Community Engagement
WHAT IS THEATRE FOR SOCIAL CHANGE?
Theatre for Social Change is a very broad term, including a wide range of performance practices ranging from professional political theatre staged in mainstream venues and gorilla or invisible theatre happening on the streets to issue-based, site-specific performance and participatory non-professional processes. The two features that really define it are that it looks to live performance as a unique way of exploring and communicating ideas, and that it sets out with the specific intention of contributing to social or political change.
Theatre for Social Change can be used as a teaching tool, a vehicle for self-study, a problem solving technique for groups of any size, and as community building. Practitioners facilitate social change using the medium of theatre in a variety of venues; thus enhancing their abilities as artists, educators and catalysts for positive human growth. My work is inspired by the work of Augusto Boal: forum theatre (in which spectators explore their own solutions to collective problems by intervening at the crisis point of a scenario), image theatre (a techniques that focuses on physical expression, providing an alternative form of communication not reliant on language), and rainbow of desire (a body of therapeutic techniques geared toward the individual). I also use devising within community a la Michael Rhod, and Playback Theatre, the spontaneous re-enactment of personal experience honoring the dignity, drama and universality of all our stories.
Theatre for Social Change is a very broad term, including a wide range of performance practices ranging from professional political theatre staged in mainstream venues and gorilla or invisible theatre happening on the streets to issue-based, site-specific performance and participatory non-professional processes. The two features that really define it are that it looks to live performance as a unique way of exploring and communicating ideas, and that it sets out with the specific intention of contributing to social or political change.
Theatre for Social Change can be used as a teaching tool, a vehicle for self-study, a problem solving technique for groups of any size, and as community building. Practitioners facilitate social change using the medium of theatre in a variety of venues; thus enhancing their abilities as artists, educators and catalysts for positive human growth. My work is inspired by the work of Augusto Boal: forum theatre (in which spectators explore their own solutions to collective problems by intervening at the crisis point of a scenario), image theatre (a techniques that focuses on physical expression, providing an alternative form of communication not reliant on language), and rainbow of desire (a body of therapeutic techniques geared toward the individual). I also use devising within community a la Michael Rhod, and Playback Theatre, the spontaneous re-enactment of personal experience honoring the dignity, drama and universality of all our stories.
Playback Theatre
Playback Theatre is an interactive form of improvisational storytelling in which audience members are invited, but never required, to share stories from their lives and then watch them "played back" through theatre, music, and metaphor in ways designed to honor both teller and story. Playback Theatre is used in a range of contexts including public performances, community arts, social dialogue, peace building, conflict resolution, education, change management, celebrations and just because. Contact me for more information on collaborations and performances.
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interACTionZ:
A Queer Youth Theatre for Social Change
interACTionZ, one of the nations first queer youth theatre for social change, provides enriching arts opportunities for queer and allied youth to explore identity, youth-advocacy, and social justice topics, while cultivating safe and inclusive spaces to connect, create, and share in ways that impact the community. In partnership with The University of Florida Department of Theatre, The Orlando Repertory Theatre, The Zebra Coalition, and the Orange County Public School system. Created by Sybil St. Claire, Jonathan Jackson, and Marty Dupuis with generous support from The Mukti Fund.
A Queer Youth Theatre for Social Change
interACTionZ, one of the nations first queer youth theatre for social change, provides enriching arts opportunities for queer and allied youth to explore identity, youth-advocacy, and social justice topics, while cultivating safe and inclusive spaces to connect, create, and share in ways that impact the community. In partnership with The University of Florida Department of Theatre, The Orlando Repertory Theatre, The Zebra Coalition, and the Orange County Public School system. Created by Sybil St. Claire, Jonathan Jackson, and Marty Dupuis with generous support from The Mukti Fund.
Break Through: Bringing Down the Barriers
Faculty Mentor
Exploring the LGBTQ battle for equality in 21st Century America, Break Through: Bringing Down the Barriers is a student devised play that has become the subject of a documentary. Using personal stories as source material Breakthrough was conceived by Gabrielle Shulruff. Having toured the State of Florida the production has donated thousands of dollars to organization such as the Zebra Coalition.
Semester at Sea
Faculty
In conjunction with the Institute for Shipboard Education and the University of Virginia, served as Acting and Theatre for Social Change faculty aboard Semester at Sea’s Summer 2009 voyage. During a two and a half month period 35 faculty and 700 students lived and learned together aboard the MV Explorer, visiting Spain, Italy, Greece, Croatia, Bulgaria, Turkey, Egypt, and Morocco. With a theme of Human Rights and Social Justice in the Mediterranean World, the voyage embodied Semester at Sea's mission: to educate individuals for leadership, service, and success, to provide profoundly transformative study-abroad experiences that emphasize global exchange and awareness, and to make a positive world impact by developing leaders who have the knowledge and perspective necessary to promote greater understanding of all peoples and all cultures.
