Viewing Party for "Valor"!

Center Theatre Group’s Education and Community Partnerships Department announced a special viewing party for “Valor,” on Sunday, November 1 at 5 pm Pacific. Hosted by Center Theatre Group Director of Community Partnerships Jesus A. Reyes, Fran de Leon’s exploration of hidden history which is launched by a tour of Los Angeles’ Historic Filipinotown will be screened followed by a live Q and A with de Leon and FilAM ARTS Director of Programming Giselle “G” Töngi-Walters, moderated by Education and Community Partnerships Administrative Assistant Aurora Ilog. The event will be free to the public but reservations are required. For reservations and additional information, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/live-watch-valor-byfran-de-leon-tickets-126004658325.

Fran de Leon’s “Valor” started as a short movement piece about the Filipino-American Veterans of World War II and was set to be further developed as part of Center Theatre Group’s Library Reading Series. When the pandemic halted the reading, de Leon adapted her piece once more to a short form video that would be part of Center Theatre Group’s new Community Stories program. In this video short, Fran de Leon shares elements of her creative process and research materials. From historical markers to her mother’s personal accounts to finding untold family stories, “Valor” shines a light on an integral yet seldom talked about chapter of American history.

As part of Center Theatre Group Education and Community Partnerships’ Community Stories Series, “Valor” is also available to stream on demand beginning November 6, 2020 at CenterTheatreGroup.org/Community. The series is made up of brief pieces created by artists including Anthony Aguilar, Luis Alfaro, Diana Burbano, Juan E. Carrillo, D’Lo Srijaerajah, Forrest Hartl, Judy Soo Hoo, Manuel J. Marron, Julie Taiwo Oni, Marisol L. Torres and Vilma Villela and meant to be shared online. The first season of Community Stories will feature approximately 50 new works that have begun being released. New work will continue to premiere at CenterTheatreGroup.org/Community through March of 2021.

“For the past seven years Center Theatre Group has been partnering with local theatre companies, artists and libraries to provide access to theatre to community members from Boyle Heights through the free Library Play Readings series,” said Reyes. “With the pandemic forcing the closure of libraries and theatres, the reading series has been reimagined into Community Stories hosted on Center Theatre Group’s newly created Digital Stage. ‘Valor’ by Fran de Leon has been adapted from a play into a short video, providing greater access to the artist’s story and, in the process, making a new partnership with FilAM ARTS. While we may be waiting to return to libraries and theatres we are not waiting to create and share interesting stories.”

Center Theatre Group’s Community Workshops and Library Play Readings are made possible by a generous grant from the California Arts Council. Additional funding is provided by the Friars Charitable Foundation. Center Theatre Group’s Education and Community Partnerships programs are made possible in part by Bank of America. Generous funding is also provided by The Dwight Stuart Youth Fund, JP Morgan Chase & Co, The Capital Group Companies Charitable Foundation, The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation and The Edward A. and Ai O. Shay Family Foundation.

Center Theatre Group’s Digital Stage is presented by American Express. As presenting sponsor of The Digital Stage, American Express Card Members enjoy special opportunities on the Digital Stage, including: presales and early access for limited-release premium events, invitations to private pre- or post-show meet and greets and access to exclusive content curated especially for Card Members. 

Bank of America is Center Theatre Group’s 2020/2021 Season Sponsor, including Digital Stage programming. For more than 20 years, Bank of America has partnered with Center Theatre Group to provide innovative Education and Community Partnerships programs as well as present world-class productions at the Ahmanson Theatre and Mark Taper Forum. Their generous support now extends online to the Digital Stage.

Center Theatre Group , one of the nation’s preeminent arts and cultural organizations, is Los Angeles’ leading nonprofit theatre company, which, under the leadership of Artistic Director Michael Ritchie, Managing Director / CEO Meghan Pressman and Producing Director Douglas C. Baker, programs seasons at the 736-seat Mark Taper Forum and 1600 to 2100-seat Ahmanson Theatre at The Music Center in Downtown Los Angeles, and the 317-seat Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City. In addition to presenting and producing the broadest range of theatrical entertainment in the country, Center Theatre Group is one of the nation’s leading producers of ambitious new works through commissions and world premiere productions and a leader in interactive community engagement and education programs that reach across generations, demographics and circumstance to serve Los Angeles.

Center Theatre Group’s newest venue, the Digital Stage, features a collection of new audio and video series including Live from the KDT , Theatrical Experiences , The Forum and Audio Adventures . Center Theatre Group partners with artists and arts organizations from around the world to produce, present and create streaming theatrical content. Many offerings are provided free to the public, with a larger catalogue of videos provided free of charge to Center Theatre Group season ticket subscribers and supporters. Certain programs require an individual streaming fee. The Digital Stage also houses Center Theatre Group’s ever-expanding library of education, community outreach and Art Goes On videos. For more information, visit CenterTheatreGroup.org/DigitalStage.