Center Theatre Group Launches CTG Leadership Circle

Center Theatre Group — Thu, 31 Mar 2022 10:57:00 -0700

Eleven Participants Are Part of the Inaugural Group That Recognizes and Supports Excellence in Emerging Leaders

As we continue to look at our organization and see how to grow and improve, and in response to Center Theatre Group’s “Commitments to Change,” the organization launched the CTG Leadership Circle, a program intended to uplift, celebrate, and support Center Theatre Group’s early- and mid- career staff members.

The focus of CTG Leadership Circle is on employees who identify as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color), as well as individuals from intersectional and marginalized identities. The first cohort, which started in September of 2021 and is slated to continue through Spring 2022, includes 11 members from five different departments at Center Theatre Group.

“The people selected for the inaugural CTG Leadership Circle exemplify ethical leadership, creativity, and commitment to challenging status quo,” said Center Theatre Group Deputy Managing Director Camille Schenkkan. “It is only by elevating and empowering colleagues like these that we can cultivate more equitable, joyful theatre practices, and continue our evolution into the organization we want to become.”

The CTG Leadership Circle was designed to connect participating staff members to individual career coaching, and group sessions focused on building skills in arts management leadership. The group and career coaching sessions were facilitated and led by Project Advisor Elena Muslar, Confide Creative LLC. Participants also engage in additional one-on-one and small group networking opportunities, from informational interviews to topic-based sessions on everything from personal financial management to navigating an arts career as a caregiver. In addition, each member is provided with a professional development stipend.

“The CTG Leadership Circle explores what it means to be an arts leader today and celebrates the leaders of the future,” explained Center Theatre Group’s Education and Community Partnerships Department Manager Aurora Ilog, who is the program lead for CTG Leadership Circle. “These hour-long sessions, that typically meet on a weekly basis, allow members of our staff to have the space to cultivate and navigate their individual career journeys. The CTG Leadership Circle creates a space for staff to grow as leaders in their own regard and within our organization.”

This first cohort of the CTG Leadership Circle includes: Nakisa Aschtiani (Finance), Eric Babb (Production), Katie Chen (Production), Courtney Clark (Education and Community Partnerships), Jessica Hernandez (Finance), Juan Martinez (Finance), Paula Matallana (Institutional Advancement), Nikki Michela (Institutional Advancement), Priya Patel (Institutional Advancement), Ayu Tanaka (Communications) and Janelle Cabrera Torres (Information Technology).

Uncovering and Centering the Past

Roby Johnson and Jacqueline Carrillo — Wed, 30 Mar 2022 14:10:00 -0700

We hope that, in our remaining time as Theatre Archival Fellows, we set a precedent in not only preserving, but fully commemorating the history of the Center Theatre Group and the individuals who have spent countless time and energy into ensuring that the Greater Los Angeles area has access to creative and innovative theatre.

In the meantime, we’re excited to share what we’ve been up to!

Theatre Archival Fellows, Roby Johnson and Jacqueline Carrillo

Roby Johnson

For the first several weeks, I focused on reorganizing the archives to put like with like and improve access to our boxes of artifacts. I’ve redone some massive inventories in previous positions, and this was no exception.

When we first arrived, we found that the archives had some basic categorization; however, there were boxes upon boxes strewn about since there simply wasn’t enough space for the accumulation of over 55 years of history! In addition, over time, various equipment and supplies had been mixed in with the archives. So, I had the monumental task of detangling materials and establishing an intuitive organization process.

After a lot of planning and heavy lifting, I cleaned and sorted three archival spaces: one closet for paper materials, one for media, and another for our collection of show posters and displays. Plus, given that one of these closets is multi-use, I was able to concentrate all the artifacts in the back section away from everyday supplies. These shifts will better preserve any artifacts and allow anyone to easily access collections as CTG engages in the long process of digitization.

The reorganization also allowed us to discover at-risk media that had been inadvertently exposed to dust and light and helped us establish what exists in the archives. We could then prioritize the preservation of the most vulnerable artifacts and document their archival statethe state of the archives for future fellows to build upon.

Before photos of a multi-use closet with media materials. Photo by Roby Johnson.

After photos of a multi-use closet with media materials. Photo by Roby Johnson.

Before photos of the main archival closet with paper materials. Photo by Roby Johnson.

After photos of the main archival closet with paper materials. Photo by Roby Johnson.

Jacqueline Carrillo

From early on in the process of unpacking the archives, I was focused on digitizing the oldest, most sensitive media material that documented varying aspects of Center Theatre Group’s history. Along with organizing the dozens of film reels consisting of show footage dating back to the first five years of the company’s history, I’ve been digitizing 35mm slides, VHS tapes, and other cassettes that feature show footage, advertising snippets, and radio interviews given by leading figures of the organization, such as Gordon Davidson, Center Theatre Group’s Founding Artistic Director.

Among the artifacts are countless incredible finds! My personal favorite is an audio cassette of an hour- and- a half- long interview with Anna Deavere Smith (Twilight: Los Angeles), Tony Kushner (Angels in America), and Athol Fugard (whose most recent work at the time of the recording was Valley Song), discussing their writing processes in commemoration of CTG’s 30th anniversary.

Hidden away in random corners, I’ve also found theatrical literary magazines dating back to the early 1900s, as well as slides of a gorgeous Zoot Suit mural, a picture of Neil Patrick Harris and his fellow cast members in Rent, and what is (hopefully) a prop/set piece! As a giant theatre nerd and history buff, it’s been an absolute joy to be able to interact with these wonderful artifacts and share my discoveries with the staff. I can’t wait to see what I find next!

"Zoot Suit" mural. By Jay Thompson.

Neil Patrick Harris and the cast of "Rent." Photo by Craig Schwartz.

A possibly prop or set piece. Photo by Jacqueline Carrillo.

Center Theatre Group News & Blogs

Center Theatre Group Launches CTG Leadership Circle

Eleven Participants Are Part of the Inaugural Group That Recognizes and Supports Excellence in Emerging Leaders

Uncovering and Centering the Past

Roby Johnson

Jacqueline Carrillo