This theater is ok. I enjoyed the show, its maybe I was not so in tuned with the genre of this place. I am barely learning theater art, so I will look for clicks and ways to appreciate it. Talented actors and fun here Id come back and see other plays. read more

I've been going to theater asylum productions for several years now, and I've always had a great time. The shows are wonderful, the venues are comfortable and all the performers look like they're having as good a time as the audience! Thanks to Matt Quinn, the crews and the venues are putting together these great seasons! read more

The location may change, but the Asylum is always top notch. Matt Quinn and crew always do a stellar job of working with the creative teams and putting on the best show possible for their patrons. Whether you're interested in booking a company to help produce your show or to just have a nice evening out and want to see some quality material, check out the Asylum! read more

#700 Ah, a Goldstar find. I love theatre and I tend to enjoy funky little shows. Goldstar has usually done me more good than wrong. I found a show called, "Harvey Finklestein's Sock Puppets." The sock puppets were performing "Showgirls." As in "Showgirls," that horrible/wonderful movie with Elizabeth Berkeley. So we got sock puppets. Showgirls. $10 a ticket. Let's do this. I went with the gay boyfriend and our friend, Dr. Big Boobies. They told us it was open seating when we checked in way before the show. We decided to go around the corner to 3 Clubs to pass some time...which ran away from us so we had to rush back. We didn't get the best seats then. Or did we? They added another row to the front for the gay boyfriend and I. Dr. Big Boobies squeezed into a spot behind our impromptu row. We envied her slightly cushier seat since we were on folding chairs. I don't really need to get into the plot of the show but let's just say we saw sock puppet nipples, got spritzed with water during the pool scene...and there was sock puppet jizz sprayed on us. Yeah...sock puppet jizz. So hilarious. So funny. Oh, and the theatre? They're on theatre row (aka Santa Monica Blvd.) right off Vine so we found parking on Santa Monica fairly easily. They sold the usual cheap booze (beer and wine) and snacks before the show. It's a tiny 72-seat theatre (though more when they add chairs!) and the Elephant Theatre Company regularly performs in the adjoining space. They do rent the venue out so if you have ever dreamed of staging your own crazy show, go for it! But really, how can you top sock puppet jizz? read more

Theatre Asylum - front of the theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I was invited to see a friend perform at Theatre Asylum during the Hollywood Fringe Festival. The "theatre" is really more of a complex of small theaters within a single building. When I found the actual theater where the play was being held, a line was forming outside of the door and a lady behind a small table outside was checking people in and handing out the programs. The space is intimate, seating no more than 30-40 people and the stage is close enough so that the audience is right in on the action. Seating is on a first come, first served basis so plan accordingly. Theatre Asylum is a nice space for smaller performances. The tickets were inexpensive (at least for the show that I saw) and there is plenty of street parking nearby. read more

The Theater Asylum is this inconspicuous little building at the corner of Sta. Monica & Lillian, You'll see a line up of people outside waiting for their chance to witness the brilliance and performance of those gifted individuals who will be performing on stage. The theaters are small but perfect for this kind of events, this is basically what up close and personal look and feel like. It is one of those things where the actors could actually tell an unsuspecting texter to put the damn phone away and listen LOL Clowns, Goddesses & Tough Guys was the very first show I've seen at Theater Asylum and it was great. James Schneider did a fantastic performance! What a versatile actor. With a great first impression and experience, I would definitely come back to watch the other shows. read more

Very small venue (which is quaint) . Theater seating is good, although the second seat in the second row (first row of theater seats, right behind the regular chairs), has been broken for months. Not sure why it is not being fixed. You have to leave the building, and go down to street to use a bathroom...which, is a bit scary, if it is dark out and you are alone. We saw Pulp Shakespeare, which was a really fun show (Definitely re-watch the movie before you come to the show, for best effects). Last night we saw "How to Survive a Zombie Apocalypse" , which was not so good. Honestly, if it was not such a small theater, and I wouldn't be center stage if I stood up, I would have left before the show was done (like 15 minutes into it). On street parking, no idea where the 'free parking' is. read more

