The Secret City, the Obie Award-winning arts organization that presents community celebrations of everyday creative life, joyously returns to Los Angeles at the Ford Theatres on Sunday, October 14 at 12:00pm.
Part ceremony, part salon, part show, each gathering has a different theme and an ever-changing roster of artists and performers. In addition to seats in the house, a limited number of seats are available on the Ford stage for this participatory and intimate event that will feature storytelling, a live band, performance, food, meditation, The Secret City Singers and joyful community interaction.
From its origins as a fortifying ritual for beleaguered theatre artists, The Secret City has grown into a half-irreverent, half-earnest blend of revival meeting and group meditation session.
Founding Artistic Director Chris Wells said, “Lately, I’ve been thinking of The Secret City as a tent revival. But tent revival might make you think of fire and brimstone and people speaking in tongues. So, maybe I should say artistic tent revival, but don’t let the artistic part of that phrase make you think it’s exclusive: The Secret City is for anyone in need of reconnecting to their source. Thousands of people have taken part in our services. Since 2012, we’ve been holding quarterly performances at the Bootleg Theater in Silverlake and are thrilled to be sharing our work on the Ford stage.”
Wells is a writer, actor, and community leader who creates live events, music, and stories. In 2010, Wells received a special citation Obie Award for creating The Secret City, for service to the artistic community of New York City. Wells’ theatrical work has also been honored with two LA Weekly Awards for Best Actor, a shared Garland award for playwriting and many Ovation awards for participating in ensemble-created work. In 2007, Wells was honored with The Charles Bowden Award from New Dramatists for his work in support of new play development.
Olga Garay-English, Executive Director of the Ford Theatres, said, “The Secret City is quickly becoming the most open secret in town! It is one of the most joyful ways to celebrate the arts and our humanity and I welcome them to the Ford Theatres with open arms. It makes all of us here very happy to host Chris Wells and his company at our venue – which is perfectly configured to give them a larger space, while preserving an intimacy of experience that is their hallmark.”
Tickets on sale now at https://www.fordtheatres.org/calendar/secret-city.
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