The works of Shakespeare are filled with song. As always, students will spend their days discovering Shakespeare using a variety of physical and vocal disciplines – with the ultimate purpose always to invoke the creative spirit that exists in every child. But for this special week, we will pay special emphasis to the plays where his words are accompanied with music and dancing.
Participants need not be singers/dancers – each child will have the opportunity to explore within his/her comfort zone, and encouraged to reach outside of it when ready!
Producing a theater festival costs money, and registrations and ticket sales cover only a portion of those costs. Your donation helps us keep the cost of tuition and registration low, makes the experience of performing in the Festival available to any and every child in Los Angeles, and assures that we can perform in a real theater, with lights and sound, dressed in beautiful costumes!!
This year alone, Shakespeare Youth Festival has reached over 1,000 children and youth locally and around the globe.
Because of your support and that of many others, Hamlet has been spoken in English, Spanish, Setswana, and Luo! Prospero has worked his magic in Watts, Botswana, Kenya and in Guanajuato, Mexico! And our own Shakespeare Youth Festival LA – now in its 15th year (and featured in the LA Times) – continues to change lives.
More importantly, Shakespeare Youth Festival has provided and continues to provide the support for young people to develop self-empowerment, grow their strengths and participate in creating an ever-expanding community of inclusiveness, acceptance and love. We invite you to read testimonials from young people who have grown up with us.
But … Shakespeare Youth Festival cannot thrive without your financial support.
We are proud and excited to announce that, henceforth, Los Angeles Drama Club is changing its operating name to Shakespeare Youth Festival to more accurately reflect our wider inclusion and expansion as a global youth arts movement. Fifteen years ago, we presented our first performance in our city of Los Angeles and our name reflected our close-knit ensemble, and our policy of inclusiveness. Now, we work with more than 1,000 children annually, and in 2018, with Ms. Blaire’s trip to Botswana, we became global, and have now shared our work in four countries.
To continue to operate as Los Angeles Drama Club is akin to trying to fit into a suit that is two sizes too small! As we continue to bring our mission to new places, our name now reflects our passion – creating and celebrating communities of belonging and self-empowerment with children and youth locally and across the globe through the works of William Shakespeare!
The Festival is under way! SYFLA 2017 Opening weekend launched with The Merchant of Venice and Titus Andronicus – the Musical! Congratulations to our two fantastic casts. The REVENGE continues this weekend. Advanced reservations recommended. CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS.
