilbrands, Danny Blinkoff, Eric Carthen, Kari Vanegas, Michelle King, Monica Alquetz, and Ryan Austin with host Paul Hungerford!

A portion of every ticket sold will support the trans community. If you’d like to offer additional support, please consider donating directly to Trans Lifeline or another trans charity of your choice.

Ticket link in bio!

12/03/2024

Today's "Meet the Cast of Breaking Bread" post is about Daniel Blinkoff! We asked Danny a couple of questions about what the holidays mean to him, and here's what he shared!

Question: What is one of your favorite holiday memories?

Answer: My favorite holiday memories are mostly during my 18 years doing A Christmas Carol at South Coast Repertory. Over that time I have countless moments of young actors discovering themselves, tears of joy, and an endless supply of inspiration from witnessing their courage, their artistry, and the depth of the truths that they shared.

Question: What is your favorite holiday food?

Answer: My favorite holiday food is my family’s “The Broccoli Thing” (It is a secret recipe that I inherited) and of course my famous sweet potatoes that have a lovely top crust of browned marshmallows.

Come and see Danny in the upcoming Breaking Bread show this Saturday, December 7th, at 8 PM!

12/01/2024

Today's "Meet the Cast of Breaking Bread" post is about Michelle King! We asked Michelle a couple of questions about what the holidays mean to her, and here's what she shared!

Question: What is one of your favorite holiday memories?

Answer: I have too many favorite holiday memories to think of just one! But favorite holiday food is a no brainer!

Question: What is your favorite holiday food?

Answer: My favorite holiday food are piroshkis - my family makes my great grandmas recipe every Christmas and it takes the whole family to make them. We take up the entire kitchen with an assembly line of rolling dough, stuffing the dough, and then frying it. It's not Christmas if you don't have 4-5 peroshkis.

Come and see Michelle in the upcoming Breaking Bread show this Saturday, December 7th, at 8 PM!

11/28/2024

Jane Austen once said, “If a book is well written, I always find it too short…” and we wholeheartedly agree! For this reason, we wish to create more stories in the style of Jane in our upcoming 2025 production, Austensibly Jane, directed by Monica Alquetz and Paul Hungerford.

Austensibly Jane blends regency-era charm with modern sensibilities wherein audiences will enjoy a fully improvised love story in the style of a Jane Austen novel. Perfect for fans of Jane Austen, Bridgerton, and Mary & George. Select shows will even include a full tea service!

In order to deliver an excellent Austensibly Jane production, the directors are holding auditions on December 16th and December 21st (with the need to attend one date only) at the Outside In Artbox.

Click here for more information and to sign up to audition: https://forms.gle/tSUJFZXBfKFgdUK68

Note: If you are unable to attend either audition date and wish to still be considered for the show, please inform the directors by filling out the form above!

11/22/2024

Today's "Meet the Cast of Breaking Bread" post is about Susannah Eckberg! And to help you all get to know Susannah a bit more, we asked her a couple of questions about her favorite holiday memories.

Question: What is one of your favorite holiday memories?

Answer: My favorite holiday memory is when I was five, getting the pink Barbie '57 Chevy car. I was so excited that I slept with it that night.

Question: What is your favorite holiday food?

Answer: My favorite holiday dish is called Giftas. It's a Swedish cranberry dish consisting of layers of whipped cream, cracker crumbs and homemade cranberry sauce.

Come and see Susannah in the upcoming Breaking Bread show this Saturday (aka TOMORROW night)! All shows are at 8 PM, Saturdays throughout November and December!

