Downtown Repertory Theater Company

Downtown Repertory Theater Company creates quality theatre in a beautiful historic space. I’ve seen a few shows here and enjoyed them all — especially Merchant of Venice (summer 2014). Shows are free with a suggested $ 10 donation. I strongly recommend checking out this company — make a downtown adventure of it!

I went to see my friend playing in «the Merchant of Venice» with my kids (9 & 10) and my husband. We all had a great time ! The comedians are great, the place is nice and full of meaning. I will definitely come back again !

5 stars for a fun night at the theater. Excellent acting all around, and I loved the venue, the historic Pico House on Olvera Street. We really enjoyed ourselves and would definitely come back to see other productions. A tip of the hat to producer Devon Armstrong. Great work!

It’s donation based and of excellent quality. I’ve seen Juilius Caesar and Hamlet. Highly recommended.

This is a phenomenal troupe whose like I haven’t seen in Los Angeles — bringing Shakespeare truly to life and in that way you feel like it’s meant to be: shoestring budget, truly fine acting, excellent, creative directing, and all heart. Tonight’s Romeo and Juliet had me thinking I hadn’t really known the play after all. Nice work, DRTC. More! More!

I have seen several shows with this company and they always do fantastic work! From new, inventive takes on Shakespeare to lesser known works, this company always puts on entertaining, compelling theatre. The shows are free and the location at the Pico House is absolutely gorgeous. If you’re looking for quality theatre on a budget, I can’t think of a much better way to spend a summer evening.

Downtown Repertory Theater is a talented group of performers who produce classic plays in new and unique ways.

The Downtown Repertory Theater Company is definitely one of the hidden gems of the greater Los Angeles area. It offers fantastic theater — just as good as theater in New York or Chicago.
It performs in the historic Pico House of Olvera Street, which adds to the wonderful atmosphere.
This summer of 2013 will have Dido, Queen of Carthage, by Christopher Marlowe, a contemporary of Shakespeare.

Amazing venue, I love each show that the Downtown Rep. does, the space is used really well. i look forward to seeing each and every production. The actors are amazing and the staff are the sweetest people.

The venue is great, the cast is great. Could use better seating. Can’t say much for the audience though. All in all it was an enjoyable evening and I was thoroughly entertained.

I saw «Hamlet» here tonight and the company did a wonderful job. Devon, the founder and star, gave an amazing performance and Pico House, a quaint space with historic charm, served as the perfect backdrop for the evening. Tickets are free, but donations are welcome and very much deserved.

We’ve attended every Shakespeare play this company has put on since its very beginning — we moved downtown when they started up, and it seemed like a fun local thing to go check out — and we’ll keep on going so I hope they keep on performing here!
Tonight’s opening night performance of «Hamlet» was hilarious, action-​packed, and moving. Like all their shows, it really brings the meaning of the play across despite the changing language over the centuries and the bare-​bones set and costumes: the story always comes across beautifully and Pico House is just such a gem by itself. All that history in one place, enjoying the show with the modern audience!
We’re great fans (even the teenager now appreciates Shakespeare a lot more than his high school English teacher was making him think anyone could) and you should definitely come check them out. Look at the link to their summertime season schedule and make some plans –
– in fact, if you don’t live downtown, make a whole evening of it by taking the Red or Purple line, having dinner in Olvera Street or Chinatown, and then seeing the play. Do it!

