L.A. Theatre Works

L.A. Theatre Works is a nonprofit American media arts organization based in Los Angeles, California. Its central activity is the creation and preservation of recorded theatre: the organization produces classic and contemporary plays, records them with professional actors and sound designers, and distributes the resulting audio works through radio, digital channels, libraries, educational institutions, and direct sales. Its work occupies a space between theatre, radio drama, archival publishing, and public cultural service. The organization traces its roots to Artists in Prison, an initiative that used theatre to encourage creative expression among incarcerated men and women. It later adopted the L.A. Theatre Works name and developed a broader mission centered on creating a venue for stage actors in Los Angeles. In 1985, it began producing and recording radio dramas, establishing the production model that became its defining contribution: fully realized dramatic performances designed for listening rather than conventional filmed theatre. LATW's catalogue includes adaptations and recordings of classic and contemporary plays of cultural, literary, and historical significance. Productions are generally recorded with casts of professional actors and are designed to preserve the interpretive qualities of live performance while using the techniques of radio and sound production. The resulting library has grown to more than 400 recorded plays over the period documented by the organization's historical materials from 1985 through 2012. The organization also takes selected productions on tour through its Live-In-Performance and National Touring programs. These presentations combine the immediacy of theatre with the conventions of a radio drama, allowing audiences to watch actors, Foley artists, and other production elements create a performance in real time. The touring program expanded LATW's reach beyond Los Angeles to civic and performing arts centers, universities, and other cultural venues across the United States. The organization also undertook an international tour of China in 2011. Broadcast distribution is another major part of the organization’s public-facing work. LATW productions have been offered as a weekly public-radio series distributed by Public Radio Exchange, with broadcasts reaching numerous U.S. markets and additional streaming access through the organization’s website. Recordings have also been made available through thousands of libraries, the official website, and selected retailers. In 2012, LATW began releasing e-books that paired play texts with synchronized or accompanying access to recorded performances, extending its educational and publishing role. LATW has received support and recognition from arts and media institutions, including a 1997 National Endowment for the Arts Media Arts grant intended to help expand the national audience for its theatre library. Its audio productions have also received recognition from organizations and publications such as the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Writers Guild of America, Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, and the Audio Publishers Association. The organization remains associated with artistic preservation, actor-led audio storytelling, educational access, and the distribution of dramatic literature through radio and digital media.

L.A. Theatre Works developed from Artists in Prison, an earlier program that used theatre as a means of creative expression for incarcerated men and women. The organization later adopted the L.A. Theatre Works name as it broadened its purpose and sought to establish a Los Angeles venue and platform for stage actors. Its founding group included prominent actors and theatre professionals such as Edward Asner, Richard Dreyfuss, Héctor Elizondo, Harry Hamlin, Julie Harris, Amy Irving, Stacy Keach, John Lithgow, Marsha Mason, JoBeth Williams, Doris Baizley, and Susan Loewenberg. In 1985, the organization began producing and recording radio dramas. This marked the beginning of its long-term identity as both a theatre producer and an audio archive. Rather than treating recordings as simple documentation, LATW created dramatic productions specifically for listening, using professional casts and the expressive possibilities of sound. Its repertoire has included classic works and contemporary plays with literary, historical, or social significance. Historical information published about the organization states that it recorded more than 400 plays between 1985 and 2012. LATW expanded access through several complementary channels. Its recordings entered public-radio distribution, were streamed online, and were made available to libraries and individual listeners. By 2012, its weekly public-radio series was carried in more than 80 U.S. markets, with distribution handled by Public Radio Exchange. The organization's catalogue was also available in more than 9,000 U.S. libraries, alongside direct sales through its website and selected retailers. The organization preserved a live dimension through its Live-In-Performance format. In these presentations, audiences can observe actors and sound artists creating a radio drama in front of them, combining theatrical presence with the craft of audio production. In 2005, LATW formalized and expanded this activity through its National Touring program. By 2012, the program had visited more than 200 civic and performing arts centers and university venues. Performances were initially associated with the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles; in 2011, LATW began performing at UCLA's James Bridges Theatre. LATW also developed partnerships and international programming. In 2011, it worked with Roundabout Theatre Company on high-definition screenings associated with National Theatre Live. The first cited screening was Roundabout's production of The Importance of Being Earnest, featuring Brian Bedford. That year, LATW also completed its first international tour, traveling to China with Top Secret: Battle for the Pentagon Papers. Publishing became another part of the organization's distribution strategy in 2012, when it began releasing e-books that paired the text of a play with access to its recorded performance. This format supported classroom, library, and individual use while reinforcing the connection between dramatic literature and performance. Earlier, in 1997, LATW had received a $100,000 National Endowment for the Arts Media Arts grant to help increase the national audience for its theatre library. Its productions have received recognition from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Writers Guild of America, Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, and the Audio Publishers Association. The available record presents LATW as an active nonprofit cultural organization whose core mission links theatrical performance, audio preservation, touring, public broadcasting, and educational access.

