Actors Gang Inc

PERFORMING ART - THEATRICAL

ARTISTIC PROGRAMMING ACHIEVEMENTS:THOUGH UNABLE TO OFFER AN IN-PERSON THEATRICAL SEASON DURING THE 2020/2021 FISCAL YEAR, TAG CREATED A SERIES OF VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING EVENTS DELIVERED TO AUDIENCES ACROSS THE US AND BEYOND. SINCE IT WASN'T POSSIBLE TO PRODUCE ITS ANNUAL SHAKESPEARE-IN-THE-PARK EVENT, TAG REALLOCATED THOSE RESOURCES TO CREATE AN ORIGINAL, VIRTUAL HOLIDAY SHOW, HOT CHOCOLATE HOLIDAY CLUB. THIS INTERACTIVE SHOW FOR FAMILIES WAS PRESENTED LIVE AND FREE OF CHARGE ON ZOOM FOR TWO PERFORMANCES BEFORE BEING MADE AVAILABLE THROUGH AN ON-DEMAND STREAM INTO JANUARY.ANOTHER ORIGINAL PLAY RESULTED FROM COMPANY WORKSHOPS BASED ON STUDS TERKEL'S HARD TIMES: AN ORAL HISTORY OF THE GREAT DEPRESSION. THE RESULTING PIECE, WE LIVE ON, EXPLORES 30 DIFFERENT STORIES A MIX OF STORIES DOCUMENTED BY TERKEL AND ORIGINAL STORIES FROM THE FAMILY HISTORIES OF CAST MEMBERS OF COURAGE AND DETERMINATION. A TESTIMONY OF WHAT IT TAKES TO SURVIVE UNPRECEDENTED TIMES, THESE STORIES ARE NOW PRESENTED VIRTUALLY IN THREE PARTS, TEN STORIES EACH PERFORMANCE. WE LIVE ON WAS PRESENTED AS A WORKSHOP PRODUCTION IN JUNE, EACH PART PERFORMED FOUR TIMES FOR A TOTAL OF TWELVE PRESENTATIONS. TIM ROBBINS AND THE CAST CONTINUED TO WORK ON THE PIECE THROUGHOUT THE WORKSHOP PERFORMANCES BEFORE FINALIZING THE WORK FOR A FULL-SCALE VIRTUAL PRODUCTION FOR THE FOLLOWING SEASON.ADDITIONAL ONLINE OFFERINGS INCLUDE: 45 SECONDS OF LAUGHTER, A DOCUMENTARY ABOUT THE PRISON PROJECT; CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED EMBEDDED, A RETURN TO THE DIGITAL STAGE FOR A LIMITED SCREENING RUN; BOBBO SUPREME, A RADIO SATIRE IN THE TRADITION OF THE MERCURY THEATER. EACH OF THESE THREE RECORDED PIECES WERE LIVESTREAMED MULTIPLE TIMES OVER THE COURSE OF SEVERAL MONTHS. PRISON PROJECT ALUMNI PRESENTED BEGINNING, MIDDLE AND WORKSHOP, AN OPEN WORKSHOP THAT SHARED THEIR EXPLORATION OF TAG'S SIGNATURE STYLE AND THEIR OWN EXPERIENCES BEING INCARCERATED. THIS OPEN WORKSHOP GREW OUT OF WEEKLY TRAINING SESSIONS THE ALUMNI COORDINATED TO CONTINUE IMPROVING THEIR SKILLS AS PERFORMERS AND TEACHING ARTISTS (TAS) FOR THE PRISON PROJECT.TAG REVIVED THE AXIS MUNDI CONVERSATION SERIES ON THE DIGITAL STAGE. THESE PUBLIC FORUMS BRING TOGETHER WORLD RENOWN THEATER MAKERS TO ANSWER VITAL QUESTIONS ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THEATER AND ARTS AND WHAT IT MEANS TO CREATE IN PANDEMIC TIMES. THE SERIES BEGAN WITH A CONVERSATION BETWEEN TIM ROBBINS AND CHILEAN SCREENWRITER, PLAYWRIGHT, AND THEATER DIRECTOR GUILLERMO CALDERON AND CONTINUED WITH RENOWNED THEATER MAKERS ARIANE MNOUCHKINE AND PETER BROOK. THESE THREE CONVERSATIONS WERE PRESENTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH TEATRO A MIL, A CHILEAN NONPROFIT THAT SEEKS TO PROVIDE GREATER ACCESS TO CULTURE FOR CHILEAN AND LATIN AMERICAN COMMUNITIES.ALL ONLINE OFFERINGS HAVE BEEN "PAY-WHAT-YOU-CAN" RECOGNIZING MANY PEOPLE HAVE SUFFERED SEVERE FINANCIAL CONSEQUENCES DURING THE PANDEMIC.OUTREACH PROGRAMMING ACHIEVEMENTS:TAGPP CONTINUED ITS REHABILITATIVE WORK IN PRISONS THROUGH DISTANCE LEARNING PACKETS MAILED TO THE PARTICIPANTS. MAINTAINING CONNECTION WITH TAGPP PARTICIPANTS HAS