RESOURCES

Performing Arts

Albany Park Theater Project
http://www.aptpchicago.org
P.O. Box 257995
Chicago, IL 60625
Ph: 773.866.0875
Fx: 773.866.0913

Albany Park Theater Project is a multiethnic ensemble of teenagers creating original performance works out of real-life stories from Chicago's immigrant, working-class Albany Park neighborhood.

American Association of Community Theatre

http://www.aact.org/index.htm The American Association of Community Theatre (AACT) is the national voice of community theatre, representing the interests of its members and over 7,000 theatres across the U.S. and with the armed forces overseas.

Association of Performing Arts Presenters
http://www.artspresenters.org/about/mission.cfm
1112 16th Street NW
Suite 400
Washington DC, 20036
Ph: 202.833.2787
Toll free: 888-820-ARTS (2787)
Fx: 202.833.1543

The Association of Performing Arts Presenters is a membership organization, dedicated to bringing performing artists and audiences together in every place and way imaginable. The Association achieves its goal by providing visionary thinking, professional development, resource sharing, and advocacy, in support of its members and all those who create and disseminate the performing arts.

Arena Stage
http://www.arenastage.org
1101 Sixth Street, SW
Washington, DC 20024

Theater aims to build robust communities through theater and to build a future for the American theater by nurturing talent, attracting new audiences, and enriching theater education in the schools.

Bread and Roses
http://www.breadandroses.org
233 Tamalpais Drive, Suite 100
Corte Madera, CA 94925
Ph: 415.945.7120
Fx: 415.945.7128

Bread & Roses is dedicated to uplifting the human spirit by providing free, live, quality entertainment to people who live in institutions or are otherwise isolated from society.

Carpetbag Theatre
http://www.carpetbag.org
3018 E. Fifth Avenue
Knoxville, Tennessee 37914
Ph: 423.524.6629/524.6628
Fx: 423.524.6631

The Carpetbag Theatre, Inc (CBT) is a community based, non-profit, professional theatre company dedicated to the production of new works. CBT's Ensemble Company develops new scripts primarily through collaboration and improvisation. Founded in 1970, CBT is a corporation of writers, artists, dancers and musicians. It has had a notably good record of performances, workshops, and other activities, and is one of the few tenured African-American professional theatre companies in the South. Our mission is to give artistic voice to the underserved. We address the issues and dreams of people who have historically been silenced by racism, classism, sexism and ageism; tell stories of empowerment; celebrate our culture; and reveal hidden stories.

Center for Applied Theatre
http://www.centerforappliedtheatre.org
3321 North Cramer Street
Milwaukee, WI 53211
Ph: 414-403-6338

The Center for Applied Theatre offers customized workshops to assist advocacy groups and communities in their efforts to confront their issues and solve problems. Each includes interactive theatre exercises that encourage open examination of issues and rehearsal for change.

Circesteem
http://www.circesteem.org
1400 W. Devon #331
Chicago, Il 60660
Ph: 312.593.HAHA

CircEsteem's mission is to unite youth from diverse racial, cultural, and economic backgrounds and help them build self-esteem and mutual respect through the practice of circus arts. Our approach to promoting confidence and cooperation is action based: focused development of circus skills while having fun together. We accomplish this by providing a positive environment that emphasizes goals, teamwork, and performance. Our mission of uniting youth and empowering them through circus arts is fulfilled in every class and is highlighted in every circus we perform.

Cornerstone Theater Company
http://www.cornerstonetheater.org
708 Traction Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90013
Ph: 213.613.1700
Fx: 213.613.1714

Cornerstone Theater Company is a multi-ethnic, ensemble-based theater company. We commission and produce new plays, both original works and contemporary adaptations of classics, which combine the artistry of professional and community collaborators. By making theater with and for people of many ages, cultures and levels of theatrical experience, Cornerstone builds bridges between and within diverse communities in our home city of Los Angeles and nationwide.

Cooperative Artists Institute
http://www.tribal-rhythms.org
311 Forest Hills Street
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130-3605
Ph: 617.524.6378
Fx: 617.522.7122

Cooperative Artists Institute's mission is to empower people to solve their individual and collective problems by applying the Arts as a catalyst for personal and institutional change. Founded in 1970, CAI is the first Think Tank to specialize in using the performing and visual arts to build community. All of CAI's programs in schools, after-schools, community centers, businesses, colleges and government organizations are designed to overcome family, community and organizational fragmentation.

