The Elephant Theatre Company was a non-profit theatre company based in

Hollywood Hollywood usually refers to: * Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California * Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States Hollywood may also refer to: Places United States * Hollywood District (disambiguation) * Hollywood ...

, California. The company "built a reputation for championing new American plays." It ceased operation in September 2015.

History

The Elephant Theatre Company was created in 1995 by David Fofi and Lindsay Allbaugh, along with classmates from the

California State University, Long Beach California State University, Long Beach (CSULB), also known in athletics as Long Beach State University (LBSU), is a public teaching-focused institution in Long Beach, California, United States. The 322-acre campus is the second largest in the ...

Theatre Arts program, getting their start in a space at the Angel City Brewery artist complex. The space doubled as both a studio theater and a loft apartment. The facility was renovated, creating a small theatre and living quarters, and was given the name of "Elephant Off Main". In the summer of 1997, the small 45-seat theater could no longer accommodate the production needs or the increasing audience attendance. The Company then moved to Hollywood (and dropped the “Off Main”). David Fofi along with founding member Don Cesario continued to produce Elephant productions in various Hollywood venues. During their 1998/1999 season, the company moved to 6322

Santa Monica Santa Monica (; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Santa Mónica'') is a city in Los Angeles County, California, Los Angeles County, situated along Santa Monica Bay on California's South Coast (California), South Coast. Santa Monica's 2020 United Sta ...

Boulevard, in Los Angeles' Theatre Row District. In 2015, the theatre building was sold by its landlord to a neighboring school. The last produced show ("The Great Divide" by Lyle Kessler) closed on August 23, 2015. The Elephant Theatre was left without a permanent space.

Chronology of Plays

Summer 2015:
The Great Divide'' Written by:

Lyle Kessler Lyle Kessler is an American playwright, screenwriter and actor, best known internationally for his 1983 play ''Orphans''. Career Actor Born in Philadelphia, Kessler began his career as an actor. His first professional appearance was in the Phi ...

Directed by: David Fofi Produced by: Bren Coombs and Shannon McManus Spring 2015:
7 Redneck Cheerleaders Written by: Louis Douglas Jacobs Directed by: David Fofi Produced by: Bren Coombs Winter 2014:
Hell Cab Written by: Will Kern Directed by: David Fofi Fall 2014: Scene Workshop Showcase of various company members Fall 2014: Elephant Short Play Fest Short plays written and directed by various company members Summer 2014: Le Butte 1 One acts written and directed by various company members Summer 2014:
Unorganized Crime written by: Kenny D'Aquila Directed by: David Fofi Spring 2014:
Derby Day written by: Samuel Brett Williams Directed by: David Fofi Winter 2014:
Twilight of Schlomo written by: Timothy McNeil Directed by: David Fofi Summer 2013:
Revelation written by: Samueal Brett Williams Directed by: David Fofi Spring 2013:
The North Plan written by: Jason Wells Directed by: David Fofi 2012:
7 Redneck Cheerleaders written by: Louis Douglas Jacobs Original Staging by: Amy French
Re-staged by: David Fofi & Louis Jacobs 2012:
Collision written by: Lyle Kessler Directed by: David Fofi June 2011:
Lovesick written by: Kristina Poe Directed by: David Fofi June 2011:
100 Saints You Should Know written by: Kate Fodor Directed by: Lindsay Allbaugh February–March 2011:
The 10th Anniversary of Love Bites: 10 Years Together & Still No Ring Annual shorts written and directed by various company members August–September 2010:
Parasite Drag written by: Mark Roberts
Directed by: David Fofi May–June 2010:
Supernova written by: Tim McNeil
Directed by: Lindsay Allbaugh February–March 2010:
Love Bites Vol. 9 Annual shorts written and directed by various company members August 2009-September 2009:
Block Nine written by: Tom Stanczk
Directed by: Emilie Beck & Pete Uribe May 2009-June 2009:
The Idea Man written by: Kevin King
Directed by: David Fofi February–March 2009:
Love Bites Vol. 8.0 Annual shorts written and directed by various company members 2008:
7 Redneck Cheerleaders written by: Louis Douglas Jacobs Directed by: Amy French July 2008-October 2008:
Asleep on a Bicycle written by: Tony Foster
Directed by: David Fofi May 2008-June 2008:
Tooth and Nail written by: Gena Acosta
Directed by: Lindsay Allbaugh February–March 2008:
Love Bites VI & VII Annual shorts written and directed by various company members November 2007-February 2008:
Anything written by: Tim McNeil
Directed by: David Fofi August 2007:
One Fell Swoop written by: Robert J. Litz
Directed by: Christopher Game March–April 2007:
Love Bites Vol. V Annual shorts written and directed by various company members January–April 2007:

In Arabia We’d All Be Kings IN, In or in may refer to: Dans * India (country code IN) * Indiana, United States (postal code IN) * Ingolstadt, Germany (license plate code IN) * In, Russia, a town in the Jewish Autonomous Oblast Businesses and organizations * Independen ...

Written by:

Stephen Adly Guirgis Stephen Adly Guirgis (born 1965) is an American playwright, screenwriter, director, and actor. He is a member and a former co-artistic director of New York City's LAByrinth Theater Company. His plays have been produced both Off-Broadway and on ...

