Community Events
Center Theatre Group partners with local artists, organizations, schools, libraries, and other groups to enrich cultural conversations in L.A. neighborhoods and to encourage Angelenos to bring the art of theatre deeper into their lives, and to use it to share and explore their own stories.
Through free workshops, events, productions, discussions, and other activities that take place at traditional and nontraditional venues, we are working to connect with community members and artists throughout our city, and to join in and facilitate inclusive and thoughtful cultural conversations.
Lorraine Hansberry Initiative’s To Sit A While, In Partnership with Gloria Molina Grand Park
We’re collaborating with The Lorraine Hansberry Initiative (a project of The Lillys) and Gloria Molina Grand Park to host workshops around the Lorraine Hansberry Initiative’s sculpture To Sit A While (Alison Saar, 2022) honoring Lorraine Hansberry.
All-Ages Movement & Writing Workshop
Using Alison Saar’s sculpture honoring Lorraine Hansberry, titled To Sit A While, as inspiration, this workshop invites participants to use movement and play to explore their own creativity. The workshop will include elements of dance and poetry, starting with guided movement interacting with the sculpture, and moving into a one-word storytelling exercise. Co-taught by CTG Teaching Artists Estela Garcia and Aja Houston, this family-friendly workshop is open to up to 20 people of all ages, experience levels, and abilities.
Date: June 20 and 27
Time: 11:30am–12:30pm
Location: Gloria Molina Grand Park
All-Ages Movement & Writing Workshop
Site-Specific Devised Theatre Workshop
This workshop will engage a group of up to 20 teens and adults in devising and performing a theatre piece inspired by To Sit A While, Alison Saar’s sculpture celebrating Lorraine Hansberry. Participants will begin in Gloria Molina Grand Park, interacting with and exploring the sculpture. They will then walk to the Music Center Annex to develop a collaborative, movement-based piece, and will then begin to layer in text. Finally, participants will return to Gloria Molina Grand Park for an informal presentation of their piece, which will be viewed by those enjoying the park. Co-taught by CTG Teaching Artists Estela Garcia and Aja Houston, this workshop is open to up to 20 people aged 16 to adults, and of all experience levels and abilities.
Date: June 25
Time: 10am–1pm
Location: Gloria Molina Grand Park
Site-Specific Devised Theatre Workshop
Community Stories
This season we are embracing online engagement and content creation with Community Stories written by community members and local playwrights. These one-to-five minute pieces reflect the time we live in and in response to how we feel. The stories range from silly and absurd to political and satirical. Approximately 50 new works will be released between September of 2020 and March of 2021 and created by artists including Anthony Aguilar, Luis Alfaro, Diana Burbano, Juan E. Carrillo, Forrest Hartl, Manuel J. Marron, Judy Soo Hoo, Julie Taiwo Oni, D’Lo Srijaerajah, Marisol L. Torres and Vilma Villela.
Boyle Heights Community Partners
Thanks to our current and past community partners in Boyle Heights:
Support
Center Theatre Group’s Community Workshops and Library Play Readings are made possible by a generous grant from the California Arts Council. Additional funding is provided by the Friars Charitable Foundation.