> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.smdp.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Performing underground - URL: https://www.smdp.com/performing-underground/ - Published: 2007-09-13T15:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-25T01:00:34.000Z - Author: Melody Hanatani - Tags: Events, Promenade, #archive-import *Promenade Playhouse offers a taste of the eclectic in SM* DOWNTOWN The ever-so eclectic Third Street Promenade has long been known as the premier entertainment destination on the Westside, with three movie theaters, a seemingly endless program of street acts and restaurants that showcase late-night performances. But there’s another option in the promenade entertainment scene and it just takes a little digging to discover — just follow the applause. The Promenade Playhouse is buried deep into the corridor on the promenade, far enough away to shield itself from the ruckus of the street performances and the pleas of solicitors. The 11-year-old playhouse is located on the promenade, between Santa Monica Boulevard and Broadway. The theater, which holds two stages on the ground floor and a classroom on the second, is nearly hidden from public view — a small amount of advertising tacked onto a sandwich board right outside an unmarked door is the only evidence there is a performing arts venue located there. “It’s a one-of-a-kind space in a one-of-a-kind location,” said Scott Channon, who manages the theater and produces the Saturday night comedy show. Actress and producer Natalia Lazarus founded the Promenade Playhouse in 1996 as an acting school, opening the venue for public events in 2004. “I thought it was a waste to leave it as a school,” Lazarus said. The New Yorker was the associate director of the Duality Playhouse in the Big Apple before she relocated to Los Angeles to be a cast member on the ABC soap opera, “Port Charles.” A theatrical actress at heart, Lazarus longed to open a venue similar to the Duality Playhouse and found her dream in an empty narrow two-story structure on the 1400 block of the promenade. The old building underwent heavy-duty renovation — the ceiling was removed and an office and classroom were constructed on the second story. Today, the playhouse carries an underground aura, its walls made of brick and its stages made out of plywood, scattered with props. It’s the kind of place that is populated through word-of-mouth. “It’s very cute and very upscale,” Lazarus said. “It’s not your traditional black box.” The playhouse hosts a regular comedy show, titled “3rd Street Comedy,” and regular theatrical productions. But the theater is perhaps most well-known for its accredited two-year acting school where students can take the famous Sanford Meisner acting technique and character preference courses. At the conclusion of the program, students can graduate with an associate’s degree in drama. Vincent Lappas, who teaches some of the courses, said the playhouse gives promenade-goers another option besides watching a movie. “It’s such a fun place to perform because of the energy on the promenade,” Lappas said. “I love the option of bringing something fun to the weekenders.” The playhouse is looking to expand its reach, recently partnering with The Vine Entertainment, an Ocean Avenue-based production company, producing an industry showcase and a short film festival next month to coincide with the American Film Market. More than 300 shorts will be screened during the film festival. Gino Cabanas, the chairman of The Vine Entertainment, discovered the playhouse about three months ago while he was walking in an alley looking for a place to shoot a short film he was producing at the time. “It reminded me of the small intimate off-Broadway houses,” Cabanas said. “To me, theater is like a church — it’s a place where you’re very respectful of the work.” The Promenade Playhouse is located at 1404 Third Street Promenade. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/2026/10/091307-08_01.jpg) SAY CHEESE FOR THE CAMERA: Brad Greenquist, (holding the camera) who subleases theater space from the Promenade Playhouse, teaches a film acting class to his students last week. (Photo: Photos by Fabian Lewkowicz) *Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on September 13, 2007.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/091307.pdf?ref=smdp.com)