THIRD STAGE COMPANY: A happy union for all involved

The Third Stage, a playhouse that’s made its home in Burbank since

the mid-1980s, has its first resident theater company settling in and

producing its first season of plays.

All principal players say they are pleased with this new union.

As artistic director of the Third Stage Company, playwright and

actor Justin Tanner has an agreement to produce a season of plays

this year and he is already planning for next year, he said.

“They will be a combination of original plays and revivals of

older plays with a stock company of 22 players,” he said.

His purpose is to start building an audience for new work in Los

Angeles, he said.

“I would love to get people from Hollywood, the West Side and

Silver Lake to come into the Valley,” he said. “It’s such a great

location. I want to make the theater a destination.”

The Los Angeles theatrical community is familiar with his work and

that should help bring those audiences to Burbank, Tanner said.

“People know what to expect, that my plays will be funny,

semi-intelligent, fast-paced and not too long,” he said.

Tanner has written several plays that have had runs at Third Stage

while it was under the ownership of James Henriksen, including “Wife

Swappers.” Henriksen sold the theater, to David Wells and D.J. Berg

in January.

“This year, I’ve been mentoring it,” Henriksen said.

Henriksen bought the theater in 1984 and built it from the ground

up. He and his wife, who also works in the entertainment industry,

decided to take a break and are moving to Tennessee for some

relaxation.

Henriksen will continue to act in Tanner’s plays and will serve as

an ongoing consultant.

“Justin’s stuff is special,” Henriksen said. “He is known for

overlapping dialogue. It’s rapid fire. It takes a special actor to do

it. Justin writes for those people and draws on their strengths.”

One of the theater’s new owners, Wells, is equally charmed with

Tanner’s work and is looking forward to the partnership, he said.

Wells is also starring in the company’s second production of the

season “Tobacco Road.”

“I am thrilled to have [Tanner] a part of this space,” Wells said.

“I think Justin’s a monster talent and very prolific. He has his own

unique take on the world, which is riotously funny and very

perspective.”

Wells added that Tanner has an impressive ensemble of talented

actors and directors involved, who bring their own following, which

will be great for the theater.

Laurie Metcalf of “Roseanne” fame and Tom Irwin of “CSI: Crime

Scene Investigation” are starring in Tanner’s “Voice Lessons” opening

Sept. 22.

“I think the fact he’s doing a season here and starting a

repertory company, I’m fortunate to stumble onto this opportunity at

the time I did because Justin’s writing is better than ever,” Wells

said. “He’s grown over the last few years and we are at Third Stage

and the public are going to be the beneficiaries of his work.”