The Latest Stage was a Los Angeles based theatre company from 1983 to 1988.
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The L.A.TEST Stage was a 99 seat, Los Angeles Equity-waiver house, founded by director Benjamin Stuart Thompson and producer Ella Belzberg, with the intention of showcasing the work of a cutting edge group of actors, writers, directors, producers and theatre technicians. Initially, lectures and workshops were held in Theda Bara's home. In 1983, The L.A.TEST Stage started in a converted 5-car garage dubbed the "Cockroach Club" with 60 plush seats donated by UCLA’s Royce Hall. The first production was Sam Shepard’s Angel City starring Ron Cambell. "Angel City" played to full houses until the Los Angeles Fire Marshal ordered the theatre capacity not to exceed seven persons. Since the cast had five, the final performance was for an audience of two: the legendary producer, Ted Schmitt of the CAST Theatres in Hollywood and his assistant. After the performance, Schmitt handed over the keys to the C.A.S.T/Safe Harbor on La Cienega Blvd., which was converted into the L.A.TEST Stage. "The Latest Stage's trademark is productions full of frolicking energy, like their adaptation of Cyrano de Bergerac, which took place in an exciting pirate setting."