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Free Theatre in the Parks 2026 (RFP)
The City of West Hollywood, through its Arts Division, is seeking proposals from arts organizations to present Free Theatre in the Parks in September 2026 at Kings Road Park (1000 Kings Road, West Hollywood, CA 90069). A minimum of six (6) weekend performances will be presented outdoors in the park, in the late afternoon or early evening, and will feature material suitable for all audiences. We are open to new productions or remounts of previous productions. All genres welcome.
Full RFP Link: https://www.weho.org/home/showdocument?id=62826
Application Deadline: Monday, February 2, 2026, 5 p.m. PT
Application Link: https://bit.ly/FreeTheatre2026-RFP
City-supported Productions
2025
Pericles presented by Coeurage Ensemble
Coeurage Ensemble’s fresh adaptation of Shakespeare’s wildest play sets sail in King’s Road Park for an epic adventure on the high seas. Jousting! Music! Pirates! Dance! Shipwrecks! When Pericles leaves home in search of fortune, they cross paths with a cast of strange and wondrous characters—wacky kings, mysterious nuns, evil queens, and the love of their life. But when tragedy strikes and that love is lost at sea, Pericles keeps moving to outrun grief. Will they find their way home—or something even better?
The play was directed by Amanda McRaven, and will feature cast members Ted Barton, Emily Gibson, Donna Simone Johnson, Mateo Mpinduzi-Mott, Eddie Vona, and Lars Toler, with ASL interpreters Sher Smith and Astor Owen.
2024
Cinderella presented by Pacific Opera Project
For the first time ever, Pacific Opera Project (POP) presented a mashup opera of everybody’s favorite fairytale: Cinderella! Taking the best music and funniest scenes from both Massenet’s Cendrillon and Rossini’s Cenerentola, and adding in a little bit of POP magic, POP’s Cinderella Story tells a young girl’s whirlwind love story from housemaid to princess. With twists, turns, and tricks at every corner, and featuring a handsome prince charming, two very evil stepsisters, and an overly dramatic king, this hilarious new take was bound to leave you feeling “happily ever after!”
The play was directed by Jack Zager and featured cast members Lydia Brown, Jessica Gonzalez-Rodriguez, Byron Mayes, Christina Pezzarossi, Dominic Salvati, Emily Scott, and Christopher Walters.
https://www.pacificoperaproject.com
2023
Hansel & Gretel presented by Pacific Opera Project
Pacific Opera Project’s (POP) operatic take on the classic Brothers Grimm fairytale. “Hansel and Gretel” is the fantastical story of two siblings, lost in an enchanted forest, who stumble upon a delicious looking Gingerbread House. Little do they know that its owner is an evil witch. Brought to life with a magical score by Englebert Humperdinck, POP's production of Humperdinck's "Hansel and Gretel" was great for all ages.
The play was directed by Jack Zager and featured cast members Milena Gligic, Tiffany Ho, Jared Jones, Christine Li, and Erin Theodorakis.
https://www.pacificoperaproject.com
2022
The Romantics presented by Classical Theatre Lab
The Romantics, a hilarious 19th century romantic fantasy by Edmond Rostand, of Cyrano de Bergerac fame, was the inspiration for the beloved musical, The Fantasticks. Two well-meaning but meddlesome parents desire to see their children fall in love and marry and thereby combine their adjoining properties, but they fear that an arranged marriage will provoke resistance, so they agree to pretend they are mortal enemies and construct “a wall” to separate their gardens. When the kids find out their dreams have been carefully choreographed by their calculating parents, they split up and go their own ways. Each discovers the hardship of life and decides to return to the love of their lives. This sweet romance is highlighted with live music, a sword fight, a kidnapping and a dashing and handsome stranger.
