Emily Weisberg is a director working in Los Angeles. Recent credits include Bermuda!, ROBOTS VS FAKE ROBOTS, Jumping the Median, How To Be A Good Son, Independence, and numerous staged readings and workshops. Along with directing, she is a member of the Ojai Playwrights Conference reading committee and Artistic Director of Push To Talk Theatre Company, a company formed to support the development and performance of new work. When not directing, Emily spends her time wondering if she should move back to Chicago.

When I tell people I’m a director, the question I almost always get is “…of?” I say “Theatre,” they volley back with “Anything I’ve heard of?” forcing me to quickly dash through the list of plays I’ve directed, quickly eliminating any title involving a literary figure, a lower-case one word title or anything Shakespeare, and name the show that sounds most like a movie. The response: “Oh. Cewllll,” followed quickly by their exit and my noticing a hole in my cardigan.

There are definite upsides to creating theatre here: an amazing diversity of artists, the opportunity to experiment with multiple forms of media onstage – from film to puppetry, dance to live music. And you truly are surrounded by the best of the best, as a constant stream of the best and brightest stream into our fair city.

Finding people in Los Angeles who are interested in, and actively want to create, theatre is a tough challenge. So where does a theatre nerd living in a film town go when she wants to feel surrounded by like-minded artists? Here are a few places guaranteed to give you good company, a good night of theatre, or space where you can create your own:

1. The Actors Lounge
Billed as “an open mic for actors” this monthly event is a fantastic place to workshop a piece you’re developing or currently performing. The Lounge was started by a group of local LA actors, producers and writers frustrated by the lack of community and support for other artists. They wanted to create a place where they could constantly work and challenge themselves, without the anxiety of an audience full of agents and managers. They wanted a place to do good work, experiment and feel support and encouragement from other like-minded artists. Notice I did not use the LA fan-favorite phrase “showcase.” If you’re looking for a place to get an agent or manager, this isn’t it. If you’re looking for a unique, supportive environment where you can feel comfortable taking risks and working on a scene or monologue you’re currently at battle with, this is the place. Run by a diverse group of writers, directors and actors committed to cultivating a community of artists here in LA, The Actors Lounge is a good place to do some great work. The lounge begins at 8:30pm the first Wednesday of every month, but get there early to sign up and be sure to catch the opening musical act, live art and fantastic film clips that break up the evening.

2. The Pretenders Studio
This studio is set to open its new location on September 21st at 1635 16th Street in Santa Monica. Why recommend a dance studio? Not only does The Pretenders have some of the best instructors around, they also rent out their amazing new facility for some of the best prices going. Two dance studios, including one space at almost 900 square feet, are perfect for rehearsals, auditions and public readings while their two smaller spaces are ideal for yoga, massage, audition coaching and vocal lessons. Don’t be misled by all the tiny dancers on their website’s homepage – I have yet to find a more welcoming, professional, high-end location for such an amazing price. Get in touch with Lisa, the owner/director and see for yourself!

3. The Atlantic Theatre Company Acting School- Los Angeles Program
Not cheap. Not easy. You might pee your pants a little. The Atlantic’s summer intensive was the program that made me realize I wasn’t an actor, something 4 years of high school, 4 years of college and a few more years of professional work hadn’t gotten across to me. Why, in gods name, is that an endorsement of this program? It helped me see the artist I really was and embrace a new, focused outlook on my work and the process of creating it. I have studied at many other studios and participated in other challenging programs, but none have opened my eyes and pushed my limits more successfully than The Atlantic. Also, classes taught by William H Macy, Felicity Huffman and Mamet aren’t anything to shake a stick at.

4. We’ve all been stopped in our tracks, fear freezing the blood in our veins as a friend hands over a postcard and says “I’m in a show, come check it out.” Swallow that fear, brave theatre-goers, here are a few local companies that consistently turn out good work:

The Elephant Theatre Company

Push To Talk Theatre Company
…yeah. ok. In the interest of full disclosure, I should probably mention that I’m the artistic director of push to talk. I also secretly like Kelly Clarkson. My honesty should move and motivate you to check out the website and attend any and all upcoming productions.

Need Theater

Furious Theatre Company

5. Lastly, if you’re looking for something great to see in the next few weeks at one of the large, are-you-kidding-how-can-I-afford-this theatres, check out the following plays:

Eclipsed by Dania Gurira

Running at the Kirk Douglas Theatre from September 13 through October 18th, this is a compelling new work that explores the strength of women caught in the crossfire of war. Focusing on the “wives” of a rebel commanding officer in war-torn Liberia, the play is brilliant, heart-breaking and funny (yes, funny) exploration of the strength of women who navigate the most brutal of circumstances.

August: Osage County by Tracy Letts

September 8th through October 18th, this winner of the 2008 Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award for Best Play tells the story of the Westons, a large extended clan that comes together at their rural Oklahoma homestead when the alcoholic patriarch disappears. Forced to confront unspoken truths and astonishing secrets, the family must also contend with Violet, a pill-popping, deeply unsettled grandmother at the center of this storm. Get tickets while you still can, the show is fantastic and will sell out soon!

God Save Gertrude by Deborah Stein

Running October 1st through November 8th, this piece is a punk rock riff on Hamlet. Angry crowds gather outside an abandoned theatre as Queen Gertrude takes the stage to riff on Patti Smith and sing about her many loves and her many mistakes, while her country simmers in a volatile state of transition. As the bombs rain down and her coked-up son sells out to MTV, Gertrude hopes to incite one more riot before she goes.

Many of these recommended locals are comprised of people and places I know and love. But that’s not why I’m recommending them to you. There is amazing work being created by talented, committed artists every day – if you have companies, workshops or productions that you know and love, I’d love to hear about them! LA, for all of it’s unique, diverse, horrifying, silly wonderfulness can also beat you up in a way that leaves you vowing to never leave your house again, clinging to episodes of Project Runway you’ve tivo’d and swearing to get a “real job.” These places have, in many of these moments, given me the motivation to get up and out, and a much needed reminder that good work, by good people, for the right reasons, is always being generated. I encourage you to get out there and see for yourself.