Angelina Jolie and Octavia Spencer joined forces in Hollywood to champion a cause close to their hearts: expanding youth access to live theater.
As first reported by the Los Angeles Times, the two stars co-hosted an intimate fundraiser at The Aster Hotel in Hollywood. The event benefited City Year and the Stay Gold Project.
Together, they brought 35 middle schoolers from Pio Pico Middle School to experience the Tony Award-winning production ‘The Outsiders’ at the Pantages Theatre.
Bringing ‘The Outsiders’ home to Hollywood
The musical adaptation of S.E. Hinton’s classic novel officially opened its Los Angeles run this week.
Jolie serves as a lead producer on the show. She joined the project after her 14-year-old daughter, Vivienne, first introduced her to the production at the La Jolla Playhouse.
Watching her daughter connect with the story deeply moved Jolie.
For many of the visiting 12- to 14-year-old students, attending the performance marked their very first time experiencing live theater. They sat alongside season ticket holders and stars like Topher Grace, Ashley Park, and Daniel Dae Kim.
Thirteen-year-old Boima Clarke called the show’s intense stage effects “crazy” and praised the actors’ dedication, giving the performance four-and-a-half stars.
The power of mentorship and showing up
Spencer has served as a City Year board member for years. The national organization pairs AmeriCorps members with under-resourced schools to tutor and mentor students academically and interpersonally.
During the pre-show event, Spencer highlighted the vital role of active listening. “I think it’s important that we don’t assume we know what the students need; we ask and we listen,” Spencer shared.
Jolie also reflected on her own youth. She shared how her mother introduced her to the arts at a time when others made her feel “difficult” or misunderstood.
City Year mentors wake up at 5:30 a.m. every day in their signature yellow jackets to support local students. Former mentor Emily Baeza emphasized that showing up consistently changes how kids see themselves.
Spencer closed the night with a powerful message on the lasting impact of storytelling: “Never give someone else the pen and allow them to write your story.“
