Studio City’s Rick Shaw Acquires The Secret Rose Theatre in NoHo

Shaw wasn’t even looking to sell Two Roads, which he had built into a charming, dynamic, and sought after theatre. However, he got an offer he couldn’t refuse and decided to “take a risk and trust the universe.”

Originally from New York, Rick has lived in Studio City for 30 years and appreciates the neighborhood vibe of Tujunga Village, the familiarity he has with local merchants and shoppers, and running into people he knows wherever he goes. Shaw loves the opportunity to schmooze with friends while walking down the street. “Studio City has everything I need.  I actually consider it a shlep if I have to travel all the way to Sherman Oaks or Hollywood.”

Rick sold Two Roads in 2012, having produced shows there for 7 years. Several months later, he was approached by Mike Rademaekers about taking over the Secret Rose, a fully-equipped 70-seat black box theatre in the heart of the booming NoHo Arts District. “Mike is a true theater person and designed every aspect of Secret Rose from the ground up. It has been beautifully laid-out, equipped and maintained.”

Rademaekers and Shaw have been close friends and colleagues, with Mike previously directing Rick in a successful run of “The Rabbi and The Shiksa” at the Secret Rose. Shaw credits Rademaekers for mentoring him as a theater director. “When the topic came up about taking over the Secret Rose,” Rick admits, “it just seemed to fit.”

“The NoHo Arts District,” Rick says, “is one of the hottest, most vibrant areas in LA”. He’s eager to “harness some of that vigor and make the Secret Rose a space exploding with creativity, artistry, and world-class professional presentations.”

Shaw has several exciting renovations planned for the theater, i.e. adding the name “NoHo Playhouse;” Hi Definition video screening capability; and initiating a large colorful mural to adorn the front of the building that will represent theater, the arts, and the vibrant Noho Arts District. He hopes the Secret Rose / NoHo Playhouse Mural will become a distinctive landmark in the vicinity.

Shaw is looking to produce original works, primarily romantic comedies, at the Secret Rose and NoHo Playhouse that he can take Off-Broadway to NY and develop into TV/Film projects. His hit comedy, ‘It’s Just Sex,’ is set to make its Off-Broadway debut this June at the Actor’s Temple Theater in New York, following a very successful 2-year run at Two Roads. Rick confesses, “To return to NY as the producer and director of a funny, sexy comedy will be an enormous thrill and a genuine highlight of my life.”

Rick conceives of the Secret Rose as “an incubator and launch-pad for the legions of incredibly gifted Hollywood writers, who literally have thousands of unproduced scripts collecting dust on their shelves. I can only imagine how many unproduced pieces of gold are out there.” he says. He already has numerous projects planned for the theater, including an original live game show along with a variety of innovative plays, musicals and comedy shows.

Shaw commenced his career as a stand-up comic and values the “energy and immediacy of live theatre,” describing it as the oldest performance art form.  “Anyone can put on a play. It doesn’t cost a fortune. Just get a script, rent a stage, hire some actors, sell some tickets, and boom you’ve got a play. If it’s good, people will come and see it.”

Shaw was previously a TV comedy writer/producer with the long-running CBS hit “The Nanny” among his countless credits. He has won and/or been nominated for two Cable Ace Awards, an NAACP Image Award, and an Emmy. He produced and directed the ovation-nominated play, “Kowalski,” about Marlon Brando’s legendary audition with Tennessee Williams for the role of Stanley in ‘Streetcar Named Desire.’ Now, he appreciates working in theatre because it allows him the freedom to express his visions without ‘creative interference’.

Rick is constantly impressed by the quality and quantity of our city’s skilled actors, writers, designers, musicians, comedians, craftspeople, tech people, who cherish “doing something on a small scale, where the art’s the thing.”

The Secret Rose will remain predominantly a rental space for theatrical performances, music/comedy/dance shows, acting classes, writer’s workshops, film screenings, seminars, staged readings, auditions, rehearsals, photo shoots, fashion affairs, private parties, community, social, and religious meetings. For current availability and scheduling, please contact Rick at 818-762-2272 or rickpshaw@sbcglobal.net.