I had a great time at "the Pokemusical" showing at Theatre Asylum. Thanks, Katie B. for the heads up! The theatre is small and probably seats about 50 people. Best thing about this is that you can see the stage and the actors clearly. There aren't any reserved seats, so come here early. I really enjoyed watching Pokemusical... I didn't know what to expect of the show except that it was something to do wth pokemon. I don't think I have laughed so much in an evening...it was so much fun! I was impressed by the talented cast and the witty, and well-written script. Every single cast member was amazing and looked like they were having as much fun as the audience. There is street parking, just come early so you can snag the spots right in front. Overall, a great show and theatre. I highly recommend coming here. read more

Pulp Shakespeare! Yes, that is a Shakespearian rendition of Pulp Fiction! Theater Asylum is a small and quaint little theater in Hollywood. It seats only about 40-50 people and even sitting in the back of the theater (back against the wall), you could see the stage and actors clearly. The seats are plush, but if you get stuck in the back row, be prepared to sit on a wooden bench. Seating is first come first serve, so get there early! read more

Theatre Asylum - Performing Arts Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I came here to see "Zombience" last Friday night, and I was literally in tears from laughter in the first five minutes. The theater is small and intimate, and the cast is great. I love how it's all improvised. Our zombie play took place at a water park in Sweden. Hilarious. The only reason I'm not giving four stars is that the show lagged during some of the scenes. I thought the male actors were much more funny and engaging than the women. However, for under $10 a ticket (on Goldstar), you can't really beat this for a Friday night bunch of laughs! read more

I've watched quite a few plays/shows at this theater ever since I moved out to LA. I found out about Carved in Stone, Play Dates, How To Survive A Zombie Apocalypse, and Pulp Shakespeare through Goldstar. I like the small, intimate setting and any seat in the theater is a good seat. Although the surrounding area seems kind of sketchy, I've never had a problem walking on that block. Street parking at night is pretty easy to find. read more

Don't drive too fast; you'll miss it! We missed it and turned into the Yoshinoya next door. Parking is on the street - make sure you read the signs and good luck! We came to Theater Asylum to see Bob's Holiday Party, a play that originated from improv. We made it just in time to get the last few seats (which weren't really seats - they were just a long wooden box-bench right in front of the sound booth in the back of the theater). This is a small theater, I think it holds about 100 people. I can't say I was too comfortable sitting on that box because I have a bony ass, but the seats that others sat in looked comfy enough. This is an intimate theater and the stage is very small and close to the audience. I think most shows played sell tickets for around $10 (hey, that's less than a movie in some places!). All in all, a nice little intimate theater; I'd come back :) read more

Thank you Theatre Asylum for showing me that a good play is just as enjoyable and enlightening on a small, no frills stage as it is at the Pantages (maybe more so?). The theater was very intimate, maybe 70 - 80 seats, which made for a great experience. I felt like the smaller space allowed for a connection between the actors and the audience that a larger theater definitely can't compare to. The seats, by the way, were not at all what you might expect just looking at the exterior. I was very surprised when I walked in and did not see row after row of fold out chairs but comfy, cozy armchairs instead. Nice touch! Sure, it's not located in the best looking part of L.A. But doesn't that just mean it's a diamond in the rough? Side note: I came here to see The Barking Pig which is a really great show. I think they're playing here for a few more nights so if you get a chance, go see it! read more

