A Dream Come True

HISTORY

In January of 1989, actor and director Barry Heins invited fifteen friends – all experienced stage actors homesick for the New York theatrical community – to a weekly play reading group held in a vacant apartment in Sherman Oaks. Before long, a pool of forty actors was involved in readings that consisted of everything from classic plays to new plays and screenplays. The quality of the work attracted other theatre professionals eager to collaborate. Directors came to hear plays, as well as playwrights and screenwriters who arranged to hear these talented actors breathe life into their new scripts. Ten months later, the group became the exclusive tenants of Theatre Exchange in North Hollywood, and Interact was born. On May 1, 1992, the company formally incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit theater.

Interact’s loyal and supportive audience has followed the company to various stages and venues in the San Fernando Valley, the Westside, and Downtown LA, enjoying more than forty full scale productions of plays and musicals since its founding. Interact also presents high-quality free or low-cost community programming, such as its lauded summer arts education program for underserved youth, hundreds of workshops, fundraisers and special events, and, to date, over a thousand public play readings.

MISSION

Interact Theatre Company is dedicated to bringing bold and captivating ensemble works to the Los Angeles stage. As an ensemble of accomplished theatre artists, we aim to craft compelling performances that encompass both revered world classics and groundbreaking new American plays. With an unwavering belief in the transformative power of theatre, we strive to captivate, enlighten, and invigorate our audiences through our thought-provoking productions and engaging programs. Our unwavering commitment extends to providing arts education to underserved youth, nurturing their creativity, and empowering their futures. By fostering partnerships with esteemed institutions such as the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs Performing Arts Division, the Los Angeles Public Library, and the UCLA School of Law, Interact delivers a diverse range of multi-faceted programming. To ensure accessibility, the majority of our offerings are either low-cost or free of charge, made possible through the generous support of the public, corporations, and government entities.

Professional theatre artists bringing bold ensemble works to the Los Angeles stage,
specializing in revered world classics and groundbreaking new American plays

• To nurture professional performing artists

• To provide a forum for educational and cultural enrichment

• To bring arts education to underserved youth, at low or no cost

• To make a positive and lasting impact on audiences of all ages through the unique experience of live theatre

"Together they form, in my view, the very best acting ensemble to be seen currently in Los Angeles"

— Cynthia Citron, Santa Monica Daily Press, 11/10/2016

NOTABLE AWARDS & RECOGNITION

Interact Theatre Company has received 95 performance and production awards (175 nominations), including Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle, Ovation, Stage Raw, Garland, LA Weekly, Telly, and NAACP Awards.