A Noise Within

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A Noise Within was founded in 1992 by Geoff Elliott, Julia Rodriguez-Elliott, and Art Manke. Operating out of a former Masonic Temple in Glendale, they staged a production of “Hamlet” that was accessible and relevant at a time when classic theatre was not widely performed in Los Angeles. The twenty-year evolution from a small neighborhood theatre to the current capital campaign has been marked by constantly raising the bar on what great classical theatre can be. The move to a new, permanent home provides A Noise Within with expanded artistic possibilities, a greater scope of educational opportunities, and the capacity to meet demand and reach its full potential. Producing Artistic Directors Geoff Elliott and Julia Rodriguez-Elliott are passionate in their belief that theatre can transform lives and better communities. Both hold a bachelor of fine arts from the University of Florida, and a master of fine arts from the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco: one of the leading theatre training programs in the country. During the theatre’s twenty-year history, they have mounted 141 productions and have consistently operated in the black maintaining good fiscal health for the organization.

A Noise Within’s company of resident artists perform classic works in the rotating repertory tradition, meaning that each individual actor has the opportunity to perform multiple roles in three thematically linked plays during the fall season, and again during the spring season. Classical rotating repertory is a time-tested tradition that has all but vanished from the regional theatre scene. Rotating repertory has the unique ability to build strong community among the artists, between the artists and their audience, and among audience members.

Over the past 20 years, A Noise Within has achieved prominence among Southern California’s best theatres, earning 26 Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards. In 2008, the LA Drama Critics Circle nominated Charles Dickens’ “Oliver Twist” for two awards, Best Production and Best Adaptation. In 2009, Jean Anouilh’s “The Rehearsal” garnered three nominations from the LA Stage Alliance Ovation Awards, including Best Production of a Play. In 2010, Clifford Odets’ “Awake and Sing!” earned nominations for Best Production of a Play from both the LA Drama Critics Circle and the LA Stage Alliance Ovation Awards, and was honored with the McCulloh Award for Revival (shows between 1920 and 1980). A Noise Within has also received a Polly Warfield Award for Excellence, and was the youngest company ever to receive the Margaret Harford Award for Distinguished Achievement.

In 2012, A Noise Within Producing Artistic Directors, Geoff Elliott and Julia Rodriguez-Elliott, were honored with the inaugural alumni “Contributions to the Field Award” by the American Conservatory Theatre (A.C.T.). The “Contributions to the Field Award” honors distinguished alumni and supporters who have contributed significant leadership in the field of theatre locally and nationally beyond their role as actors and founders. Fellow honorees were The William Randolph Hearst Foundation, Annette Bening, and Elizabeth Banks.

With generous help from a supportive community and a lead gift from The Ahmanson Foundation, A Noise Within’s Producing Artistic Directors realized a twenty-year dream of building a permanent home for their unique brand of classic theatre in October 2011. “When we started, people thought we were crazy for trying the classics in Glendale,” says Julia Rodriguez-Elliott, Producing Artistic Director. “Then we said we’d raise money to build a theatre in what turned out to be a terrible economy. Nothing’s been ideal. But we’ve had incredible good fortune, a great board and dedicated patrons and artists” (Los Angeles Times, July 2012).

The state-of-the-art theatre was built on the site of an historical landmark designed by acclaimed 20th century architect, Edward Durell Stone, most noted for Radio City Music Hall; the Center Theatre in Rockefeller Center, the Museum of Modern Art, and the JFK Center for the Performing Arts. The three-story, 33,000-square-foot facility, includes a 283-seat theatre, rehearsal space, scene and costume shops, box office, administrative offices, storage space, classroom space, and a learning resource center open to all teachers and students.

Over the 2011/12 inaugural Pasadena season, A Noise Within served more than 27,000 theatre patrons of all ethnicities and ages, including 10,000 students, providing access to classic theatre rooted in the great literary traditions. The theatre experienced a stellar inaugural season nearly doubling its subscribers and operating at a capacity well above the national average. This reflects the quality of the work, the strength of the mission, the personal relationship with stakeholders, and the strong sense of community engendered by the organization and its programs.

During a time when arts education is an endangered species, A Noise Within dedicates 30% of its resources to education and outreach programs, and has served over 200,000 students over the past 20 years. Each year, the organization serves students from approximately 130 schools across more than 20 school districts. Through vital foundation and government support, A Noise Within provides scholarships to schools in need. Scholarships may include: busing to the theatre; reduced cost tickets to attend a live on-stage performance; post-show discussions with the artists; in-class workshops; and standards-based study guides. A Noise Within’s education program has five components: Classics Live!; Tickets for Teachers; Educator Professional Development Workshops; Study Guides; and the Classics Live! Learning Resource Center.

Through the leadership and vision of Producing Artistic Directors, Julia Rodriguez-Elliott and Geoff Elliott, A Noise Within continually raises the bar for what great classical theatre can be, establishing itself as a leader in the regional theatre community.