ACTORS FORUM THEATRE CELEBRATES ITS 30th ANNIVERSARY

Contributed by Nora Feldman

Audrey Marlyn Singer and her Actors Forum Theatre have been a mainstay and creative groundbreaking theatre entity in Los Angeles for the past 30 years.

Audrey Singer’s Actors Forum Theatre is one of the oldest membership theatre companies in Los Angeles. This August, Actors Forum Theatre is celebrating its 30th anniversary. Audrey Marlyn Singer and a group of eager of actors, many of whom were originally from New York where theatre was part of the creative tapestry, founded Actors Forum Theatre. The group was looking to put up a production of “DYLAN” and couldn’t find an appropriate venue in which to produce it. Audrey and her husband, the late Mike Singer, found just the right space in Hollywood on Cahuenga Blvd. West, just across the street from the Hanna Barberra Animation Studios, to house the production. This space later became Actors Forum Theatre’s permanent home, and remained so for almost two decades, providing opportunities for actors, directors, writers, producers and theatre artists to perform and work on their craft in a safe and nurturing environment.

In 1994, Audrey and Mike Singer purchased a building on Magnolia Blvd. in the NoHo Theatre & Arts District that had once been a furniture store and converted it into a theatre. Audrey and Mike made sure that their audiences would be comfortable in the new space by adding central air and heat, as well as wheelchair access to the theatre.

Actors Forum Theatre has been honored many times over the years, with numerous awards and excellent reviews under Audrey Marlyn Singer’s artistic direction and keen eye. Since its move to the NoHo Theatre & Arts District, Actors Forum Theatre has been recognized for the breakout hit “BOX 27,” a new play that looked at homosexuality in a new light. Actors Forum Theatre also housed Fritz Coleman’s first solo outing, “IT’S ME, DAD,” which played to sell-out audiences for over nine months.

In addition, the theatre was recognized and has received excellent reviews for several of the productions such as “THE GREAT SEBASTIANS,” “THE BOY FRIEND,” the astounding magic of Falkenstein and Willard in “FIREFLIES - - WIZARDS OF MAGIC,” “A HATFUL OF RAIN,” Julie Sheppard’s “JUDY GARLAND - - A NIGHT IN THE LIFE,” and most recently “Carney’s WONDER CABARET.”

Audrey Marlyn Singer is an accomplished actress as well, having performed in many of the productions over the years. In addition, she has served as the overall producer for all of the productions at Actors Forum as well as having directed many of the works.

Audrey Marlyn Singer has run the Tuesday night members workshop for the past 30 years, taking time to encourage new, emerging talent.

Under Audrey Marlyn Singer’s artistic direction, Actors Forum Theatre has thrived in and contributed to the fabric of the Los Angeles theatre community for the past 30 years - - an accomplishment that she is truly proud of.