Coeurage Theatre Company

Just caught their performance of Shakespeare’s «Andronicus.»

Their shows are pay-​what-​you-​want, and while that’s great, I still recommend doing the reserved seats (a minimum of $ 7 each online) since there’s only so many chairs in the theater and it was a packed house. They ended up having to set out some folding chairs in the performance area. During some of the killing scenes those people ended up right in the action, squirming left and right trying to keep out of the way of actors killing one another.
For those familiar with «Titus Andronicus» (think the «South Park» episode «Scott Tenorman Must Die»), it gets pretty gory. Their version didn’t quite have people fainting like the London show that’s going on has, but there were several empty seats following intermission. It definitely wasn’t the quality of the acting that drove them away — that was top-​notch. Most times before any serious violence, they quickly did a black out and then people screamed.
But yes, the acting. They were quite professional, and at pay-​what-​you-​can/​pay-​what-​you-​want pricing, one feels quite spoiled. The actors performed on the floor, surrounded on three sides, two rows deep. It’s not quite theater-​in-​the-​round, but the actors performed three-​dimensionally, not simply playing toward the so-​called fourth wall. At curtain call they bowed in unison to all three sections of seats.
Seating is first-​come-​first-​serve, so there was quite a lot of competition with people pressed against the theater entrance and rushing ahead of others. It almost made me yearn for the easy-​going Shakespeare in the park troupes to which I’ve become so much more accustomed.
The show was performed in a room attached to a café. You can bring your wine and coffee into the theater with you, if you like.

Before I moved out to Los Angeles, from my native Brooklyn, NY my friends and fellow actors asked me if I’d be giving up theater. I guess the assumption was that there is no theater in LA, or at least no theater worth being a part of.
Luckily there are companies like Coeurage, which devote themselves to the practice of real theatrical art. I was lucky enough to work with them on Romeo & Juliet for their 2012 season. It was intensley refreshing, to learn that they focussed on the language and really spent the time, to make a traditional piece appealing to the trendy West Hollywood audience.
Maintaining the integrity of daring, meaningful plays is too often lost in small theater companies, but as Coeurage continues to grow they help spread that purpose. Add that value to the fact that everything they do is by donation, as LA’s only Pay What You Want Theatre Company and you have a group of young theater practitioners, who are paving the way for the future of the LA stage scene.

This place was great! Had a wonderful time watching a show called Chewed Bread.

What to expect at these shows:
1 — Varied, interesting work. I have seen them do a one-​man show (LA Lights Fire), the Rocky Horror Picture Show (amazing campy fun), No. Saint’s Lane (contemporary drama), Shakespeare, and much more. They have a huge range.
2 — Quality acting, design, and direction. I have never seen a production by this company that I wouldn’t see again or send my friends to.
3 — PAY WHAT YOU WANT! All the time! Every time! I think it’s super important to support theater financially, but sometimes you might be broke and still want to see a show. You can pick your own price — pay a dollar one time, and $ 15 the next time when you have more cash in pocket.
4 — Some of the friendliest, most outgoing, and most charming folks you’ll ever meet. They’re happy to smile and chat with just about anybody about just about anything.
Their productions are also at a theater located in central West Hollywood (easy to find) right by Trader Joe’s — and there is always plenty of parking. I really love this company and their work, they are definitely a name to be known!

Keep in mind this is a tiny very original creative theater. We saw an original production called The Trouble with words. It was song and dance relating to words and it was wonderfully done. few months later I was reading and noticed the song writer received an Ovation award for the production. It’s terrific to see so much talent in unexpected places. For those interested in well done theater, look into Coerage Theatre Co., anything they do would be worth while and a pleasant evening out.

I’ve seen three productions by Coeurage in three different spaces, and am happy to see them set some roots. I’ve seen 3 and a sneak peek of their new musical while we both did outreach at the Silver Lake Jubilee in May. Material is always challenging to an audience, entertaining, and people can greet old and make new friends in the audience. Honestly, I’ve seen it happen. They’re a company to watch and attend.

Welp, I’ve seen two productions here.
The first was «No. Saints Lane», which, to be fair, my friend was in. But usually when I go to see friends in theatre in LA, it’s mildly painful, or at best boring and tedious. NOT AT COEURAGE!
No. Saints Lane was funny, and I cried. All in all, successful theatre outing. Parking was easy (Across the street at Trader Joe’s, or street parking). Tickets are «pay what you want»… which at first I thought meant «free», but is actually increments of $ 5 on the payment website (Brown Paper Tickets…)
Then I just a few weeks ago saw «Bash: The Latterday Plays», which was basically a one-​man half-​hour show, a two-​person 20-​minute show, and a one-​woman final-​fifteen-​minute show; all put together. And it was brilliant, and sad (in a good way). I’ve always respected shows with one or two people, because that is HARD to keep people engaged. But, as previously stated, it was very excellent theatre.
All in all, consistently quality theatre, central location (WeHo), easy parking, totally affordable… need I say more?