OUR EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH PROGRAM IN SCHOOLS

How safe are the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer (LGBTQ) students on your campus or at home? The truth may surprise you.

Since 1999, AFYT has reached tens of thousands of students and teachers through our Educational Outreach Tours and Workshops. As one of the country’s most acclaimed programs, it is designed to help teachers create safe, nurturing environments by educating students about gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender identities through theatre and interactive workshops.

AFYT’s Outreach Program is designed to help students and faculty:

  • INCREASE understanding and awareness of how stereotypes and assumptions can create an oppressive school and home environment
  • EXAMINE the current culture of your school and asses how best to address issues of inclusiveness and tolerance to increase the safety, empowerment and leadership capacity of your students
  • PROVIDE tools to create an action plan to ensure a campus environment that accepts and embraces diversity

OUR TOURING PRODUCTIONS

FAST FORWARD

Start the conversation in your school with FAST FORWARD, a 30-minute touring performance and interactive discussion developed from true stories of LGBTQ young people and their experiences in high school regarding sexual health and sexual identity. FAST FORWARD was created as a response to rising HIV infection rates in the youth community; in Illinois, HIV rates have increased by 40% since 2003.

AS BIG AS THE WORLD

This play is an in-depth look at the cultural and activist history of HIV and AIDS. Based on true stories by those affected by HIV/AIDS, this play is an in-depth look at how the LGBTQ community, our country and our world has faced the epidemic. With great hope, the play contains conversations of prevention and the active dispelling of the myths and stigma associated with HIV/AIDS.

HOW TO HAVE A FRIENDSHIP IN AMERICA

Dan is gay. Elisha is black. In this conversational performance, Dan and Elisha present their friendship as an example of how difficult and how rewarding it is to really know someone. Dan and Elisha perform their lives as a way to examine the comparative and contrastable truth of oppression connected to being black or gay in this country, while exploring how the culture uses stereotypes to pit them against each other. Dan and Elisha must construct their friendship against stereotypes, and through their performance they teach audiences how to accomplish such a rewarding and important task.

OUR WORKSHOPS

Theatre is an effective tool for dispelling homophobia in schools. In our workshops, tailored to teach students about LGBTQ identities, theatre techniques and anti-bullying skills, students create their own skits based on their own true stories. The students work closely with directors to experience the thrill of acting and performing, while actively deconstructing the building blocks of harassment and discrimination. During the workshop, students gain an understanding of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender identities. Our Educational Outreach Program is a vital opportunity for students, faculty and staff to experience dynamic theatre while critically engaging ideas and issues that live in every classroom and on every campus. We travel with a full sound system and minimal technical requirements from our hosts. Each performance is followed by an interactive discussion between the audience, cast and staff.

To book one of our touring productions or a workshop for your school, campus or community event, please contact Education Programs Director, Paula Gilovich at paula@aboutfacetheatre.com or at (773) 784-8565 x 116