Monday, February 2, 2026

Young Eaton Fire Survivors Tell Their Stories in Free Pasadena Theatre Production

[Eddie Rivera / Pasadena Now]

In Other People’s Shoes Productions stages verbatim testimonies from anonymous youth, with therapist-led discussion to follow

A year after the Eaton Fire destroyed more than 9,000 structures in Altadena, a Pasadena theatre company is putting young survivors’ voices on stage—using their exact words.

The Fire Stories Project, a free staged reading at Lineage Performing Arts Center on Monday at 7 p.m., features the verbatim testimonies of young people who experienced the January 2025 fire.

Professional actors will perform the script, which was edited from interviews conducted by In Other People’s Shoes Productions in partnership with therapists from Pacific Clinics. The young people remain anonymous.

“We wanted to give young people the opportunity to have their voices heard, and to share their experiences of a very defining event in our community,” said Mireya Hepner, founder of In Other People’s Shoes Productions and co-creator of the project, in a statement.

The performance marks the final of three readings commemorating the fire’s one-year anniversary. Earlier performances took place at Altadena Main Library on January 31 and Pacific Clinics Training Center on February 1.

Janet Greaves, an In Other People’s Shoes board member who co-created the project with Hepner, said young people’s experiences of disaster are distinct.

“Adults have their own experiences and healing mechanisms,” Greaves said in a statement, “but young people’s experiences are unique, and we’re so honored that they were willing to share them with us.”

Each performance concludes with an audience discussion moderated by the creators and a Pacific Clinics therapist, offering attendees the opportunity to share their own stories or ask questions.

Pacific Clinics is California’s largest community-based nonprofit provider of mental health and substance use disorder services, according to the organization, serving more than 100,000 Californians. The organization partnered with In Other People’s Shoes to conduct the interviews, ensuring that participants would not be re-traumatized by sharing their experiences.

The Fire Stories Project is supported by the Pasadena Arts & Culture Commission, the City of Pasadena Cultural Affairs Division, and Eastside Arts Initiative.

The performance is free, but reservations are required. Register at inotherpeoplesshoes.org/fire-stories-project. Lineage Performing Arts Center is located at 920 E. Mountain St. in Pasadena.

“Our hope is to provide a way to help our community heal,” the theatre company stated on its website.