Community Performance Inc.
http://www.comperf.com
5611 N. Winthrop
1-A
Chicago, IL 60660
Ph: 773.728.3999

Community Performance Theater of, by and for the community was created to empower individuals and bring neighborhoods together. Working in partnership with communities and organizations, the first step in community performance is gathering stories. CPI works with organizations and communities, bringing its members together to share their stories. These stories are then transcribed and archived by the community for future generations.

Cultural Odyssey
http://www.culturalodyssey.org/v2/flash/home.html
PO Box 156680
San Francisco, CA 94115-6680
Ph: 415.292.1850
Fx: 415.346.9163

Cultural Odyssey Together has developed over a dozen original productions that demonstrate their vision of "ARTS AS SOCIAL ACTIVISM". Since its inception, Cultural Odyssey has been committed to the creation of original work by artists of all cultures. Cultural Odyssey is one of the Bay Area's leading touring ensembles and regularly tours the United States, Japan, the Caribbean, and Europe. The company has developed deep artistic roots and community support in San Francisco by showcasing productions, presenting local and national acts for Bay Area audiences, and developing innovative arts training programs for the community. Cultural Odyssey is dedicated to interacting with its community to develop performances and services that have transforming effects.

Dance Exchange
http://www.danceexchange.org
7117 Maple Avenue
Takoma Park, Maryland 20912
Ph: 301.270.6700
Fx: 301.270.2626

Liz Lerman Dance Exchange conducts residencies throughout the United States and abroad. These residencies bring community groups together to experience the expressive power of dance and explore important issues through movement and story. Residencies are custom-designed in collaboration with local presenters.

Dancing in the Streets
http://www.dancinginthestreets.org
55 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 310
New York, NY 10013
Ph: 212-625-3505

Dancing in the Streets?f free public performances and productions break the barrier between art and the general public and serve as catalysts for private reflection and communal celebration and as antidotes to urban isolation. Dancing in the Streets maximizes its potential to reach a broad a diverse public by producing performances outside the constraints of traditional theatres, literally taking performances ?gto the streets.?h Many of these performances reflect and reveal the artifacts, memories, and poetry of natural and architectural spaces.

Folk Alliance
http://www.folkalliance.org/

The North American Folk Music and Dance Alliance exists to foster and promote traditional, contemporary, and multicultural folk music and dance, and related performing arts in North America. The Folk Alliance seeks to strengthen and advance organizational and individual initiatives in folk music and dance through education, networking, advocacy, and professional and field development. Folk Alliance is the service association for the field, and works on behalf of the folk music and dance industry year round. Our advocacy efforts tackle issues important to the folk arts community. We offer a business directory of contacts for members, and a non-profit group exemption program for US-based organizations.

Free Street
http://freestreet.org
1419 W. Blackhawk
Chicago, IL 60622
Ph: 773.772.7248

Free Street was born in 1969 out of an impulse to bring revolutionary theater into communities. Free Street Theater began performing free shows in Chicago's communities. Free Street was one of the first arts organizations in Chicago dedicated to community arts. Over the years, Free Street has linked quality programs in the performing arts with effective social service, creating diverse programs to fit the changing needs of the community. In doing so, it has created shows and programs with the physically challenged, seniors, prisoners, hospitalized children, parenting and pregnant teens, and inner city youth and teens.

Full Circle Theater
http://www.temple.edu/cil/Fullcirclehome.htm
Temple University
1600 N. Broad Street #206
Philadelphia, PA 19122
Ph: 215.204.6970

Full Circle Theatre (FCT) is a project of The Center for Intergenerational Learning (CIL). We began in 1984 as a small group of teens and elders who learned a variety of improvisational theatre techniques that were used to help audiences explore age-related issues and dispel myths about growing older. Since then, we have developed into a unique community resource, which uses interactive theater to influence attitudes or change behaviors towards positive social change. Full Circle performs on topics such as: men's and women's health, aids education and prevention, violence prevention, and anti tobacco,. We offer over 200 workshops and performances per year in senior centers, hospitals, community based organizations, schools, and citywide, regional and national organizations and associations.

Grassroots Theater
http://www.grassrootstheatre.com
Zek Hoeben
GTC UK Agent
The Daneford Trust
45-47 Blythe St
London E2 6LN UK
Ph: +00 44 (0)20 8347 9730

Grassroots Theater is a performing arts organization from Bulawayo, South-West Zimbabwe. We specialize in Theatre for Development (TfD), using dance, drama and music as a process towards informing and empowering local communities in Zimbabwe and overseas. As an independent organization, we work with a range of partners from local businesses and action groups to large international NGOs focusing on development issues ranging from HIV/AIDS to human rights. The majority of our TfD work takes place in Zimbabwe with urban and rural communities.

