| Our organization was formed
in the late Spring of 2001 following a tri-university
sponsored visit by Dr. Augusto Boal to the Los Angeles
area. After the combined efforts of USC, UCLA, and
CAL State LA to host three days of intensive workshops
and afternoon symposium, it became clear that there
was greater interest in this emerging art form than
had been previously imagined. What ensued was a
year of dialogue with a variety of disparate actors
from separate organizations about the perceived
mission of such an emerging force along with a commitment
to bring Boal back in 2002. After
his second visit and an expanded series of workshops,
a lecture attended by more than 700 people, an
afternoon symposium and a series of evening performances,
interest in CTO/ATA/LA had grown exponentially.
Following this visit we discovered a need for
a dynamic organizational hierarchical dialogue
without forfeiting the momentum of more hierarchical
organizational structures. This website is a tribute
to the ever-evolving structure of the center.
We also renewed our commitment to developing a
stronger internal core not only devoted to hosting
visits by Boal but more intensely dedicated to
creating a practicing body of liberation artists
supportive of each others’ work and actions.
As a result, the CTO/ATA/LA
has produced a series of training workshops by
volunteer jokers from our core community who have
had great experience working with Augusto Boal
during the last ten to twenty years. In addition
the membership have co-sponsored extra training
workshops and performances with community based
theatre organizations to increase awareness about
art and activism, liberation art and community
engagement, work on issues as diverse as racism
and juvenile justice, awareness of the threat
of war and the plight of immigrant residents facing
new post-9/11 laws in the United States. Our members
come from educational programs, institutions of
higher education, theatre companies, therapy centers,
activist groups, and the community at large.
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