BEEN CRUCIAL IN THESE DIFFICULT TIMES, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE ISOLATED IN THEIR CELLS. THE PACKETS PROVIDED AN EMOTIONAL OUTLET AND HOPE AND THEIR WORK COULD BE COMPLETED INDEPENDENTLY AND MAILED BACK TO A TAGPP POST OFFICE BOX. THE CELEBRATION OF TAGPP'S 15TH ANNIVERSARY DEMONSTRATED THE HUGE IMPACT THE PROGRAM HAS HAD. THE 15TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION EVENT WAS ATTENDED BY MANY PROGRAM LEADERS, ALUMNI, AND SUPPORTERS. PROJECT ALUMNI PRESENTED ORIGINAL WORK AND SPOKE OF THE TRANSFORMATIONS THEY HAVE EXPERIENCED AS A RESULT OF THEIR WORK WITH TAGPP. THERE WAS A DISCUSSION WITH A PANEL THAT INCLUDED FORMER AVENAL PRISON WARDEN ROSEMARY NDOH AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM ACTIVIST SISTER HELEN PREJEAN. DURING THE EVENT, JOE SMOKE OF THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS SUBMITTED A COMMENT SAYING, "THIS PROGRAM IS SO VITAL AS A THERAPY FOR ALL PARTICIPANTSTHANKS FOR FIFTEEN YEARS OF SHOWING THE WAY TO BETTERMENT IS PAVED WITH OPTIMISM NOT PUNISHMENT. AS AN ACTORS' GANG SPONSOR, I CAN HONESTLY SAY WE ARE BETTERED BY ASSOCIATION WITH THE PRISON PROJECT."THE ACTORS' GANG EDUCATION DEPARTMENT (TAG-ED) EXPANDED ITS VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING DESPITE THE PANDEMIC'S CHALLENGES. NEW TEACHING ARTISTS (TAS) AND NEW PARTNERSHIPS WERE A PART OF THIS EXPANSION. TAG-ED TAS CONDUCTED 228 VIRTUAL WORKSHOPS BETWEEN JULY 1 OF 2020 AND JUNE 30 OF 2021. STUDENTS SPENT HOURS IN FRONT OF A COMPUTER EVERY DAY AND THEY LOOKED FORWARD TO TAG-ED WORKSHOPS TO PROVIDE A "BREAK" FROM THE MONOTONY. THEY WERE ENGAGED, EXCITED AND OFTEN DIDN'T REALIZE THEY WERE STILL LEARNING. DURING THE PANDEMIC, CHILDREN WERE PHYSICALLY SEPARATED FROM EXTENDED FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND ENVIRONMENTS WHERE SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING TAKES PLACE. THEY WERE IN LOCK-DOWN AND IN THE SAME SPACE EVERY DAY. TAG-ED WORKSHOPS OFFERED A WAY TO EXPRESS FEELINGS IN A PRODUCTIVE, POSITIVE AND CREATIVE MANNER, IN A SAFE SPACE WHERE STUDENTS WEREN'T JUDGEDALWAYS IMPORTANT, BUT PARTICULARLY VITAL DURING THIS TIME. TAG-ED WORKSHOPS PROVIDED A MUCH-NEEDED RESPITE FROM THE DAILY ROUTINE AND TRAUMA OF THESE CIRCUMSTANCES. STUDENTS BEGAN TO LEARN HOW TO HEAL AND STABILIZE THEIR EMOTIONS THROUGH TOOLS PROVIDED IN THE WORKSHOPS. SUMMER CAMP WAS CONDUCTED ONLINE THIS YEAR AND WAS AT CAPACITY. VIRTUAL SATURDAY CLASSES WERE ALSO AT CAPACITY FOR ENROLLMENT. ALL TAG-ED PROGRAMMING CONTINUES AND IS CONSTANTLY UPDATED TO PROVIDE THE BEST POSSIBLE EXPERIENCE THROUGH ONLINE SYNCHRONOUS WORKSHOPS.OTHER ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS THAT WERE NOT PLANNED AT THE TIME OF THE LAST GRANT SUBMISSION BUT HAVE BEEN IMPORTANT TO TAG'S FUTURE ARE FACILITIES IMPROVEMENTS. IN PREPARATION FOR CREATING THE SAFEST SPACE POSSIBLE FOR STAFF, STUDENTS AND THEATER PATRONS, A NEW HVAC SYSTEM HAS BEEN INSTALLED AND IS EQUIPPED WITH SAFETY MEASURES THAT WILL HELP REDUCE THE SPREAD OF THE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS AND MEET NEW OSHA REQUIREMENTS BY PURIFYING AIR, IMPROVING VENTILATION, AND MANAGING AIRFLOWS.INTERNAL FACTORS OF SUCCESS: NO