Theater of Empowerment
| Theater of Empowerment is an interactive theater group that empowers individuals and groups through performance and discussion. It can address a range of problems, from the interpersonal world of our most intimate relationships to the social sphere of gender, race, and class. Theater of Empowerment empowers both the actors and the audience members in a variety of ways. Actors are Empowered by learning performance and workshop facilitation skills, needs assessment, performance planning, and group interaction skills. Audiences are empowered by Theater of Empowerment performances because of the workshop orientation. Audiences recognize problems and identify with the actors in scenarios, analyze the choices actors make, and come to recognize how communication choices affect conflict situations. Audience members also have an opportunity to experiment with alternative communication approaches in a safe and fun environment. Theater or Empowerment typically enacts scenarios given to them by a particular audience so the scenes are recognizable. Audience members have a chance to both discuss and re-enact scenes with the actors. The interactive nature of TOE is one of the most enjoyable aspects of thisrare form of theater. "I really enjoy Theater of Empowerment because it's an empowerment motivator. It gives participants a feeling of power to be able to tackle problems in their lives." Meemee King, Parkside Theater of Empowerment Member, Dec 2000" It was helpful for me to be outside a problem I am usually in. I could watch the actors and see positive ways to work it out." High School Audience Member, Dec. 2000 |
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