Celebration Theatre
The Celebration Theatre is a 501(c)(3) non-profit theatre company in Los Angeles, founded in 1982. The company is located in West Hollywood, on the west end of Theatre Row, and specializes in works representing the LGBTQ+ experience.
History
Celebration Theatre was founded in 1982 by Charles Rowland, who leased a storefront in the Silver Lake area of Los Angeles, to start a company dedicated to producing gay-themed material.In 1993, Robert Schrock took over as artistic director and moved the company to a 99-seat Equity waiver space in West Hollywood. After 6 years of service, Schrock resigned from the position on April 1, 1999. Since then, the theatre has seen numerous individuals assume its role of artistic director. In June of 1999, Celebration Theatre announced that Richard Israel from the West Coast Ensemble Theatre would serve as its artistic director. From December 2000 to 2005, the role was filled by Derek Charles Livingston. In 2005, it was passed onto Michael Matthews who held on to the position until 2008. In 2008, Michael A. Shepperd became artistic director. In August of 2011, the theatre announced that its associate artistic director, John Michael Beck would succeed Shepperd as artistic director. By early January 2013, the theatre announced that Matthews and Shepperd would return as co-artistic directors. In May 2021, the Board of Directors at Celebration Theatre terminated Shepperd following allegations of sexual misconduct which were raised by an actor who had a role in one of Shepperd's productions.
As of September 2023, the artistic director position is held by Brittney S. Wheeler, alongside Nathan Frizzell who is its associate artistic director. In the 2023-2024 season, it operated as a guest resident at the Los Angeles LGBT Center.
Awards
- R. Christofer Sands, 2002 Ovation Award - Lead Actor in a Musical, Pinafore!
- Play it Cool, 2006 Ovation nomination - World Premiere Musical
- Jessica Sheridan, 2006 Ovation nomination - Lead Actress in a Musical, Play it Cool
- Louis Durra, 2006 Ovation nomination - Musical Direction, Play it CoolThe Bacchae, 2007 Ovation nomination - Play Production, Intimate TheatreBeautiful Thing, 2007 Ovation nomination - Play Production, Intimate Theatre
- Michael Matthews, 2007 Ovation nomination - Direction of a Play, The Bacchae
- Michael Matthews, 2007 Ovation nomination - Direction of a Play, Beautiful Thing
- Tim Swiss, 2007 Ovation nomination - Lighting Design, Intimate Theatre, The Bacchae
- Cricket Myers, 2007 Ovation nomination - Sound Design, Intimate Theatre, The Bacchae
- Francesca Casale, 2008 Ovation nominee - Featured Actress in a Play, The Fastest Clock in the Universe
- Jennifer R. Blake, 2010 Outstanding Performance by a Lead Actress in a Musical for the role of Susan in title of show| from StagesceneLA's Best of LA Theatre Awards 2009-2010
- Women of Brewster Place, the Musical, 2010 Ovation Award - Best Production of A Musical, Intimate Theatre
- , Women of Brewster Place, the Musical
- , Women of Brewster Place, the Musical
- Women of Brewster Place, the Musical,
- Michael Matthews, 2011 Ovation Nomination, Director of a Play Intimate Theatre, Take Me Out
- Brian Pugach, 2011 Ovation Nomination, Book for an Original Musical, The Next Fairy Tale
- BASH'd! A Gay Rap Opera, 2011 Ovation Nomination, Best Musical Intimate Theatre
- Ameenah Kaplan, 2011 Ovation Nomination, Director of a Musical, BASH'd! A Gay Rap Opera
- DJ Jedi, 2011 Ovation Nomination, Music Direction, BASH'd! A Gay Rap Opera
- 2010/2011 Best Season Ovation Nomination
- 2012 GLAAD Media Award: Outstanding Los Angeles Theater for The Color Purple
- 2012 LA Weekly Theater Award: Multiple nominations including for The Color Purple
- 2013 LA Stage Alliance Ovation Awards: Nominations for productions including The Color Purple and Take Me Out
- 2014 GLAAD Media Award: Nomination for The Boy from Oz
- 2014 LA Stage Alliance Ovation Awards: Nominations and wins for various productions
- 2015 LA Weekly Theater Award: Wins for Bootycandy
- 2015 Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award: Wins for multiple productions
- 2016 Ovation Awards: Nominations and wins for productions including Dream Boy
- 2016 Back Stage Garland Awards: Wins for The Boy from Oz
- 2017 GLAAD Media Award: Nomination for Priscilla, Queen of the Desert
- 2017 LA Stage Alliance Ovation Awards: Wins for Priscilla, Queen of the Desert
- 2018 Center Theatre Group’s Block Party: Selected for Die, Mommie, Die
- 2019 Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award: Wins for various productions
- 2022 Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award: Wins for Buyer & Cellar
- 2023 Celebration Honors: Del Shores: An awards gala recognizing significant contributions to LGBTQIA+ theatre