February 2nd

Theatre Unleashed presents its FIRST EVER original almost sketch comedy show…cause really, who wants to laugh ALL the time!? Wait, what? We’re supposed to make people laugh?! Screw them! I didn’t join a theatre company to make people laugh. I’m an artist, I wanna make people feel emotionally…raped! Well, fine…this one time. Is the show at least "R" rated? Yes! Will people be able to drink? Stupid question. Hell, yes! Do we have any idea what we’re doing? Do we have to?! There’s liquor! We DO know that we’ll be performing "deleted" scenes from our 2008 Main Stage Season though…and that’s awesome!

February 12th-19th

Theatre Unleashed presents an honest and emotionally jarring exploration of the who/what/where/why/how surrounding "attraction," and the effects our own personal sense of “logic” has on our most basic instinctual desires. Under the direction of Negin Singh, artists from all mediums have collaborated over the course of three months to create a stimulating, cutting-edge performance experience for those who enjoy a good story…told in every way possible.

March 20th-April 19th

The self-important amoral elite will never go away. That’s what makes William Congreve’s Restoration Era classic The Way of the World perfect for updating into modern day Los Angeles. Adapted and directed by Colleen Reilly, this sharp-tongued satire exchanges puffy vests for Armani jackets while "nobles" cheat, manipulate and lie to win a family fortune and get away with sexual deviancy. Surprisingly, in the midst of all this depravity, two young people fall in love. But, when everyone around them is looking out for themselves, how can the young lovers trust that those feelings are authentic?

March 21st-April 18th

Life in a new environment means a shift in our perception of home, our state of comfortable familiarity, our most defining facets of who we are, or at least, where we're coming from. With such a change comes a myriad of new emotions and experiences. Through a series of one acts and monologues, Tales of An Unsettled City: Beginnings explores both the comedic and dramatic adventures that follow once we each take the risk (or fate decides to push us) to leave and start a new chapter, a new journey...a new tale. Runs on four special Saturday nights, March 21, March 28, April 11 and April 18 at 11:00 p.m. at the Whitmore Lindley in North Hollywood.

April 1st

Cigarettes kill people. You may not find that funny. Die Grüppe does! Yes, Die Grüppe is back, bitches, whether you want it or not. And now the sketch comedy division of Theatre Unleashed has been inspired by a new, abhorrent topic: The dangerous beauty of CIGARETTES! Cancer sticks, smokey treats, nails, fags, whatever you call them, they are part of our daily lives (well, unless you’re hanging out in a bar in L.A., that is... so stupid... especially since they let those nasty, rat-like toy poodles into bars and restaurants and grocery stores to leave their hair and poo everywhere... gross...). Wait, where was I? Oh, right. Come inhale a little sketch comedy at El Cid on April Fool’s Day with Die Grüppe... and don’t worry about laughing, you’re safe. After all, We’re Going to Hell For You! Cough, cough..

April 4th

Come April, we're officially a year old and we think it’s time to celebrate the only way we know how... with a bold and exciting bit of theater! To pat ourselves on the back for a successful first year, Theatre Unleashed will host a 24-hour Theater Event on April 4 in North Hollywood. The evening before, writers will be given a topic, tons of caffeine and a single night to write a short play. It will immediately be handed over to a director who will be given a few actors who have just that morning and afternoon to produce their piece. Theatre Unleashed will then showcase the end results on Saturday night after our Main Stage show The Way of the World. Come join us for some ambitious theater, cake, prizes and plenty of surprises!

May 16th

HUZZAH! Theatre Unleashed is proud to present The World's Smallest Renaissance Faire, a family friendly experience in the heart of North Hollywood! Come join King Gregory the Just for a day of games, live entertainment, food, crafts and fabulous faire folk! The World's Smallest Renaissance Faire is the shortest drive for Angelenos looking for an authentic Ren Faire experience to share with their families. Prithee, join us!

June 5th-28th

A TU original by Andrew Moore, Tracing Sonny is about the baggage we carry with us from childhood and how it dominates our personal relationships as adults. Sonny, a voice over artist, struggles to fend off the invasive influence of his over-bearing parents as they literally speak for him, taking over his personality and forcing his true love to the outskirts of his life. Is it too late to take control and get her back? Heady, humorous and heartfelt, this production will also incorporate animation, making it the company’s most visually ambitious show to date.

June 6th-27th

A collection of short vignettes, Tales of an Unsettled City: Encounters is an intimate glimpse into a variety of familiar and/or extreme situations that we find ourselves in every day -- whether by choice, accident or forces beyond our control. This series of short one acts takes us deep into our own psyche, forcing us to examine how we live and act in that moment when we confront our new surroundings, circumstances, people we meet and even... ourselves.

June 12th

Theatre Unleashed is proud to present The Something Awesome Animated Short Film Festival, featuring works from some of L.A.’s most up-and-coming animators. Hosted by esteemed cartoon historian Evan Chandler, this collection will showcase animated shorts of all genres, all styles, all walks of life, promising to be as diverse and brimming with creativity as the city itself. This one-night-only presentation will follow the Theatre Unleashed Main Stage show Tracing Sonny on Friday, June 12 at the Avery Schreiber Theatre in North Hollywood.

July 1st-2nd

Theatre Unleashed presents Metamorphose, the second installment in its Galleries series, July 1-2 at Studio/Stage in Hollywood. Transcendental theatre at its finest, Metamorphose is less of a show and more of a collective Hero’s Journey into the belly of the whale. With a loose structure and ever-changing performances developed from weeks of introspection, connection and exploration guided by the many cycles of change, this artistic event promises nothing but surprise and impact…for the audience and performers alike.

