In this article<\/p>\n
Center Theatre Group has announced its 2026\/27\u00a0\u201cBack to\u00a0School\u201d\u00a0programming featuring a slate of education and engagement programs for\u00a0students, educators\u00a0and schools,\u00a0and community members throughout Los Angeles. Since its founding, Center Theatre Group has engaged the next generation of theatre audiences, artists,\u00a0and administrators through educational programming, community engagement, and opportunities to experience the joy of creating theatre.<\/p>\n
This work has continued under the leadership of CTG’s Brindell & Milton Gottlieb Artistic Director Snehal Desai<\/a> and a\u00a0dedicated\u00a0staff\u00a0committed\u00a0to fostering education and engagement initiatives in the region.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Through its workforce development opportunities\u2014such as the\u00a0Student Ambassador,\u00a0Observership, and\u00a0Apprenticeship\u00a0programs\u2014Center\u00a0Theatre Group offers opportunities for teenagers,\u00a0college students, and\u00a0emerging artists\u00a0to help create\u00a0a foundation\u00a0for the next generation of theatre-makers in Los Angeles.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n STUDENT AMBASSADORS\u00a0<\/p>\n These opportunities include\u00a0the\u00a0Student Ambassador\u00a0program\u00a0which envisions today’s high schoolers as the arts leaders of tomorrow.\u00a0CTG’s paid teen leadership program transforms passionate LA County high school students into engagement experts and collaborative leaders over the course of seven months.\u00a0Ambassadors will explore how storytelling can be a tool for advocacy and change while developing their personal leadership skills.\u00a0From October 2026 to April 2027, Ambassadors will focus on creating a community event connected to CTG’s co-production of\u00a0John\u00a0Proctor is\u00a0the Villain\u00a0by Kimberly Belflower<\/a>, directed by Jess McLeod<\/a>. Through the lens of this play, students will explore how:\u00a0<\/p>\n
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\n<\/ul>\n This program is open to all eligible Los Angeles County juniors and seniors, but the curriculum will focus heavily on the experience of female-identifying students based on the content of the play.\u00a0Applications are due September 14, 2026.\u00a0<\/p>\n For college students and emerging artists interested in workforce development, CTG will continue its\u00a0Observership\u00a0and\u00a0Apprenticeship\u00a0programs\u00a0this year.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n OBSERVERSHIPS\u00a0<\/p>\n Observerships\u00a0offer a backstage pass to the rehearsal process. In each cycle, a small group of Observers will spend time in rehearsals for at least one Center Theatre Group production,\u00a0observing\u00a0the process at several\u00a0different phases. They will discuss what they\u00a0observe, receive training on what goes on in a professional rehearsal room, and reflect on their own artistic voice, guided by a\u00a0Teaching\u00a0Artist. The\u00a0Observership\u00a0will end with all participants creating artists’ statements based on their experiences.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n This year,\u00a0Observerships\u00a0will be offered\u00a0for\u00a0\u00a1S\u00cd SE\u00a0PUEDE!,\u00a0CTG’s new community tour playing at schools and community\u00a0spaces\u00a0throughout LA;\u00a0National Yiddish Theatre\u00a0Folksbiene’s\u00a0Production of\u00a0Fiddler on the Roof\u00a0in Yiddish at the Ahmanson Theatre;\u00a0and\u00a0Kimberly Belflower<\/a>‘s\u00a0John Proctor is the Villain\u00a0and August Wilson<\/a>‘s\u00a0Fences\u00a0at the Mark Taper Forum.\u00a0<\/p>\n Observerships\u00a0Application Timeline:\u00a0<\/p>\n
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\n<\/ul>\n APPRENTICESHIPS\u00a0<\/p>\n Apprenticeships\u00a0give\u00a0participants\u00a0the opportunity to learn by doing alongside\u00a0industry experts in artistic and technical production careers.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Artistic Apprentices need to have a strong demonstrated interest in the exact career focus of the\u00a0Apprenticeship. For example, a Playwriting Apprentice should have completed at least one full-length play, and a Directing Apprentice should have experience directing a full-length play either on-campus or within a setting such as community theatre. They should be strongly interested in going into the focus of the\u00a0Apprenticeship\u00a0as a career.<\/p>\n This year, Apprenticeships will be offered for\u00a0\u00a1S\u00cd SE\u00a0PUEDE!,\u00a0Fiddler on the Roof,\u00a0and August Wilson<\/a>‘s\u00a0Fences.\u00a0<\/p>\n Apprenticeships Application\u00a0Timeline:\u00a0<\/p>\n
