BRIEF HISTORY 2006

Watts Village Theater Company (WVTC) was founded in 1996 by actor and Watts community activist, Quentin Drew, and actor/playwright, Lynn Manning.  This creative partnership was an outgrowth of Cornerstone Theater Company’s two-year residency in the Los Angeles community of Watts.  WVTC’s earliest endeavor was to conduct acting and performance workshops for youth and young adults at risk in several Watts housing projects.  These culminated in public talent shows sponsored by the L.A. County Department of Recreation And Parks.  Next, the company brought together professional and community performers for a 1996 theatrical celebration of JuneTeenth at The Watts Towers art Center. WVTC has since gone on to produce staged readings and full theatrical presentations in Watts, Inglewood, the L.A. Convention Center, the Los Angeles Theater Center, The Mafundi Institute, The L.A. Design Center, and (Inside) The Ford Theater.  Most notably, Watts Village Theater Company’s year 2000 world premiere production of Lynn Manning’s The Last Outpost received critical acclaim as well as four NAACP Theater award nominations.  WVTC's 2003 production of Mr. Manning's play, PRIVATE BATTLE, won an NAACP Theatre Award, and the company's 2005 Othello adaptation, UP FROM THE DOWNS,  received critical acclaim for boldly confronting the growing animosity between Latinos and African-Americans in Watts. 

                In 2001, WVTC initiated an annual commitment to observe African-American History Month with a relevant production.  These have been: 2001, The Long And The Short Of It, a weekend of staged readings of works by L.A. based African-American playwrights; in 2002, Lynn Manning's WEIGHTS, at Los Angeles Theater Center; and in 2003/'04&'05, WVTC co-produced the Black History Month celebration at the Watts Towers Art Center.  In 2006, the production was BLACK WORDS ON WHITE PAGES at (Inside) The Ford Theater in Hollywood.  From its inception, a significant aspect of Watts Village Theater Company's mission has been to promote literacy and higher self esteem amongst the youth of Watts through internships, volunteer opportunities and education in the theatrical performance arts.  Toward that end, WVTC has collaborated with the L.A. Unified School District, Public Allies, L.A. County juvenile hall, the School Community Policing Partnership, Cornerstone Theater Company, Great Beginnings For Black Babies, and the Watts Labor Community Action Committee.