Theatre Asylum - Performing Arts Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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OK, I'm biased. Yes, on occasion I perform here, and I really like it. However, I've also seen shows in both spaces at Theatre Asylum, and they are both fine and comfy places to kick back and see a show. There's no end to the variety of material that gets performed here: Pulp Shakespeare, for instance, has been playing for almost a year, and it's silly fun. You can see musicals, straight plays, improv, war dramas, and, of course, lots of solo shows. Theatre Asylum is run by Matthew Quinn: an amiable, likable ambassador of the Arts for L.A. He is instrumental in curating and facilitating the Hollywood Fringe Festival (2012 is its 3rd year). The Fringe almost needs its own category -- with over 200 different pieces available to check out throughout Hollywood. And this year, Yelp is an Official Sponsor, too. http://www.hollywoodfringe.org/ So, check out Theatre Asylum. Park on Lillian or maybe on SMB. Just be dang sure to check the signs. And within the building's structure, you'll find two other, non Theatre Asylum spaces (The Elephant, and the Lillian). So much to be found in one building! Check the listings to see if whatever show you're looking at is kid-friendly. Also, there's been occasion to see some tix on Goldstar. read more

Came here to watch a play called "Playdates," but this review is strictly for the theatre. When my bf and I pulled up to the venue on Santa Monica Blvd, we were feeling kind of nervous because the area is definitely on the shady side. Luckily we found parking across the sheet so we didn't have to walk too far to get back and forth from our car. You might be asking, what were the red flags that this is not a place to take Grandma? - the whole look of the storefront made me think, a. shady tattoo parlor or b. fortune teller/voodoo lady. - metal bars over the front windows = never a good sign - the NAME of the venue "Theatre Asylum" .. uh, yeah. Not a place to take the kids you're babysitting. All in all, really unassuming, small theatre with a lot of character! But probably not a place you'd want to walk around after dark. read more

A few days ago I was browsing through the events page trying to fill my weekend with a little excitement and I noticed that Jake S. had posted an event entitled, "Zombience! an Improvised Zombie Musical," so I quickly replied "I'm in" to the thread, as I thought it would be a great way to kick start my weekend, and boy was I right! Now as far as the show is concerned I can say with absolute certainty that this was one of the funniest and most creative improvisational shows I have ever seen. It was like a real life musical version of who's line is it anyway sprinkled with a little zombie dust, hip hop flavor, and gangsta rhythms. Sounds crazy, but that's what Zombience is all about. The show was completely interactive and the actors relied on us to set the location of the musical, give special skills to the zombies, and create background information for certain scenes, which made for an interesting night. To be honest it was boderline ridiculous at times and I couldn't control myself when a zombie threw up a gang sign and screamed, "Wessstttssiiidddee!" I would also like to think that our show was the best of the bunch since our zombies not only sang and danced for us, but invaded the New York MET, rapped like real gagstas, loved playing yahtzee, and hit up the local oyster house for a snack. Thats right these were some gangsta ass oyster eating dice throwing zombies and they truly swept me off my feet with their creative rhymes and improvised sketches. I don't know how many shows are left for Zombience but this is a definite must see. The improvisational skills, and creative ability of these actors is second to none and if I were a NBC executive this cast of characters would have their own hit show called Undead Adventures: a day in the life of a zombie gangsta. Truly a wonderful evening filled with laughter, excitement, music, zombies, and super cool people. So thank you Jake S, Ching T, Jessica A, and of course Yelp for bring us all together. Not to mention the entire cast and crew of Zombience. Its nights like that that make me so happy to live in LA... read more

I came to this darling little theater last night to see one of the Fringe Festival's shows, Full Frontal Music. After easily finding parking on the street, we checked in to the front theater where we were directed around the corner to another entrance. There are a few theaters in this playhouse, and ours was held in The Lab. Some smaller theaters around town can be stifling when there's no air circulation - but this intimate space had the perfect air temperature AND comfortable chairs - yay! Seeing Full Frontal Music on Father's Day was super timely, as this one-man show was about the ups and downs of being a husband and father. James Schneider's lyrics took me through a range of emotions, and gave David G and I lots to talk about afterwards! James is definitely a talented individual with charismatic stage presence - put me on the list to see all his future shows! read more

