Teatro de la Rosa Youth Program
(1440 Experience)
Latin Arts Association of Fort Worth

In Fort Worth, Texas, a unique collaboration between the local school district and the Latin Arts Association brings theater to students and students to the theater. Three days a week, young people ages 8–18 meet after school at the Rose Marine Theater, to learn all aspects of theater operations, from playwriting to production to performance. The Teatro de la Rosa program, dubbed the “1440 Experience” by the participants, has garnered a reputation for transforming the lives of thousands of underserved minority students.

Teatro de la Rosa sets high standards for the young people who progress through the program. Students receive free, on-site classes three days a week for 12 weeks in both the fall and spring sessions; the summer component lasts 4 weeks. Participants also develop leadership skills by working as directors, technical directors, and playwrights. Each semester of intensive training culminates in a theatrical production.

Through the collaborative involvement of teachers, parent volunteers, and fellow students, participants benefit from an immediate network of mentors and friends. In addition, Rose Marine Theater staff work one on one with students, helping them to develop their resumes and providing letters of support that lead to internships and careers with professional theaters across the country.

The 1440 Experience is not confined within the walls of the Rose Marine Theater. Various locations throughout the community offer students the same intensive training free of charge. All participants gain access to the Theater’s other cultural programs, as well. Remarkably, 80 percent of the students who begin the program continue through graduation.

Serving a community that has a significant Hispanic population, the 1440 Experience emphasizes cultural identity and sensitivity.
Many bilingual plays focus on Hispanic culture, providing young people with the opportunity to discuss topics relevant to their neighborhoods and daily lives.