Directed by: David Fofi December 2006:
'
365 Days/Plays
'' (week 4: Los Angeles)
Written by: Suzan-Lori Parks
Directed by: Lindsay Allbaugh, David Fofi, and Christopher Game August–October 2006:
Seven Redneck Cheerleaders Written by: Louis Jacobs
Original Staging by: Amy French
Re-staged by: David Fofi & Louis Jacobs March 2006:
Love Bites
Annual shorts written and directed by various company members November 2005-January 2006:
Los Muertos Written by: Tim McNeil
Directed by: David Fofi August 2005:
Seven Redneck Cheerleaders
Written by: Louis Jacobs
Directed by: Amy French May 2005:
Never Tell
Written by: James Christy
Directed by: Lindsay Allbaugh December 2004:
Underwear For Christmas
Written by: Tony Foster
Directed by: Daniel McCoy October 2004:
Love Bites Harder
Annual shorts written and directed by various company members June 2004:
One World
Written by Robert J. Litz
Directed by David Fofi April 2004:
21 Stories
Written by: G.W. Stevens
Directed by: Yuval Hadid October 3 One Act Festival
All Men are Whores, and Bobby Gould in Hell written by David Mamet
Not Enough Rope, and Hotline written by Elaine May
Desire, Desire, Desire, ‘Dentiy Crisis and 1-900-Desperate by Christopher Durang August 2003:
Robbers
Written by

Directed by David Fofi
Workshop Production with Lyle Kessler, not submitted for review April 2003:
Some Strings Attached
Written by: Amy French and Alexandra Hoover
Directed by: Gina Soto March 2003:
King of Clubs
Written and Directed by: David Fofi October 2002:
Zzyxx
Written by: Don Cesario
Directed by: Kimberly Brooks August 2002:
Serenading Louie
Written by:

Lanford Wilson Lanford Wilson (April 13, 1937March 24, 2011) was an American playwright. His work, as described by ''The New York Times'', was "earthy, realist, greatly admired ndwidely performed". Fox, Margalit"Lanford Wilson, Pulitzer Prize-Winning Playwrigh ...

Directed by: Christopher Game and Gina Soto April 2002:
Love Bites
Series of one acts written and directed by various company members December 2001:
Red Cross and 4H-Club
Written by:

Sam Shepard Samuel Shepard Rogers III (November 5, 1943 – July 27, 2017) was an American playwright, actor, director, screenwriter, and author whose career spanned half a century. He wrote 58 plays as well as several books of short stories, essays, ...

Directed by: Chris Game & Dave Fofi November 2001:
Greystone
Written by: Tony Foster
Directed by: Kristin Hanggi June 2001:
Dearboy's War
Written by: Mike Ambrose
Directed by: Danny LaClair December 2000:
Underwear for Christmas
Written and Directed by: Tony Foster October 2000:
The Insanity of Mary Girard
Written by: Lanie Robertson
Directed by: Pat McLoy and David Brown April 2000:
Elephant Shorts, a Collection of Vignettes
Written by: Tony Foster
Directed by: E.O.M. Directors November 1999:
Search & Destroy
Written by:

Howard Korder Howard Korder is an American screenwriter and playwright. He is the author of the 1988 coming-of-age play ''Boys' Life'', which earned him a Pulitzer Prize for Drama nomination. His play ''Search and Destroy'' was adapted into a film in 1995. ...

Directed by: David Fofi & Anthony Roman May 1999:
The Actors Nightmare
Written by:

Christopher Durang Christopher Ferdinand Durang (January 2, 1949 – April 2, 2024) was an American playwright known for works of outrageous and often absurd comedy. His work was especially popular in the 1980s, though his career seemed to get a second wind in th ...

Directed by: Christopher Game
Gecko Chestnut Genius
Written by: Jimmie D. Hudson III
Directed by: Don Cesario April 1999:
Line
Written by

Israel Horowitz Israel Albert Horowitz (often known as I. A. Horowitz or Al Horowitz) (November 15, 1907 – January 18, 1973) was an American International Master of chess. He is most remembered today for the books he wrote about chess. In 1989, he was indu ...

Directed by: Gary Blumsack
Shooting Gallery
Written by

Directed by: Andrea C. Robbins
Stage Directions
Written by

Directed by: Pat McLoy March 1999:
Indian Summer of Our Despondency
Written by: Kelly Wand
Directed by: David Fofi August 1998:
Halfway There
Written by: Michael Vaez
Directed by: Christopher Game
at the Hollywood Court Theater, Hollywood July 1997:
Warmth and Doubt
Written by: David Fofi
Directed by: David Fofi & Andrea Robins
The Princess and the Peon
Written by: Jimmie D. Hudson, Directed by: Christopher Game
Candlefish Theatre, Los Angeles February 1997:
The Love of Nechron
Written and Directed by: Pat McLoy
Elephant Off Main Theatre, Los Angeles November 1996:
Criminal
Written by: David Canales
Directed by: Jeff Walsh September 1996:
Holding Cell
Written by: Mike Vaez
Directed By: Joe Matthews May 1996:
Solitary Ping Pong
Written by: Jimmie D. Hudson
Directed by: Lori Lee Bush
My Only Hopeless
Written by: Jackie Apodaca
Directed by: Christopher Game March 1996:
King Of Clubs
Written and Directed by: Dave Fofi
Adam and Rhonda
Written by: Matthew Jones Nov 1995:
The Galaxy Lily
Written and Directed by: Don Cesario July 1995:
Sam Shepard Tribute
Red Cross
Directed by: Christopher Game
4-H Club
Directed by David Fofi
Fourteen Hundred Thousand
Directed by: Kimberly Brooks

References

{{Reflist Theatre companies in Los Angeles