Cornerstone Theater Company

Cornerstone Theater Company is a multi-ethnic, ensemble-based theater company. The organization commissions and produces new plays–both original works and contemporary adaptations of classics–that combine the artistry of professional and community collaborators. By making theater with and for people of many ages, cultures, and levels of theatrical experience, Cornerstone builds bridges between and within diverse communities in its home city of Los Angeles and nationwide. From 1986 to 1991, the ensemble worked in rural communities, creating 12 musical productions in 10 states. In 1991, Cornerstone settled in Los Angeles to begin community-based urban residency work. In Cornerstone’s Community Collaborations, professional artists work in a several month residency alongside dozens of community artists of all ages on plays that celebrate the communityand explore social issues. They are performed in community venues and largely on a pay-what-you-can admission basis. After a series of residency projects, community participants from each show come together across boundaries to create Bridge Shows, culminating productions in venues accessible to all participants. Ensemble and guest artists also create productions that become part of Cornerstone’s permanent repertory. The Cornerstone Institute offers multidisciplinary professional training in community-based theater using Cornerstone Theater Company’s unique collaborative methodology. Participants learn through both intensive training and the hands-on creation of community-specific productions, which combine their own artistry with that of experienced professionals and community collaborators.