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A Theatre Isn’t a Building, But It Needs One
by Adam Leipzig
In Los Angeles, we have a downtown four-theatre performing arts complex called the Los Angeles Theatre Center. Last week the City Council sent an eviction notice to the Latino Theatre Company, which has operated LATC for the past six years. The company has a short window to work things out with the City.
Let’s be clear: I’m a partisan in this fight. I was on hand when the building was built and opened in 1985; some people called me “the kid.” I left a few years before our original theatre company sputtered to a halt. Then I watched as the City took over the building and occasionally booked lackluster shows while the structure became dowdy and forlorn. During those years I could barely walk into the lobby – it had grown sad, old, dull and lifeless. Its torn carpet got more ragged with each visit; its burnt-out lights went un-replaced.
Then, in 2006, the Latino Theatre Company became tenants, and brought the place back to life. Through unique partnerships with diverse theatre companies, LTC created an umbrella under which new work began to thrive. The four theatres, which under the City’s stewardship had been dark most of the time, once again filled up. The lobby grew vibrant with audience, actors and playwrights.
I mentioned I’m a partisan, and I happily count Jose-Luis Valenzuela and Evelina Fernandez, LTC’s artistic director and leading playwright, as friends. My wife also worked as their general manager for two years, so let’s say we’re family. Yet the most important partisanship I feel is to theatre itself – to the ideal of stage and community, and to those people, everywhere, who do grueling work every day, at low pay and against high odds, to craft meaning and delight on stages around the world.
In the past six years, LTC, and the theatre companies they’ve partnered with, have brought us vital, vibrant shows that reflect the truths and multiplicity of Los Angeles. I know of no theatre in any American city that does a better job of reflecting the diversity of people and artistic approach.
I’ve been moved by their productions of Evelina Fernandez’s Mexican Trilogy; thrilled by their avant-garde work in The Vault; reveled in Roger Guenveur Smith’s tour de force in Juan and John; and elevated by their annual miracle play La Virgen de Guadalupe, Dios Inanztin, which they present free as a gift to the city, and which is, for much its audience, the only theatre they experience all year.
While it’s all about good theatre and what theatre can mean to a community, of course a theatre company needs a place to do its work. LTC spent more than $4 million restoring the Theatre Center building, and replacing its sagging technical infrastructure. They’ve poured an additional $6 million into the local economy by providing jobs to actors, playwrights, directors, and technical staff, and they’ve been responsible, in large part, to the economic revitalization of Spring St.
I’m hoping the City and LTC work things out. Whoever saves a life, it’s said, saves an entire world. And whoever does not save a theatre destroys an entire world. Every city deserves a theatre that provides as much vitality, dignity and truth as Latino Theatre Company. Los Angeles certainly does.
Want to do something? Here’s how you contact LA City Council.
Adam Leipzig is Cultural Weekly’s publisher.
Image from La Virgen.
Filed Under: Recent Posts, THEATRE + PERFORMANCE
Tags: avant-garde, economy, Evelina Fernandez, Jose-Luis Valenzuela, LATC, Latino, Latino Theatre Company, Los Angeles, Los Angeles Theatre Center, LTC, Theatre, truth
Comments (4)
edward
January 26th, 2012 at 8:36 AM
4 million for restoration? Where did this money come from? Grants?
I love the theatre and the programming but I don't think things add up. Plus the lawsuits with and against the museum are ridiculous.
Bobby Fromer
January 26th, 2012 at 8:21 PM
LATC I think has always had a bit of a cloud over it. While I love the theatre center the city ran it into the ground I agree. A city should never run a theatre but should support it being run by professional company or companies. I was there for many years a brief period at the very end of it original reign but mostly while under the city. We tried so hard to keep it up and make it work but at just about ever turn they would stop us. I take issue with the lighting. I did my very best to keep everything working through out the building but like I said trying to get things that were needed from the powers that be was no easy task. I had originally took so issue when they 1st granted the facility to the Latino Theatre Company. For one thing there were 2 companies already in there well before them that were perfect for the job and I still believe would have done an equally good job as has done Jose Luis. I have since been very happy and surprised and proud of the work they have done and I for the life of me can't imagine what the hell the city is thinking now. What they need to turn more of it into offices again? I sure hope not we all saw how well that worked. before. I hope it all works out and they can continue there fantastic work for the city and for the theatre in general! I also hope all the law suites that were hanging over the place ans the ownership of things has been sorted out.
J.Ed
January 27th, 2012 at 4:40 PM
The LATC is a beautiful facility again. As to where the money came from I don't know either but if you remember what the lobby and other parts of the building looked like pre Latino Theatre Company and how unfortunately it had deteriorated since the original LATC company run by BIll B and Diane W left and if you know anything about construction/renovation costs in large buildings in metropolitan areas, then the way most of the building looks now and is kept up is amazing.
The Latino Theatre Company its members and director have a LONG history with the building with Bush and Diane and were already in the building before being granted the lease. The most amazing part of this story to me, is the INCREDIBLE diversity of programing this theatre and company has offered to Los Angeles for the past several years. NO theatre in the US reflects its community as well as the present LATC.
In theatre and the arts in general there is rarely agreement and I am sure people may try to disagree with that statement but I live in NYC and work all over the country and NOwhere do i see such diversity and inclusion. Might some people feel excluded, perhaps- but look at the crowds walking by outside and check how they are represented inside.
I would hope that the city and LTC work things out and that the museum lawsuits are resolved. That I think would allow the LTC and their partners to grow, develop and continue to represent the true face of LA.
FULL DISCLOSURE. I was a member of the original acting company there under Bush. After that I performed and taught workshops in the space and since the LTC were awarded the space I have worked with them as a guest artist.
p.s. how long has the LTC been officially running it? 5-6 years? and look at what they have done and accomplished in that time. AMAZING.
Aaron G
January 27th, 2012 at 8:45 PM
I've laughed and cried in the same moment at every LTC production. The programming they line-up is incredible, and considering the price of tickets to see international theater/dance/music at UCLA or the Music Center, LATC along with REDCAT is one of the only venues with affordable tickets. Please support LTC and their mission.
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