a fine blend of Southern California tea establishments
& tea-friendly enterprises
The GYPSY THEATER compendium has been serving up critically-acclaimed culinary and theatrical fare for more than a decade, with everything from Faerie Tale TeasTM and character serenades to sit-down whodunit dinners, audience-participatory radio shows and fully-staged plays. Our productions proffer something for every palate as well as group size and budget, with discounts for large groups and not-for-profit entities.
MASTERPIECE MYSTERIES blends the fine art of deception with a Rogue’s Gallery of colorful characters, all set against a backdrop of intrigue and suspense. As masters in the art of murder and recipients of the Chapeau Noir award for outstanding mystery, the troupe has distinguished itself with more than a dozen fully-solvable whodunits, lavish costumes, solid plots, clever dialogue, engaging musical numbers and opportunities for volunteer participants to play small roles or even play dead!
A superior court judge describes the Crime & Punishment Hands-on Crime-Solving Experience as “CSI meets Law & Order …. but much more fun”. With real crimes and real cases, participants have a real chance to test their sleuthing skills.
PHASE I - HOMICIDE 101: Investigative trainees comb a crime scene, search for clues, collect evidence and ultimately charge their chief suspect…. with murder!
PHASE II - BURDEN OF PROOF: After a brief refreshment break, all assemble in the ‘court room’ to re-enact the actual trial. Volunteers may serve as witnesses, jurors, or assistant counsel for the prosecution or defense. Once the jury has deliberated and a verdict has been rendered, the historic details of the original case and trial are revealed.
Lauded as pioneering leaders in environmental theater, the FRONT & CENTRE cast and crew most definitely think “outside the black box.” In addition to original plays, adaptations of beloved classics and performances in architecturally interesting milieus, cutting edge theatrical formats include ongoing soap opera style shows, and ground-breaking signature 'scenechronous' productions where interconnected storylines are staged in multiple rooms and areas simultaneously, just as in real life! In today’s theater world there is truly nothing like it. Landmark productions include Mrs. Boston’s Tea Party (story allowing viewers to follow characters of choice from room to room), Blind Pig (jazz age episodic production), The Supper Club (improve series based on current topics) and the critically-acclaimed STAGES[OnStage/OffStage/BackStage] where three shows are performed simultaneously and the audience chooses which performance to attend.
On the more lyrical side, Gypsy Theater presents a delightful array of serenade samplings.
Our popular Faerie Tale Teas appeal to fairy tale lovers of all ages, with adults making up the bulk of most audiences! Along with a classic tale recounted by either our slightly befuddled fairy godmother or story persona, the tale’s lead character
accents the action with a variety of song selections plus an opportunity for interactive participation by the audience.
MusicaliTeas beckon guests to relax with a fresh-baked scone and cup of soothing brew as a pair of costumed character vocalists perform highlights from a favorite Broadway show, all of which adds up to a truly pleasant afternoon outing.
Simply Standards are simply that -
an opportunity to hear some of the most ’swonderful s’marvelous ‘smusic to ever come out of Tin Pan Alley, performed live in an intimate setting.
The Main Electric Radio Hour -
Relive the golden age of radio with fully staged audience-participatory WWII era radio shows. A la Sam Spade and The Thin Man series, our tales noir plunge listeners into a world of danger and drama, heightened by audience-produced sound effects.
Sing-Along Cinema enables guests to indulge their inner ham. At these movie musical events not only is the audience allowed to sing out loud to their favorite cinema showtunes without the risk of being ‘shushed’ by fellow movie goers, but they are encouraged to do so... and even come in costume if they like. Songbooks are supplied as well as themed edibles and guests are invited to participate in trivia quizzes and activities that celebrate the film shown.
We also have a variety of talented performance artists from pop & jazz vocalists, pianists & harpists to improv and atmosphere actors to help set the stage for any theme event. All of our shows can be adapted to incorporate meal service, music and audience participation as desired, and can be customized for a particular group or organization. Other than ‘family’ and ‘children’s’ shows’ our productions tend to be best enjoyed by audience members 12 years and up.
We look forward to sharing the gypsy spirit of intimate live theater with you.
(See Gypsy Theater's Calendar page for thumbnail links to event photos.)
