Los Angeles, here we come!
September 6, 2011
We've just opened our first office on the west coast - but don't call us newcomers! We've been working here for 30 years, and we're thrilled to now have a permanent home in Los Angeles.
You've probably run across some of our more visible west coast projects, like the Walt Disney Concert Hall and Kodak Theatre. But if you look around, you'll see that our west coast work represents our practice as a whole, including regional theatres, university work, small-scale projects, performing arts centers, and renovations.
We design and plan performance spaces of every size and complexity, and we offer a broad range of services from auditorium and theatre equipment design to operations and business planning. As designers, managers, technicians, and performers, we know first-hand how these buildings should work from the inside.
Meet our Los Angeles team
Michael "Looking Forward to Food Trucks" Ferguson
Michael is the director of our new Los Angeles office. He joined Theatre Projects in 1998 and since 2006 has been splitting his time between Theatre Projects and his own theatre planning and design firm, Theatre Strategies Group. We're excited to have Michael back on board full-time to lead our Los Angeles office.
Born and raised in California's Central Valley, Michael worked throughout California before ending up in San Jose, where he worked as the lighting director and assistant production manager for the San Jose Repertory. As the Rep's assistant project manager for their new theatre, Michael was introduced to and later hired by Theatre Projects. His design and production experience includes theatre, dance, performance art, circus, and live musical concerts in over 130 theatrical venues nationwide. Michael's current work in the arts includes an on-going production collaboration with musician/producer/author Stephen Wade and lighting direction for San Jose Taiko.
"I'm really excited about opening our new LA office. This has been a goal of both Theatre Projects and mine for years, and it feels great to see it come together. For the past decade almost a quarter of our work has been in the US west and southwest. By opening this office, we have the opportunity to service and support those projects better. And besides, how do you not want to live in a place where some of the best food in the city comes off the back of a food truck?!" said Michael.
Keith "The Architainer" Gerchak
Both a working actor and a registered architect, Keith has been an essential member of our design team since 2004. He recently moved from New York to Los Angeles to continue his acting career.
Before joining Theatre Projects, Keith was a project director at the theatre architectural design firm van Dijk Westlake Reed Leskosky. Keith has performed in over 75 venues across the country, in roles ranging from Marlin in Disney's Finding Nemo the Musical to Motel in Fiddler on the Roof opposite Paul Sorvino. He frequently contributes articles on theatre design and sustainability issues.
When asked about our new Los Angeles office, Keith said, "My first reaction was, 'Wait, we don't already have an office in LA? I moved out here almost 2 years ago, thinking we did!' In all seriousness, with an already extensive catalog of high-profile projects, a veritable who's who of architectural and acoustic collaborators specializing in performing arts centers, and an increasing demand for venues in the cultural and entertainment capital of the western US, the time and place are right for this office. Plus, the commute beats flying back to South Norwalk!"
Benton "I Left My Heart in San Jose" Delinger
A director of Theatre Projects and one of our most experienced theatre consultants, Benton will split his time between our Connecticut and Los Angeles offices, working closely with Michael to develop our relationships on the west coast.
Having grown up in California, Benton moved to Connecticut in 1998 from San Jose where he had spent eight years as the production manager for the San Jose Repertory Theatre. While at the San Jose Rep, he collaborated with Theatre Projects as the Rep's project manager during the design and construction of their new facility.
"The LA office is great for Theatre Projects. The California arts scene is wonderful and rich, with so many different cultures adding flavor and transforming their communities. I'm very happy to be able to have an office so close to where I grew up and cut my teeth in theatre...did Michael say something about food trucks?" said Benton.
Our new Los Angeles home
Our Los Angeles office is on the top floor of the historic Spring Arts Tower, located in the city's Gallery Row regeneration district. Once home to the Citizens National Bank, the building now provides office space for more than 100 creative companies and independent artists, including designers, architects, photographers, and painters.
We're excited to become a part of the developing downtown district. Besides being the home of the performing arts in Los Angeles, downtown is also the center of transportation for the city, so it's a great location for us.
Come visit us at our new home:
453 S. Spring Street, Suite 1230, Los Angeles, California 90013, T 213 375-3688
The Theatre Projects team is based in Connecticut, London, Shanghai, and now Los Angeles!
Photo credits:
Top: Walt Disney Concert Hall, Architect: Gehry Partners, Photo: Hufton + Crow / View Pictures / Rex Features
Middle left: Kodak Theatre, Architects: Rockwell Group, Ehrenkrantz Eckstut & Kuhn, Altoon + Porter Architects, Photo: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
Middle right: UCLA, Kaufman Family Garden Theater, Architect: Moore Ruble Yudell Architects & Planners, Photo: Tim Griffith
Bottom left: American Conservatory Theater, Architect: Gensler, Photo: Marco Lorenzetti, Kobar/Hedrich Blessing
Bottom right: Julianne Argyros Stage, South Coast Repertory, Architects: Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects, McLarand Vasquez Emsiek & Partners, Photo: Jeff Goldberg/Esto