A Noise Within

It is great having a theater actor friend, especially when I am exposed to sweet theaters like this one!
I had the pleasure of, first, interacting with the box office as I was looking to book tickets for a party of fourteen to surprise my dear friend during her performance in «Antigone» on her birthday. Deborah Strang quickly returned my email inquiry with a phone call and provided the seating options to accommodate such a party. After a couple of email and phone exchanges, she sent pertinent information regarding the event, parking, and theater that I was able to forward to my group.
I don’t even think I saw the front of this theater as I entered from the Sierra Madre Villa Metro Gold Line Parking Structure where there is ample free theater patron parking. The space is pristine… very modern and minimalist with a lovely shade of dark blue walls that immediately surrounded a large walking area that borders the horseshoe shaped stadium style seating that surround a quaint stage.
My larger group filled almost three rows in the section closest to the stage on one of the branches of the horseshoe. My personal preference is to sit in the center of any stage I visit, but this side seating was not bad at all because of the way it wraps around the stage. I didn’t have to turn my head too much to see anything, and the production was blocked in a way that catered to each side of the seating in the theater.
The stage is small but effective. There was a «well» with real water inside of it, and the war torn zone represented also effectively served as palace settings.
The sound was amazing! I’m sure this was due, at least in part, to the projection of the actors — which also speaks to the intimacy of the space. There was only one microphone hanging from the ceiling above the part of the stage that juts into the audience, and I was able to hear just about everything said, even when the actors’ backs were turned toward me.
This is a repertory company so there are plenty of opportunities to see a diverse body of works throughout the season… you won’t be disappointed when you do!

My husband & i recently saw the production of «A Christmas Carol!» It was wonderfully done! Enchanting from start to finish! It was our first time attending the theatre, surprisingly it was smaller than we expected… but very intimate & quite enjoyable. They make great use of stage size, vocals/​musical numbers are amazing, cast performances were brilliant & captivating. The duration of our show was 1hr & 40min so there was no intermission… but they do offer small snacks & beverages for purchase. It’s got a big, open lobby, very festive… perfect for pictures. After the production the cast does a meet & greet, as they serve complimentary apple cider! The parking & directions to the theatre werea bit confusing, & poorly set up. You purposely walked through the back of the theatre, to get to the box office, u can see the actors warm up… it was a little ackward. But in defense of these small issues, it seemed that they were undergoing some type of construction. Parking was free, so that was great. Overall, it was a delightful experience… we had a wonderful time! I definitely recommend not only going to see this particular production, but any/​all productions by this theatre company. We WILL be coming back to see other performances!

As my Pygmalion transformation continues, we came to see my husband’s favorite Shakespeare play, Julius Caesar. The venue is fantastic — easy to get to, free parking around the corner in the Gold Line parking structure, comfortable seating, plenty of restrooms for the ladies, concessions in the lobby, and a variety of nearby restaurants and shopping. Although it’s a mid century modern building, the theatre itself is a little inconspicuous. It sits in front of some apartment buildings and kind of blends in. We had driven by this place many times in the past and never noticed that it was a theatre.
More importantly, the Julius Caesar production was an enjoyable experience even for an Eliza D. like me! Theatre is fairly small and it didn’t look like there was a bad seat in the house. Sound system was great, I got rattled several times and nearly jumped out of my seat. Actors were well cast and gave an excellent performance. Some of our favorites were the actors who played Cassius (shout out to Freddy Douglas, dude you’re conniving and evil!) and Marc Antony (shout out to Rafael Goldstein, a charismatic and valiant two facer!). The playbill/​synopsis was also very helpful and included a character map. The only things I wasn’t too crazy about were (1) the costumes, they looked like 1800s or 1920s period (long winter coats, top hats, etc.)? I either missed the artistic interpretation or as my husband thought, they have to use whatever costumes they have on hand for the season so maybe they took out the wardrobe from a Christmas Carol? And (2) sitting too close to the stage, but I guess that was our fault— during the murder scene I was afraid I was going to be splattered by fake blood, and I got really nervous during the battle scenes with all the sword fighting, kept thinking somebody was going to lose their grip and I was going to get whacked. In the future, we’ll sit further back. But if you are a thrill seeker, sit in the front rows!
They have already announced their ²⁰¹⁵⁄₂₀₁₆ season. Check it out!

