20 Years Of Inspired Learning
Enrichment Works founder, Abraham Tetenbaum, saw the need for dramatic improvement in education when his son started public school in Los Angeles. Tetenbaum, a writer with Broadway and television credits, asked friends to join him in creating “theater to inspire learning” and in 1999 Enrichment Works was incorporated as a nonprofit organization. The organization has now produced over 65 plays and musicals. These shows have been performed at over 500 schools and reached over 600,000 youth. All this in service of the mission “to create and present professional theater to inspire learning.”
As Enrichment Works’ circle of playwrights and performers grows wider, we continue to shape our culturally responsive approach as we seek out stories that have meaning and relevance to the diverse population we serve. In addition to schools, the organization has partnered with libraries, museums, and community groups promoting tolerance, gun safety, healthy nutrition, animal welfare and financial literacy.
“Wow! Wow! Wow! That was the most fun we had all year! Everyone loved it! The cast was wonderful and very funny!” — 2nd Grade Teacher”
History Highlights
- The organization, along with Board Member Hector Elizondo, was honored in 2006 by the Valley Interfaith Council with its Human Relations Award for Entertainment Leadership, earning commendations from every level of government.
- In 2008 Enrichment Works was given the “Access to Excellence” award from the National Endowment for the Arts.
- In 2017 Enrichment Works won a California State Library grant as part of the California Civil Liberties Public Education Program to produce the play “Shizzy’s Story” based on the true life story of an LAUSD principal whose family spent three years in Japanese American internment camps during WWII. This play was performed 87 times at schools and libraries throughout Los Angeles County during the 2017/18 school year.
- Since its beginning, Enrichment Works has provided performances to LAUSD’s after school Youth Development Program (YDP), which provides free care at 140 of our most underserved schools.
- For three years Enrichment Works worked in middle schools through a partnership with Northridge Community Hospital Medical Center (NCHMC), producing eight short plays on topics related to teen sexuality and training peer educators in improvisation, incorporating improvised scenes into the curriculum.
- Also with NCHMC through their School-based Obesity and Diabetes Initiative, the musicals “Food for Thought” and “Food for Thought 2” were created in partnership with the Network for a Healthy California and through their program reached over 85,000 students.
- Enrichment Works has long-term partnership with County of Los Angeles Public Libraries. Enrichment Works was hired to perform plays that promote cultural awareness at every single county library in June 2018, we successfully completed all 84 performances in just one month!
- Enrichment Works is a member of the LAUSD Arts Partnership Network (formed in 2016) and was awarded a contract through the Arts Education Branch to bring our programs to LAUSD schools that receive little or no arts education programming.
0+
PROGRAMS PRODUCED
0K+
STUDENTS SERVED
0+
SCHOOLS SERVED
0M+
PAYMENTS TO ARTISTS
20 Years of Original Programming!
A list of Enrichment Works productions offered to schools each year.