• 2012

  Audio-linked play e-books launch

  [1]L.A. Theatre Worksen.wikipedia.org

  The organization began publishing e-books that allowed readers to follow play texts while listening to recorded performances.

• 2011

  Programming expands at UCLA and internationally

  [1]L.A. Theatre Worksen.wikipedia.org

  LATW began performances at UCLA's James Bridges Theatre, collaborated on National Theatre Live screenings, and completed its first international tour in China.

• 2005

  National Touring program launches

  [1]L.A. Theatre Worksen.wikipedia.org

  LATW began presenting live-in-performance radio dramas at venues around the United States.

• 1997

  NEA supports expansion of the theatre library

  [1]L.A. Theatre Worksen.wikipedia.org

  A National Endowment for the Arts Media Arts grant supported efforts to broaden the national audience for LATW's recorded theatre collection.

• 1985

  Radio-drama production begins

  [1]L.A. Theatre Worksen.wikipedia.org

  LATW began producing and recording radio dramas, creating the audio-production model that became central to its identity.

• 1984

  L.A. Theatre Works is founded

  [1]L.A. Theatre Worksen.wikipedia.org

  The Los Angeles nonprofit was established by a group of actors and theatre professionals seeking a venue and creative platform for stage acting.

• 1980

  Organization adopts the L.A. Theatre Works name

  [1]L.A. Theatre Worksen.wikipedia.org

  The group formerly known as Artists in Prison changed its name to L.A. Theatre Works as it developed a broader theatre and media mission.

A nonprofit theatrical and audio-media organization focused on preserving significant drama, creating radio-style performances with professional actors, and making theatre accessible through touring, broadcast, digital distribution, libraries, and education.

• Audio theatre · 1985

  Recorded radio dramas

  Professionally produced audio versions of classic and contemporary plays, recorded with actors and sound-production techniques intended to preserve the dramatic experience for radio, streaming, library, and home listening. The catalogue documented by the organization contains more than 400 recorded plays from 1985 through 2012.

• Live theatre and touring

  Live-In-Performance

  A performance format in which audiences watch actors and audio artists create a radio drama in real time. The format combines the immediacy of stage performance with Foley, narration, and other sound-making elements associated with audio theatre.

• Public radio

  National Broadcast Series

  A weekly radio and online distribution program presenting productions from the L.A. Theatre Works catalogue. The series was carried by more than 80 U.S. public-radio markets by 2012 and was distributed through Public Radio Exchange.

• Digital publishing · 2012

  Theatre e-books

  Digital editions pairing the text of a play with access to a corresponding recorded performance. The format was designed to support simultaneous reading and listening and broaden the educational and individual-use value of LATW productions.

• 2011China international tour

  China

  LATW presented Top Secret: Battle for the Pentagon Papers on its first international tour.

  Outcome. The organization completed the tour, marking an expansion beyond its U.S. touring activity.

  Source
• 2005National Touring program

  United States

  The National Touring program brought LATW's live-in-performance radio dramas to civic and performing arts centers and university venues throughout the country.

  Outcome. By 2012, the program had visited more than 200 venues, according to the organization's historical account.

  Source
• 1997National audience expansion for the theatre library

  United States

  LATW used support from an NEA Media Arts grant to pursue a campaign aimed at increasing nationwide awareness and use of its recorded theatre library.

  Outcome. The grant provided support for national audience development; the available reference does not quantify the campaign's final results.

  Source

• 2012

  Introduce theatre e-booksProduct launch

  Background

  LATW was expanding access to its productions through digital formats and educational use.

  Action taken

  It began releasing e-books that paired play texts with recorded performances.

  Aftermath

  The format connected reading and listening and extended the catalogue's use by students, educators, libraries, and individual audiences.

  Source

• 1985

  Begin recording radio dramasProduct launch

  Background

  LATW sought to create a durable venue for stage acting and to extend theatrical work beyond the live stage.

  Action taken

  The organization began producing and recording radio dramas.

  Aftermath

  Audio production became the organization's principal artistic and distribution platform, eventually generating a large theatre library.

  Source

• 1980

  Adopt the L.A. Theatre Works identityStrategy

  Background

  The organization had originated as Artists in Prison, a theatre initiative focused on incarcerated participants, and was broadening its public theatre mission.

  Action taken

  It changed its name to L.A. Theatre Works.

  Aftermath

  The new identity became the basis for its subsequent theatre-production, recording, touring, and distribution activities.

  Source

1. 1L.A. Theatre Worksen.wikipedia.org
2. 2L.A. Theatre Works official websitelatw.org