11/21/2024

Thanksgiving is next week! It's true! BUT, we're celebrating the holidays a bit earlier at Outside In Theatre with our holiday show - Breaking Bread - this Saturday at 8 PM! We hope you join us at the table for a full serving of laughter and cheer! 🍂🥧🍂

Breaking Bread is about a family gathering for their annual holiday celebration, full of all the delightful dysfunctions that come along with it! During this show, audience members will provide suggestions of the secrets each family member holds and then witness the night’s festivities as everyone mixes and mingles while concealing or revealing these secrets. Breaking Bread culminates in a second act where dinner (with actual food!) is served along with the hilarity that clashing family dynamics might bring forth! Because with family, anything can happen…

Breaking Bread runs Saturdays at 8 PM throughout November and December! And the cast members who will help us break bread this coming Saturday are Bob Dassie, Danny Blinkoff, Kari Vanegas, Michael Villanueva, Michelle King, Monica Alquetz, Paul Hungerford, and Susannah Eckberg with host Quinn Alquetz!

Special thanks and acknowledgment to Molly Ritchie, Huge Theater, and the Minneapolis improv community for their invaluable role in developing key elements and structure of this form, and for inspiring our version of the show this holiday season. Thank you!

A portion of every ticket sold will support the trans community. If you’d like to offer additional support, please consider donating directly to Trans Lifeline or another trans charity of your choice.

Ticket link in bio!

11/20/2024

Today's "Meet the Cast of Breaking Bread" post is about Michael Villanueva! We asked Mike a couple of questions about what the holidays mean to him, and here's what he shared!

Question: What is one of your favorite holiday memories?

Answer: Street food vendors in Tokyo during cherry blossom season!

Question: What is your favorite holiday food?

Answer: Mulled wine!

Come and see Mike in the upcoming Breaking Bread show this Saturday! All shows are at 8 PM, Saturdays throughout November and December!

11/18/2024

Today's "Meet the Cast of Breaking Bread" post is about Bob Dassie! We asked Bob a couple of questions about what the holidays mean to him, and here's what he shared!

Question: What are some of your favorite holiday memories?

Answer: During the holidays, my brother and I would string Xmas lights around our room. These were the bigger bulbs meant for outdoor use, but we strung them inside which, I’m sure, made my mom and day a little nervous. When the inevitable Chicago-suburb blizzard of snow fell on the ground and muted the entire neighborhood, there was nothing cozier than switching on those multi-colored lights at bedtime and drifting off to sleep under the glow of our little indoor winter wonderland. They were always off in the morning, so I’m also comforted that my parents kept a watchful eye over us.

Question: What is your favorite holiday food?

Answer: Nothing beats some freshly cooked gamey fowl with a healthy side of homemade mashed potatoes and gravy!

Come and see Bob in the upcoming Breaking Bread show this Saturday! All shows are at 8 PM, Saturdays throughout November and December!

11/15/2024

Today's "Meet the Cast of Breaking Bread" post is about Carla Cackowski! And to help you all get to know Carla a bit more, we asked her a couple of questions about her favorite holiday memories.

Question: What are you most nostalgic for as the holiday season approaches?

Answer: You'll always find me in front of the television, watching the Macy's Day Parade on Thanksgiving morning. I don't need to be there in person, my couch is the perfect spot to take it all in. Give me all the Broadway stars lip syncing, the high school marching bands marching, the morning show stars yapping! The stakes are high -- those float ropes could break at any moment! I never work out before stuffing myself at dinner, my adrenaline starts flowing at 8AM.

Question: What is your favorite holiday food?

Answer: My husband makes an excellent beer bread!

Come and see Carla in the upcoming Breaking Bread show this Saturday (aka TOMORROW night)! All shows are at 8 PM, Saturdays throughout November and December!

11/14/2024

The holiday season is here, and we invite you to join us for Breaking Bread - Outside In Theatre's holiday show - this Saturday at 8 PM! ❄️☃️❄️

As an audience member to Breaking Bread, you'll have a seat at the metaphorical and literal dinner table as a family gathers for their annual holiday celebration, full of all the delightful dysfunctions that come along with it!