(Bold print = new production that year)
1999
- Deborah Sampson: In the Character of a Soldier, by Abraham Tetenbaum
- Relatively Speaking: A Visit with Albert Einstein, by Ian Patrick Williams
- People of the First Light, by Jose Andrews
2000
- Deborah Sampson: In the Character of a Soldier, by Abraham Tetenbaum
- Helen Keller, by Joan Schaeffer
- I Touch the Future, by Chris Jorie
- My Friend Shakespeare, by Jean Gaskill
- Mythos, by Ruben Garfias
- People of the First Light, by Jose Andrews
- Raiders of the Lost Tomb, by Ian Patrick Williams
- Relatively Speaking, by Ian Patrick Williams
2001
- A World of Folktales, by Beret K. Malmgren
- Mythos, by Ruben Garfias
- Voyage of Odysseus, by Joshua Feinman
- Flamenco Forever, by Lucy Vargas
- My Friend Shakespeare, by Jean Gaskill
- People of the First Light, by Jose R. Andrews
- Ishi, by Abraham Tetenbaum
- Go Girl Go, by Cynthia L. Cooper
- Piano Masters, by John Towey
- Raiders of the Lost Tomb, by Ian Patrick Williams
- Relatively Speaking: A Visit with Albert Einstein, by Ian Patrick Williams
- Matty: Oldtime Baseball with Christy Mathewson, by Eddie Frierson
- Deborah Sampson: In the Character of a Soldier, by Abraham Tetenbaum
- Helen Keller, by Joan Schaeffer
- I Touch the Future, by Chris Jorie
- Spirit In My Soul, by Chris Jorie
2002
- A World of Folktales, by Beret K. Malmgren
- Mythos by Ruben Garfias
- Eco-Slam: Clean World Wrestling by Ian Patrick Williams
- Voyage of Odysseus by Joshua Feinman
- Ishi by Abraham Tetenbaum
- Flamenco Forever by Lucy Vargas
- My Friend Shakespeare by Jean Gaskill
- Gold Rush Honeymoon by Sweet Betsy
- Piano Masters by John Towey
- A Lovely Light by Karen Wescotts
- Always Going Up by Dawn Grabowski
- Raiders of the Lost Tomb by Ian Patrick Williams
- Relatively Speaking: A Visit with Albert Einstein by Ian Patrick Williams
- The Answers to Every Test by Abraham Tetenbaum
- Muslim-American by Cynthia L. Cooper & Shakir Farsakh
- Poe, the Poet by Edgar Allan Poe
- Spirit In My Soul by Chris Jorie
- Matty: Oldtime Baseball with Christy Mathewson by Eddie Frierson
- Deborah Sampson: In The Character of a Soldier by Abraham Tetenbaum
2003
- A World of Folktales by Beret K. Malmgren
- Aesop’s Fables, by Cy Young
- Always Going Up, by Dawn Grabowski
- The Answers to Every Test, by Abraham Tetenbaum
- Bessie Coleman, by Chris Hart
- Dangerous Games, by Mary Alice Mark
- Deborah Sampson: In the Character of a Soldier, by Abraham Tetenbaum
- Eco-Slam: Clean World Wrestling, by Ian Patrick Williams
- Flamenco Forever, by Lucy Vargas
- Food for Thought, by Ian Patrick Williams
- Gold Rush Honeymoon, by Sweet Betsy
- Matty: Oldtime Baseball with Christy Mathewson, by Eddie Frierson
- Muslim-American, by Cynthia L. Cooper & Shakir Farsakh
- Mythos, by Ruben Garfias
- Piano Masters, by John Towey
- Poe, the Poet, by Edgar Allan Poe
- Raiders of the Lost Tomb, by Ian Patrick Williams
- Relatively Speaking: A Visit with Albert Einstein, by Ian Patrick Williams
- Spirit In My Sou,l by Chris Jorie
- Voyage of Odysseus, by Joshua Feinman
- Wandering Minstrel, by Kenny Klein
2004
- Aesop’s Fables, by Cy Young
- Bessie Coleman, by Chris Hart
- Gold Rush Honeymoon, by Genevieve Hain
- Relatively Speaking: A Visit with Albert Einstein, by Ian Patrick Williams
- Spirit In My Sou,l by Chris Jorie
- Brave Little Nell, by Laurie Strawn
