LACHSA is celebrating four decades of nurturing artistic talent with a star-studded concert that spotlights the school's legacy of producing Hollywood heavyweights. The event frames arts education as essential to society, positioning alumni as proof that investment in creative youth pays dividends for culture itself.
Behind the gala glamour, LACHSA is scrambling. With California public schools chronically underfunded and donors tapped out from wildfire relief, the school faces an uphill battle to hit its $2.5 million goal. Alumni connections help with visibility, but star power doesn't automatically translate into fundraising checks β especially when philanthropist attention has shifted elsewhere.
LACHSA's gala concert is scheduled for May 30 at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, emceed by Anthony Anderson (class of 1985). The school is seeking $2.5 million through its foundation; California provides only 50% of funding while private donations cover the rest. Alumni quoted include Taran Killam (class of 2000), Zoey Deutch (attended in 2010s), and Josh Groban.
When even a school with A-list alumni can't easily secure its financial future, that's a reckoning for arts education in America. LACHSAPalooza might be a celebration β but make no mistake, it's also a desperate pitch to keep the dream alive.
Forty years after opening its doors, Los Angeles County High School for the Arts is throwing itself quite the party β and making no secret that it desperately needs the help. LACHSAPalooza, set for May 30 at the iconic Greek Theatre, will bring together alumni from across four decades to celebrate a school that's quietly been one of America's most prolific star factories. But beneath the performances by Ozomatli and Fitz and the Tantrums lies a hard truth: LACHSA is fighting to raise $2.5 million, and the road ahead isn't glamorous.
Anthony Anderson β part of the school's inaugural class back in 1985 and serving as emcee for the event β remembers LACHSA as sanctuary. "This school helped me in my transformation to becoming an artist," he told The Hollywood Reporter. "LACHSA gave us a place to live, to be accepted, to thrive and cultivate our talent." That sentiment echoes through generations of alumni: Zoey Deutch attended in the 2010s and recalls validation at a critical age.
Taran Killam (class of 2000) credits LACHSA with demystifying comedy as a career path, calling teacher Norman Cohen his "favorite teacher I've ever had." The school has churned out Phoebe Bridgers, Josh Groban, Haim, and Zoey Deutch β proof the model works. But producing stars doesn't automatically generate operating cash. Here's where things get complicated.
LACHSA is a public, tuition-free institution β theoretically funded by California taxpayers. In reality? The state covers only half its budget.
"Public education in general in the state of California hasn't been fully funded in 50 years," said Trena Pitchford, executive director of the LACHSA Foundation. That means private donations must makeup the gap, and right now, donors are stretched thin. Between the pandemic and last year's devastating Los Angeles County wildfires, philanthropy has shifted toward disaster relief.
"Donors are tired," Pitchford acknowledged. "The generosity of the public and some of our foundation partners is really important." The irony is sharp: a school that helped create millions in celebrity net worth can't quite secure its own financial footing. Alumni can lend their names, their venues, their influence β but as Pitchford noted, star power doesn't automatically convert to fundraising checks when potential donors are exhausted from giving elsewhere.
Jerry Freedman, who taught Anderson in the 1980s and still teaches at LACHSA today (he'll be honored at LACHSAPalooza), represents the human constant amid shifting budgets: educators who've dedicated careers to these students. Whether May 30's concert can bridge that $2.5 million gap remains to be seen. But one thing is clear from talking to anyone connected to LACHSA β this isn't just an anniversary party.
It's a plea. "Everyone I know in this world uses the arts to escape, be it through music, plays, movies, theater, poetry," Anderson said. "Schools like LACHSA are important not only to young artists, but to our society." Forty years is a milestone. Whether they get 40 more is an open question β and that drama is exactly what makes this story worth watching.
