CTGLA launches "L.A. Theatre in the Time of a Pandemic and Beyond"
Jill Weinlein - Chief Los Angeles Theatre Critic
Center Theatre Group’s “Art Goes On” project has just been expanded with L.A. Theatre Speaks, a biweekly series of live-streamed public discussions. Members of the local theatre community discuss the issues and opportunities they are facing in this time of crisis. The series launches next Thursday, April 23 at 3 pm PT with “L.A. Theatre in the Time of a Pandemic and Beyond.”
This discussion features a cross-section of LA's large and intimate theatre artistic directors including Snehal Desai (East West Players), Debbie Devine (24th STreet Theatre), Danny Feldman (Pasadena Playhouse), Jessica Kubzansky (Boston Court Pasadena), Michael Ritchie (Center Theatre Group), Matt Shakman (Geffen Playhouse), Michael A. Shepperd (Celebration Theatre) and Jose Luis Valenzuela (Latino Theater Company). Center Theatre Group Managing Director/CEO Meghan Pressman will moderate the discussion.
There are currently seven discussions planned between now and July with key members of the local theatre community including actors, designers, playwrights and administrators meant to help theatre creators come together to share ideas, strategize and support each other in these unprecedented times. The subjects, schedules, panelists will be announced later.
“Center Theatre Group will facilitate these conversations, but it’s a conversation about Los Angeles theatre as a whole — about all local organizations and what we’re all going through,” said Michael Ritchie. “We want to reach out to our collective L.A. theatre audience and stakeholders and let them know what we are all planning and grappling with while allowing space for everyone to ask questions and engage. It’s vital that, as theatres begin to consider how and when we re-open our stages, the entire community is part of the conversation. The world may be changing, but our passion and love for the theatre has not. We are all in this together.”
For more information and to register for an upcoming discussion, please visit CTGLA.org/LATheatreSpeaks.
L.A. Theatre Speaks is part of Center Theatre Group’s “Art Goes On” project, which includes the previously announced Artists Create series of videos. These videos were produced during this time of social distancing by Center Theatre Group’s family of artists. “Scenes from the Vault” is a series of videos highlighting favorite moments from Center Theatre Group’s history across its three stages. Both series are available to view online at CTGLA.org/ArtGoesOn or at youtube.com/CTGLA with the hashtag #ScenesFromTheVault and #ArtGoesOn.
“Art Goes On project gives audiences an opportunity to get to know members of the artistic community on a personal level. Sharing what theatre means to them along with showcasing their art in the time of social distancing.
Center Theatre Group (CTGLA) is one of the nation’s preeminent arts and cultural organizations. In Los Angeles, CTGLA is a leader in nonprofit theatre, which, under the leadership of Artistic Director Michael Ritchie, Managing Director Meghan Pressman and Producing Director Douglas C. Baker, programs seasons at the 736-seat Mark Taper Forum and 1600 to 2100-seat Ahmanson Theatre at The Music Center in Downtown Los Angeles, and the 317-seat Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City.
In addition to presenting and producing the broadest range of theatrical entertainment in the country, Center Theatre Group is one of the nation’s leading producers of ambitious new works through commissions and world premiere productions and a leader in interactive community engagement and education programs that reach across generations, demographics and circumstance to serve Los Angeles.