During this show, audience members will provide suggestions of the secrets each family member holds and then witness the night’s festivities as everyone mixes and mingles while concealing or revealing these secrets. Breaking Bread culminates in a second act where dinner (with actual food!) is served along with the hilarity that clashing family dynamics might bring forth! Because with family, anything can happen…

Breaking Bread runs Saturdays at 8 PM throughout November and December! And the cast members who will help us break bread this coming Saturday are Arlo Sanders, Bob Dassie, Carla Cackowski, Mateo Mpinduzi-Mott, Matthew Pitner, Michaila Hicks, Michelle King, & Susannah Eckberg with host Monica Alquetz!

Special thanks and acknowledgment to Molly Ritchie, Huge Theater, and the Minneapolis improv community for their invaluable role in developing key elements and structure of this form, and for inspiring our version of the show this holiday season. Thank you!

A portion of every ticket sold will support the trans community. If you’d like to offer additional support, please consider donating directly to Trans Lifeline or another trans charity of your choice.

Ticket link in bio!

11/13/2024

Today's "Meet the Cast of Breaking Bread" post is about Arlo Sanders! In efforts to get to know Arlo a bit more, check out his answers to our questions about what gets him into the holiday spirit!

Question: What are you most nostalgic for as the holiday season approaches?

Answer: This time of year I'm always very nostalgic for 1990's Nickelodeon holiday specials. In particular, the Rugrats Hanukkah special and the Hey Arnold Christmas special. Watching either of them immediately puts me in a holiday mood.

Question: What is your favorite holiday food?

Answer: Hands down it's green bean casserole. I never think about it 10 months out of the year, but as soon as November rolls around I'm all on green beans, cream of mushroom soup, and crispy fried onions for the next two months.

Come and see Arlo in the upcoming Breaking Bread show this Saturday and again on December 7th! All shows are at 8 PM, Saturdays throughout November and December!

11/11/2024

Today's "Meet the Cast" of Breaking Bread post is about Michaila Hicks! And to help you all get to know Michaila a bit, we asked her a couple of questions about her favorite holiday memories.

Question: What are you most nostalgic for as the holiday season approaches?

Answer: Every year right around the holidays, my mom’s side of the family, cousins and great aunts and whoever else wanted to participate, would get together and make lefse. We are a heavily Scandinavian family residing in northern MN and something about making such a traditional food from our ancestry always made me happy. Not to mention my Great Grandma Shirley (the glue of our family), even in her old age and sadly deteriorating health, could roll and flip circles around each and everyone of us when it came time for potato lefse season. Each person made their own batch of dough and then everyone helped cook it up. Some people rolled with their grooved rolling pin (the hardest job) while others fried and used their 2 foot wooden lefse stick to flip. It was then frozen and taken out only for holidays, where it was rolled up with butter and sugar. Funny enough I actually never cared for the taste, but having everyone around laughing and joking, and making lefse, that memory will always hold a special place in my heart.

Question: What is your favorite holiday food?

Answer: Bread, butter, crispy turkey skin and all the cookies I can get away with eating.

Come and see Michaila in the upcoming Breaking Bread show this Saturday! All shows are at 8 PM, Saturdays throughout November and December!

11/09/2024

Breaking Bread is about a family gathering during their annual holiday dinner, and we wanted to invite you all to meet the family (aka the cast) as we head into opening night tonight!

Our first Breaking Bread family member to meet is Andy Hilbrands! To help you all get to know Andy a bit, we asked him a couple of questions about his holiday memories.

Question: What are you most nostalgic for as the holiday season approaches?

Answer: A thing I am nostalgic for over the holidays is the presence of snow. Since we don't get any here in LA (and when we do, we will know we are truly in the end times).
That being said, I miss it for just that Christmas morning coffee or cocktail and then I am good. I have zero nostalgia for driving down icy rural roads in Iowa as the wind blows snow across the fields while you white knuckle the steering wheel going 29 in a 55.

Question: What is your favorite holiday food?

Answer: My favorite holiday food is incredibly basic but I have ZERO shame. It's a tie between stuffing and cranberry sauce. And not the thoughtful, prepared-with-love homemade versions. I like my stuffing to have been hauled via a truck to a grocery store and my cranberry sauce to have ridges from sitting in the can. Authenticity can be overrated, especially during the holidays.