- Deborah Sampson: In the Character of a Soldier, by Abraham Tetenbaum
- Eco-Slam: Clean World Wrestling, by Ian Patrick Williams
- Matty: Oldtime Baseball with Christy Mathewson, by Eddie Frierson
- Mythos II, by Ruben Garfias
- Piano Masters II, by John Towey
- Tales of Four Seasons, by Nicole Hoelle
- Voyage of Odysseus, by Joshua Feinman
- Wandering Minstrel, by Kenny Klein
- Wild Africa, by Gregory Humphreys
- Food For Thought, by Ian Patrick Williams
- Poe, the Poet, by Edgar Allan Poe
- Ghost of the Frontier, by Willard Simms
- Raiders of the Lost Tomb, by Ian Patrick Williams
2005
- A Doggone Musical, book by Ian Patrick Williams, lyrics by Abraham Tetenbaum, music by Norman L. Berman
- Aesop’s Fables, by Cy Young
- Brave Little Nell, by Laurie Strawn
- Deborah Sampson: In the Character of a Soldier, by Abraham Tetenbaum
- Dinosaur Wars, by Myles Nye
- Eco-Slam: Clean World Wrestling, by Ian Patrick Williams
- Food For Thought, by Ian Patrick Williams
- Ghost of the Frontier, by Willard Simms
- Globalloonacy, by Addi Somekh
- Gold Rush Honeymoon, by Genevieve Hain
- Heartbeat of the World, by Shantell Herndon
- Johnny and Sally Ann, by Tom Smith
- Matty: Oldtime Baseball with Christy Mathewson, by Eddie Frierson
- Mythos, by Ruben Garfias
- Raiders of the Lost Tomb, by Ian Patrick Williams
- Relatively Speaking: A Visit with Albert Einstein, by Ian Patrick Williams
- Sor Juana, by Cynthia L. Cooper
- Spirit In My Sou,l by Chris Jorie
- Tales of Four Seasons, by J. Nicole Hoelle
- Voyage of Odysseus, by Joshua Feinman
- Wandering Minstrel, by Kenny Klein
- Wild Africa, by Gregory Humphreys
2006
- A Doggone Musical, book by Ian Patrick Williams, lyrics by Abraham Tetenbau, music by Norman L. Berman
- Aesop’s Fables, by Cy Young
- Deborah Sampson: In the Character of a Soldier, by Abraham Tetenbaum
- Degas and the Dancer, by Ian Patrick Williams
- Dinosaur Wars, by Myles Nye
- Food For Thought, by Ian Patrick Williams
- Freedom Child, by Bernadette McAllister
- Globalloonacy, by Addi Somekh
- Gold Rush Honeymoon, by Genevieve Hain
- Johnny and Sally Ann, by Tom Smith
- Matty: Oldtime Baseball with Christy Mathewson, by Eddie Frierson
- Mythos I & II, by Ruben Garfia
- Native Beginnings, by Willard Simms
- Pirates! by Kenny Klein
- Rosie, by Adriana Rogers
- Sor Juana, by Cynthia L. Cooper
- Spirit In My Soul, by Chris Jorie
- Voyage of Odysseus, by Joshua Feinman
- Wild Africa, by Gregory Humphreys
- Relatively Speaking: A Visit with Albert Einstein, by Ian Patrick Williams
2007
- A Doggone Musical, by Ian Patrick Williams, Abraham Tetenbaum & Norman L. Berman
- Aesop’s Fables, by Cy Young
- A Songwriting Lesson from Irving Berlin, by Abraham Tetenbaum
- Deborah Sampson: In the Character of a Soldier, by Abraham Tetenbaum
- Degas and the Dancer, by Ian Patrick Williams
- Dinosaur Wars, by Myles Nye
- Food For Thought, by Ian Patrick Williams
- Freedom Child, by Bernadette McAllister
- John Fremont: The Pathfinder, by Tom Smith
- Johnny and Sally Ann, by Tom Smith
- Matty: Oldtime Baseball with Christy Mathewson, by Eddie Frierson
- Mythos I & II, by Ruben Garfia
- Miss Mitchell’s Comet, by Jane Carpenter
- The Money Mon$ter, book/lyrics by Abraham Tetenbaum, music by Norman L. Berman
- Native Beginnings, by Willard Simms
- Pirates! by Kenny Klein
- Rosie, by Adriana Rogers
- Sor Juana, by Cynthia L. Cooper
- Spirit In My Soul, by Chris Jorie