I will watch anything once... So I came here to watch Pulp Shakespear and felt more than satisfied with the performance, but the theater lent its self to comfort as well. To start there is FREE parking, seats are comfy/cozy, and there is just one price for all tickets b/c there is not one bad seat to view from. read more

The boyfriend and I go here to check out improv shows once in awhile. It's a verrryy small theatre, about 70 seats or so...which isn't too bad, I like the smallness of it all. But just be sure and get there AT LEAST an hour before your show, just to insure you get to grab a good seat ;) They also sell a few drinks (bottled water, soda, beer..) and snacks (Skittles and the like) at the counter. Most of the shows are $10, and they accept cash only. I think it's a great place to go with a bunch of friends, or on a date. Soak up a bit of what Los Angeles is about :) read more

This rating is for the theatre itself rather than for the production that was put on that night. A quick word about the production: for this lover of all things ghouly, there was no better way to get in the holiday spirit than through the Zombie Holiday Musical! My friend and I thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated the quick-wittedness of the improv troupe who each had a distinguishable but equally hilarious character to play! Every time I enter a small theatre, I get a little bit nervous. First of all, the area is completely sketchy, but that's just Hollywood for you I guess. Did you catch that, all you daydreaming Midwestern Taylor Swift wannabes??? Hollywood is NOT as immaculate as your pretty blonde head filled with fairy tales says it is! The closest place to take shelter in is Yoshinoya. But walking into such a shabby joint is not expressing any good "welcome" vibes. So we went to La Brea Ave to grab something to eat before the show. Since we got back to the area close to the theatre about 20 minutes until showtime, parking was extremely difficult to find. You find it eventually, but when it's cold and dark, you can get really frustrated fast. Despite the extremely small square footage of the theatre, production quality was excellent and the seats were extremely comfortable, more comfortable than most movie theatre chairs. They are bigger and wider but to be picky, the color is not choice. In the grand scheme of things, the color of the chairs is not going to be the outrageous highlight of your night. My friend and I had an amazing night, despite the sketch area and the frustrating parking. All of this is really not under the theatre's control. But the aspects which were under their control were handled well, and it was a pleasure to spend a night here. read more

Small, cozy theater with plenty of street parking. Came here to watch "Pulp Shakespeare" when a deal popped up on Goldstar. I'm a die-hard Shakespeare fan so I only hesitated a moment before buying a ticket. The play was fantastic. Witty and entertaining. Will and Tarantino would approve! The actor who played Jules (Dan White) was outstanding. I was absolutely captivated by him every time he stepped on stage. The bathroom is located around the corner of the block and there's a water dispenser in the mini "lobby." Because the venue is so intimate, the actors are literally a foot or two away from you if you're sitting in the front row. I personally love that. I'm a fan! read more

My love is still and always shall be small theatres in the heart of Hollywood---where actors are made. I had to go see my friend Monique's play, STILL STANDING and what an explosive and off the charts performance! Onwards!! Support small THEATRES!! This is our training ground. read more

TEN STARS!!! OK. I love seeing shows here. So far I have seen Tennessee Williams and just saw LA Noir. Holy high water the actors are so damn quick and hilarious. I mean, in my next life I'm going to come back as a talented actor / comedienne and work here. I encourage everyone to see at least one of their always changing shows. As stated everywhere else the theatre is very very small. Try to buy tickets in advance and get there at a decent time to get a seat. I would especially encourage large parties to get there early so that you may be seated together. They do have refreshments during the intermissions but my cheap ass usually brings a bottle of water. I have left here twice now just raving about my experience and I can't wait to go back! read more

I really enjoyed the Pulp Shakespeare theater show in this cozy and intimate theater. It filled up quickly, and sat toward the back in the velour rose seats. I'm sure I'll be back to watch future plays. read more

