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The MET Theatre: a History.
In 1973, a critical mass of creative warriors led by James Gammon and Timothy Scott as artistic directors and Nancy Gammon as administrative director, launched The Met Theatre Foundation, a non-profit equity waiver theatre. Buoyed by a courageous group of actors, writers, directors, producers and technicians, The MET Theatre quickly established itself as a challenging force in the Los Angeles theatre community, garnering 5 LA Drama Critics Circle Awards in its first year alone with classics such as William Inge's trilogy of Bus Stop, The Dark At the Top of the Stairs and Picnic. Shortly thereafter, Paul Koslo and Laura Owens joined the group.
Over the next thirty years and literally hundreds of productions, the MET Theatre has built a reputation for producing diverse works, ranging from the experimental and raw to the traditional and classic. World and West Coast Premieres have included Sam Shepard's Curse of the Starving Class, Eugene Lee's East Texas Hot Links, Murray Mednick's Scar starring Ed Harris, Beth Henley's Control Freaks starring Holly Hunter, Carol Kane and Bill Pullman, Allaire Patterson's Purple Breasts, Joshua Rebell's Gatsby in Hollywood and Ken Prestininzi's Amerikafka.
The MET has also taken great pride in providing a diverse menu of readings, series and workshops. Among the most highly regarded have been On The Verge (our annual staged reading series), Shakespeare Marathon (produced in conjunction with Gordy Hoffman's Company), the on-going Great Writers Series, ACT ONE: A Festival of One-Act plays (produced in conjunction with Showtime Networks), An Intimate Evening with Robert Duvall (a discussion of the Lonesome Dove mini-series), The Community Healing Forum with Edward James Olmos and countless benefits supporting a broad range of organizations such as OXFAM, Project Angel Food, AIDS Project-LA and Best Buddies.
This commitment to excellence in theatre has not gone unnoticed. The MET has won countless awards including multiple LADCC, Ovations, Dramalogue and Showcase Magazine awards and is consistently featured among the LA Times and LA Weekly's Critics Picks.
Emboldened
by our illustrious past, The MET Theatre Company continues in its relentless
commitment to creative excellence. Through our varied works, we hope
to challenge, provoke and nurture the artist, the audience and the community
alike. The MET Theatre Company is determined to expand its community
outreach campaign, building relationships within our neighboring schools
and steadfastly remaining a haven for courageous expression.
The
MET Theatre Foundation is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.
All donations are tax deductible to the full extent provided by law.
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