Saw the Christmas Carol. Great night of live theater. Fantastic cast. Well performed. Location is perfect. I will definitely be back for more.

I absolutely love the interior of this small venue! Because it’s small, so any seat is a good one from all directions.
I watched their «The Importance of Being Earnest» last night, and I’m impressed with the actors’ British accents and interpretation of the play. I once watched the movie version with Hollywood actress Reese Wetherspoon and British actor Collin Firth in it years ago, I love that movie but I think seeing this play LIVE is better than seeing it through a screen!
My only complain is that the playhouse didn’t announce where to park… I wasn’t sure if I can park across the street where there are restaurants and stores… I ended up parking behind the playhouse building, which is a parking location for metro station (?). It’s free so I have no complain, but I wonder if my car would get towed away if I park across the street?

Brave and imaginative play selection, wonderful staff and events.
Went to see Dance Of Death by Strindberg with reception after and it was just so well orchestrated and a great vibe. Keep up the amazing work ANW!

I had to attend 5 plays for my theater arts class that is when I came across A Noise Within in Pasadena.
The location was very convenient and easy to find. The parking lot is right next to it, all you need to do is to park and climb down the stairs or take the elevator and walk to the building.
The plays were truly amazing. I saw couple of them. If you are a student you can get a last minute ticket at the box office for $ 20.
the staff was very helpful and friendly.

Brief Introduction:
The theatre is a true rotating repertory theatre which gives audience members, the opportunity to see three completely different classic plays in one week during different seasons. Different playwrights, time periods, directors, designers, and cast allow the audience to compare worlds, styles, and themes. (Noise Within Website)
Location/​Service: The venue is located in the same area as the gold line and parking for the theatre is free. There are plenty of helpful ushers around if you have any questions or concerns. The theatre is very intimate and cozy which allows the audience feel as if they are watching the events first hand when they occur.
Recently, I have gained an appreciation for live plays. I believe by seeing plays or anything live, it brings out more emotion than what you see on the tv screen and the sound effects are not distorted. So far I’ve seen three productions and they were all good. They were Shakespeare’s Pericles, Prince of Tyre, Frenc Molnar’s The Guardsman, and Shakespeare’s Macbeth. The use of props, acting, and support casts make watching these plays an amazing experience!
Pricing: Tickets for these plays are usually around 55 dollars for the center, left center, and right center of the theatre. Seats are cheaper on the left and right side of the stage. There is no bad view here, because you can actually see everything wherever you are due to the venues intimate and cozy nature.
Concession Stands: Before and during intermission there are snacks and drinks available for sale if you are hungry or thirsty.
If you want to see a play and want to pay a fraction of the price of the big production theatres likes Pantages… Noise Within is the place for you.

I hate to play favorites, but A Noise Within is definitely my new favorite venue to catch a play. It’s intimate but not in a janky, the seats aren’t comfortable, I’m watching a show that my friend made me come to because they’re in it type of intimate. The theater is super comfortable, the seats plush, and sometimes the actors run through the aisles, making you feel like you’re part of the production.
Speaking of the production, casting is always on point, set design is spectacular, and again, no bad seat in the house.
I love the programming available, as well as the pond out front and the convenience of the parking (attached to the Metro Gold Line lot, which is free). They have refreshments for sale before the play, as well as during intermission. If you’re driving, I highly recommend stopping by Plate 38 a half mile west of the theater for a pre-​play bite/​beverage.

The best place for classical theater in the Los Angeles area, A Noise Within is among the gems of the San Gabriel Valley — but not so far away that people from all over Los Angeles cannot come on over to enjoy. Not only is the repertory company renowned for their interpretations of the classics, but the playhouse itself is physically beautiful, with a gorgeous midcentury façade, an airy, minimalist lobby and a spacious, comfortable theater-​in-​the-​round. Parking is easy — right behind the building in the Gold Line lot — and the prices are affordable. Get on their mailing list, buy tickets for a play you should have read in high school, and enjoy.