Mission

Our mission is to keep the vitally important tradition of classical theatre alive, while making it accessible and exciting to modern audiences. We strive to create experiences that are equal parts enrichment and entertainment, to produce shows that will appeal equally to die-hard Shakespeareans, and those who claim to hate Shakespeare alike. Shows that offer fresh takes on timeless stories. We aim to build a creative community that fosters artistic risk, intelligence and inclusivity. We are the 6th Act.

LIZA SENECA, Co-Artistic Director

Liza is originally from The Netherlands, but has called Los Angeles home for many years now. Since The 6th Act's inception, Liza has performed in the World Premieres of Sukkot and The $5 Shakespeare Company (both written by Matthew Leavitt), An Evening of Betrayal (which she also adapted), countless readings, and co-directed Sonnets From Suburbia. She is a member of The Antaeus Company where she has been seen in Twelfth Night, The Caucasian Chalk Circle (LADCC Nominee, Lead Performance), Les Liaisons Dangereuses, Cloud 9 (LADCC Award, Ensemble), and several staged readings. Other notable stage work includes Ameryka at the Kirk Douglas, Macbeth at Colorado Shakespeare Festival, Much Ado About Nothing at Kentucky Shakespeare Festival, Romeo & Juliet at Kingsmen Shakespeare Festival, The Boomerang Effect (also by Matthew Leavitt) at the Odyssey, A Shayna Maidel at ICT, and the LA and NYC premieres of Pulp Shakespeare. Her television credits include a recurring role on The Following among others. She is a prolific voice actor and can be heard in countless episodes of television, films, video games, and audio books. Some favorite voice credits include Ted Lasso, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Ready Player One, and Finding Dory. She is the co-creator of the Bard tribute series, This Week in Shakespeare: www.youtube.com/weeklyshakes

MATTHEW LEAVITT, Co-Artistic Director

Matthew Leavitt, a life-long Los Angeles native, is an award-winning playwright, director and librettist. After a summer of studying playwriting at Harvard University, he was a semifinalist in the Young Playwrights National Playwriting Competition founded by Stephen Sondheim, for his play Losers and Fools. Leavitt later graduated from Pomona College with a degree in Creative Writing. His award-winning play The Boomerang Effect is published by Concord Theatricals and has enjoyed productions throughout the US and the UK. His most recent play, Sukkot, just had its World Premiere at The Skylight Theatre in Los Angeles directed by Joel Zwick, His previous play, The $5 Shakespeare Company, was recognized as an LA Times Critics’ Choice. He has also been commissioned by LA Opera twice to write the librettos for two new operas, Orpheus and The Wreck of the Miranda (both collaborations with award-winning classical and film composer Nathan Wang). Directing credits include Hamlet (The 6th Act, winner of ‘Best Director of a Play’ Stage Scene LA Award), Legally Brunette (World Premiere - The Garry Marshall Theatre in LA, 54 Below in NYC), Sonnets From Suburbia (Edinburgh Fringe Festival, 59E59 in NYC), The Brothers Abelson Since 1946 (World Premiere - Electric Lodge), The Scorpion and the Frog: a time killer (World Premiere - Hollywood Fringe Festival), Showstopper (World Premiere - Whitefire Theatre), Double Play (World Premiere - Feury Theatre), Barfly Shakespeare (The 6th Act), Twelfth Night (Village Green Productions), The Taming of the Shrew (Village Green Productions), Arrival (Sci-Fest LA), and Goes The Weasel (Ammunition Theatre Company).