Whitefire Theater is the place to go for actors, writers and even churchgoers. In desperation, he hastily rented casino equipment and rigged the stage of his Sherman Oaks theater to look like a casino. That was not the first time the Whitefire Theater had been used for a movie location. For the 16 years that Hirsch has operated it, the theater has served as the backdrop for everything from screenplay readings to castings to the filming of pilot television shows.
Groups also rent the space for other uses, from acting classes to church services.
You never know what you're going to get. In mid-September, the theater will host three plays produced by the Ark Theatre Company, a recently formed group that tends toward classic works. It's modest, but a little more appropriate for our needs. We don't do that kitchen-sinky natural stuff, so having that extra space is necessary. It's no surprise then that Hirsch works as a filmmaker, as well as a theater owner.