An area landmark since its opening in 1926 (when it was a vaudeville house), El Portal Theatre is a living legend. Today, the venue stages dramatic, comedy and musical productions that routinely garner rave reviews. Out front, there's an eye-catching art deco marquee that lights up at night; a vintage ticket kiosk sits underneath it. The entryway is lined with framed show posters. Inside—thanks to a 1990s remodel—the theater has three performance spaces: the MainStage, with its 360 seats, the Forum Theatre and its 95 seats, and the Studio Theatre, which is the 42-seat venue used by Theatre Tribe. Parking is available in the rear, and the theater is extremely convenient to the North Hollywood Metro station. For pre- or post-show dining, a number of options are within walking distance.
T. U. Studios (Theatre Unlimited Studios) is located on the corner of Camarillo Street and Vineland Avenue. The space is used for popular cabarets, musicals, plays and classes.
This stage is a bit larger than most local independent blackboxes. Most season shows are cast through open auditions, and the space is also available for rent/sublease. Entrance and limited parking for the theater can be found at the rear of the building.
NoHo Actors' Studio sits in the heart of the NoHo Arts District. The mixed-use venue occupies a second-story space above Indexx and Pitfire Pizza. For professionals, NoHo Actors' Studio offers rental space for performances, casting sessions, rehearsals, film shoots and more in three separate theater studios. Space for film screenings is also available. Additionally, NoHo Actors' Studio holds acting classes at multiple skill levels. For the public, NoHo Actors' Studio frequently stages in-house and guest productions.
The Academy of New Musical Theatre is a theater company and teaching facility that opened its doors in 1971. It is located on Lankershim Boulevard near Collins. Its goal as a creative entity is to create new musicals. Professional writers, producers, composers and actors work together to bring new musicals to fruition and subsequently onto the stages of Los Angeles. It offers concert readings, festivals and arts conferences throughout the year. As an academy, it also acts as a higher learning facility, offering professional programs of study to writers, composers and actors alike. Rehearsal space is available for rent as well.
Located on Magnolia Boulevard, Actors Forum Theatre is a full-service theatre that has been in existence since 1975. It was founded by Audrey Marilyn Singer, and has been at its Magnolia Boulevard location since 1994. The Actors Forum Theatre has many productions throughout the year and its own acting company featuring a dozen or more actors. The theatre seats 45 people and is available for rentals for productions and other events.