The play is directed by Suzanne Hunt and will feature cast members Johnny Austen, Maaren Edvard, Carlo Figlio, Katie McKewin, Maegan McConnell, Donald Wayne, and Alexander Wells.
http://www.classicaltheatrelab.org
2021
Virtual Theatre
The Comedy of Errors (A Costumed Reading) presented by Classical Theatre Lab
Shakespeare’s “The Comedy of Errors” is considered one of the most beautifully crafted farces ever written and one of Shakespeare’s funniest, most enjoyable plays. Shakespeare drew inspiration from the Roman playwright Plautus’ “Menaechmi” and “Amphitruo,” which in turn were based on the Greek New Comedy plays of the 3rd Century B.C.
The story follows two sets of twins, separated in infancy by a shipwreck, who are identical in face and name. When Antipholus of Syracuse sets out to find his twin brother in Ephesus, a madcap series of errors due to mistaken identities and zany slapstick humor. Colorful period costumes, live music and virtual backgrounds will add authenticity to this 80-minute romp that can be enjoyed by the entire family.
The reading is directed by Elizabeth Swain and features cast members Joel Asher, Tristan Boesch, Strawn Bovee, Virtic Emil Brown, Kathy Bell Denton, Tim Fannon, Suzanne Hunt, Julie Lanctot, Conlan Ledwith, Alison Shanks, Sara Shearer, Donald Wayne and Alexander Wells.
http://www.classicaltheatrelab.org
Gallathea (A Costumed Reading) presented by Infinite Jest Theatre Company
First performed in 1588, John Lyly's "Gallathea" is a queer love story set inside the landscape of classical myth. In order to avoid being sacrificed to Neptune, Gallathea and Phillida are sent into the forest dressed as boys where they meet and fall in love. Meanwhile, three shipwrecked brothers set out to seek their fortunes, Cupid stirs up his usual trouble, nymphs fall for mortals, and Diana and Neptune prepare for the ultimate showdown, but maybe Venus will save the day in this playful pastoral.
Director: Collette Rutherford; Featuring: Ben Carroll, Alexandra Demaio, Dominique Fatu, Caroline George, Shirley Ritter Hatton, Taylor Hawthorne, Ben Lupejkis, Kristofer Mikal, Skip Pipo, Zaire Martinez Roldan, Kevin Michael Shiley and Tori Zaitonia.
http://www.infinitejesttheatrecompany.org
2020
Virtual Theatre
The Drag (A Costumed Reading) by Mae West presented by Classical Theatre Lab
The City of West Hollywood and Classical Theatre Lab presented a live costumed reading of “The Drag” by Mae West.
West’s play tells the story of a married but closeted high society man who throws a wild drag ball that proves to be a fateful event. Written under a pseudonym before she became a blockbuster Hollywood star, her play scandalized New York audiences in 1927 with its portrayal of homosexuality and drag queens. It was closed out of town by the authorities after two weeks of sold-out performances.
This Classical Theatre Lab reading featured guest artists Kelly Mantle (RuPaul’s Drag Race), Roger Q. Mason (Lavender Men), and T. A. Mozelle (Trade and A Very Sordid Wedding). Cast also includes: Joel Asher, Beau Berglund, Mark Crowell, Nicholas Hargous, Stuart W. Howard, Suzanne Hunt, Paris Perrault, Max Pescherine, Sara Shearer, David Shofner, Lonni Silver, and Anthony Topsfield. Direction by Alex Wells.
http://www.classicaltheatrelab.org
While You Wait - 8 One-Minute Virtual Plays presented by Playwrights Ink
The City of West Hollywood's Arts Division, in collaboration with Playwrights Ink, a collaborative of eight West Hollywood and L.A. playwrights with more than a hundred local and national productions under their collective belt, presented "While You Wait." “While You Wait” offered the West Hollywood community snack-sized “virtual theatre” by presenting eight 1 to 2 minute mini-plays, monologues, and animation, all examining the theme of waiting, that could be enjoyed by people waiting in line at businesses throughout West Hollywood.Viewers were able to connect to the videos by pointing their cell phone cameras at QR codes placed as stickers or banners at businesses throughout the city while they wait in one of the many lines that are part of daily life during the COVID-19 pandemic.
With theater audiences unlikely to gather in a shared space for many months, “While You Wait” served as a playful reminder that the show must go on(line)!