Great Leap
http://www.greatleap.org
1145 Wilshire Boulevard Suite 100-D
Los Angeles CA 90017
Ph: 213.250.8800
Fx: 213.250.8801

Great Leap is a Los Angeles based multicultural performing arts organization dedicated to creating and presenting original works in theater, music and dance. Through the creative and collaborative process of performances, workshops and community residencies, Great Leap works with professional artists and community partners to instill a deeper understanding and a sense of connection between diverse peoples. Great Leap is rooted in the Asian American community and promotes cross-cultural exchange with local and nationwide audiences.

Inside Out Community Arts
http://www.insideoutca.org
2210 Lincoln Blvd
Venice, CA 90291
Ph: 310.397.8820
Fx: 310.398.0863

Through the arts, Inside Out Community Arts promotes healthy interaction among diverse at-risk and underserved Los Angeles middle-school youth. Led by specially trained teams of professional artists and high school age mentors, Inside Out bridges cultural, geographic, socioeconomic and differently-abled boundaries to support youth in creating and presenting topical theater and art, empowering them to make positive choices as individuals and members of the greater community.

Inside Out Theatre
http://www.insideouttheatre.org
Inside Out Theatre Company, Inc.
Robin Braun, Executive Director
P.O. Box 267355
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33326
Ph: 954.385.3060
Fx: 954.389.0806

The Inside Out Theatre was created with the mission of building character in children and young adults through a very powerful tool: the performing arts. Our theatre company offers performing arts classes, artist-in-residency programs and performances of original musicals based on socially relevant issues that promote respect for self and others, celebrate diversity and emphasize the importance of responsibility and teamwork. Since our inception we have written, directed, and produced ten original musicals resulting in 125 shows performed by student actors, for over 25,000 elementary and middle, and high school children.

Judith Marcuse Projects (formerly DanceArts Vancouver)
http://www.jmprojects.ca/
Scotiabank Dance Centre
677 Davie Street, 7th Floor
Vancouver, BC V6B 2G6
Ph: 604.606.6425
Fx: 604.606.6432

Judith Marcuse Projects creates small and large-scale art projects and productions which include live performances and touring; video, film and television; workshops and animation events. Our languages are dance, theatre, music, video and film and the visual arts. We work in Vancouver, across Canada and, periodically, outside the country. We believe that the creation of art practice must include values of community; of social responsibility and activism; of informed and unfettered imagination; of listening, risk-taking and celebration. Focusing on the voices and sensibilities of young people in our stage productions, we also partner with community organizations.

Mandala Center
http://www.mandalaforchange.com
1221 49th Street
Port Townsend, WA 98368
Ph: 360-344-3435

Founded in 1999, the Mandala Center is a multi-disciplinary education organization dedicated to community dialogue, social justice and personal transformation. Through experiential workshops, performances, and other creative events, the Mandala Center invites people to be more awake and alive as well as empowered to take action toward a more just and joyous life for all people. The Mandala Center is also an international hub for the training and grassroots practice of Augusto Boal's, Theatre of the Oppressed.

Martha Bowers Dance Theatre Etcetera
http://www.dancetheatreetcetera.org
62 Midwood Street
Brooklyn, NY 11225

Founded in 1981, Dance Theatre Etcetera (DTE) has existed as a vehicle to produce the performance projects, educational programs and community events designed and conceived by its artistic director Martha Bowers. Its primary mission is the creation of innovative performance works that involve diverse populations both within and beyond the confines of conventional theaters. In cooperation with numerous other presenting organizations, DTE has co-produced events that bring community members and professional artists together. DTE is involved in the creation and implementation of arts programs in numerous schools both in New York City and in other locations throughout the US. At the core of the Company's vision is a strong belief that the arts provide an effective language to explore, celebrate and acknowledge both personal and cultural differences.

Music for Change
http://www.musicforchange.org
19b Roper Close
Canterbury Kent
CT2 7EP
01227) 459243

We are an arts organization that aims to promote understanding and respect for cultural diversity through music. We believe not only in the intrinsic value of music and the arts but how these can play a vital role in breaking down barriers between people and cultures. Our core work involves organizing workshops (one-offs and residencies), primarily in schools, with a strong emphasis on creativity and confidence building in the classroom.

