DIRECT ADDRESS

DIRECT ADDRESS is theater as discourse. It is a celebration of the First Amendment and an experiment in making art out of the present tense. DIRECT ADDRESS is an appeal to your imagination and a gathering in the heart of the storm. Cornerstone Theater Company has commissioned a group of local artists to make works for public spaces throughout Los Angeles County—works that directly address the state of things as they are right now and attempt poetic interventions on behalf of a just future. These short works will be performed across Los Angeles leading to their complete one-night presentation at The Ford. DIRECT ADDRESS is inspired by the history of American activism and public performance—from Frederick Douglass to ACT UP and beyond. It's an invitation to reimagine how we exercise our first amendment rights. Commissioned artists include Ana María Álvarez, Agnes Borinsky, Velani Dibba, Daniel Alexander Jones, Fahad Siadet, Mario Vega, Members of the Cornerstone Ensemble, and more. Founded in 1986, Cornerstone Theater Company began as a traveling ensemble living and working in primarily rural communities. In 1992, the company settled in Los Angeles to focus on urban collaborations. Cornerstone has commissioned more than 100 playwrights, produced over 150 new works, trained thousands of students, and worked with tens of thousands of community members, in Los Angeles and across the country.