- Voyage of Odysseus, by Joshua Feinman
- Wild Africa, by Gregory Humphreys
2008
- A Songwriting Lesson from Irving Berlin, by Abraham Tetenbaum
- John Fremont: The Pathfinder, by Tom L. Smith
- A Doggone Musical, book by Ian Patrick Williams, lyrics by Abraham Tetenbaum, music by Norman L. Berman
- Aesop’s Fables, by Cy Young
- Deborah Sampson, by Abraham Tetenbaum
- Degas and the Dancer, by Ian Patrick Williams
- Dinosaur Wars, by Myles Nye
- Food For Thought, book by Ian Patrick Williams, lyrics by Abraham Tetenbaum, music by Norman L. Berman
- Matty: Oldtime Baseball with Christy Mathewson, by Eddie Frierson
- Miss Mitchell’s Comet, by Jane Carpenter
- The Money Mon$ter,book/lyrics by Abraham Tetenbaum and music by Norman L. Berman
- Native Beginnings, by Willard Simms
- The No-Sex Mega-Plex (Risky Behaviors by Tom Smith; An About Face by Adriana Rogers; The STIs by Ian Patrick Williams; Camping by Chelsea Hackett; Reality T.V. by David Prather; Nino and the Principal’s Daughter by Joyce Lee; Genital Knowledge by Myles Nye; Peer and Press by Christopher Hart)
- Pirates! by Kenny Klein
- Rosie, by Adriana Rogers
- Sor Juana, by Cynthia L. Cooper
- Spirit In My Soul, by Chris Jorie
- Thirsty City, by Willard Simms
- Voyage of Odysseus, by Joshua Feinman
- Wild Africa, by Gregory Humphrey
- The Money Mon$ter, book/lyrics by Abraham Tetenbaum, music by Norman L. Berman
- Food For Thought 2: The Message Comes Home, book by Ian Patrick Williams, lyrics by Abraham Tetenbaum, music by Norman L. Berman
2009
- A Songwriting Lesson from Irving Berlin, by Abraham Tetenbaum
- Aesop’s Fables, by Cy Young
- Deborah Sampson: In the Character of a Soldier, by Abraham Tetenbaum
- Food For Thought 2: The Message Comes Home, book by Ian Patrick Williams, lyrics by Abraham Tetenbaum, music by Norman L. Berman
- Freedom Child, by Bernadette McAllister
- How She Played the Game, by Cynthia L. Cooper
- John Fremont: The Pathfinder, by Tom L. Smith
- Matty: Oldtime Baseball with Christy Mathewson, by Eddie Frierson
- Miss Mitchell’s Comet, by Jane Carpenter
- The Money Mon$ter, book/lyrics by Abraham Tetenbaum, music by Norman L. Berman
- Native Beginnings, by Willard Simms
- No. 21: The Dreams of Roberto Clemente, by Desi Moreno-Penson
- The No-Sex Mega-Plex (Risky Behaviors by Tom Smith; An About Face by Adriana Rogers; The STIs by Ian Patrick Williams; Camping by Chelsea Hackett; Reality T.V. by David Prather; Nino and the Principal’s Daughter by Joyce Lee; Genital Knowledge by Myles Nye; Peer and Press By Christopher Hart)
- Pirates! by Kenny Klein
- Sor Juana, by Cynthia L. Cooper
- Thirsty City, by Willard Simms
- Voyage of Odysseus, by Joshua Feinman
2010
- A Songwriting Lesson from Irving Berlin,by Abraham Tetenbaum
- Aesop’s Fables, by Cy Young
- Deborah Sampson: In the Character of a Soldier, by Abraham Tetenbaum
- Food For Thought 2: The Message Comes Home, book by Ian Patrick Williams, lyrics by Abraham Tetenbaum, music by Norman L. Berman
- Freedom Child, by Bernadette McAllister
- How She Played the Game, by Cynthia L. Cooper
- Matty, by Eddie Frierson
- Miss Mitchell’s Comet, by Jane Carpenter
- The Money Mon$ter, book/lyrics by Abraham Tetenbaum, music by Norman L. Berman
- Native Beginnings, by Willard Simms
- No. 21: The Dreams of Roberto Clemente, by Desi Moreno-Penson
