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CLASSIC THEATRE. MODERN MAGIC.

In an age of endless scrolling, viral trends, and algorithms that change by the hour, it might seem strange to place your faith in stories that are hundreds of years old. And yet, for 35 years, A Noise Within Theatre has done exactly that. They have been driven by the belief that the world's greatest plays aren't just relics of the past, but blueprints for understanding the present.

A 35 Year Love Letter to Los Angeles

In 1991, Geoff Elliott and Julia Rodriguez-Elliott withdrew the last $3,000 from their bank account to stage William Shakespeare's Hamlet at a time when classical theatre was rarely produced in Southern California. It was a leap of faith fueled not by certainty, but by a belief that Los Angeles deserved a home for world-class classical theatre.

Thirty-five years later, that leap has become one of Southern California's leading cultural institutions. Now located at its permanent home in a beautifully restored mid-century modern theatre in Pasadena, A Noise Within has produced more than 250 plays, welcomed generations of artists and audiences through its doors, and inspired thousands of students through its acclaimed education programs that welcome more than 18,000 students every year.

As A Noise Within celebrates its 35th Anniversary Season, they reflect not only on their past, but on the urgent call of the times we live in. This milestone season, themed "Those Better Angels," draws inspiration from Abraham Lincoln's enduring call to our better nature, a reminder that kindness and compassion light the way forward.

For 35 years, A Noise Within has been more than a theatre. It has been a love letter to Los Angeles, addressed to the artists who built careers here, the students discovering the classics for the first time, and the audiences who gather in the dark. Here, they have learned that the world's greatest stories still have the power to surprise us, challenge us, and bring us together.

about us

A hidden gem in Pasadena, A Noise Within is a leading regional theatre company producing classic plays.

Described by the Los Angeles Times as “an oasis for those who love classic stories,” A Noise Within is committed to bringing to life classic theatre with a touch of modern magic.

Our signature thrust stage, modeled after the classic Elizabethan playhouses of Shakespeare’s time, surrounds the action with audience on three sides. This timeless design brings you closer to the drama, making every performance immediate, dynamic, and alive!

THEN AND NOW

From our beginnings in a Masonic Temple in Glendale to our beautiful permanent home in Pasadena, A Noise Within now boasts a 30,000 square-foot facility, 324-seat theatre and thrust stage, rehearsal space, scene, costume shops, and more!

LEaDER of arts education

A Noise Within’s Education Program has grown to serving more than 18,000 students every year with robust programs including Summer with Shakespeare, Youth Classes, Teen Leadership Council, and more!

Photo: Jessica Williams, Veralyn Jones, Alex Morris, and Gerald C. Rivers in Joe Turner's Come and Gone Photo by Craig Schwartz..

Photo: Kasey Mahaffy in A Midsummer Night's Dream. Photo by Craig Schwartz.

Photo: Kelly Ehlert, Abigail Marks, and Jessie Losch in Eurydice. Photo by Craig Schwartz.

Photo: Cast of A Man of No Importance. Photo by Craig Schwartz.