And, if you're wondering when you can see Andy in Breaking Bread, here's the answer:
Come and see Andy in our opening night show TONIGHT and then again on December 7th! All shows are at 8 PM, Saturdays throughout November and December!

11/07/2024

An exciting new show is cooking up at Outside In Theatre, and it's getting ready just in time for the holiday season!

Breaking Bread invites you to join us at the metaphorical and literal dinner table as a family gathers for their annual holiday celebration, full of all the delightful dysfunctions that come along with it!

During this show, the audience will provide suggestions of the secrets each family member holds and then witness the night’s festivities as everyone mixes and mingles while concealing or revealing these secrets. Breaking Bread culminates in a second act where dinner (with actual food!) is served along with the hilarity that clashing family dynamics might bring forth! Because with family, anything can happen…

Breaking Bread opens this coming Saturday and runs Saturdays at 8 PM throughout November & December.

We have a phenomenal cast of improvisors from across the community that worked hard to put this show together. And the cast members who will help us break bread on opening night - THIS SATURDAY! - are: Andy Hilbrands, Carla Cackowski, Eric Carthen, Michael Villanueva, Michaila Hicks, Nikki Zapanta, Quinn Alquetz, and Ryan Austin with host Matthew Pitner!

Special thanks and acknowledgment to Molly Ritchie, Huge Theater, and the Minneapolis improv community for their invaluable role in developing key elements and structure of this form, and for inspiring our version of the show this holiday season. Thank you!

A portion of every ticket sold will support the trans community. If you’d like to offer additional support, please consider donating directly to Trans Lifeline or another trans charity of your choice.

Ticket link in bio!

10/18/2024

Looking to take an improv class? Curious about storytelling and narrative improvisation?

Narrative Improv w/ Joseph Limbaugh
In this 6-week course, we will explore narrative improvisation primarily based on the teachings of Keith Johnstone. Johnstone was committed to the principles of storytelling and learning the skills of narrative in a safe environment where risk is encouraged and failure is part of the experience. We will explore in-depth the Johnstonian theories of Status and Tilting and other concepts and exercises based on Keith's work.

In this class, you will:
-Explore how stories are created using improvisational techniques developed by Keith Johnstone

-Learn to craft scenes that evoke more than just laughter, i.e. pathos, mystery, and fear

-Play with narrative in a friendly and safe environment where failure and lots of feedback are encouraged and provided

Class Schedule
Dates: November 3rd - December 15 (No Class Dec 1)
Time: Sundays Noon - 3 PM
Location: Outside In Theatre (Artbox Stage), 5319 York Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90042

Class cost
$300.00 - 6 Weeks

10/11/2024

We thrilled to be part of the new Ojai Fall Residency program this November! The Residency is an exciting new partnership between OPC and Los Angeles theater companies — part of their commitment to help feed the CA theatrical ecosystem with new work, and create opportunities for some of the most inspiring theatrical story-tellers in America.

Announcing the participants:
- Roger Q. Mason developing JUANA MARIA with LA Partner theaters - Outside In Theatre & Skylight Theatre
- Cris Eli Blak developing ANONYMOUS SKIN with LA Partner theater - Loft Ensemble
- Prince Gomolvilas developing PARANORMAL INSIDE with LA Partner theater - East West Players (in collaboration with Perseverance Theatre (Juneau, Alaska) & Theater Mu (St Paul, MN)

The artistic and creative hub of Ojai continues to host the incredible writers as part of this Residency from November 6-10, 2024, culminating in a Conversation with the Playwrights, including a sharing of excerpts of all three plays on November 10, 1pm at The Thacher School in Ojai. All tickets to the event are pay-what-you-can. To reserve seats, please RSVP by 11/ 8 to [email protected]

OPC is dedicated to helping more new plays move from page to stage.