Bette Aitken

Review: TICK TICK...BOOM! at Chance Theater
by Amanda Callas - Feb 11, 2025

TICK TICK...BOOM! is an inspiring hit musical at the award-winning Chance Theater in Anaheim through February 23rd.  Set in New York City in 1990, this is a poignant love letter to Jonathan Larson, composer of the Broadway mega-hit musical Rent. Surprisingly for something that is grounded in real life and in real struggle, there is so much reach-for-the-sky, genuine optimism in TICK TICK...BOOM! that it feels restorative. 

SUCH SMALL HANDS World Premiere Announced At Chance Theater
by A.A. Cristi - Jan 18, 2025

Chance Theater will present the World Premiere of Such Small Hands, written by Adam Szymkowicz and directed by Matthew McCray (Hedwig and The Angry Inch, Rent).

AT THE VERY BOTTOM OF THE BODY OF WATER Kicks Off The 2025 OTR Season At Chance Theater
by A.A. Cristi - Jan 9, 2025

Chance Theater has announced the staged reading of at the very bottom of a body of water, written by 2025 Resident Playwright Benjamin Benne and directed by Sara Guerrero.

TICK, TICK...BOOM! Opens At Chance Theater This Feburary
by A.A. Cristi - Dec 27, 2024

Chance Theater has announced the highly anticipated production of Tick, Tick... Boom!, directed by H. Adam Harris (Boat Show). Running on Cripe Stage from February 1, 2025, through February 23, 2025, with previews beginning January 24, 2025.

EMMA THE MUSICAL Comes to Chance Theater
by Stephi Wild - Oct 29, 2024

Chance Theater has announced the highly anticipated return of Jane Austen’s Emma, The Musical, directed by Chance Theater Founding Resident Artist Casey Long. This enchanting adaptation by Paul Gordon brings Austen’s timeless tale of romance and matchmaking to life on the Bette Aitken theater arts Center’s Cripe Stage from November 29, 2024, through December 22, 2024.

Review: Chance Theater Presents OC Premiere of Dark Comedy GLORIA
by Michael Quintos - Oct 11, 2024

Offering a sharp and multi-layered commentary on modern workplace culture, unchecked ambition, and the public-stoked commodification of trauma, playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins' intriguing play GLORIA—a riveting new dark comedy that was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize—is currently having its OC premiere at Chance Theater thru Oct. 20 in Anaheim.

GLORIA to Headline Chance Theater Beginning in September
by Blair Ingenthron - Aug 24, 2024

Chance Theater, Anaheim's official resident theater company, has announced the Orange County Premiere of Gloria, the provocative and darkly comedic play by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins. Directed by the award-winning Marya Mazor, Gloria will run at the Bette Aitken Theater Arts Center from September 27 to October 20, 2024.

Chance Theater Presents SWEENEY TODD, THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET
by A.A. Cristi - Aug 9, 2024

Chance Theater in Anaheim extends its run of SWEENEY TODD through August 18th. Don't miss this thrilling production of the classic musical.

Photos: First Look At SWEENEY TOOD At Chance Theater In Anaheim
by A.A. Cristi - Jul 19, 2024

Chance Theater has released production photos of 'Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street,' directed by Chance Theater Literary Manager, James Michael Mchale.

Staged Redaing of TENDERNESS AND GRATITUDE NUMBER FOUR Comes to the Chance Theater
by Stephi Wild - Jun 21, 2024

Chance Theater will host a special staged reading of 'Tenderness and Gratitude Number Four,' a poignant new play written by the acclaimed Enid Graham. This event is part of Chance Theater's 'On the Radar' (OTR) series.

EMMA THE MUSICAL Returns To Chance Theater This September
by A.A. Cristi - Jun 8, 2024

Experience the return of JANE AUSTEN'S EMMA, THE MUSICAL at the Bette Aitken Theater Arts Center from November 29 - December 22, 2024.

Review: Chance Theater Stages OC Premiere of ALMA
by Michael Quintos - May 24, 2024

Having its OC Premiere at Chance Theater in Anaheim, CA through May 31, ALMA—the touching, poignant, and very timely play written by Benjamin Benne—delves dramatically into the complex, sometimes contentious, but achingly relatable relationship between a struggling single immigrant mother and her smart but stubborn American-born teenage daughter.

SWEENEY TODD Comes to the Chance Theater in July
by Stephi Wild - May 23, 2024

Chance Theater, Anaheim’s official resident theater company, has announced its highly anticipated production of 'Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street,' directed by Chance Theater Literary Manager, James Michael Mchale.

ALMA Extends at Chance Theatre
by Stephi Wild - May 15, 2024

Chance Theater has extended the Orange County Premiere of 'Alma,' written by playwright Benjamin Benne, winner of the ATC National Latine Playwrights Award, and directed by Sara Guerrero.

Staged Reading of CALL YOUR MOTHER Comes to Chance Theater
by Stephi Wild - Apr 2, 2024

Chance Theater will present the first musical of our 2024 On The Radar (OTR) New Works Series, “Call Your Mother,” with music, book, and lyrics by Morgan Hollingsworth and directed by Chance Theater’s Literary Manager James Michael McHale.

Chance Theater to Present The Orange County Premiere of ALMA
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Mar 29, 2024

Chance Theater will present the Orange County Premiere of 'Alma'' written by the powerfully fresh voice of playwright Benjamin Benne. Learn more about the show and see how to purchase tickets.

SPECTRUM SPEAK UP Offers Teens on the Autism Spectrum a Free Theater Camp
by Stephi Wild - Mar 28, 2024

The Orange County Asperger’s Support Group (OCASG) and Chance Theater will be working together again this summer to present the Spectrum Speak Up outreach program.

TINY BEAUTIFUL THINGS Comes to the Chance Theater Next Month
by Stephi Wild - Mar 13, 2024

Chance Theater will present the stage adaptation of the globally beloved 'Tiny Beautiful Things,” based on the book by Cheryl Strayed and adapted for the stage by Nia Vardalos.

Review: Bold Staging of HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH Rocks Chance Theater
by Michael Quintos - Feb 9, 2024

Featuring a humorous yet surprisingly poignant original story from John Cameron Mitchell and piercing, high-octane tunes from composer Stephen Trask, the gloriously ribald glam-rock musical HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH is currently flipping its wigs out in a brand new extremely engaging production at the Chance Theater continuing thru February 25.

Photos: First Look at HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH at Chance Theater
by Blair Ingenthron - Jan 27, 2024

Chance Theater, Anaheim's official resident theater company, is kicking off its 2024 Season with the groundbreaking Tony Award-winning musical, 'Hedwig and the Angry Inch”, with book by John Cameron Mitchell and music & lyrics by Stephen Trask. Check out production photos here!