Fremont Centre Theatre

The Fremont Centre Theatre (FCT) is a 75 seat 501 (c)(3) non-profit professional theatre located in an historic building in South Pasadena.

Mission Statement:

"It is FCT's mission to discover and rediscover plays of value to produce in an artistic atmosphere that nurtures creativity, originality, and excellence. In addition, FCT is committed to producing theatre that promotes diversity and attracts diverse audiences."

FCT History

The California Performing Arts Centre opened the Fremont Centre Theatre (FCT) in 1997 under the Co-Artistic Director leadership of James and Lissa Reynolds. Since then, more than 50 shows have graced the FCT stage.

FCT's first production was Three Songs, an original play by William Mesnik about Hollywood blacklisting. A runaway hit, this inaugural show became an Equity production, setting the tone for FCT's mission to encourage, nurture and launch new plays and new playwrights.

In addition, FCT is committed to theatre that reflects and promotes diversity. Its productions include I, Too, Am America!, a play about the African American experience; Herotique-Ahh, chronicling the lives of three African-American women over age 40; Dibujos De Nuestra Frontera, an exploration of Mexican identity and immigration; National Pastime, the story of Jackie Robinson and the desegregation of baseball and of the United States; Coming To America—Transformations, based on the experiences of women from other countries now living in the U.S.; and Suzan-Lori Parks' Pulitzer Prize-winning drama, TopDog/Underdog, which went on to New Jersey's Cape May Stage as an Equity production. Recent FCT world premiere productions include South Of Delancey, drawn from the real-life struggles of seven working class Jewish residents in New York City's Lower Eastside; and Holding On—Letting Go, an examination of illness and end-of-life issues.

FCT gained an international presence when it sent its critically acclaimed production of Elizabeth Forsythe Hailey's A Woman of Independent Means to the Winnipeg Fringe, the Cape May Stage and the Vancouver Fringe Festival (where it won the Popular Choice and the "Pick of the Fringe" awards).

In recent years, FCT was the regular venue for Pulitzer Prize-winning author/playwright Ray Bradbury and his Pandemonium Theatre Company. FCT is also home to the Metamorphosis Theatre Company and its Detour Improv Comedy shows for family audiences. We mourn the loss of our friend and colleague.

FCT has been honored by the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle, The Valley Theatre League, The Pasadena Arts Council, Women In Theatre, The South Pasadena Chamber of Commerce, The City Of South Pasadena and The NAACP, among many other organizations.

JAMES REYNOLDS (Co-Artistic Director) has been acknowledged as the African-American actor with the longest continuing role in the history of television: Abe Carver on NBC's Days of Our Lives. He is a three-time Emmy nominee, for Generations and NBC's Days of Our Lives, and is a NAACP Image Award nominee. James has appeared in more than 50 television shows and films, and in over 100 theater productions. As a director, he has more than 25 plays to his credit including the FCT world premieres of The Tangled Snarl, Murder Me Once and National Pastime, which were published as a result. A former Marine, James travels for the USO and Armed Forces Entertainment and is the Spokesperson for Hospitalized Veterans.

LISSA REYNOLDS (Co-Artistic Director) has produced and Co-produced over 40 plays. She has received the Red Carpet Award from Women In Theatre, Arts & Business Award from The South Pasadena Chamber Of Commerce. As an actress she currently tours in the award-winning solo show of Elizabeth Forsythe Hailey's A Woman Of Independent Means here and abroad. She travels with her husband James for Armed Forces Entertainment Tours and the USO. Lissa was awarded the 29th Congressional District Woman of the Year Award for her outstanding contribution to her community. Women In Business honored her as the 2010 Woman In Arts & Entertainment. She is also the Founding Director of the South Pasadena Arts Council (SPArC), a non-profit that promotes and advocates for the importance of the arts in a community.

The Rotery Club of South Pasadena has honored both James & Lissa Reynolds as Citizens of the Year.

NOTE: See Past Productions on this website for a partial list and information on past productions.