OC Theatre Guild Vows to 'Nurture, Support and Promote' Local Companies

The long and storied history of Orange County's theater community is littered with various collectives that have drifted into obscurity due to insufficient focus, funding, organization and leadership and an inability to keep participating individuals and theater companies on the same page.

Enter the OC Theatre Guild.

You're probably thinking that the Guild came into being in response to the pandemic. Not true. And it would be reasonable to assume the dismal track records of previous similar cooperatives are reliable indicators as to OCTG's ability to survive – but its success since it was launched two years ago suggests this one has little in common with past failed entities. It also suggests that the Guild is likely to become a fixture of the theater scene rather than a passing phenomenon.

OCTG's founders and those who now run it feel in some way that such a cooperative effort among Orange County's theater companies isn't just necessary but vital. That the pandemic has had such a devastating effect on all local live theater has only underscored the urgent need for an OCTG to come into existence.

It took a handful of years for the Guild to get a running start. Sharyn Case said that she and Brian Page, who forged careers as directors at several smaller Orange County theater companies throughout the 1980s, '90s, '00s and teens, recognized "the need for a more united theater community."

Orange County Volunteers Reflect on Why They Are Serving Their Community

For years now Martin Luther King, Jr. Day has been recognized nationally as a day of service in honor of a civil rights leader who defined greatness as serving others in the community.

For many here in Orange County, the global pandemic has allowed many residents and people who volunteer in the county to really live out that message.

Orange County has returned to Tier 1 of the California Re-Opening Plan, precipitating the closure of many of Orange County's arts and culture organizations and venues. In addition, a curfew for non-essential activities after 10pm has been instituted by the state government. Arts Orange County will continue to spotlight a mix of virtual and streaming arts and culture offerings along with in-person events that conform to the most current safety guidelines. We encourage everyone to keep their lives enriched by the arts, but safely! Save lives by wearing masks and respecting social distancing protocols. 

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