High school students will take center stage Tuesday, Nov. 11, when Downbeat 720 returns to the Miles Memorial Playhouse for its 24th year of showcasing youth talent.
The free open mic event, scheduled for 7:20 p.m., welcomes performers of all skill levels to share poetry, music, comedy, dance and other artistic expressions. The program meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month during the academic year at the historic venue in Reed Park.
"There's something to be said for how much a space matters in performance," said Joe Kolski, one of the program's co-founders. "When the lights fade and we bring up the stage lights, it immediately tells you to focus."
The return to Miles Playhouse marks a homecoming for the long-running program, which temporarily relocated to the Virginia Avenue Park Teen Center while the historic venue underwent renovations. The playhouse reopened in mid-2025 with new security gates and upgraded facilities.
Downbeat 720 distinguishes itself from typical open mics through its roster of professional mentors. Kolski, a comedian and spoken-word artist who has appeared on HBO's Def Poetry and Gilmore Girls, co-hosts alongside beatboxer Joshua Silverstein, featured on Drop The Mic and The Late Late Show with James Corden, and DJ Jedi, a turntablist who has toured with Digable Planets.
"We're not just an open mic, we're an open stage," Silverstein said. "These are professional, top-of-their-craft artists who are running the program."
The program launched in 2001 when Justin Yaw, then the city's cultural affairs advisor, noticed the inscription on Miles Playhouse dedicating the building "to the youth of the community." He approached performance artist Ameenah Kaplan, who recruited Kolski.
"We sat down at a Sharkies Mexican Grill up on Hollywood Boulevard and decided to do a teen open mic," Kolski recalled. When Kaplan, a drummer, mentioned the venue would open at 7 but the "downbeat will hit at 7:20," the name stuck, incorporating the drummer’s slang into the event forever.
For nearly two decades, it ran continuously at Miles Playhouse before the pandemic forced a shift to online programming in 2020.
"We had some very enthusiastic parents who were very grateful that we continued the program," Kolski said. "One mother said her daughter really looked forward to every downbeat."
The virtual format brought unexpected benefits, allowing participation from teens as far as India and Wales. After returning to in-person events at the teen center in fall 2022, the program maintained momentum while awaiting the playhouse renovation.
Organizers emphasize that Downbeat 720 offers something increasingly rare in the digital age: a supportive environment for real-time creative expression without the pressure of social media.
"Kids are spending at least five hours a day on social media," Kolski said. "We want to offer human connection, taking risks and eye contact."
One of the program's core principles, announced at each session, encourages participants to "feel free to fall on your face" while assuring that "all styles and skill levels are embraced."
"This is not about instant gratification," Silverstein said. "This is about trying something new in a room full of people in real time."
The program serves high school students from Santa Monica and the broader Los Angeles area at no cost. No advance registration is required – teens can simply arrive to perform or watch.
"Twenty-four years into being here, it's great to have a new, fresh start in this space," Kolski said.
The program is sponsored by the City of Santa Monica's Cultural Affairs Division. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tuesday, with performances running until approximately 9 p.m. More information is visit https://www.santamonica.gov/events/4zfppwvspyp7729hq238m4qgxk/202511111900.