This review is for Pulp Shakespear at Theater Asylum. Wow, what a cool show! Really fun and inventive rendition of Quenton Tarrantino's Pulp Fiction done in the Shakespeare idiom. This is a witty and fast paced homage to a great classic movie. The cast is wonderful, especially the "Mia Wallace" and "Vincent Vega". "Butch" and "Marcellus" are also spot on. If you are a fan of Pulp Fiction then you will love this play. It is so worth the price of the ticket. Go see it now! It's a hot show so reserve your tickets today. read more

It's places like the Theatre Asylum that make me truly glad to live in Hollywood. Yes, my fellow Yelp!ers, you really will find some wonderful artistic talent budding just beneath the awful fakeness and gaudiness of Tinseltown. And the Theatre Asylum is one of the best places to find this natural, untainted talent. I've seen everything here from Shakespeare Improv to Unscripted Musicals. Yeah, you read right... not only do the actors have to come up with a play on the fly, but they have to make up and SING songs to go along with the play as well! NUTS!!! If you join Goldstar, most of the time you can see productions here for $10 or less. I mean seriously? You can't even see a crappy movie in a dirty movie theater for that kind of money. Make sure you check the events calendar posted inside the theatre and on Goldstar.com for more info. See you at the next show! read more

I came to see a comedy show here on a Saturday night. The venue is very cozy and intimate and great for smaller productions. They also gave out free hershey's kisses at the front desk, which was a nice touch. read more

Nice small venue theatre. Like most along Santa Monica Blvd., it's a shoebox but cozy. Look for a casting director workshop they sometimes put on. read more

Parking is hell (i.e. there *isn't* any), but they don't really have any control over that. The space itself, though, is intimate but quite comfy. (Their seats are seriously the most comfortable seats I've ever seen in a theater.) read more

So I see free parking as a review but I must not have done my homework because I couldn't find it. Not complaining, there's street parking and it's free too. The theatre is pretty small but the seats are nice and comfy. There isn't much leg room though. I'm only 5'2 and even I felt a tad bit cramped. Plus my friend later let me know that the lady behind her would kick her seat whenever she readjusted in her seat. I can see how that can be annoying, but that was her experience, not mine. It's such a small venue, I don't see how there could be a bad seat in the house. It's also stadium seating so it's nice not to have to peer over someone's ill-placed head. read more

I just saw "The Bad Arm: Confessions of a Dodgy Irish Dancer". Absolutely amazing and really decent space for a show that needs a larger (AKA wood floor for Riverdance) stage. Maire has a presence that fills the stage, the bleachers, the heart of every single audience member. We sat, bums on edge of seat, hanging on her every word, gesture, expressive eyes. Go see the show wherever it is this week! read more

I went to see the show "How to Survive a Zombie Apocalypse" and has a great time. I went in not knowing what to expect but walked out knowing how to survive the inevitable zombie takeover. Anyway, the show itself was an improv comedy show and was pretty funny. The actors are really talented, and the small size of theater facilities interaction between the actors and the audience (even those in the back row). The seats were reasonably comfortable and getting in and out of the theater was easy. The only issues were getting through the slow traffic on Santa Monica Blvd. and finding parking. The theater is located in a somewhat sketchy area, and only street parking is available. But overall, I had a great night and will check out future shows. Definitely worth the price of admission! read more

This is a small theater on Theater Row that hosts, among other shows, an improv jam every Thursday. The owner also has a theater in San Francisco, and often brings shows back and forth. The improv jam itself is a great event. It starts at 10pm and often goes well into the early a.m. with improvisers from all over town, coming together in a community, which can be rare in any city. The quality of the improv at the jams that I've seen is quite good for an event where strangers play together. I highly recommend it for improvisers who just want to play. The location is great, with easy parking. Concessions served. Check out the improv jam on Thursday night, or their website to see what they have cooking the rest of the week. read more

