Center

The Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles (SCLA), originally known as Shakespeare Festival/LA, was founded in 1986 with its inaugural Summer Festival featuring "Twelfth Night" in Pershing Square. This event uniquely engaged the homeless community, who actively participated by guiding audiences and distributing programs. Inspired by their gesture of offering aluminum cans for recycling, Artistic Director Ben Donenberg introduced the "Food for Thought" admission policy, encouraging food donations for the needy instead of ticket purchases. In 1993, SCLA expanded its outreach with programs like "Will Power to Youth," combining artistic experience with paid job training for at-risk youth. By January 2000, SCLA established its permanent headquarters in downtown Los Angeles, strategically located near three Title One high schools. The organization has since become a national leader in arts and human services, collaborating with entities such as the Department of Justice, Department of Mental Health, and US Department of Veteran Affairs. SCLA is a tax-exempt, non-profit corporation, with donations being tax-deductible as per legal provisions.