Through its Lights Up and Access community engagement programs, citizens across Los Angeles experience live theater and its power to educate, provoke thought, inspire change, and build community. We partner with 50 under-resourced non-profit and social service organizations that serve a wide range of populations with limited access to the arts in Los Angeles, including seniors, foster youth, adults transitioning out of homelessness, and veterans. Over 1,000 community members attend a full season of plays in the Gil Cates Theater, receive and read our Study Guides, attend workshops with our Teaching Artists, and meet and interact with Geffen playwrights, directors, designers, and more.

Leaders of each partnering organization attend pre-show sessions at the theater, led by our Director of Education & Community Engagement, to deepen their knowledge of theater and receive guidance for using Study Guides and facilitating discussions as group members prepare and debrief each show.

Organizations may request to work with our Teaching Artists to discuss the plays and to explore how theater activities can connect to the themes and topics in the plays, create a sense of community, and strengthen the skills of those with artistic aspirations.