Help transform your school, organization, and relationships through collaboration with About Face Theatre.
Since 1995, About Face has reached thousands of people each year by taking the power of theatre on the road to support personal and organizational growth. We provide touring workshops and performances that combine fun, interactive, and accessible theatre-based activities to increase a sense of belonging, invite brave dialogue, and move individuals and groups toward action.
Contact Dionne Addai (they/she), Director of Education and Artistic Programming
dionne@aboutfacetheatre.com
773.784.8565
Written by Dionne Addai, with the Life Out Loud Ensemble and Theatrical Consultation from Lexi Saunders
including contributed pieces from Zahra Baker* and Aimy Tien**
Three friends journey through a gallery of stories from LGBTQ+ people, past and present. Together they investigate history’s torn out pages, discovering the power of authentic friendship, and new ideas to expand our understanding of gender and sexuality. This charming, funny, and interactive play uses poetry and improv to introduce gender expansive vocabulary, healthy coping mechanisms and often forgotten Black and Asian queer history.
“Life Out Loud asks the big question – in a world full of bad news, how do we find the audacity to keep going?
It’s a play that uses poetry, song, and real stories to unravel the ways oppression disguises itself in our society. We’ve performed in local parks, schools, and community spaces. Audiences have raved about it so far, calling Life Out Loud an important story that highlights the special lens that queer people see the world through.
We’re excited to share this show with you and hope it continues to empower people of all ages to remember the magic of their own unique perspective.”
–Director & co-writer Dionne Addai
Are you ready to bring a unique and transformative experience to your group? Contact us to book your event!
*Zahra Baker’s contribution is based on an interview with the About Face Youth Theatre ensemble and directors Donny Acosta and Megan Carney for About Face Theatre’s production of 20/20.
**Aimy Tien’s contribution of “Ancient History” was originally developed for the About Face Theatre production of Power in Pride with an ensemble including Dionne Addai, Mia Vivans, Angelicá Grace, Lexi Saunders, Nico Kruger, and Vic Wynter.
“Life OUT Loud felt poignant, affirming, and comforting. Bravo to cast and crew! Your voice is important. Keep sharing it with the world.”
“I am thinking more about Queerness as communal care, alongside self-determination”
“Many thanks to you and the cast for illuminating us at the UVC event. Life Out Loud: Voices of Pride is a gem. Keep the faith”
About Face programs are designed to support the Illinois Inclusive Curriculum Law and offer educators greater access to and inspiration for incorporating LGBTQ+ historical figures into lesson plans. We also center the lives and narratives of LGBTQ+ people of color to increase awareness of multiple and intersecting identities.
Our programs can help you meet requirements for Social-Emotional Learning Competencies (SEL), Illinois Arts Education Standards in Theatre, and Common Core Standards for Social Studies (CCSS), all with additional learning related to culture, equity, and inclusion (CEI)!
There are three steps involved in an AFT touring workshop or performance:
It all starts with you contacting us. We’ll want to know about you and your group and discuss your programming goals. Together we’ll identify key themes and confirm some logistics. You will supply us with the contact information of a point-person who will support the process and stay in touch with us afterwards to evaluate the event. When it comes to budget, we are committed to working on a sliding scale so that our programs remain available for partners at different budget levels. Please reach out with any questions you have or just to explore the possibilities.
On the day of the event, the About Face team will arrive with all necessary supplies. We’ll facilitate the event and work closely with you to meet the goals. Every session allows plenty of time for questions and discussion with the group. We will end the session by sharing an invitation to get more involved with our theatre and with other related groups, actions, and resources.
In the week following event, we will follow up with your point-person and participants to better understand what your group learned from the event. Program evaluation may take the form of conversations, digital forms, and surveys. This final step will reveal what the next actions might be to make your space or institution more inclusive of diverse gender and sexuality identities.
We look forward to hearing from you!
For more information, or to book a performance, please contact Director of Education and Artistic Programming Dionne Addai (they/she) at dionne@aboutfacetheatre.com or 773.784.8565.