2019
The Last Days of Don Juan presented by Classical Theatre Lab
The legendary, lascivious libertine is back! Don Juan, the seducer of Seville, one of the theatre's most beloved rogues, comes to entertain in West Hollywood this summer. Presented on July 13 - August 11 (Saturdays and Sundays) at Kings Road Park. This professional production was presented in a charming outdoor urban environment.
The Classical Theatre Lab (CTL) was founded in 1990 at the Los Angeles Theatre Center to serve as an incubus for classical theatre play development and to allow actors to enhance their craft through engagement with classic plays. CTL presents staged readings of classical plays and professional outdoor productions of classical plays, free to the public.
2018
Senor Plummer's Final Fiesta presented by Rogue Artists Ensemble
Señor Plummer’s Final Fiesta celebrates the life of Eugene Plummer, a champion of community in yesteryear Los Angeles and a prominent figure in what is now known as West Hollywood. Told through a patchwork of tall-tales, large-scale puppets, masks, and music, the performance includes a merry band of ghosts and shadows who will sweep audiences into a past filled with wild west duels, pirates, land-grabs, violent mobs, shark-riding, romances, epic court battles, and, of course, fiestas as it weaves whimsical tales of early Los Angeles in a memory map that reflects back to the late 19th and early 20th century communities of our modern city. Señor Plummer’s Final Fiesta commemorates the 75th anniversary of the publication of the book Señor Plummer: The Life and Laughter of an Old-Californian. The book, first published in 1942, documents interviews with Eugene Plummer by John Preston Buschlen.
Señor Plummer’s Final Fiesta was presented from October 19, 2018 through November 4, 2018. Ticket prices ranged from $35 to $55 and included options with drinks provided by Angel City Brewery. Pay-what-you-can preview performances took place on October 12, 13, and 14. Please note that Señor Plummer’s Final Fiesta was rated PG-13; it included mature content and was not intended for young audiences.
Señor Plummer’s Final Fiesta was a commission by the City of West Hollywood with additional support from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Puffin Foundation. Sponsors included Angel City Brewery, Wells Fargo, MedMen, and the Leonis Adobe Museum.
Celebrating New Works presented by Celebration Theatre
Celebrating New Works included bi-monthly staged readings of new works by LGBTQ playwrights and was organized by Celebration Theatre, the oldest LGBTQ theatre group in the world. Readings occurred every other 3rd Tuesday of the month at 7:30pm at the Coast Playhouse, City Council Chambers and Renberg Theatre. All performances were free to attend with donations accepted, and no RSVP is required. The 2018 series included:
- February 20, 2018 - "Four Play" by Jake Brunger (Coast Playhouse)
- April 17, 2018 - "Born to Win" by Matt Wilkas, starring Matt Wilkas and Drew Droege (Renberg Theatre, 1125 N McCadden Pl, Los Angeles, CA 90038)
- June 19, 2018 - Chuck Rowland Award as part of One City One Pride LGBTQ Festival (City Council Chambers)
- August 21, 2018 (City Council Chambers)
- October 23, 2018 (City Council Chambers)
- December 11, 2018 (City Council Chambers)
Classical Theatre Lab staged reading series presented by Classical Theatre Lab
Classical Theatre Lab presented its 2018 staged reading series through an arts grant from the City of West Hollywood. Readings were free to attend. www.classicaltheatrelab.org
- Feb10, 2018 - Dinner at Eight by George S. Kaufman and Edna Ferber (Coast Playhouse)
- Mar 24, 2018 - School for Scandal by Richard Brinsley Sheridan (Coast Playhouse)
- May 19, 2018 - The Last Days of Don Juan by Tirso De Molina (Coast Playhouse)
- July 7, 2018 - Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll adapted by Alex Wells
- Oct 20, 2018 - Goblin Market: Performance of narrative verse - devised by Rod Menzies
- Dec 8, 2018 - The Beau Defeated by Mary Pix
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For more information, please contact Joy Tribble at jtribble@weho.org