- The No-Sex Mega-Plex (Risky Behaviors by Tom Smith; An About Face by Adriana Rogers; The STIs by Ian Patrick Williams; Camping by Chelsea Hackett; Reality T.V. by David Prather; Nino and the Principal’s Daughter by Joyce Lee; Genital Knowledge by Myles Nye; Peer and Press by Christopher Hart)
- Sor Juana, by Cynthia L. Cooper
- The Whole World’s A Talkin’, by Brigitte Viellieu-Davis
- Thirsty City, by Willard Simms
- Voyage of Odysseus, by Joshua Feinman
2011
- A Songwriting Lesson from Irving Berlin, by Abraham Tetenbaum
- Aesop’s Fables, by Cy Young
- Food For Thought 2: The Message Comes Home, book by Ian Patrick Williams, lyrics by Abraham Tetenbaum, music by Norman L. Berman
- Freedom Child, by Bernadette McAllister
- Matty: Oldtime Baseball with Christy Mathewson, by Eddie Frierson
- Native Beginnings, by Willard Simms
- No. 21: The Dreams of Roberto Clemente, by Desi Moreno-Penson
- The Money Mon$ter, by Abraham Tetenbaum & Norman L. Berman
- Sor Juana, by Cynthia L. Cooper
- The Whole World’s A Talkin’, by Brigitte Viellieu-Davis
- Voyage of Odysseus, by Joshua Feinman
2012
- A Songwriting Lesson from Irving Berlin, by Abraham Tetenbaum
- Aesop’s Fables, by Cy Young
- Food for Thought: My Plate, book by Ian Patrick Williams, lyrics by Abraham Tetenbaum, music by Norman L. Berman
- Freedom Child, by Bernadette McAllister
- Matty: Oldtime Baseball with Christy Mathewson, by Eddie Frierson
- Native Beginnings, by Willard Simms
- No. 21: The Dreams of Roberto Clemente, by Desi Moreno-Penson
- The Money Mon$ter, book/lyrics by Abraham Tetenbaum, music by Norman L. Berman
- Sor Juana, by Cynthia L. Cooper
- The Whole World’s A Talkin’, by Brigitte Viellieu-Davis
- Voyage of Odysseus, by Joshua Feinman
2013
- A Songwriting Lesson from Irving Berlin, by Abraham Tetenbaum
- Aesop’s Fables, by Cy Young
- Food for Thought: My Plate, book by Ian Patrick Williams, lyrics by Abraham Tetenbaum, music by Norman L. Berman
- Freedom Child, by Bernadette McAllister
- Matty: Oldtime Baseball with Christy Mathewson, by Eddie Frierson
- Native Beginnings, by Willard Simms
- No. 21: The Dreams of Roberto Clemente, by Desi Moreno-Penson
- The Money Mon$ter, by Abraham Tetenbaum & Norman L. Berman
- Sor Juana, by Cynthia L. Cooper
- The Whole World’s A Talkin’ , by Brigitte Viellieu-Davis
- Voyage of Odysseus, by Joshua Feinman
2014
- A Songwriting Lesson from Irving Berlin, by Abraham Tetenbaum
- Aesop’s Fables, by Cy Young
- Food for Thought: My Plate, book by Ian Patrick Williams, lyrics by Abraham Tetenbaum, music by Norman L. Berman
- Freedom Child, by Bernadette McAllister
- Matty: Oldtime Baseball with Christy Mathewson, by Eddie Frierson
- Native Beginnings, by Willard Simms
- No. 21: The Dreams of Roberto Clemente, by Desi Moreno-Penson
- Relatively Speaking, by Ian Patrick Williams (revival)
- The Money Mon$ter, by Abraham Tetenbaum & Norman L. Berman
- Sor Juana, by Cynthia L. Cooper
- The Whole World’s A Talkin’, by Brigitte Viellieu-Davis
- Voyage of Odysseus, by Joshua Feinman
2015
- A Songwriting Lesson from Irving Berlin, by Abraham Tetenbaum
- Aesop’s Fables, by Cy Young
- First Kids, book/lyrics by Abraham Tetenbaum, music by Norman L. Berman
- Food for Thought: My Plate, book by Ian Patrick Williams, lyrics by Abraham Tetenbaum, music by Norman L. Berman
- Freedom Child, by Bernadette McAllister
- John and Juan, by David Prather
- Matty: Oldtime Baseball with Christy Mathewson, by Eddie Frierson
- Native Beginnings, by Willard Simms
