This story is free to read because readers choose to support LAist. If you find value in independent local reporting, make a donation to power our newsroom today.
Everything In LA Seems To Be Reopening... Except Live Theater Venues
As COVID-19 case rates fall in L.A. County, more businesses are able to reopen, but there's a notable category that's been left behind: live theater venues are still completely closed to the public.
Meghan Pressman is the managing director and CEO of Center Theatre Group in Downtown Los Angeles; the group operates the Ahmanson, the Taper and the Douglas theatres.
She says even if she was allowed to reopen, just hiring back staff could take several months:
"We laid off unfortunately about a hundred folks of our fulltime staff in addition to a couple hundred people who work on a show by show basis."
Ben Guillory is CEO and producing artistic director at The Robey Theatre Company, an African American theatre arts organization located at The Los Angeles Theatre Center in Downtown L.A.
He says the group is preparing to be able to produce shows by next year:
"Our playwrites labratory is developing new work, we have 12 playwrites that we work with, commissioning new work so that when the time comes we are ready."
Sponsored message
Our news is free on LAist. To make sure you get our coverage: Sign up for our daily newsletters. To support our non-profit public service journalism: Donate Now.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our connected community. We are free to tell the full truth, to hold power to account without fear or favor, and to follow facts wherever they lead. Our only loyalty is to our audiences and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen our community.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive from readers like you will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive from readers like you will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
