Theatre Commons L.A. Launches to Strengthen and Unify the Local Arts Ecosystem

A new community-powered nonprofit, Theatre Commons L.A. (TCLA), has been launched by theatre leaders, artists, and supporters to serve the entire Los Angeles theatre ecosystem. TCLA’s initial and most visible step is the creation of a centralized public listings website, TheatreCommonsLA.org, designed to simplify how audiences discover what is playing across the vast spectrum of theaters in the greater L.A. area.

"TCLA is about building a stronger theatre ecosystem for all of us," stated the TCLA Steering Committee. "This shared hub connects L.A. audiences to L.A. stages and is just the beginning of our efforts to help Los Angeles theatre thrive."

A Unified Platform for Discovery

The new website eliminates the need for audiences to visit dozens of individual theater sites by offering a unified hub for finding shows and purchasing tickets. Users can easily filter listings by date, neighborhood, and genre—a functionality similar to regional listings sites maintained by organizations like TheatreWashington and the League of Chicago Theatres’s Chicago Plays. Los Angeles theaters interested in listing their productions can find sign-up information at TheatreCommonsLA.org.

TCLA aims to fill a gap left by the dissolution of the L.A. Stage Alliance (formerly Theatre LA) in 2021. The organization’s mission is to serve and advance a vibrant and inclusive theatre community by focusing on collaboration, sharing resources, and championing equitable opportunities. TCLA will also function as a collective voice to advocate for resources and critical issues facing the L.A. theatre community.

Founding and Future Growth

The initial work, including the development of the new listings website, was undertaken by a volunteer steering committee and funded by the Nonprofit Sustainability Initiative. The organization reached a major milestone in September 2025 when the Perenchio Foundation made a significant investment to sustain TCLA's next phase of growth.

The steering committee, which convened voluntarily in August 2021, is composed of 10 established members representing the diversity of the local ecosystem, including:

• Snehal Desai (Artistic Director, Center Theatre Group)

  
  

• Danny Feldman (Producing Artistic Director, Pasadena Playhouse)

  
  

• Donna Simone Johnson (Co-Artistic Director, Watts Village Theatre Company)

  
  

• Jessica Kubzansky (Artistic Director, Boston Court Pasadena)

  
  

• Armando Molina (Artistic Director, Company of Angels)

  
  

• DeLanna Studi (Artistic Director, Native Voices)

Other members include independent artists, critics, and leaders from Artists at Play and IAMA Theatre Company.

The new funding will support the organization's growth plan, which includes hiring its first executive director, establishing a board of directors, and launching programming to serve the robust network of L.A. theatremakers. Michaela Bulkley served as the administrative coordinator and a steering committee member from 2021 to 2024.