Chris Berube The Next Stage/Tres Stage Total scam, shady, touchy, causes drama, doesn't pay actors Los Angeles
Please read this. This man needs to be stopped. He uses actors that are new to Los Angeles to put on the same plays he has been doing for years and years. Not only is it bad enough that no one wants to enter the theatre because it probably has a million health code violations and is completely embarrassing to be a part of, but also he doesn't pay his actors. I don't know ONE person who got paid without having to threaten him. His records are a crock of crap. He literally has his records thrown all over the floor of his "office" which is a dirty closet in the dressing room. He doesn't have anyone clean this theatre EVER. It's absolutely disgusting. No one shows up to even see the shows really unless you invite them which
is his whole thing. He begs you to invite your friends to see his out of date shows that he barely directs so that he can make $20. You have to provide your own costume and do not receive compensation at all. I did a show there and he didn't even direct us, some girl was there half of the time who didn't even know the show or the blocking so it was a huge waste of time to rehearse half of the time. Some of the actors are horrible and he doesn't even care. One guy barely spoke English and instead of working with him, Chris just let this guy embarrass himself and the quality of the show (which was pretty terrible anyway) went down as well. Then he talks to his cast and tells them not to believe what's online
because people are stupid and hate him. He's plays a victim so that you feel bad for him because he is a master manipulator and the biggest liar I've ever encountered in my life. The only reason I'm really posting this is to tell you do not go here. Ever. For anything. I don't care if it's a different director and Chris isn't even involved or whatever- it's a waste of time, embarrassing to perform there, so dirty you legit get colds from just being in there and you do not, and I repeat, you do not get paid unless you basically rip the money out of his hands. Also, he makes fake accounts online to stalk his actors that he bands from the theatre. All of the replies saying "I got paid" I can guarantee you one hundrend
percent are him. If you had someone track it, I promise any good review is him because he is a scam artist and it's not right. He bans actors from the theatre for no reason whatsoever and threatens to have them forcibly removed. Yes, it is about performing and doing what you love at the end of the day but why are you all still helping this man make money off of you? Do you not realize that this is not the only place in Los Angeles to do something? I talked with a guy that used to work there for a long time, he is in a show with me now and he helped me investigate this theatre before I quit so I could tell you all DO NOT GO HERE. Oh and when I originally applied online the show that was listed wasn't even playing at the
theatre and there was no character with the name of who I was called back for. He's not even putting the correct titles of shows so what you're auditioning for isn't what it says. I am so glad I met this guy when I did because I just moved to Los Angeles about 6 months ago and started doing this show. It felt wrong, Chris was always hitting on me and was late every single day if he was even there- totally unprofessional. He told me he writes for all these shows like Starwars and stuff but has NO credits for any of that on IMDB. Quick lesson- if they aren't credited on IMDb then they were either an extra or they're lying. Also- if someone has to immediately defend themselves against all of the negative reviews they
have, then they are probably actually legimitely real reviews. Please guys, don't make the same mistake I did and "finish out the show." I could honestly go on for ages about how wrong what he does actually is. The only reason the theatre is still running is because he uses people new to Los Angeles and tricks them into thinking they're involved in something that's paid. I look forward to Chris's response under a bunch of random accounts he made to make himself not look like a giant d****e mixed with a turd sandwich topped with an entire pot of BS and lies. And Chris if you try to reply as yourself- no one cares because you're a liar, a thief and an abusive man and your theatre is going to go down soon. Thanks for not paying me after I came in to see you NUMEROUS times and called the theatre like it was my job. -Gina
1 Updates & Rebuttals
Chris Berube
Hollywood,California,
USA
From Chris Berube
#2REBUTTAL Owner of company
Wed, October 19, 2016
For those reading this crap for the first time. Maybe you’re thinking of coming in for an audition or maybe you just got cast in a production and have come upon this. The only thing I can tell you is to ASK about these things. When you are at the theater, come to my office and check it out. Come see some shows (I’ll comp you and a guest). Talk to the actors actually working at the theater (you’ll find more than a few that have performed before and re upped to do another show). Ask the tough questions. Look for anyone who comes in and is forcibly removed or refused their pay. If you find ANY of these accusations to be true, then feel free to quit. I really can’t destroy your career, (nobody can). We go through a lot of actors at my theaters. (most theaters do the same) and I do ask that the actors promote the show to their friends and family (all theaters do). Nobody is punished or penalized if they don’t bring audience. I do have to fire a person every now and then. Everything from drug use, to placing their fellow actors in danger on stage, ( I have a list you wouldn’t believe). Sometimes these kooks jump on the internet and start slamming complaints and threats of “SCAM” because they have nowhere else to go. These accusations are not true, so they put me in position where I’m really not able to fairly defend myself and my theater. It’s a no win for everyone except the bitter troll hiding behind the keyboard. So all I can do is ask for you be better than that. Stand on your own and come see for yourself, think for yourself and find what really is going on. If you are not able to rise up and think and see for yourself, then there’s really nothing more I can do …and I wish you well.