FULLTIME STAFF MEMBERS WERE FURLOUGHED OR LAID OFF DURING THE PANDEMIC, ALLOWING THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE THEATER TO CONTINUE SMOOTHLY. TAG STAFF CONTINUED THEIR WORK REMOTELY, MEETING REGULARLY VIA VIDEO CONFERENCE AND COLLABORATING ON SOLUTIONS FOR DISTANCED WORKESPECIALLY TAG-ED AND TAGPP. TAG COMPANY ARTISTS REMAINED ENGAGED AND CONTINUED TO MEET WEEKLY UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, TIM ROBBINS, WHERE THEY CONTINUED TO CREATE NEW THEATRICAL PIECES. TAG MANAGING DIRECTOR WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO MANAGE TAG FINANCES AND ENSURE STABILITY DESPITE THE LOSS OF REVENUE DUE TO THE PANDEMIC.EXTERNAL FACTORS OF SUCCESS: TAG RECEIVED NEW GRANT RELIEF FUNDING FROM THE CALIFORNIA OFFICE OF THE SMALL BUSINESS ADVOCATE, THE LA ARTS RECOVERY FUND, THE BILLER FAMILY FOUNDATION, AND THE U.S. SMALL BUSINESS ASSOCIATE. TAG RECEIVED TWO RELIEF LOANS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S PAYCHECK PROTECTION PLAN: ONE FOR $272,295 AND ONE FOR $ $243,997. O THE FIRST LOAN HAS BEEN FORGIVEN AND TAG HAS RECENTLY STARTED THE FORGIVENESS PROCESS FOR THE SECOND LOAN. TAG-ED PARTNERSHIPS:O CONTINUED PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOS ANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, CULVER CITY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, COMPTON UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE ARTS FOR HEALING AND JUSTICE NETWORK (AHJN), FRONT AND CENTER COLLABORATIVE, LOS ANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT'S ARTS BRANCH NETWORK, O DEVELOPED NEW PARTNERSHIPS WITH WOODCRAFT RANGERS, LA PARKS AND RECREATION, LA YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND DIVERSION, AND LA'S BEST. TAGPP CONTINUED PARTNERSHIPS WITH CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND REHABILITATION, LOS ANGELES COUNTY PROBATION DEPARTMENT, AHJN, WALDEN HOUSE/HEALTHRIGHT 360 AND ANTI-RECIDIVISM COALITION. TAGPP IS WORKING WITH CORRECTIONS OFFICERS AND STAFF TO EFFECT CHANGE AND IMPROVE THE WAY THEY INTERACT WITH INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS.CHALLENGES:TAG HOPED TO BE ABLE TO REOPEN ITS THEATER AND CONTINUE PERFORMANCES BY THE SUMMER OF 2021. GOVERNMENT GUIDELINES IN RESPONSE TO THE SPREAD OF THE DELTA VARIANT OF COVID-19 DISRUPTED THIS PLAN. WHILE TAG ENSEMBLE COMPANY MEMBERS REMAINED ACTIVE WITH PROJECTS SUCH AS HOT CHOCOLATE HOLIDAY CLUB AND WE LIVE ON, TAG WAS UNABLE TO CREATE THE HIGHLY PHYSICAL AND INTIMATELY COMMUNAL WORK THAT IS ITS TRADEMARK. TAG'S ANNUAL OUTDOOR SHAKESPEARE-IN-THE-PARK SERIES HAD TO BE CANCELLED IN AN ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION FOR ITS PATRONS. THE LACK OF IN-PERSON PROGRAMMING WAS AN UNAVOIDABLE OUTCOME OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS.IN RESPONSE TO THIS ISSUE, TAG EMPLOYED STRATEGIES IN TWO DIFFERENT AREAS: INFRASTRUCTURE AND COMMUNICATION. PURCHASE OF COMPUTERS AND PADS WHEN NECESSARY ALLOWED STAFF TO WORK SAFELY FROM HOME AND PARTICIPATE IN BI-WEEKLY STAFF MEETINGS CREATE THE SPACE FOR CROSS-DEPARTMENTAL COMMUNICATION. IN THESE MEETINGS, STAFF MEMBERS RECEIVE UPDATES FROM THE MANAGING DIRECTOR AND ARE GIVEN THE SPACE TO ALERT OTHER DEPARTME