TheatreWorkers Project—Every human has a story!

For the first time ever, TheatreWorkers Project (TWP) is participating in Giving Tuesday!

TWP collaborates with unheard and underserved communities to create original theatre pieces written and performed by people experiencing incarceration, formerly incarcerated and justice impacted adults and university students, and at-promise youth. We also produce professionally written plays performed by professional actors focused on themes of social justice, diversity and inclusion.

Using theatre to bring attention to social and political issues since 1983, TWP has worked with a variety of often-forgotten populations from its inception, ranging from unemployed steelworkers, shipbuilders, striking meatpackers, Latino immigrant workers, critical care nurses, and longshoremen.

In recent years TWP has focused on working with formerly incarcerated men, “Lifers” (men on parole from serving life sentences), and those currently incarcerated at the California State Prison, Los Angeles County (LAC) in Lancaster. The theatre residency continues to serve men in the Progressive Programming Facility – “A” Yard with additional programming on “C” Yard.

Anyone who has participated in our programs or joined as an audience member will tell you that our theatre program and residency is moving and empowering. We have the honor of witnessing and guiding these extraordinary humans as they step out of their comfort zones and remove their masks, both with our teaching artists and amongst their peers, to create theatrical pieces drawn from their own life experiences and life lessons. This takes courage and vulnerability that builds and nurtures community and enhances personal growth. These men enter our programs with dramatically different backgrounds, but by the end of our work together they develop a camaraderie both on stage and, for those currently incarcerated, amongst their peers on the yard. Each program culminates in a performance and a second act discussion that is shared with the public and the participants’ friends and families, which allows them to see their loved ones in a new positive light.

While we have worked with youth many years, our most recent ongoing program serves teen moms at a continuation high school. Through the TWP process, the young mothers are able to bond over their shared experience and tap into the TWP method to explore their life experience and craft a narrative they later perform. We provide a safe space, compassion, and judgment-free zone for these students to share and create.

Additionally, TWP provides training for emerging teaching artists and Arts in Corrections contractors and creates filmed performance pieces furthering its programmatic impact and reach.

In the spirit of giving and generosity, we ask that you make a gift to fund our heartfelt work, empowering these individuals to use their stories and experiences to create art that heals and transforms.