acclaimed productions for 19 years that have been seen extensively in So. California, throughout the U.S. and in Canada. Best-known works include By the Hand of the Father, which traces the 20th century experience of the Mexican-American father through video, the music of singer-songwriter Alejandro Escovedo, and stories by Theresa Chavez, Oscar Garza, Eric Gutierrez and Rose Portillo. Premiering in June, 2000, at Plaza de la Raza's Margo Albert Theatre in L.A., it continues to play to sold-out houses, standing ovations and rave reviews. It was presented in the 2002-03 season of Austin City Limits (the first time the long-running PBS television show has presented a theatrical work), and continues to be featured on this acclaimed music program. They Shoot Mexicans, Don't They? was presented in 2005 as part of the Luckman Fine Arts Complex's inaugural season of their Intimate Theater and reprised by the Autry National Center in 2006 to excellent critical and audience response. Set in late 20's Los Angeles, the production explores the historic encounter between early Hollywood and Latino culture. Written by Chavez and Portillo, it features the music of the band Quetzal, the choreography of Francisco Martinez and the filmmaking of Isaac and Jude Artenstein. Our latest production, Showing Our Age, premiered in L.A. in Spring 2008 at [INSIDE] The Ford, and the the National Center for the Preservation of Democracy. Exploring the myths, realities and fantasies of aging and the aged,it is written by Laurel Ollstein with contributions from some of L.A.'s most interesting writers. Our newest production Bleeding Through received a work-in-progress presentation as part of the L.A. History Project in July 2008 and is scheduled to premiere in 2009.
COLLABORATION: AP has worked with numerous performing and visual artists in the development of new work, and with performing arts and cultural centers, community-based arts organizations and educational institutions in the presentation of these new works. Company productions have also been featured in festivals such as the International Hispanic Theatre Festival in Miami, the Telluride Theatre Festival in Colorado, the New Voices Festival at The Public Theater in N.Y., and the SXSW Festival in Austin. The company has received high critical praise from the L.A.Times, LA Weekly, La Opinion, USA Today, the New Yorker, and many other publications.
EDUCATION: AP’s productions serve as inspirational models for AP’s successful Young Theaterworks, a semester-long literacy/theater curriculum for at-greater-risk high school students, and STAGES, which provides seniors the opportunity to work with writers to transform their life stories into live theater. Both programs utilize AP’s interdisciplinary writing and storytelling approach, and culminate in original staged public readings, performed by highly regarded professional actors, that reflect seniors’ and young people’s perspectives.
RECOGNITION of About Productions' contributions to the community is reflected in the financial support it has and continues to receive from both public and private sources. Public sources of support include the NEA, Los Angeles County Arts Commission, California Arts Council, and the City of Los Angeles' Department of Cultural Affairs. Foundations such as the California Community Foundation, Flintridge Foundation, Entertainment Industry Foundation, Weingart Foundation, and Irvine Foundation have supported the company's innovative artistic and educational programs. About Productions was also recently recognized for 20 Years of Service by the City of Los Angeles.