Institute Intensives
Institute Intensives
Learn about Cornerstone’s unique methodology for making new plays with and about communities and how to use the elements, principles, practices and strategies for your work.
Cornerstone’s Institute Intensives are designed for anyone- artists, educators, students, organizers, and curious others- interested in making community-centered theater (or other art). And if you are interested in Cornerstone as a fan you are welcome to attend, too. Your participation in conversation and activities would be welcome and, we think, satisfying for you.
With curriculum based on Cornerstone’s 35+ year history and facilitated by company ensemble members, Institute Intensives draw Cornerstone case studies and on participants’ input and creativity for activities, exercises and conversations including: identifying and engaging communities; cultural mapping; story-gathering, scriptwriting and adaptation; design in a community context and rehearsal room strategies. The Intensive culminates with participants putting these elements into practice to create short collaborative performances.
Cornerstone can provide a customized Intensive for an organization or institution (in person or online) and at least one Intensive for individual participation is scheduled annually.
Institute 2-Day Intensive In-Person for Individuals
Cornerstone offers an in-person 2-Day Intensive (2DI) for individual participation in Los Angeles each year (usually in February or March). Occasionally we’ll offer a second one in the fall. Specific location in Los Angeles is TBD, and the expected schedule is Saturday from 9:30a – 6:30pm and Sunday from 10:00a – 3:00pm.
UPCOMING: February 24 & 25, 2024 in Los Angeles
Location: On the campus of Blessed Sacrament Church, 6657 Sunset Blvd, Hollywood, CA 90028.
Saturday, February 24, 9:30a – 6:00p and Sunday, February 25, 10:00a – 3:00p. Capacity is limited.
Cost: $350, or $300 if registered by February 1, 2024 (use discount code EARLYBIRDY)
Register now through Eventbrite and use this link.
Covid Protocols as of December 2023: Cornerstone employees follow a vaccination &/or testing protocol. There are no vaccination requirements for attendees. Masks are welcome but not required. Masks and hand sanitizer are provided. Protocols are subject to change based on county guidelines.
Questions? Contact Paula Donnelly at PDonnelly@cornerstonetheater.org or call 213-613-1700 x134.
Institute Intensive Customized for your organization or institution:
Do you have a community-collaborative project in the works? Do you want to explore what a community-based project might be for you or to introduce this approach to your students and/or colleagues? Cornerstone’s Institute Intensive can be designed to integrate your unique interests, concerns and/or project ideas into the structured curriculum.
Bring Cornerstone to your group to teach a crash-course in Cornerstone’s methodology with a 2-Day Intensive, or talk with us about other possible time-structures. We craft the content for each Intensive to the needs of the hiring Institution and interests of the participants.
To learn more or to book a 2DI for your community or organization, please contact Paula Donnelly at PDonnelly@cornerstonetheater.org or call 213-613-1700 x134.
Two Day Intensives Gallery
Cornerstone Institute Intensives have been presented at:
Alcadia San Julian Sonsonate, San Salvadore, El Salvador
Alfred University, Alfred, NY
Arizona State University at Tempe
Artists, Educators and Activists in Eureka, CA
Arts Council of Kern, Bakersfield, CA
Cal State University, Northridge, Departments of Theater & Communications/Performance Studies
California State University, Dominguez Hills
Center for Race and Gender, University of California, Berkeley
Cornerstone Theater in Los Angeles for Individual Participation
Davidson College, Davidson, North Carolina
Dell’Arte International, Blue Lake, CA
DePaul University, Chicago, IL
Diavolo Dance Theater, Los Angeles, CA
Kun Yang Lin/Dancers, Philadelphia, PA
Macalester College, St. Paul, MN
Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, Great Barrington, MA
New York University, Tisch School of the Arts
Reed College, Portland, OR
Seattle University
Shakespeare in Clark Park, Philadelphia
South Coast Repertory, Costa Mesa, CA
Stories On Stage, Denver, CO
Texas A & M University
University of California at Irvine, Drama Department
University of Texas at Austin, Department of Theater & Dance
University of Washington in Seattle, School of Drama
William Inge Center for the Arts, Independence, KS
XII Festival Iberoamericano de Teatro de Bogotá
I feel empowered by everything I’ve learned. I can’t wait to bring this knowledge back to my community. I hope this type of workshop is available for non-professional artists to help heal their communities by engaging them in a noble activity.
– Cindy S., Businesswoman/Artist
The successful experiences that we had with artists from a completely different group will have a long-term impact on all of us. W
e found out
that our community is much larger than we thought. You combined great focus with a light touch so that we had experiences to give us new kinds of thoughts, but we were never pounded with point of view. Excellent and all too rare.
– Norma Moore, Artistic Director, Stories On Stage
I can’t tell you how many students… adapted your work in carrying out story circles of their own. Equally compelling was using… principles of community spaces. Wow. And finally, totally intriguing was trying their hands at adapting texts à la Cornerstone… I am so grateful that many of my students got the opportunity to participate in the two day workshop.“
– Jan C, Professor, NYU Tisch School of the Arts