As for GINA
So “Gina”. I take it you didn’t have a positive experience at my theater. Your whole complaint seems to be confusing as you said you “quit”…and then claim you did your run and never got paid.(????) If anyone says anything positive about me, it’s just me lying (nothing else)..yet anyone that says something negative is legit and on the money. (seems fair enough in your book)
This kind of “review” always seems to happen on this “rip off” site. Unfounded accusations and threats about this tyrannical world that’s been created and can never be defended. Of course the full name is never given and the person that got “scammed” remains anonymous. It’s just all too safe and convenient. Or just hide behind a BS name like “GINA”
Of course there is no substantial proof that can be submitted, only accusations from people with so many holes in their stories, it would take far too much time to point out…or the alleged “friend” that had some inside scoop on the ugly side of what’s REALLY going on. It’s just a no-win wall set up that I can’t possibly offer any kind of defense for or with.
Or maybe there is …..
How about I help you! Eh? How about that! No better way to prove things than video, right? I mean here on this site, it’s just your words with no real proof to back them up. RIGHT?
If I made a video showing my theater (which passes all inspections including health each year). If I took pictures of audience and got testimonies from experienced actors that had a positive run and got paid. You would still scream “SCAM” and claim it was all staged and fake. Really nothing I can do here.
BUT!?
What if YOU came in with your camera? YOU GET TO PROVE YOUR POINT AND HAVE THE PROOF TO BACK IT UP! Go ahead. Come to the theater ANY time you want. Don’t give me a chance to clean things up or call in my “people” to say what I tell them. Come on in and film my office and prove that my files are all over the place! Talk with the actors and prove that only the “new and uneducated” are cast. Interview the people at the Monday night workshop and expose all the poor souls that never got paid. You are so sure these people exist, with the way you went on and on…there should be no problem. You will have some undisputed proof and boy , will I look like a fool.
BUT!
Here’s the catch … When you come in unannounced and start filming. Realize that someone will be filming YOU as you make this video. Yeah. If the office is not how you portrayed it. BOOM! If there are actors working there that are indeed experienced and not new to LA , BOOM! If there are actors there at the Monday night workshop that have been paid BOOM! I will post the video and links up…and yeah…you will look a more foolish buffoon. But hey..come on …you’re so sure of these accusations, there’s just no way you can be wrong. Should be an easy cake walk, to get this footage.
Now you can’t disrupt an entire rehearsal, nor can you disturb a show. But if what you say is true, it shouldn’t take more than a few minutes to get all this footage. And the person taking the footage has to be someone who has indeed worked here, not someone “sent by Gina”. Gotta be the person making the accusations (the one I evidently “hit on”)
So the ball is now in your court “GINA”. I throw down the gauntlet and challenge you actually have the integrity to stand up and support your accusations instead of hiding in the shadows and throwing crap like a cockroach. Do you really have a case? Or are you some cowardly fool hiding behind some made up identity spewing your own tales because you refuse to take the responsibility for your actions that most likely got you fired.
So either we’ll see a damning video that exposes me to be the monster that you painted me as , and all the world will know what you say is true. Or maybe an attempted video that destroys your case as you find things that don’t exist and proves you to be who you really are. My guess is that there will never be a video and you will go back into the shadows of the internet to change your name (again) and pose as another person extolling the complaints of this theater company.
I look forward to seeing you prove your case, or seeing nothing happen which will prove mine. Best of luck!