L.A. Theatre Works

L.A. Theatre Works (LATW) is a not-for-profit American media arts organization based in Los Angeles founded in 1984. The intent of the organization is to produce, preserve, and distribute classic and contemporary plays of significance. Along with its "live-in-performance" series (currently performed at the James Bridges Theatre on the UCLA campus), some productions are taken on national and international tours. Recordings of productions are posted on its website and available via broadcast syndication as a weekly series on radio stations.[1]

Actors that have appeared in L.A. Theatre Works productions include John Lithgow, Annette Bening, Hilary Swank, Anne Heche, Ed Asner, Alfred Molina, Marsha Mason, Jason Ritter, David Strathairn, JoBeth Williams, Paul Giamatti, Neil Patrick Harris, Laurence Fishburne, Jimmy Smits, Héctor Elizondo, and Julie Harris among others.[2]

History

The organization originally was known as "Artists in Prison", and used theatre to facilitate creative expression by incarcerated men and women. In 1980, it changed its name to "L.A. Theatre Works", and then in 1985, began producing and recording radio dramas. The founding members included Edward Asner, Richard Dreyfuss, Héctor Elizondo, Harry Hamlin, Julie Harris, Amy Irving, Stacy Keach, John Lithgow, Marsha Mason, JoBeth Williams, and current Producing Director Susan Loewenberg, who joined together out of a desire to create a venue for stage acting in Los Angeles.[3]

Between 1985 and 2012, L.A. Theatre Works has recorded over 400 plays. Titles include works by Arthur Miller, Oscar Wilde, David Mamet, Yasmina Reza, Tom Stoppard, Jon Robin Baitz, Kenneth Lonergan, Rebecca Gilman, Lynn Nottage, William Shakespeare, Sophocles, Molière, and many others.

In 1997, L.A. Theatre Works received an NEA Media Arts grant of $100,000 to support a campaign to increase the nationwide audience for its theater library.[4]

In 2005, it launched its National Touring program, taking "live-in-performance" radio dramas to venues across the country. As of 2012, L.A. Theatre Works has visited over 200 civic and performing arts centers and university venues with numerous productions.[5][6]

In 2011, the organization began performing at the UCLA James Bridges Theatre, moving from the Los Angeles Skirball Cultural Center.[7]

In 2011, it began collaborating with Roundabout Theatre Company to broadcast productions from National Theatre Live in HD. These screenings are held at the UCLA James Bridges Theatre. The first of these screenings was The Importance of Being Earnest produced by Roundabout Theatre Company, starring Brian Bedford.[8]

In 2011, the organization completed its first International Tour of China with the play Top Secret: Battle for the Pentagon Papers. [9]

In 2012, it began releasing e-books of its plays. These e-books allow a user to listen to a recorded play while reading along with the text.[10]

As of May 2012, L.A. Theatre Works has a weekly public radio show in over 80 markets in the U.S., along with available online streaming at their website, which is hosted by Loewenberg and also contains bonus wrap-around content. The show is distributed by PRX.[11]

L.A. Theatre Works' audio productions have received awards from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Writers Guild of America, Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, and Audio Publishers Association, among others. Recordings are available in over 9,000 libraries throughout the U.S. and to the general public through the official website and from select retailers.

Artist Advisory Council

The Artist Advisory Council currently includes Edward Asner, Rosalind Ayres, Ed Begley, Jr., Héctor Elizondo, Glenne Headly, Martin Jarvis, Stacy Keach, Shirley Knight, Marsha Mason, Richard Masur, Alfred Molina, David Selby, Eric Stoltz, JoBeth Williams, and Charlayne Woodard. [12]

References
  1. L.A. Theatre Works. "Company Overview". L.A. Theatre Works. Archived from the original on 2014-11-08. Retrieved 2012-05-31.
  2. L.A. Theatre Works. "Company Overview". L.A. Theatre Works. Archived from the original on 2014-11-08. Retrieved 2012-05-31.
  3. "For Your Ears Only: A Conversation with Susan Loewenberg, Producing Director, L.A. Theatre Works (Los Angeles, CA)". NEA Spotlight. Archived from the original on May 9, 2012. Retrieved May 31, 2012.
  4. "For Your Ears Only: A Conversation with Susan Loewenberg, Producing Director, L.A. Theatre Works (Los Angeles, CA)". NEA Spotlight. Archived from the original on May 9, 2012. Retrieved May 31, 2012.
  5. Behrens, Steve (October 13, 2005). "Monkey trial still timely for tour of radio docudrama". Current. Archived from the original on December 24, 2010. Retrieved May 31, 2012.
  6. Wada, Karen (March 9, 2010). "L.A. Theatre Works to open 'Top Secret' in New York and 'RFK' at the Skirball Cultural Center". L.A. Times. Retrieved May 31, 2012.
  7. Boehm, Mike (June 21, 2011). "L.A. Theatre Works moving to UCLA for 2011-12 season". L.A. Times. Retrieved May 31, 2011.
  8. Boehm, Mike (April 12, 2011). "L.A. Theatre Works lends an unlikely hand to 'The Importance of Being Earnest'". L.A. Times. Retrieved June 12, 2012.
  9. Jacons, Andrew (December 2, 2011). "Chinese Allow Play on Pentagon Papers, but Not a Talk About It". New York Times. Retrieved May 31, 2012.
  10. "INterview #2: L.A. Theatre Works". INscribe Digital. May 22, 2012. Retrieved May 31, 2012.
  11. L.A. Theatre Works - PRX
  12. "Artist Advisory Council". Archived from the original on 2014-11-08. Retrieved 2012-05-31.
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