08/29/2026
THE MAIN THEATER IN OLD TOWN VILLAGE OF NEWHALL BURNS TO THE GROUND
Last Monday morning, a fire broke out in auto repair shop in the old town village of Newhall in Santa Clarita. The fire soon spread, swallowing up several small businesses and historical structures along and around Main Street, including The MAIN Theatre, which had functioned as a performing arts center for three decades. So Cal's theater community hasn't suffered such a devastating loss since The Palisades Theatre burned to the ground in The Palisades Fire in January, 2025.
The afternoon before the Newhall fire, Stage Raw contributor Joel Beers had been there to review the opening weekend of Dig Deep Theatre's production of Clare Barron's "You Got Older." He, everyone on stage, backstage, in the house, and in the community, had no idea that within 24 hours, their theater would be engulfed in flames. Dig Deep Theater is seeking a new venue to continue its production.
Meanwhile, a Go Fund Me has campaign to help the artists and technicians associated with that production, and with that theater, recoup lost personal possessions and company equipment.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/please-help-artists-from-the-main-theatre-recoup-their-gear
THE UNUSUAL SUSPECTS THEATRE COMPANY IS BRINGING BACK THE YOUTH THEATRE CONSERVATORY THIS FALL — HIGH SCHOOLERS ARE INVITED TO APPLY
The Unusual Suspects Theatre Company's Youth Theatre Conservatory gives high school students the chance to work alongside industry professionals to write, direct, and perform an original play onstage— completely free of charge. This fall, the program runs at two LA theatre venues: Rogue Machine Theatre and Boston Court Pasadena.
📍 Rogue Machine Theatre
Sept 9 – Dec 16, 2026
Mondays & Wednesdays, 4:30pm - 6:30pm
📍 Boston Court Pasadena
Sept 8 – Dec 8, 2026
Tuesdays & Thursdays, 4:30pm - 6:30pm
Transportation scholarships are available — just indicate your need on the application form. Signups are open now, with only 20 spots available at each site.
Learn more and apply at
https://theunusualsuspects.org/conservatory/
RECOMMENDED THIS WEEK
"Enemy of the People" (Odyssey Theatre) L.A. theater veteran Bart DeLorenzo, the brains behind the sharp-edged, former Evidence Room, has returned to the scene to stage his own adaptation of Henrik Ibsen's "Enemy of the People." Typically for his work, it has many virtues and some flaws as it seeks to connect the local politics of Ibsen's 19th century to the national politics of the U.S.'s 21st century, while emerging as engaging and provocative, writes Steven Leigh Morris
https://stageraw.com/stage-raw-review-enemy-of-the-people/
"Being Piaf (Odyssey Theatre) Meanwhile, across the hall at the Odyssey, F. Kathleen Foley was stirred by Eleanora Owens's solo show based on the life of French crooner, Edith Piaf.
https://stageraw.com/stage-raw-review-being-piaf-2/
"Sweeney Todd" (Gem Theatre, Garden Grove) Dana Martin reviews a rambunctious staging of Stephen Sondheim's modern classic, writes Dana Martin.
https://stageraw.com/stage-raw-review-sweeney-todd/
ALL THE LATEST NEW REVIEWS
https://stageraw.com/new-reviews/
DEBORAH KLUGMAN COMPILED THIS WEEK'S REGIONAL STAGE LISTINGS
https://stageraw.com/stage-listings/
THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING LOCAL THEATER!
