The Lyceum Theater's
American Coast Theater Company
Founded in 2007
Our Origins
The American Coast Theater Company (ACTC) was founded in 2007 by Producing Artistic Director Susan K. Berkompas and Broadway performer/Producing Artistic Director Amick Byram. In 2008, ACTC became fully incorporated as a non-profit theater under Section 501c(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Our premiere production was Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire, which opened to rave reviews at the Lyceum Theater on the campus of Vanguard University in Costa Mesa, California. In 2018, ACTC, which operates rent-free, dissolved the separate 501c3, so that our status would not be perceived as a conflict of interest to the parent organization, Vanguard University of Southern California. ACTC is the resident professional theater company at Vanguard University of Southern California.
Upcoming Shows in
ACTC's 2027 Summer Season
A Shakespearean Tragedy
An intense military thriller focusing on racism, power, and unbridled jealousy. Othello, a brilliant and respected Moorish general in the Venetian army, has it all: a thriving career and a passionate new marriage to Desdemona, a noble Venetian lady. But his happiness is threatened by his "trusted" subordinate, Iago. Passed over for a promotion, the envious Iago hatches a diabolical, intimate plot to take down the General. Exploiting Othello’s deep love and insecurity, Iago weaves a web of lies, fabricating a scandalous affair between Desdemona and a young lieutenant, Cassio. Set against a modern backdrop of war and intrigue, this high-stakes thriller explores how easily trust can be corrupted by jealousy, leading to a shocking and irreversible climax. A raw, emotional drama about how appearances can deceive, and how the closest relationships can turn deadly.
May 27-30
JUNE 4-6
JUNE 10-12
AT 2 & 7:30 PM
An Electro-Pop Opera
An immersive and explosive theatrical event that blends eclectic Russian folk and classical musical with contemporary indie rock based on a section of Tolstoy’s War and Peace. When the innocent and romantic Natasha arrives in glittering 1812 Moscow, she expects to quickly reunite with her fiancé, Andrey, who is away fighting Napoleon’s army. But the glamorous, vodka-soaked nightlife quickly ensnares her when she is seduced by the dashing but married rogue, Anatole. As her reputation is threatened, it falls upon Pierre to pick up the pieces, redeem her shattered name, and ultimately find his own salvation. A vibrant and emotional rock and roll experience!
“…a vibrant, ravishingly sung, and deliriously inventive adaptation turning the most serious novel of all time into the most gorgeous new musical in town.” – New York Times
Preview - June 17
JUNE 18-20
JUNE 24-27
July 1-3
AT 2 & 7:30 PM
