Center Theatre Group Of Los Angeles

AS ONE OF THE NATION'S MOST INFLUENTIAL NONPROFIT THEATRE COMPANIES, LOS ANGELES' CENTER THEATRE GROUP CONTINUES ITS 50-YEAR TRADITION OF USING THE ART OF THEATRE TO BROADEN HORIZONS AND ILLUMINATE NEW PERSPECTIVES AT ITS 3 THEATRES: THE AHMANSON THEATRE, MARK TAPER FORUM AND KIRK DOUGLAS THEATRE.

EDUCATION: CENTER THEATRE GROUP'S EDUCATION PROGRAMS SUPPORT THE NEXT GENERATION OF THEATREGOERS, ARTISTS, AND ARTISANS, ENCOURAGING THEM TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THEMSELVES, THE WORLD, AND THE ARTS. THROUGH WORKSHOPS, EVENTS, DISCUSSIONS, AND OTHER PROGRAMS, WE ENCOURAGE, SUPPORT, AND CONNECT YOUNG PEOPLE WITH THEATRE, AND WITH ONE ANOTHER WE ALSO SUPPORT EDUCATORS AND SCHOOLS THROUGH A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES DESIGNED TO BRING THEATRE INTO THE CLASSROOM, BRING STUDENTS TO THE THEATRE, AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF ARTS EDUCATION FOR ALL STUDENTS. EDUCATION HAS BEEN AN INTEGRAL PART OF OUR WORK SINCE 1971, WHEN WE LAUNCHED OUR PROGRAMMING FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AS A MEANS OF AMPLIFYING THE DIMINISHING STATE OF ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAMMING IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EACH YEAR, OUR PROGRAMS REACH THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS AROUND THE REGION. THE AUGUST WILSON MONOLOGUE COMPETITION ENABLES STUDENTS FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE TO DISCOVER AUGUST WILSON'S PROFOUND AND DEEPLY RELEVANT WORKS OF ART, STUDY THE CRAFT OF ACTING, EXPLORE THEIR OWN CREATIVE VOICES, AND LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR SHARED HISTORY AND THEMSELVES. CENTER THEATRE GROUP HAS BEEN THE LOS ANGELES HOME FOR THE NATIONAL AUGUST WILSON MONOLOGUE COMPETITION SINCE 2011. MORE THAN A CONTEST, THE AUGUST WILSON MONOLOGUE COMPETITION IS AN EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY THAT INCLUDES WORKSHOPS WITH TEACHING ARTISTS WHERE STUDENTS HONE THEIR ACTING AND STORYTELLING SKILLS, AUDITIONS WHERE THEATRE PROFESSIONALS OFFER FEEDBACK TO ALL PARTICIPANTS, AND AN INTRODUCTION TO AUGUST WILSON AND THE AMERICAN CENTURY CYCLE. CENTER THEATRE GROUP IS COMMITTED TO INVESTING IN THE TRAINING, SUPPORT, AND DEVELOPMENT OF EMERGING, YOUNG ARTISTS AND EARLY-CAREER ARTS PROFESSIONALS. WHETHER WE'RE HOSTING A PRE-SHOW MEET-UP FOR YOUNG THEATRE GOERS, A THEATRE TECHNIQUE WORKSHOP, OR UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE INTERNS, WE'RE BUILDING A CREATIVE HOME, A COMMUNITY OF PEERS, AND AN INCUBATOR AND LABORATORY FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF THEATREMAKERS AND LEADERS. OVER THE PAST DECADE, WE'VE COMMISSIONED 65 SHOWS AND PRODUCED 40 WORLD PREMIERES, MAKING US ONE OF THE NATION'S LEADING PRODUCERS OF AMBITIOUS NEW WORKS. WE CULTIVATE ARTISTS OF ALL GENERATIONS, CONTRIBUTING TO THE CULTURAL SCENE IN AND BEYOND LOS ANGELES BY HOSTING WORKSHOPS, NURTURING PLAYWRIGHTS, SUPPORTING LOCAL THEATRES, AND CREATING ART BY AND WITH THE COMMUNITY. WE ENCOURAGE OUR AUDIENCES AND OUR COMMUNITY TO TAKE A PLAY OFF THE STAGE AND INTO THEIR LIVES. OUR INTERACTIVE PROGRAMS, FROM COMMUNITY BASED ART AND DIGITAL CONTENT TO DONOR EXPERIENCES AND PRE- AND POST-SHOW EVENTS, REACH ACROSS GENERATIONS, DEMOGRAPHICS, AND CIRCUMSTANCE.

DIGITAL STAGE: WITH THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC PRECLUDING LIVE THEATRE PRODUCTIONS, CENTER THEATRE GROUP VENTURED INTO THE PRODUCTION AND PRESENTATION OF ONLINE THEATRICAL PRODUCTIONS FOR PATRONS TO STREAM AT HOME. THE PURPOSE OF THE INITIATIVE WAS TO MAINTAIN ENGAGEMENT WITH EXISTING AUDIENCES WHILE ATTRACTING NEW AUDIENCES FROM LOCATIONS OUTSIDE OF LOS ANGELES. A NUMBER OF THE STREAMED SHOWS WERE FILMED LIVE AT THE KIRK DOUGLAS THEATRE, WHILE OTHERS WERE LICENSED FROM THEATRICAL PRODUCERS SUCH AS THE STRATFORD FESTIVAL AND MATTHEW BOURNE. ADDITIONAL PARTNERSHIPS WERE INITIATED WITH L.A. THEATRE WORKS, OREGON SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL, AND OTHERS.

ALL THREE OF CENTER THEATRE GROUP'S THEATRES, THE AHMANSON, MARK TAPER FORUM, AND KIRK DOUGLAS THEATRES, WERE SHUTTERED FOR THE ENTIRE 2020-2021 SEASON. THERE WERE NO TICKET OR SUBSCRIPTION REVENUES RECOGNIZED FOR THE SEASON, AS THEY ARE RECOGNIZED AT THE TIME OF THE THEATRICAL PERFORMANCE. HOWEVER, THERE WERE SUBCRIPTION AND TICKET HANDLING FEES RECOGNIZED IN THE YEAR IN WHICH THE PURCHASE OCCURS. RENT AND OTHER OCCUPANCY COSTS WERE INCURRED TO MAINTAIN THE THEATRES DURING THIS PERIOD. DESPITE THE THEATRE CLOSURES THERE WERE STILL SIGNIFICANT EXPENDITURES ASSOCIATED WITH THE ARTISTIC, PRODUCTION, AND MARKETING DEPARTMENTS, PRIMARILY RELATED TO WAGES AND BENEFITS FOR STAFF MEMBERS ENGAGED IN SUPPORTING ACTIVITITES DURING THIS PERIOD WHILE PLANNING FOR UPCOMING SEASONS. BOX OFFICE AND TICKETING STAFF MEMBERS WERE ALSO NEEDED TO REFUND OR EXCHANGE TICKETS AND SUBSCRIPTIONS FOR THE CANCELLED SEASON.