24th Street Theater-Atistic Venue Unites Community

Giving the neighborhood a unique and enriching blend of theater and community service, the 24th Street Theater has grown to become a respected establishment and a gateway of unity among Southern California residents. With the diligence, spirit and enthusiasm of those who have dedicated countless hours toward improving the neighborhood, the Theater has thrived as a staging ground for inspiring creative talents and artistic innovation, culminating partnerships and generating both social and cultural understanding.

Robert Scales, former dean of the USC School of Theater and primary facilitator for the 24th Street Theater's entry into North University Park, had long believed that a professional theater company would have an enriching and "major impact on USC students, the children of 32nd Street and Norwood schools, and the cultural life of neighborhood residents." His philanthropic ambitions were realized in 1995 when he, along with dedicated visionaries Jon White-Spunner, Stephanie Shroyer, and Anne-Merelie Murrell, created a partnership that would bring to life an eclectic consortium of artistic creativity and an unwavering commitment to community outreach that many now have come to recognize and respect as the "24th Street Theater Program."

The Theater has become much more than just a learning center of the arts, but also an environment for children to explore diversity, to shed old and biased ideas and discover the common bonds shared between neighbors to forge new friendships.

McAdams, with his open and welcoming personality, often asks new children if they are from this neighborhood with the response sometimes being "no". He then proceeds to ask where the child lives and he hears "27th Street". To McAdams, this is not surprising understanding that children living on these blocks are often told to "stay in their neighborhood" and not to play in the 'gang areas" two or three streets away. This, he believes, is the central reason they've come to believe that they are separate and apart from the rest of the University Park community. The Theater’s ability to bring in children from various locations around the community encourages not only constructive interaction but also a new sense of acceptance.

While the 24th Street Theater is host to several youth outreach-programs, its primary function is to host professional plays. Unlike traditional theaters that have the audience facing the stage, the 24th Street Theater utilizes a more distinct method that Jon White-Spunner, former Executive Director, called "environmental theater". This feature adds another dimension to the audiences' enjoyment and entertainment value by integrating the actors with the audience. In addition to theatrical performances, a diverse variety of exciting and fun arts and music events are showcased.

To the surrounding University Park neighborhood, the 99-seat performing arts center at the corner of 24th Street and Hoover has become an icon for encouraging creative learning and fostering community relations. The Theater, with its welcoming feel, friendly faces, and open doors symbolizes rich offerings found in North University Park.

For additional information about the theater, its programs and performances, or directions, please contact: 24th Street Theater, 1117 West 24th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90007, Telephone: (213) 745-6516; Email: glorioustheatre@earthlink.net; Website: http://www.24thstreet.org