Young thespians launch Creative Outlet Theater

Young thespians launch Creative Outlet Theater

Chad Allen, Heather Tom found novice company, star in group’s
premiere production ‘Biloxi Blues’

By Jennifer Richmond

Daily Bruin Senior Staff

They just got together to do a read-through of Neil Simon’s
"Biloxi Blues."

But once they realized how much fun they were having and how
great it sounded, the group of young actors decided to create their
own theater company specifically for young adults.

That group is the Creative Outlet Theater Company.

Bringing in many familiar faces, the theater company’s two
producers are "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman’s" Chad Allen and "Young
and the Restless" star Heather Tom. Both also act in "Biloxi
Blues," the Creative Outlet’s inaugural production.

"This is something that I’ve been really interested in and I
know Chad’s been really interested in for a long time," Tom
says.

"Heather and I actually talked about the idea of forming a
theater company several times in the past with actor friends. We
got together with some fine actors to do a read-through of ‘Biloxi
Blues’ and said ‘what the hell. Let’s do it, let’s go all the way.
Let’s create a company dedicated to young people, giving ourselves
and many young actors that we know the opportunity to put their
energy some place and create something good,’" Allen explains.

So, that’s what they did and that’s how Creative Outlet was
formed.

Although the actors decided to do "Biloxi Blues" before Creative
Outlet was an official company, Allen says the comedy seemed like
the perfect play for the group’s first production.

"Once the company was created," Allen explains, "we said it was
a logical choice. (The play) centers around young people and I
think it’s a wonderful play. I think it’s Neil Simon’s best and
it’s a real human story with a wide audience appeal.

"The idea behind starting this company," Allen continues, "is
that we want to get a body of support from the public and we think
this play is one that will appeal to everybody. We wanted to get
them behind us."

Allen and Tom also want to bring young actors in Los Angeles
together who don’t get to work in television and film or want to do
more work in theater.

"I think there are a lot of people in Los Angeles who, because
they might not fit into the television or film idea, don’t work,"
Tom adds. "They’re fine actors and I think the theater will give
them a chance to stretch their creative muscles."

Allen says it doesn’t matter who the person is or whether or not
they’ve been in television or film before, just as long as they
have a vested interest in the company and the theater district.

"We want a group of passionate people. If people come from
television or film or theater, it doesn’t matter," Allen explains.
"I don’t care where they come from. I don’t care if they’ve ever
worked in their lives. We’ve got people pushing sets around
backstage who are extremely passionate about wanting to be involved
in this company. These guys are working their asses off because
they’re sincere about wanting to create something good, as sincere
as we are.

"So, our only qualification is a heart and soul for creating
something good and feeling good about the work."

That desire has lead the two actors to other aspects of the
theater. For the first time, the two are producing and they say,
it’s not quite what they had expected.

"I think it’s very gratifying to see something go from start to
finish," Tom adds. "You know, to see the whole process."

"It’s very different," Allen says. "Especially trying to
separate your heads. It’s not so easy bouncing back and forth
between talking about money and advertising, and then going and
talking about character break-down. It was very strange a lot of
times and sometimes very annoying because at times I was like
‘aahh, I just want to act.’"

Even though Allen wasn’t as wild about producing, he says he and
Tom are going to remain in the same positions until Creative Outlet
gets off the ground.

"The goal of the theater company is to get it to the point where
the production is handled by the company," Allen says. "So it won’t
necessarily be a show produced by Chad Allen or Heather Tom, but
rather a show that is produced by the Creative Outlet. That takes
financial stability and a solid faith in the people running the
company."

"Not that I don’t have faith," he quickly adds, "because as it
stands right now, I have great faith in everybody involved. But I
don’t foresee either of us taking our hands away from running the
company. We’re both power hungry basically," he says with a
laugh.

"Yeah," Tom adds, "we’re control freaks."

But that desire for control won’t take away from the company. In
fact, the two hope to produce another show in May or June. But
until then, they’re concentrating on "Biloxi Blues."

STAGE: "Biloxi Blues." Written by Neil Simon. Running through
Feb. 18 at the Court Theatre. Performs Thursday – Sunday at 8 p.m.
TIX: $20 or $10 with a valid student ID. For more info, call (213)
857-0207.

Heather Tom is not only a founding member of the Creative Outlet
Theater Company, but also stars in the group’s first play, Neil
Simon’s "Biloxi Blues."

Comments to [email protected]