ArtsBridge America
UCF Mentor
ArtsBridge is a network of 31 universities in 16 states and Northern Ireland, and their surrounding schools that confronts the problem of the elimination of the arts from K-12 schools. The arts are a critical component of education - they provide an alternative means to reach out to disadvantaged learners, particularly those with language acquisition delays. Through ArtsBridge projects in urban and low-income areas, using dramatic and visual arts and digital technology, students have developed their creativity and imagination, improved their language skills, increased their motivation to succeed in academic learning, and reinforced their values of peace, community and diversity. ArtsBridge is also a means for university students to provide creative service to their communities while learning the value of social activism and developing long-term commitments to help the disadvantaged.
Arts in Medicine
Program Coordinator & Artist in Residence
Shands Arts in Medicine (AIM) was founded in 1990 at Shands Hospital at the University of Florida. AIM is a multidisciplinary organization, with programs in the visual, literary, contemplative and performance arts. AIM serves inpatients and outpatients of all ages, their families, visitors, health care providers, and the Gainesville and statewide communities. The program is focused on transforming healthcare environments through the arts, and providing leadership for hospital arts programs throughout the nation.
The program facilitates arts activities, workshops and performances in three hospitals and numerous out-patient clinics, and is known internationally as one of the leaders in the field of arts in healthcare.
The program facilitates arts activities, workshops and performances in three hospitals and numerous out-patient clinics, and is known internationally as one of the leaders in the field of arts in healthcare.
Take Back the Night
Keynote Speaker & Panelist
Take Back The Night Foundation seeks to end sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual abuse and all other forms of sexual violence. We serve to create safe communities and respectful relationships through awareness events and initiatives.
Women across the world are taking back their voices by speaking out against these crimes, but there is much to be accomplished in the fight to end sexual violence. Crimes of this nature continue to appear in the news in epidemic proportions. As the history of Take Back The Night continues to be written, its mission to end sexual violence for all remains a beacon of hope for the millions affected by crimes of violence. We have made great strides, but our march is far from over.
Women across the world are taking back their voices by speaking out against these crimes, but there is much to be accomplished in the fight to end sexual violence. Crimes of this nature continue to appear in the news in epidemic proportions. As the history of Take Back The Night continues to be written, its mission to end sexual violence for all remains a beacon of hope for the millions affected by crimes of violence. We have made great strides, but our march is far from over.
Guardian ad Litem
Trainer & Guardian ad Litem
GAL provides trained, independent advocates to represent and promote the best interests of abused, neglected and dependent children in the state court system and to work expediently toward a plan that ensures that these children are in a safe, permanent home.
Today in Florida too many abused and neglected children will go to court with no one there to stand up for them - to be their voice. You can change that. You can accept my challenge to become a volunteer GAL and help make a difference in the life of a child.
The reward? Not only can you make an immediate impact....ensuring a child has a voice and receives what they need while in foster care, you can pave a positive path to a child's future of hope and emotional security. After all, making a positive difference in the life of a child is one definition of legacy. With great challenge can come great reward.
Today in Florida too many abused and neglected children will go to court with no one there to stand up for them - to be their voice. You can change that. You can accept my challenge to become a volunteer GAL and help make a difference in the life of a child.
The reward? Not only can you make an immediate impact....ensuring a child has a voice and receives what they need while in foster care, you can pave a positive path to a child's future of hope and emotional security. After all, making a positive difference in the life of a child is one definition of legacy. With great challenge can come great reward.
Theatre for Young Audiences/Theatre for the Deaf
Founding Artistic Director
Dedicated to developing life skills in children
through the performing arts, ACT programs included: The Main Company, The Not Ready for Bedtime Players, Creative Stages and Performing Arts Camp. ACT cast members appeared in nationally produced
educational films, radio and T.V. commercials, and in movies such as
Parenthood and Doc Hollywood. ACT actors learned to respect and
cultivate their own gifts, even as they supported and nourished each others'.
This atmosphere, filled with cooperation, dedication and just plain old
fun, led to the creation of truly spectacular works of art. Honored by the City of Gainesville,
Alachua County, and TV
20 for its positive impact on the youth of North Central Florida.
