The Covid pandemic has wreaked havoc on the entertainment industry, and the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles is no exception. The 2023-24 theater season has been put on hold due to the economic crisis caused by the pandemic, which the Center Theatre Group describes as “unlike any other in our fifty-six-year history.” The world premiere of Larissa FastHorse’s Fake It Until You Make It has been postponed, and the previously announced tour stop of Lauren Yee’s Cambodian Rock Band has been canceled.
The decision to pause programming at the Taper was not an easy one, but it was necessary. The CTG statement acknowledges the impact on artists and audiences, as well as the dedicated staff who have worked tirelessly to bring great theater to L.A. The organization continues to struggle with the aftereffects of the pandemic, including reduced ticket revenue and donations that remain below 2019 levels.
Despite the challenges, the CTG remains committed to building a vibrant and sustainable organization that can navigate this new paradigm. The Taper may not be programming a season this year, but the space will be utilized in innovative, non-traditional ways through special events and community-centered programs starting as early as the fall.
The heart of CTG’s groundbreaking programming, the Taper will be missed, but a 2023-24 season at the Ahmanson and select programming at the Kirk Douglas will be announced soon. The postponed Fake It Until You Make It will be directed by Michael John Garcés, and Larissa FastHorse made history as the first female Native American playwright on Broadway with her 2023 production of The Thanksgiving Play. The canceled Cambodian Rock Band was directed by Chay Yew.