I watched "Play Date" here. The play was awesome. The theatre was small and cozy. I think the audience can fit about 70 people? I'm probably way off. If you're over 6 ft tall, you may have an issue sitting comfortably in the seats. Other than that, I loved the place and I will definitely be back again. Finding parking was easy. read more

This is the epitome of local theater and part of what I believe makes Los Angeles an awesome place to inhabit. I saw How to Survive a Zombie Apocalypse. Rather than a straightforward lecture on how to endure in the event of a zombie takeover of the world, it is a tongue-in-cheek improvisation comedy. I'm not complaining, but I am also slightly worried that in the event that the undead overrun us, I'm going to be defenseless other than a handful of random jokes that the zombies probably won't appreciate at all (given the limited brain activity and all). The theater is small so there's not a bad seat in the proverbial house. I always have to hand it to the actors who clearly work for almost nothing if not free. They come and bring their A game to entertain and provide access to the arts for a reasonable ($15, but cheaper on GoldStar) price. I was thrilled to see children in the audience for this one. Given the popularity of Call of Duty and The Walking Dead, I wasn't necessarily surprised. Zombies are, I guess, the new black and have been for awhile. Note that it's Hollywood so parking is ROUGH and the neighborhood is sketch. read more

I'm a little biased because I'm doing a show in this complex for the Hollywood Fringe Festival 2014. But great people run the space and both Asylum and Elephant are two of my favorite 99 seat theatres in town. Not a bad seat in the house and I've seen plenty of great productions there from The Trunk Show (a storytelling evening at The Elephant) to Pulp Shakespeare at Asylum. And hye, if you're reading this review and you want to see the show I'm doing for FREE, use the discount code "yelp" at the Hollywood Fringe website for TOTAL NOVICE: http://hff14.org/1854 read more

Came on a Friday night to see Pulp Shakespeare via a deal we saw through Goldstar.com. Arrived an hour early per some other reviews but there was a sign on the door alerting us to the boxoffice opening at 30 minutes prior to showtime. We got a drink at the bar across the street and came back in time for the box office to open. We gave our names and were handed a program. We stood in line for about 15 or 20 minutes waiting to be let in the theatre. The theatre: There is no concession stands (or at least none that we saw). We filed in and quickly took our seats. The theatre itself is relatively small and may only hold 40 or so people. Many of the couples who arrived late ended up not being able to sit together. The show (Pulp Shakespeare): If you liked the Movie, Pulp Fiction, go see this production. We absolutely loved it. The acting was impressive. read more

This theater is nice and cozy it seems like a seedy area of Hollywood, but then again all of Hollywood is seedy when you really think about it. Got tickets through gold star and went here for the Shakespeare Pulp Fiction show on a Thursday night. There was free street parking surrounding the theater however, I would suggest trying your best to get their early for the more popular shows and dates if you don't want to walk 4 blocks. There was no assigned seating in the venue (all the more reason to get there early to get prime real estate) but because of the size of the building everyone lines up on the sidewalk to check in and eventually select your seats. The cast was great they really gave it their all and the dialog translation from pulp fiction to Shakespearean old English deserves a nod and a wink for humor. I would return for another show, also FYI no snacks for sale here and to go to the bathroom be prepared to exit the building and turn the corner because of the way the stage is set up they are not usually accessible otherwise. read more

Theatre Asylum - Aww yeah mash up! - Performing Arts Near Me - Los Angeles, California

very cute little intimate theatre. saw the AMAZING one woman show "Alien Citizen" starring Lisa Liang directed by Sophia Calderon. the show is funny, brave, charming, cute, passionate, and heartfelt. i highly recommend this show. the human race is so spoiled with our TV and movies...i challenge you yelpers to spice up your life with one live theatre event per month. you won't regret it. it makes you appreciate being human and you'll enjoy your life (AND your TV) all the more. enjoy the show! read more

The Technical Director, Aaron Lyons, is amazing. He is one of the most knowledgeable, hard-working theater runners in town.