Center Rep has a number of things going for them, and a number of constraints.
The facilities at the Lesher Center for the Arts are quite incredible–beautiful stage and backstage with professional backstage and wardrobe crews.
When I worked there, they were struggling in a theater-admin capacity, but since then they have acquired a new Artistic Director who can hopefully provide structure and support for artists involved. The company is funded by the city of Walnut Creek, which leads to some unorthodox bureacracy hoops to jump through (like how challenging it is for artists to get comps to see shows at the company, even when performing in another show that season).
I’ll also note that it seems the company has weirdly done very little to connect Center Rep with the greater Bay Area Theater scene. When working there it was hard not to note how many barriers were in place for other theatermakers to come see a production. I hope they make changes to foster a more welcoming space to the greater Bay Area, and more of an artistic hub that attracts talent.
Anonymous User
October 9, 2023 at 3:49 pmCenter Rep has a number of things going for them, and a number of constraints.
The facilities at the Lesher Center for the Arts are quite incredible–beautiful stage and backstage with professional backstage and wardrobe crews.
When I worked there, they were struggling in a theater-admin capacity, but since then they have acquired a new Artistic Director who can hopefully provide structure and support for artists involved. The company is funded by the city of Walnut Creek, which leads to some unorthodox bureacracy hoops to jump through (like how challenging it is for artists to get comps to see shows at the company, even when performing in another show that season).
I’ll also note that it seems the company has weirdly done very little to connect Center Rep with the greater Bay Area Theater scene. When working there it was hard not to note how many barriers were in place for other theatermakers to come see a production. I hope they make changes to foster a more welcoming space to the greater Bay Area, and more of an artistic hub that attracts talent.
They hire Equity and non-Equity actors.