The Young Shakespeareans

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Grant Year

2026-27

Grant Program

General Operating Support

Award Amount

$30,000.00

Project Description

With support from the California Arts Council, The Young Shakespeareans will sustain core operating capacity to deliver free, on-site, after-school theatre arts programming to 2nd through 12th grade students at Title 1 LAUSD partner schools in South Los Angeles and North Hollywood, communities in the lower quartiles of the Healthy Places Index. Funds will support staff compensation, program delivery, and organizational infrastructure across the 2026-2027 production season, including the Spring 2027 launch of a NEW ADAPTATION OF “MACBETH” SET IN 1500’S MESOAMERICA; the BRIDGING SILOS summer intensive; and continued multi-year programming at established partner schools. Funds will also expand paid Teaching Artist and production roles for TYS alumni through the organization’s CAREER PATHWAYS model, advancing a participant-to-practitioner pipeline that builds workforce credentials, professional networks, and economic opportunity for youth from underserved communities.

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