Los Angeles Times coverage of HERO Theatre's, "Festival Irene."
HERO Theatre is everything a theatre should be. Inclusive to everyone dedicated to world class work.
A place where a young talented artist can learn and work with seasoned professionals.
It should be supported by everyone who believes in the future of the American theatre." - Eduardo Machado, Playwright
A place where a young talented artist can learn and work with seasoned professionals.
It should be supported by everyone who believes in the future of the American theatre." - Eduardo Machado, Playwright
Our Mission
Photo from our production of TEA. Taken by Jenny Graham.
HERO Theatre. Building a better society by championing voices that need to be heard. Now.
Our community-based company uses art to model and bring forth social progress. We invite audiences to envision America as we do by presenting theatre that uplifts communities that have been harmed. Our core audience members leave our theater feeling seen and represented authentically.
We champion work that we feel is relevant and support artists at all stages in their careers.
We use our artistry to bring sustainability education to vulnerable communities globally. Our project, Nuestro Planeta, is a new work commissioning and development initiative.
HERO Theatre welcomes many first-time theatergoers to our plays by providing free to low-cost admission and granting access to all.
Reinterpreting the classics to include voices of those in need.
We have a long history of reenvisioning the canon of American theatre. Established in 2011, HERO Theatre's first new play-commissioning project, Our America, continues to allow playwrights to explore real stories of cities in America undergoing socio-economic change. Our last play commissioned under this initiative was Nothing, Nothing - an adaptation with music of Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing set in the first historic Black church in Pasadena (Los Angeles County), written by Amina Henry.
With our production of Tea, audiences witnessed an inspiring tale of overcoming prejudice and hardship told post-World War II. Presented during Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Tea was written 30 years ago by playwright Velina Hasu Houston. We believe it stands as a vital addition to the American canon.
HERO Theatre invests and believes in the next generation of audiences and theatermakers.
HERO Ignite, a new division at HERO Theatre, is an incubator for new works inspired by the stories of young people in America today. Our distinctive Mentorship Program provides students from local universities and historically black colleges an opportunity to learn from theatre practitioners in the field. Many of our mentorship program alums have secured leadership and acting positions at HERO Theatre and beyond.
We give back.
Our artistic team offers free arts education from multiple disciplines to vulnerable communities around the globe where we conduct research. With Festival Irene, we launched a movement to claim playwright María Irene Fornés' rightful place in the classic American canon. Proceeds from the festival aided Fornés, who was suffering from Alzheimer's at the time. With our production of Troy, we donated some proceeds to women living in domestic violence and homeless shelters. With projects like The Super Sabado Show, we raised money to help families affected by Hurricane Maria in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico.
In 2023, we presented the world premiere of Amina Henry's play NOTHING, NOTHING thanks to support from The National Endowment for the Arts and
The California Arts Council.
Alfred Loera of Carpenters Union Local 1506 at our production of WAITING FOR LEFTY. Presented free-of-charge to labor union members throughout Southern California.
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​Residents of The Downtown Women's Center attend our production of TROY. Through grassroots fundraising efforts, HERO was able to provide free admission tickets and private roundtrip transportation to DWC residents.
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THEY BELIEVE IN HERO
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Special guest artists that have worked with HERO include Stephanie Beatriz, Ivonne Coll, Olympia Dukakis, Isabella Gomez, Brent Jennings, John Frank Levey, Justina Machado, William H. Macy, Joe Manganiello, Jeanine Mason, James Martinez, Omar Metwally, Austin Pendleton, Adam Rodriguez, Danielle Moné Truitt, Zach Villa. Some of the most beloved writers in America have contributed their work to HERO including Larry Charles, Migdalia Cruz , Colman Domingo, Jennifer Haley, Pulitzer-winner Quiara Alegria Hudés, Eduardo Machado, and Annie Weisman. |
Click above to see our new celebrity
"I believe in HERO" video starring Annette Bening! |
