The Young Shakespeareans

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Grant Year

2026-27

Grant Program

Arts and Youth

Award Amount

$18,750.00

Project Description

With support from the California Arts Council, The Young Shakespeareans will sustain and expand free, on-site, after-school theatre arts residencies for 100 to 170 Title 1 LAUSD students in 2nd through 12th grade, reaching an additional 1,500 to 2,500 youth audience members through full-production student performances. Programming will be delivered across Title 1 partner schools in South Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley through TYS’ four core programs: Performing Arts: Untold Stories (culturally relevant Shakespeare adaptations including a new production of “MACBETH” set in 1500’s Mesoamerica) created in sync with TYS’ CAREER PATHWAYS and WORKFORCE EARN+LEARN programs that place students and alumni in paid Teaching and Production roles. Funds will support Teaching Artist & Student Employee compensation, production costs, and program coordination. All programming is offered at no cost to students or families.

Organization Summary

SHAKESPEAREAN SHORTIES (Grades 2+3; 24 hrs; 4 wks): Introduction to Focused Movement, Emotional Awareness/Expression, Shakespearean Poetry. 1 performance for classmates/families

PERFORMING ARTS – ONSTAGE/BACKSTAGE (Grades 4-12; 66 hrs; 8-12 wks): Instruction in Basic Elizabethan history; contemporary English translation of selected Play; breakdown of characters/plots/themes; culturally relevant abridged, age-appropriate, adapted script in Elizabethan text (reseting classical text to reflect TYS students’ heritage/lived experience); Poetic forms+devices; Elizabethan vocabulary/syntax/colloquialisms. Exploration/expression of human instincts/emotions/behaviors. Basic stagecraft; text/blocking memorization; practice of public presentation demands (vocal/physical/mental); backstage crew support. 3 public performances.

SHAKESPEAREAN SPORTS (Grades 4-12; 30 hrs; 12 wks): Certified Trainers focus on action scenes using swordplay & hand-to-hand techniques to develop self-control/concentration/athleticism; explore safety/spatial perception/respect, how/when/why/physical conflicts develop. 3 public performances.

PRODUCTION DESIGN & TECHNICAL ARTS (Grades 6-12; 60 hrs over 8 wks): Instruction in theatrical equipment design/history/evolution; Exploration and execution of backstage roles in Scenics/Costuming+Props;, Lighting/Sound; Music/Special Effects; Operation/maintenance of theatrical equipment/assets; Stage Management. Concrete/non-abstract math/organization skills.

WORKFORCE/EARN+LEARN (Grades 9-12; 60-120 hrs; 8 wks): Students receive stipends to participate in TYS Performing Arts/Production Design/Technical Arts Programs. Joint Community Collaborations.

CAREER PATHWAYS – PARTICIPANT to PRACTITIONER (Grades 9+; 40-60 hrs; 8 wks): Alumni work as paid Assistant Teaching Artists/Crew, mentoring younger students in their communities while building theatrical assets/portfolios/industry networks/professional credentials.

All TYS Curricula: include full California State Curriculum Standards alignment; specify/integrate applied social-emotional/academic/artistic learning; taught by experienced professionals in their discipline + Childhood Development.

INITIATIVES:
NEIGHBORHOOD EMPOWERMENT PIPELINES: Deep, multi-year partnerships with Title 1 partner schools where TYS returns season after season from elementary to middle to high school within the same neighborhood, building institutional memory and longitudinal relationships with students.

BRIDGING SILOS: Summer intensives designed to introduce/connect High School & TYS College-aged Alumni from across LA County’s diverse socioeconomic/racial/cultural backgrounds (Summer 2025’s cohort included students from six different cultural backgrounds, four different high schools, four different colleges.)

Organization