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\n<\/ul>\n In addition to its workforce development\u00a0initiatives, Center Theatre Group also\u00a0offers\u00a0several\u00a0programs designed\u00a0specifically\u00a0for educators and schools\u00a0to help build and foster the next generation of theatre goers and lovers, including\u00a0CTG’s\u00a0popular\u00a0Student Matinees\u00a0and\u00a0Storytelling Residency\u00a0programs.\u00a0<\/p>\n STUDENT MATINEES\u00a0<\/p>\n Theatre that inspires. Learning that lasts.\u00a0By partnering with classroom educators, young people experience high-quality, live professional theatre at our three theatres as a core part of their basic education and make meaningful connections between art and their lives.\u00a0All schools (including charter schools, private schools, home school networks) and community organizations working with young people are eligible to apply. Schools in Los Angeles County in under-resourced communities will receive priority for enrollment.\u00a0<\/p>\n This year, CTG has Student Matinee performances for the following shows:\u00a0Dog Man: The Musical\u00a0at the Kirk Douglas<\/a> Theatre;\u00a0Destiny of Desire\u00a0and\u00a0John Proctor is the Villain\u00a0at the Mark Taper Forum; and\u00a0Fiddler on the Roof\u00a0at the Ahmanson Theatre.\u00a0
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\n<\/ul>\n STORYTELLING RESIDENCY\u00a0<\/p>\n CTG believes everyone has a story to tell. The Storytelling Residency is a year-long program that engages high school students in the collaborative process of devised theatre as they learn to tell a story that matters to them.\u00a0The\u00a0focus\u00a0is\u00a0on personal narratives that celebrate the diversity of Los Angeles, engage students in various forms of storytelling, and help them gain confidence as writers, designers, and performers.\u00a0During the residency, classroom teachers partner\u00a0with CTG Teaching Artists over 20 sessions; 10 in the fall and 10 in the spring.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n This program is open to Title 1 high schools\u00a0located\u00a0within Los Angeles County.\u202fTheatre teachers with students in grades 9, 10, and 11 are encouraged to apply.\u202f\u00a0Applications are due September 4, 2026.\u00a0<\/p>\n Finally, after\u00a0a very successful\u00a0run\u00a0earlier this year, CTG’s new\u00a0community touring show\u00a0is back by popular demand, as \u00a1S\u00cd SE PUEDE! returns to schools and community spaces across Los Angeles.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a1S\u00cd SE PUEDE!\u00a0is playing in your neighborhood\u00a0from\u00a0October 24\u2013November 8, 2026.\u00a0All performances are free and presented in English with some Spanish.\u00a0RSVPs\u00a0will open\u00a0soon.\u00a0<\/p>\n For more information on all of Center Theatre Group’s \u201cBack to School\u201d programming, please visit\u00a0CTGLA.org\/PROGRAMS<\/a>. <\/p>\n Prefer BroadwayWorld in Google Search?<\/p>\n Add as a preferred source<\/p>\n
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\nStudent Matinees Application Timeline:\u00a0<\/p>\n
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\nWritten by Eliana Pipes<\/a> and directed by Sara\u00a0Guerrero,\u00a0\u00a1S\u00cd SE PUEDE!\u00a0follows\u00a0trailblazing activist, Dolores Huerta<\/a>, on her journey to improve conditions for farm workers.\u00a0From co-founding the United Farmworkers to leading boycotts, marches, and high-stakes negotiations\u2014her\u00a0unwavering commitment to justice changed the course of history.\u00a0Through a blend of movement, music, and\u00a0actos\u00a0inspired by El Teatro Campesino<\/a>, experience the powerful transformation that happens when we come together to demand change.\u00a0<\/p>\n