LACC Theater Department History
For a complete listing of past productions, by name or year, please visit the LACC Theater Archives page.
Los Angeles City College started in 1929, using the buildings and site formerly used by UCLA on North Vermont Avenue. Before 1929, the first College President, William H. Snyder, had contacted Harold Turney, a Universal talent scout, who had a training theater at the Studio called the Playcrafters. By the time LACC occupied the campus, Snyder, Turney, and the studio heads had agreed to move the Playcrafters operation to the campus and use the huge inherited auditorium for its activities.
The first production of the Theater Department used the studio's spotlights, scenery, etc., and the first students were enrolled. During the first production, The Queen's Husband, Mr. Turney became ill and Jerry Blunt, a graduate theater student at UCLA and a member of the Playcrafters group since 1927, came back to the campus to help direct. After his graduation, Mr. Blunt was hired by LACC.
Little Theater
In 1931 a Little Theater was created in what had once been a women's gymnasium. During the 1930s and until World War II the department operated two theaters, the Little Theater and the larger auditorium.
During World War Il, the girls in the department organized a variety show they named the GI Girls. Each weekend they were bused to perform at military bases in Southern California. They were so popular and had so many requests that a second troupe was formed, called GI Girls II. The soldiers who drove the buses were always amused because their orders were to "pick up the girls" at the intersection of Lily Crest and Heliotrope.
Interim Theater
New Theatre Building 1966
THEATER DEPARTMENT OFFICE
Theatre Arts Building 208
To leave a message:
Phone: (323) 953-4000 ext. 2970
Email: lacc-@email
Show Information
Theater Department Box Office:
To leave a message:
Phone: (323) 953-4000 ext. 2990
Email: @email
Visitors and playgoers, please visit LACCD Check-In before arriving
Department Chair:
Eddie Bledsoe
@email
Acting Program:
Costume Design Program:
Eddie Bledsoe
@email
Technical Theater Entertainment Technology Program:
Johnny Garofalo
@email