Actors come in a variety of types… and I’m not just talking about physical attributes. I’m talking about acting styles ranging from stage to television, musicals to films; and everything in between. With all of these art forms amassing in Los Angeles, there are plenty of acting troupes to fulfill your theatre (that’s theatre with an «-re»!) needs. One of these troupes is the Downtown Repertory Theater Company.
The Downtown Repertory Theater is a small (but talented) acting troupe who may not make big bucks, but their acting skills are supported y the city of LA and private firms, alike. What’s some of the really great characteristics of the Downtown Reps? Well, for one, they produce performances at various on-​site locations. Meaning, they may be at an abandoned theater, at a historical monument, or even a festival. This opens up a new world to not only the theatre-​goers but also to the actors themselves whom have to accommodate to sometimes less-​than ideal locales.
Second, the plays are generally free! Who can beat that?! With a free price tag, there is simply no reason to not raise your self-​cultural bar and attend a performance (or impress your date by attending a play and showing your classy and artistic self). They do accept donations at the door if you choose to help the Downtown Reps out with their costs.
I recently attended a performance of Anton Chekov’s «The Three Sisters» held at the Pico House at Olvera Street. Initial contact with the Downtown Reps was smooth with a great communication line. Although free, they suggest to RSVP through email which was quick and efficient with fast response time. Upon arriving at the Pico House (which is the first theatre in LA and thus has amazing historical value); check-​in was hassle-​free with a fast-​moving line. Theatre-​goers then move on to the outdoor courtyard-​style theatre (even in the summer these evening performances get chilly so bring a jacket! It is July and I was cold even wearing jeans and a jacket) which is very Shakespearean. The Reps provide chairs with cushions (good for your bum!) and of course play programs.
Of course there was an intermission with refreshments such as chips, cookies, and coffee for $ 1 each (although I hardly saw anyone pay and it wasn’t reinforced). Need to use the bathroom? It was across the street in the Chinese Museum so be ready for a short walk.
As for the play itself, the cast is quite talented. They successfully amplified their voices even without indoor microphones and acoustics, had a solid sound system for music, incorporated the overhead downtown planes and helicopters into the performance (meaning: when a airplane flew overhead, the actors pretended the characters were looking at them, as well), and well-​utilized the many atriums and nooks/​crannies of the Pico House Theatre.
How was my play, specifically? «The Three Sisters» was a bit too long, stretched out, and sometimes ill-​casted but overall, it was a great modernized take on the Chekov classic.
Overall, the Downtown Reps merge underground performances with a professional troupe resulting in a performance that you will enjoy and appreciate. Not to mention, you will be able to afford. Definitely suggested for stage-​lovers!

This cool thing about this theater company is everything. The actors are awesome. They make the play engaging and easy to follow even though it’s friggin’ Shakespeare and I haven’t read The Tempest. The space is a cool outdoor courtyard. It’s free. Win-​win-​win!
There’s a suggested donation of $ 10. And yes, dress warmly because it’s night time in LA and you’re outside. It’s a worthy experience and I am excited to see The Three Sisters and Hamlet later this summer.

The Downtown Repertory Theater’s performance of «The Tempest» was beyond worth the trip. Such a unique and deeply entertaining interpretation of the classic story. Even the more over-​quoted lines (We are such stuff/​As dreams are made on, etc.) felt fresh and exciting. And the Pico House is such a surreal space– the actors use it to great effect. Highly recommended!
For further thoughts, check out the ol’ blog–
Hooray for summer and Shakespeare!

Great fun – and free! I found these guys on Unilocal and went to see The Tempest on a whim.
Turns out they’re all really great performers, put on a wonderful show, and do a lot with very little – physically.
Be sure to give a donation if you like the show… that’s what I did, they earned my money!
I’ll probably go back and see Hamlet when the time comes! :)

If you are looking for free, outdoor summer Shakespeare, this is a great choice. They perform at the Pico House in Olvera Street, and it’s an interesting location, with an open to the skies interior courtyard.
It’s summer in LA, so it’s not too cold, and it’s near LAPD headquarters, so there are helicopters and sirens, but we saw The Tempest and they worked with the noise and the space quite well.
The actors range in skill – some are amazing, and you will expect to see them have a long career. Others are a bit on the hammy side.
But it’s a great show put on by a group that really gets into it.
The casting’s also interesting, since they don’t really care about gender/​race, which adds an interesting dynamic to the work.
Definitely go check them out.
(Side note: we heard about them on Unilocal!)

los angeles needs this!

Definitely one of the best summer Shakespeare groups in Southern California, performing beneath the stars in the historic (and purportedly haunted) Pico House’s inner court.
With its multiple stories, the actors utilize the venue’s potential as they run about the atrium corridors, up and down the flights of stairs, grasping at railings, reciting their lines above the audience, seated in the courtyard below, in almost a 360-​degree experience. Most of the scenes occur on the ground, closer to the audience, so the show goes back and forth between intimate and faraway.
With Pico House being an excellent setting in and of its own, the pieces the cast brings in are somewhat minimal, more like decorations.
All performances are FREE (donations accepted); however, they thoroughly encourage reserving seats. It is unlike the majority of Shakespeare groups who hold their productions in the park or on the beach. One cannot simply show up at any time with blankets and lawnchairs in tow and set up anywhere. Instead, the audience is seated in chairs with cushions provided in two long rows.
When we went to see their «Twelfth Night,» the production paused a couple times as police helicopters flew over head, their thundering sound reverberating off the former hotel’s walls. Just a reminder that you’re in the middle of downtown L.A.
This season — spanning from June through mid-​Audust — they’re planning to do «The Tempest» and «Hamlet,» as well as Anton Chekhov’s «Three Sisters.»