- Relatively Speaking, by Ian Patrick Williams (revival)
- Sor Juana, by Cynthia L. Cooper
- The Money Mon$ter by Abraham Tetenbaum & Norman L. Berman
- The Whole World’s A Talkin’, by Brigitte Viellieu-Davis
- Voyage of Odysseus, by Joshua Feinman
- Yankee Doodle Poetry, by David Prather
2016
- A Songwriting Lesson from Irving Berlin, by Abraham Tetenbaum
- Aesop’s Fables, by Cy Young
- Biddy Mason: From Slavery to Riches in the Wild West by Lily Landers
- First Kids, book/lyrics by Abraham Tetenbaum, music by Norman L. Berman
- Food for Thought: My Plate, book by Ian Patrick Williams, lyrics by Abraham Tetenbaum, music by Norman L. Berman
- John and Juan, by David Prather
- Native Beginnings, by Willard Simms
- Relatively Speaking, by Ian Patrick Williams
- The Whole World’s A Talkin’, by Brigitte Viellieu-Davis
- Voyage of Odysseus, by Joshua Feinman
- Yankee Doodle Poetry, by David Prather
2017
- A Songwriting Lesson from Irving Berlin, by Abraham Tetenbaum
- Aesop’s Fables, by Cy Young
- Biddy Mason: From Slavery to Riches in the Wild West, by Lily Landers
- First Kids, by Abraham Tetenbaum & Norman L. Berman
- John and Juan, by David Prather
- Native Beginnings, by Willard Simms
- Shizzy’s Story, by Alison Minami
- Sor Juana, by Cynthia L. Cooper
- The Whole World’s A Talkin’, by Brigitte Viellieu-Davis
- Voyage of Odysseu,s by Joshua Feinman
- Yankee Doodle Poetry, by David Prather
2018
- A Songwriting Lesson from Irving Berlin, by Abraham Tetenbaum
- Aesop’s Fables, by Cy Young
- Biddy Mason: From Slavery to Riches in the Wild West, by Lily Landers
- Everybody Can Improvise! by Aretha Sills
- First Kids, book/lyrics by Abraham Tetenbaum, music by Norman L. Berman
- John and Juan, by David Prather
- Native Beginnings, by Willard Simms
- Shizzy’s Story, by Alison Minami
- Sor Juana, by Cynthia L. Cooper
- The Whole World’s A Talkin’, by Brigitte Viellieu-Davis
- Voyage of Odysseu,s by Joshua Feinman
2019
- A Songwriting Lesson, by Irving Berlin by Abraham Tetenbaum
- Aesop’s Fables, by Cy Young
- Doggone Musical, book by Ian Patrick Williams, lyrics Abraham Tetenbaum, Music, Norman L. Berman
- Everyone Can Improvise! by Aretha Sills
- John and Juan, by David Prather
- Poetry Potpourri, by David Prather
- The Whole World’s A Talkin’, by Brigitte Viellieu-Davis
- Voyage to Odysseus, by Joshua Feinman
- Yankee Doodle Poetry, by David Prather
2020
- A Songwriting Lesson from Irving Berlin, by Abraham Tetenbaum
- Aesop’s Fables, by Cy Young
- Everybody Can Improvise! by Aretha Sills
- John and Juan, by David Prather
- Monkey King, by Jeff Raz
- Voyage of Odysseus, by Joshua Feinman
2021
- A Songwriting Lesson from Irving Berlin, by Abraham Tetenbaum
- An Emerald World, by Brigitte Viellieu-Davis
- Kukulman: A Mayan Story, by Freddie Gaitan
- Monkey King, by Jeff Raz
- Poetry Potpourri, by David Prather
2022
- A Songwriting Lesson by Irving Berlin, by Abraham Tetenbaum
- Aesop’s Fables, by Cy Young
- An Emerald World, by Brigitte Viellieu-Davis
- Everyone Can Improvise! by Aretha Sills
- Freedom Child, by Bernadette McAllister
- Poetry Potpourri, by David Prather
2023
- A Songwriting Lesson by Irving Berlin, by Abraham Tetenbaum
- Aesop’s Fables, by Cy Young
- An Emerald World, by Brigitte Viellieu-Davis
- Everyone Can Improvise! by Aretha Sills
- Freedom Child, by Bernadette McAllister
- Poetry Potpourri, by David Prather