The Fremont Centre Theatre (FCT) is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit professional theatre operating under
the 99 Seat & Under Equity Plan, located in an historic building in South Pasadena.
Mission Statement:
"It is FCT's mission to discover and rediscover plays of value to produce in an artistic atmosphere that nurtures creativity, originality, and excellence. In addition, FCT is committed to producing theatre that promotes diversity and attracts diverse audiences."
FCT History
The California Performing Arts Centre opened the Fremont Centre Theatre (FCT) in 1997 under the Co-Artistic Director leadership of James and Lissa Reynolds.
FCT's first production was Three Songs, an original play by William Mesnik about Hollywood blacklisting. A runaway hit, this inaugural show became an Equity production, setting the tone for FCT's mission to encourage, nurture and launch new plays and new playwrights.
In addition, FCT is committed to theatre that reflects and promotes diversity. Its productions include I, Too, Am America!, a play about the African American experience; Herotique-Ahh, chronicling the lives of three African-American women over age 40; Dibujos De Nuestra Frontera, an exploration of Mexican identity and immigration; National Pastime, the story of Jackie Robinson and the desegregation of baseball and of the United States; Coming To America—Transformations, based on the experiences of women from other countries now living in the U.S.; and Suzan-Lori Parks' Pulitzer Prize-winning drama, TopDog/Underdog, which went on to New Jersey's Cape May Stage as an Equity production. Recent FCT world premiere productions include South Of Delancey, drawn from the real-life struggles of seven working class Jewish residents in New York City's Lower Eastside; and Holding On—Letting Go, an examination of illness and end-of-life issues.
FCT gained an international presence when it sent its critically acclaimed production of Elizabeth Forsythe Hailey's A Woman of Independent Means to the Winnipeg Fringe, the Cape May Stage and the Vancouver Fringe Festival (where it won the Popular Choice and the "Pick of the Fringe" awards).
In recent years, FCT was the regular venue for Pulitzer Prize-winning author/playwright Ray Bradbury and his Pandemonium Theatre Company. We mourn the loss of our friend and colleague.
FCT has been honored by the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle, The Valley Theatre League, The Pasadena Arts Council, Women In Theatre, The South Pasadena Chamber of Commerce, The City Of South Pasadena and The NAACP, among many other organizations.
In the News
"Holding On~Letting Go" Kickstarter Campaign Successfully Funded!
Our Kickstarter campaign to take our acclaimed show "Holding On~Letting Go" to the prestigious 2013 National Black Theatre Festival was a success! We thank all of our wonderful donors who made it possible to present this special show to a larger audience. For a list of all those who made our trip possible visit our Kickstarter Donor Angels page.
Click the Kickstarter button for more information about our campaign, including a video preview of the show!
FCT Interviews
NOTE: See Past Productions on this website for a partial list and information on past productions.
