Business Details
Free Educational Theatre for Los Angeles Schools
Founded with a mission to make live theatre accessible to underserved communities, The Actors Project has become a vital cultural resource for elementary schools and children's hospitals across Los Angeles County. Our team of seasoned theatre professionals creates original, educational productions that engage audiences through imaginative storytelling and character-driven narratives. Since our inception, we have prioritized free performances for schools facing budget constraints, believing every student deserves exposure to the transformative power of live theatre. Our productions, averaging 45 minutes to accommodate multiple daily shows, incorporate moral lessons and historical elements while fostering dialogue between educators and students. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, we rely on donations and community support to maintain our free programming, with all contributions directly funding production quality and outreach efforts.Our commitment to diversity ensures representation in both our casts and the stories we tell, reflecting the cultural richness of the communities we serve. Through partnerships with schools and community organizations, we've performed for thousands of students annually, receiving consistent praise for our ability to captivate audiences while promoting arts education. Our unique approach combines physical acting techniques with contemporary storytelling methods, creating performances that resonate equally with children and adults. Despite pandemic-related disruptions, we've maintained our mission through virtual adaptations and are now expanding our live touring schedule. By removing financial barriers to theatre access, we cultivate future generations of theatre artists and audiences while demonstrating the educational value of live performance.
Services
School Theatre Productions
Children's Hospital Performances
Original Play Development
Arts Education Programs
Community Outreach Theatre
Highlights and features
- We provide free theatrical productions for schools facing budget constraints
- Our original plays combine educational value with engaging storytelling techniques
- We serve over 20 schools annually across Los Angeles County
- Our productions are specifically designed for grades Pre-K through 5th
- We maintain 45-minute show lengths to accommodate multiple daily performances
Associations and certifications
- 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization
What people say
Captivated entire student body
Valuable educational experience
Professional quality performances
Inspired student creativity
Exceptional audience engagement
Services
School Theatre Productions
We create and perform original theatrical productions specifically designed for elementary school audiences. Our 45-minute shows combine educational content with engaging storytelling techniques, featuring moral lessons and historical themes. Each performance is structured to accommodate multiple shows per day while maintaining high production values and educational impact.
Children's Hospital Performances
Our specialized hospital performances bring live theatre to pediatric medical facilities. These productions are adapted to meet healthcare environment requirements while maintaining our signature storytelling approach. The shows aim to provide therapeutic entertainment and cultural enrichment for young patients and medical staff.
Arts Education Programs
We develop complementary educational materials and interactive workshops that extend the learning from our performances. These programs encourage classroom discussions about theatre arts, creative writing, and historical contexts featured in our productions, enhancing the overall educational experience.
Community Outreach Theatre
In addition to school programs, we present public performances at community events and cultural festivals. These shows expand our reach to family audiences while maintaining our commitment to accessible, high-quality theatre for all community members.
Original Play Development
Our company creates all productions through an original development process. Writers and performers collaborate to craft stories that balance entertainment with educational value, incorporating feedback from educators and school administrators to ensure curriculum relevance.
People
Andrew Preston
Artistic Director, Founder
Andrew founded The Actors Project to make live theatre accessible to underserved communities. With extensive theatre experience, he oversees all creative aspects while maintaining the organization's educational mission and nonprofit operations.
Faith Kerns
Actress
Faith has performed leading roles in multiple productions including Alice in 'The Further Adventures of Alice in Wonderland'. Her physical acting skills and character work contribute significantly to the company's distinctive performance style.
Carl Reed
Actor
Carl brings versatility to the company through diverse character portrayals, including the March Hare in 'Alice' adaptations. His ability to connect with young audiences enhances the educational impact of each performance.
Adam Boghosian
Actor
Adam contributes to the company's signature style through character-driven performances like the Mad Hatter. His physical comedy skills help maintain audience engagement while delivering educational content effectively.
Veronica Hernandez
Supporter
As a key supporter, Veronica contributes to the company's mission through advocacy and resource sharing. Her involvement helps expand the organization's reach to more schools and community partners.
Questions
Are your performances actually free for schools?
Yes, all our school performances are completely free. We believe every student deserves access to live theatre regardless of school budget constraints.
What age groups do your productions target?
Our shows are specifically designed for Pre-Kindergarten through 5th grade students, with content tailored to engage multiple age groups simultaneously.
How long are your typical performances?
Each production runs approximately 45 minutes to allow multiple shows per day while maintaining educational depth and audience engagement.
What types of plays do you perform?
We create original works with moral lessons and historical elements, blending physical theatre techniques with contemporary storytelling approaches.
Do you offer virtual performance options?
While we prioritize live performances, we developed virtual adaptations during the pandemic and can discuss hybrid options when necessary.
