One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
The Lights On LA's Big Stages Won't Go On For A While
The plaza joins Ahmanson Theatre, Walt Disney Concert Hall, Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, and Mark Taper Forum as the Music Center's "fifth venue." (Courtesy of The Music Center)
In a blunt assessment of the pandemic's impact on a leading cultural organization, the Center Theatre Group — which runs the Ahmanson Theatre, the Mark Taper Forum and the Kirk Douglas Theatre — said today it will remain closed until April.
That means the performing arts venues will have been dark for more than a year by the time they reopen.
CTG also said the coronavirus has cost it as much as $40 million in lost revenue, prompting more furloughs and slashing nearly two-thirds of the organization's budget.
As CTG struggles with its financial situation caused by the coronavirus, management recently received an anonymous letter from a group of "Black, Indigenous, and People of Color" emoloyees who say they have yet to see CTG realize its mission "to reflect the community we serve."
READ MORE
Ahmanson, Taper To Remain Dark Until April 2021
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
