NORTH HOLLYWOOD, Calif. – If Shakespeare is your jam then get thee to the El Portal Theatre. That’s where the Troubadour Theatre Company – or the Troubies as they are commonly known – are presenting their latest production.

The parody troupe was founded 25 years ago by Matt Walker, who was born, raised, even went to college in Santa Monica. His former high school drama teacher asked him to direct a production of The Taming of the Shrew. He cut it down to 60 minutes, added some songs and a cast of unconventional characters.

“Circus clowns, we had improv comedy actors, legit Shakespearean actors, and all that circus meets classical training developed into what is now the Troubies," Walker said.

Twenty-five years later, the Troubies are still mixing things up, mashing classic titles with modern music to form a funny, punny but seriously accessible piece of theater.

“We like to sort of try to tell the story the way Shakespeare might have if he’d had access to a five piece rock and roll band and the music of Weezer,” Walker said.

As in Julius Weezer. The Troubies don’t need permission to use the music. Their work is parody, but they do like to let the original artist know especially in this case when that artist is a fan.

Scott Shriner, Weezer’s bass player, has been coming to Troubies shows since a friend convinced him to see one more than a decade ago.

“I was reluctant but I was instantly won over,” Shriner said of that first show. “I always thought the musicians were amazing, the shows were great, and it made me laugh my butt off.”

Last week he even stopped by the theater to jam with the cast. “He said it was an honor to play with us,” Walker said. "He must have been drunk.”

After a quarter century, the Troubies have no plans to hang up their togas. In fact, producer Beth Kennedy said they have more titles than they know what to do with, thanks in part to social media.

“People are constantly sending us their ideas for mashups,” she said, with Walker adding, “We’ll take a good idea from anywhere as long as we get credit.”

Kennedy agreed. “We’ll take it and run with it,” she said.

The show runs at the El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood through until May 19. For show times, click here.