LTC makes an IMPACT

A thrilling collaboration has been announced.

L.A.’s Latino Theater Company has forged a new partnership with L.A. Mission College to launch Theater 285 – Directed Studies, set to be taught by legendary UCLA Distinguished Professor and company AD José Luis Valenzuela.

This new educational program is open to all Los Angeles Community College District students this spring. 

By partnering with the L.A. Community College District, the LTC is set to provide students district-wide with a world-class education in dramatic arts via the company’s new “IMPACT” community engagement initiative.

Latino Theater Company Artistic Director and UCLA Emeritus Distinguished Professor José Luis Valenzuela will teach Theater 285 – Directed Study, a course available to students at all nine LACCD colleges that will include tickets to Latino Theater Company performances at The Los Angeles Theatre Center in downtown Los Angeles. 

“The District is deeply appreciative of this partnership with the Latino Theater Company and the generous spirit of Professor Valenzuela,” said LACCD Board President Gabriel Buelna. “This will be a truly special course that highlights so much of what the LACCD and Los Angeles are all about, and will provide world-class teaching to an extremely deserving student body.”

LACCD Board President Gabriel Buelna.

The course will be offered as an in-person/virtual hybrid course during the Spring 2022 semester, with classes every Tuesday between April 11 and June 6 from 6 pm to 8 pm. Lectures will be conducted in-person and online, with plays and performances held at the Los Angeles Theatre Center.

The Latino Theater Company received critical funding to expand its artistic reach to diverse audiences through a 2019-20 state budget request by Senator Maria Elena Durazo, a longtime champion of arts education and community colleges.

“Los Angeles is at the intersection of arts, entertainment and cultural diversity. This creative partnership is exactly the type of synergy needed to enrich our communities through the arts, especially as we learn to live with the pandemic,” said Los Angeles Community College District Chancellor Francisco C. Rodriguez, Ph.D. “This is a wonderful partnership for Los Angeles Mission College, and I want to thank Senator Maria Elena Durazo for her vision and support in providing this unique opportunity to students across the district.”

Los Angeles Community College District Chancellor Francisco C. Rodriguez, Ph.D.

The first-of-its-kind class is offered in person as Section 28049 and online as Section 27213. It is based at Los Angeles Mission College but offered on a space-available basis to all interested students district-wide and throughout the County.

“The arts are a critical part of our goal at Los Angeles Mission College to educate the whole student,” said Los Angeles Mission College President Armida Ornelas, Ph.D. “Community college students aspiring to a career in film or theater typically do not get access to legends like Professor Valenzuela, and I am personally honored that Mission College was chosen to host this program.”

Los Angeles Mission College President Armida Ornelas, Ph.D.

The course will be taught by Valenzuela, an acclaimed director of film and theater and tenured professor at the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television. He is the creator of the Latino Theater Company at the Los Angeles Theatre Center, and the Latino Theater Initiative at the Mark Taper Forum. 

“It is my absolute honor and pleasure to be able to work with the community college students who will become the next generation of leaders in Los Angeles,” he said. “I hope this course will inspire the students to understand their cultural and historical contributions to American society.” 

Latino Theater Company Artistic Director and UCLA Emeritus Distinguished Professor José Luis Valenzuela.

Registration for the Theater 285 course is available for students enrolled district-wide at bit.ly/latinotheaterclass. With the combination of virtual lectures and the new fareless public transit GoPass program that allows students to take Metro for free, students can participate in this course and get a rich experience for an extremely low cost.

For more information about the Latino Theater Company and the IMPACT Initiative, call 213-489-0994 or go to www.latinotheaterco.org.