STAR - Skylight Theatre Artist Residency is the legacy campaign of Founding Artistic Director Gary Grossman. Through this program, Skylight Theatre will open its facility, one of the most prominent and celebrated 99-seat theatre spaces in Los Angeles. For 90 weeks over 5 years (16 weeks each year), Skylight will provide not only their space, but staff support and artistic mentorship to empower independent artists and local itinerant companies mounting new works.

With the rising costs of producing a play in Los Angles, rent, promotion, ticketing services, and administrative costs can account for up to 35% of an independent production’s budget. STAR is designed to remove that financial burden by providing rent-free space, marketing and additional production staff and services. In addition, Skylight will forgo box office participation, allowing guest artists to keep 100% of their ticket proceeds. This support will enable independent artists to mount new work with less upfront capital, and help small theatre companies move closer to their financial goals through ticket sales.

With Skylight committing to 16 weeks each year, over the course of the 5 years, 20 or more playwrights, theatre companies and producers will be impacted. In addition to Skylight being funded through the program over the five years, numerous new, important works will come to life on our stage. STAR supports Skylight while bringing crucial visibility to fresh and diverse voices and stories.

STAR is available to Los Angeles theatre companies without a permanent theatre home, individual artists, and individual producers.

An official announcement of the program will be released Fall of 2026. The program will launch in the first quarter of 2027.