Our History

Victory Theatre Center was founded in 1980 by Artistic Directors Tom Ormeny and Maria Gobetti.

From its earliest years, the theatre focused on developing and producing new works for the stage. Through a combination of full productions, staged readings, and dramaturgical workshops, the theatre created opportunities for playwrights to explore and refine their work.

In 1997, the Victory Theatre Center acquired its current home on Victory Boulevard in Burbank, establishing a permanent creative hub for the development of new plays.

Over the decades, the theatre has presented more than one hundred productions and supported dozens of playwrights through its workshop and development programs.

The theatre continues to honor the legacy of Tom Ormeny by nurturing emerging artists and fostering meaningful collaboration across the Los Angeles theatre community.

38 years ago, The Victory Theatre Center was founded and built by its Artistic Directors, Tom Ormeny and Maria Gobetti, and a group of dedicated theatre artists and student volunteers. In 1997, with the help of its board of directors, 21 years ago the property was purchased. The Victory’s history attests to its commitment to the education of new talent and the development of new work. Since 1980, the Victory Theatre has presented over 100 productions and over 85 dramaturgical workshops. Over 80% of these productions and workshops were of previously unproduced new plays. Many moved on to much larger venues. These include:

The Miss Firecracker Contest by Beth Henley went on to a successful Broadway production, many regional productions and a major motion picture.

On the Money by Kos Kostmayer was an LADCC award winner and went on to regional productions.

Who’s Your Daddy? by Johnny O'Callaghan went on to Off- Broadway and The Edinburgh Festival.

History of Fear by Kos Kostmayer went on to regional production and in translation, a production in Germany.

Talking Things over with Chekhov by John Ford Noonan went on to an Off-Broadway production.

The Steven Weed Show by Shawn Schepps went on to the Edinburgh Festival.

Hollywood Follies by David Mann went on to cabaret dates in New York City and other venues on the east coast.

Catch a Falling Star by Lee Murphy was recipient of the Ovation Award for best new play went on to a regional production.

Monkey Grass by Lee Murphy received an Ovation Award nomination, two NAACP Image Award nominations, one Image Award and a L.A. Weekly Award.

Wishing Well by Jon Klein is currently optioned for a regional production.

Don’t Go Back to Rockville by Jamie Baker went on to a regional production.

T Bone ‘N Weasel by Jon Klein was a West Coast Premiere at the Victory initiating extensive regional productions of the play and a TNT movie starring Gregory Hines and Christopher Lloyd.

An Evening with the Egos by Joseph De Rosa went with the entire creative team, actors, director and designers to an AEA contract production in Chicago.

After two years of development, the Victory produced the world premiere musical drama American Iliad by Donald Freed

Resolving Hedda by Jon Klein went to Washington D.C.