Rogue Machine Theatre returns with a bold and ambitious Season 18, offering four new-to-Los Angeles productions, a festival of original works in development, and a partnership with the Hollywood Fringe Festival. Season 18 opens on Saturday, October 4, 2025, at the company’s home base—the Matrix Theatre located at 7657 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046.
“What runs through all of the plays in this season is the theme of perception,” says Artistic Director Guillermo Cienfuegos. “How characters are perceived by others and themselves—this tension drives the storytelling.”
Season Opener: anthropology by Lauren Gunderson
Launching the season is the North American Premiere of anthropology by acclaimed playwright Lauren Gunderson, directed by John Perrin Flynn. This emotionally charged AI thriller follows Merril, a Silicon Valley software engineer who builds a digital simulation of her missing sister Angie. As the “virtual Angie” begins revealing clues, questions about identity, grief, and technological limits take center stage.
- Run: October 4 – November 9, 2025
- Tickets: Start at $45 with senior and student discounts available
- Reservations: roguemachinetheatre.org | Info: 855-585-5185
World Premiere: My Son the Playwright by Justin Tanner
January 24 – March 1, 2026 will see the world premiere of Justin Tanner’s My Son the Playwright, directed by Lisa James and performed by the author on the Henry Murray Stage. This autobiographical dramedy explores a fractured father-son relationship marked by decades of ego, resentment, and reluctant love. Tanner plays both his younger self and his father in a performance laced with raw humor and emotional depth.
- Run: January 24 – March 1, 2026
- Tickets: $45 with senior and student discounts
- Venue: Henry Murray Stage at the Matrix Theatre
L.A. Premiere: Fairview by Jackie Sibblies Drury
Rogue Machine brings Jackie Sibblies Drury’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play Fairview to its mainstage in March 2026. Set during a seemingly normal family birthday party, the play quickly unravels into a provocative, fourth-wall-breaking exploration of race, privilege, and perception.
- Run: March 14 – April 19, 2026
- Tickets: $45 with discounts for seniors and students
Fourth Production and Fringe Participation
A fourth production by a female playwright, to be announced, will open on the Henry Murray Stage in August 2026 and run through September.
In June 2026, Rogue Machine will participate in the Hollywood Fringe Festival, the largest performing arts celebration in Los Angeles. Running June 5 – 28, the Fringe empowers experimental and emerging artists to create bold work for new audiences—aligning perfectly with Rogue Machine’s mission.
July 2026: Playwright’s Roundtable Festival
From July 15 – 19, 2026, Rogue Machine will host the third annual Playwright’s Roundtable Festival, founded by Executive Director Justin Okin. The festival features world premiere readings of never-before-produced works from early and mid-career playwrights, including some transitioning from film and television.
- Tickets: Suggested donation of $20 (no one turned away)
- Purpose: Offers a behind-the-scenes look into the creative process and provides playwrights with vital audience feedback
A Track Record of Excellence and Innovation
Since its founding in 2008, Rogue Machine Theatre has established itself as a cornerstone of contemporary theater in Los Angeles. Known for its world premieres, nine of its productions have been published and six have gone on to major regional and international stages, including Off-Broadway and London’s Donmar Warehouse.
The company has garnered over 30 Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards and three Ovation Awards for Outstanding Production. In 2017, Rogue Machine won the Ovation Award for Best Season, standing out among major institutions such as the Geffen Playhouse and Center Theatre Group.
Rogue Machine is currently in residency at the historic Matrix Theatre, producing work that engages with urgent contemporary themes, including recent productions like Bacon by Sophie Swithinbank, Heroes of the Fourth Turning by Will Arbery, and Evanston Salt Costs Climbing by Will Arbery.
Season 18 at a Glance
- Oct 4 – Nov 9, 2025: anthropology by Lauren Gunderson
- Jan 24 – Mar 1, 2026: My Son the Playwright by Justin Tanner
- Mar 14 – Apr 19, 2026: Fairview by Jackie Sibblies Drury
- June 5 – 28, 2026: Hollywood Fringe Festival
- July 15 – 19, 2026: Playwright’s Roundtable Festival
- Aug – Sep 2026: Fourth production (TBA)
Website: roguemachinetheatre.org
Facebook: RogueMachineTheatre
Instagram: @RogueMachineTheatre
