Happy 2020!!

My name is Larry Powell and I am a multi-hyphenate artist born and raised in South Central LA. I would love your help in securing the funds necessary to make a great opportunity I’ve created for diverse artists in need possible. 

Diverse here means: POC’s, LGBTQIAPK+, and any & all others taking up residence in the margins of the mainstream/majority entertainment experience. 

MISSION
The Freedom Workshop is a Masterclass Acting Intensive Experience created for diverse artists to get a turbo jolt of quality, top-notch access to cutting-edge training and community in the entertainment industry.

So often diverse artists find themselves broken in unnecessary areas from carrying the weight of being a “minority” not only in top-tier areas of the entertainment industry at large but while at top training programs as well.

The intention of this workshop is to foster and provide the liberating tools, resources and space necessary to BE FREE not only in their work as actors and performers but as people on the leading edge pushing culture to new heights.

The artist must be liberated in their own mind, body and soul before they can do the rigorous creative work that serves to free the mind, body and soul of humanity. It is a practice and process. This workshop activates that process while strengthening the practice.

THE FREEDOM WORKSHOP

This workshop is an exploration for a larger integrative training program with the ability to springboard selected diverse artists into a world of opportunity and community in the entertainment industry. The inaugural workshop will take place at the Los Angeles Theatre Center. 

The Freedom Workshop is a three-fold, powerhouse experience and is designed as follows:

THE MASTER CLASS EXPERIENCE

This is a Five-Day, 40+ Hour Masterclass Acting Training Experience where students work intimately with a group of working, seasoned master acting teachers led by Larry Powell (Multi-Award Winning/Nominated  Multi-Hyphenate Artist/Educator). During this part of the workshop students work deeply and rigorously on scenes written by Larry Powell to be performed in a cohesive showing at the end of the workshop before a live audience.

Students also receive specialized mini-workshops with Devere Rogers (Actor/Writer from IFC’s SHERMAN’S SHOWCASE now on Hulu and upcoming major feature film MY SPY), Tracie Thoms (Emmy Nominated Broadway/TV/Film Veteran Actress; RENT, DEVIL WEARS PRADA, COLD CASE, LOVE), Beth Ryne (Artist/Casting Director, DEAD TO ME; THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY), and Lee Edward Colston II (Actor/Writer FX FARGO, ABC FOR LIFE). 


THE FREEDOM LUNCHES

The Freedom Lunch portion of The Freedom Workshop reimagines what an “Industry Q&A Panel” can be. I’ve always received the best anecdotal gems and pearls of wisdom at Lunch Meetings or at meal breaks while working On Set or in The Green Room between shows or on late nights lounging in a Mentor’s Living Room. This is the vibe of The Freedom Lunch. Laid back and intentional. Think: Summit. 

It’s when a group of leading artists/professionals who have done well for themselves and have something to offer gather with the promising artists taking the workshop, break bread with them and have a conversation that leaves everyone satisfied, empowered and nourished on many levels. 

The artists and professionals confirmed for The Freedom Lunches so far are Obie Award Winners, Emmy Award Nominees, Grammy Nominees, Well-Known Casting Directors, High-Powered PR Persons, Fierce Producers, Leading Actors on Major Projects and many, many more fancy things I can say about the 20+ human beings supporting this workshop.  


THE FREEDOM RIDE

The Freedom Workshop culminates in a free and open to the public showing of the scenes they’ve been working on over the two-week process. This is called The Freedom Ride as the audience takes a ride with the students on a 60-Minute, One-Act play of a journey on the theme: What freedom means to me. 

*Industry Guests are also invited in the hopes they will setup meetings with the students they wish to know more about and provide opportunity for!

DJ included. Reception aka The Freedom Party to follow with the intention of fostering more connection, community and opportunity. 


NON-PROFIT SUPPORT

The Freedom Workshop is fiscally sponsored by a few non-profits that have agreed to receive grants and donations on the workshop’s behalf in order to make the workshop accessible and available to every qualified artist applying. 


BUDGET

The money raised here will help the workshop thrive by making sure the following is covered:  

-Core Masterclass Fee

-Specialty MasterTeacher mini-workshops 

-Celebrity Industry Panel

-Daily provided lunch

-Parking at validated rate

-Venue Fees (Staff; Tech)

-Presentation Fees

-Freedom Party (Reception)

-Event Insurance

-Archival Footage/Documentarian


PROMISE OF THE WORKSHOP

The Freedom Workshop will transform the lives of the people who were born to teach us all how to be better citizens— the artists. And particularly for diverse artists to have a place to train and grow with real, quality resources and without feeling like a minority. This is a calling. This is needed. Will you lend a helping hand?


Thank you for your consideration, 
Larry Powell
The Freedom Workshop
Creative Director

Larry Powell Bio
Larry Powell is a writer, actor, director and producer born and raised in South Central LA. As an actor he’s originated and premiered roles in some of the most exciting new plays in America including The Christians by Lucas Hnath, The Legend of Georgia McBride by Matthew Lopez, Father Comes Home From The Wars by Suzan Lori Parks, Seared by Theresa Rebeck, Brokeology by Nathan Louis Jackson, Curve of Departure by Rachel Bonds, and While I Yet Live by Billy Porter to name a few. His NYC debut was in the premiere off-off broadway production of Pia Wilson’s The Flower Thief. He is a two-time Ovation Award nominee, three-time NAACP Theatre Award Nominee, San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Award Nominee, two-time LA Drama Critics Circle Award Winner, as well as an Audelco and Audie award nominee. You can check him out as Lawrence in the movie The Browsing Effect (Now Available on streaming platforms). Larry is also a published playwright and professional screenwriter. He most recently finished as screenwriter on upcoming indie feature film which wrapped in NYC spring 2019. His play Lost Dog will premiere in Los Angeles at the Los Angeles Theatre Center in Spring 2020. He is a core playwright at the Lark Play Development Center. As a director he has worked with several contemporary playwrights on exciting new works, has directed his own film project Mother’s Milk, and has been mentored by the likes of Michele Shay, Robert O’Hara and Phylicia Rashad (Assistant Director; Center Theatre Group’s production of August Wilson’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom). Also serves as an Adjunct Lecturer at University of Southern California’s School of Dramatic Arts MFA Acting program, where he recently directed an extremely successful production of Tarell Alvin McCraney’s The Brothers Size. Larry is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon’s School of Drama where he won the Roth-Levine Award his Senior Year.