August 7th-30th

In David Ives’ All in the Timing, human connection is explored through dizzying wordplay and absurdly hilarious situations. Featuring classic one-acts like Sure Thing, The Universal Language, The Philadelphia and Variations on the Death of Trotsky (and more!), this critically acclaimed evening of comedies combines wit, intellect, satire and just plain fun. Directed by Carlos Martinez.

August 8th-30th

In Sarah Kane’s final play 4.48 Psychosis, simple and beautiful writing blended with live music and dance unflinchingly tackles the conflict between clinical depression and modern medicine through the voice of a broken artist seeking only human connection to pull her out of her crippling illness. Directed by Phillip Kelly.

August 7th-30th

The third installment of the Theatre Unleashed late-night theatre series, Tales of an Unsettled City: Revelations examines our awareness of who we really are, who we have been and who we will become and those life-changing moments that happen before or after that awakening occurs. This series of short vignettes explores the dramatic, the comedic and everything in between helping us remember those experiences in which we truly opened our eyes. Directed by Matt Ryan.

September 11th-October 17th

An original play by Gregory Crafts, Friends Like These takes a candid and poignant look at the staggering issue of violence in our high schools. Garrett is an outsider who spends most of his troubled existence in a fantasy world called Haven…that is until he meets Nicole, the popular cheerleader with a curious mind. As quickly as things begin looking up for Garrett, they come crashing down, forcing him to face both his past mistakes and his harsh present reality while he struggles for redemption. This gut-wrenching piece will unswervingly explore the emotional trauma brought on by social mores during high school, forcing a confrontation with the causes and tragic consequences that left us staggered as a nation during Columbine and other high school shootings.

September 12th-October 17th

Theatre Unleashed is digging into the Pulp Graveyard to exhume lost classics from the golden age of comic books. Pre-Comics Code horror, crime and war stories in all their sensational glory! Romance, science-fiction and adventure stories that delight! Theatre Unleashed brings all of this to you in the fashion of Readers Theatre, a curious hybrid of live stage and radio drama. Each week, a new anthology of stories and vintage advertisements is brought back from the dead for your viewing pleasure. Come down to the Pulp Graveyard. You never know what you may find…or what may find you!

October 12th-28th

It all seems so familiar…you sip your coffee and look across the dimly lit room with music playing gently in the background and you wonder what people are talking about, what stories are unfolding before your eyes but just out of ear shot as Los Angelinos drink their lattes and mochas. Once again, you have a chance to find out. Through a Caffeine Haze is back. In these evenings of intimate live performances, Theatre Unleashed brings you all new original theatrical shows that will make your caffeine-addled brains percolate with excitement and ideas. Traveling to various coffee houses throughout the Los Angeles area, Theatre Unleashed will unveil two distinctly different live shows featuring hilarious, thought-provoking and experimental pieces that all take place, well…in your local coffee shop.

October 24th-November 22nd

A TU original by Jacob Smith, Landscaping the Den of Saints explores the hysterically destructive relationship between a floundering writer and an eccentric millionaire with a rampant desire to indulge in his many addictions. Real and audacious, this multi-leveled dark comedy digs into the artist’s desire to do (and deal with) anything to reach creative and financial success, capturing those increasingly uneasy moments that happen along the way.

October 23rd-December 16th

The fourth and final installment of the wildly popular Theatre Unleashed late-night theatre series, Tales of an Unsettled City: Exodus examines where we are going and why, as well as how we feel about where we’ve been. This series of short comedic and dramatic vignettes explores the many definitions of the term "exodus" and the unique consequences and possibilities each possesses for anyone and everyone ready to move on to the unforeseeable future.

October 24th

Theatre Unleashed is celebrating Halloween with a special 24-hour theatre event. The evening before the show, writers will be given a topic, tons of caffeine and a single night to write a short play. It will immediately be handed over to a director and a few actors who have just that morning and afternoon to produce their piece. Theatre Unleashed will then showcase the end results on Saturday night after the Main Stage show Landscaping the Den of Saints.

November 19th-January 30th

Gay people have infiltrated every aspect of culture... and made it more awesome, making straight people look less awesome in the process. The straight contingency of Theatre Unleashed is okay with that so long as we can make some money off of our gay company comrades. As such, we have joined forces to announce the return of Die Grüppe with GBLT: Gays, Bacon, Lettuce and Tomato, an evening of gay-related sketches and new characters you won't forget! Don't be afraid to come out and enjoy a night of complete and utter gayness... as in joyfulness... and gayness...

December 3rd-12th

It blindsides you. The decorations pop up in the local retail stores, Santa starts sipping Coke on billboards and chipmunks begin polluting the airwaves. You tell yourself it will all be over soon, but you still dread another “unforgettable” holiday season. We feel your pain. This year, commiserate with Theatre Unleashed as we bring you sordid stories from the day after Christmas in Holiday Hangover: An Anthology for the Seasonally Affected. Drown those yuletide blues in eggnog spiked with a bit of dark comedy... because sometimes there are holiday memories we’d rather forget.

December 5th

Theatre Unleashed proudly brings back its Cheap & Easy series…only this time, instead of showcasing some of the city’s best rising comedians, we’re going to offer up a little MAGIC! That’s right, for one-night-only, Cheap & Easy Neighborhood Magic gives the stage to some of L.A.’s best up-and-coming magicians: Monte Julian, Ting Kong Ng, David Blatter, Jackson Ridd, Mark Toland, Leeman Parker, Peter Morse and Gordon Capps!