Music Theatre Workshop
http://www.mtwchicago.org
7359 N Greenview Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60626-1963
Ph: 773.973.7266
Fx: 773.973.7077

Music Theatre Workshop (MTW), located in Chicago, was founded in 1984 as a non-profit performing arts organization serving children, teens and young adults in the Chicago region. MTW creates plays and musicals, which link ideas to action through real life storytelling on the stage, relating art to everyday living. MTW collaborates with social service, health, educational and arts organizations, both on programming and related research projects. The company has served over 175,000 young people with over fifty productions. Workshops and the resulting shows explore historical and cultural understanding, diversity, and human relations, along with the problems of substance abuse, dysfunctional families, teen parenting, guns and gangs, and the causes, experiences and effects of violence.

National Performance Network
http://www.npnweb.org
225 Baronne Street, Suite 1712
New Orleans, LA 70112
(temporary address through December 2005)
1348 Washington Ave #267
Miami Beach, FL 33139
Ph: 504.595.8008
Fx: 504.595.8006

The National Performance Network (NPN) has brought innovative performing artists to all corners of the United States for over 18 years. Today, NPN has grown to a partnership of 55 art organizations, called Partners, in over 36 cities across the country. NPN connects artists with communities around two simple ideas - to help artists make work in their own neighborhoods, and to cross geographic and cultural divides to increase the traffic of fresh, challenging artistic work.

Network of Ensemble Theaters (NET)
http://www.ensembletheaters.net
NET c/o Irondale Ensemble Project
P.O. Box 150604
Brooklyn, NY 11215-0604
Ph: 718.488.9233
Fx: 718.488.9185

The Network of Ensemble Theaters (NET) is a consortium of North America's permanent ensemble companies. NET is committed to preserving and passing on the legacy of the ensemble theater movement. The companies making up the NET include some of the most prestigious and vital ensembles in the United States as well as new ensembles that will inherit and reinvent this movement.

Roadside Theater
http://www.roadside.org
P.O. Box 771
Norton, VA 24273
Ph: 276.679.3116
Fax: 276.679.3116

For Roadside, the purpose of theater is to increase our understanding of ourselves and our empathy for others. The key to sustaining audience diversity was learning that people want to participate, not just watch. In response, we developed a residency model that rests on four broad principles we call our pillars: Partnerships and collaborations with an inclusive range of community organizations; local leadership; engagement over the course of at least several years; and our flexibility to alternate between the role of teacher and student.

Scrap Mettle SOUL
http://www.scrapmettlesoul.org
4750 North Sheridan Road, Suite 375
Chicago, IL 60640
Ph: 773.275.3999

Scrap Mettle SOUL is committed to creating professionally produced plays based on locally gathered stories about the experiences of the people of our community. All roles are performed by community members. We encourage everyone's open and inclusive participation through the holding of interviews, classes, meetings, workshops, projects, and performances. This process empowers individuals and develops understanding and friendship between diverse people.

Spiral Q Puppet Theater
http://www.spiralq.org
3114 Spring Garden Street, #2
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Ph: 215.222.6979
Fx: 215.222.7002

The Spiral Q Puppet Theater seeks to mobilize communities, empower marginalized people and illuminate the victories, frustrations, and possibilities of living in the neighborhoods of Philadelphia and similar urban settings through the construction of full-scale giant puppet parades, toy theater and neighborhood pageantry. Through its puppet parades and pageants, Spiral Q is resurrecting and reclaiming an almost forgotten form of people's theater to amplify and unite the power and vitality of those working for change through art-making, protest, and civic theater.

Stage Left
http://www.stage-left.org
PO Box 35022
Sarcee Post Office
Calgary, AB T3E 7C7
Ph: 403.242.3108

Stage Left uses a participatory, performing arts-based community development practice to provide people with constructive, creative, and solution-oriented avenues of self-expression. We use the performing arts to build consciousness and to mobilize people. And we use a dynamic reflection/action model to encourage people to examine their relationships to self and community, and to bridge the gaps between individual concerns and larger social structures. We attempt to use the arts to provide accessible tools through which to foster a sense of creative expression and personal empowerment.

Theater Action Project (TAP)
http://www.theatreactionproject.org
3710 Cedar St. #4
Austin, TX 78705
Ph: 512.442.8773
Fx: 512.451.8747

Theatre Action Project creates and promotes socially relevant, interactive theatre and educational programming that ignites community dialogue, self-discovery and social change. Our vision is to provide accessible, interactive theatre arts to Central Texas individuals, predominantly Austin youth ages 5-18, that develops critical thinking practices, peaceful conflict resolution skills, strong self-esteem and active allies for personal and community excellence. Collaboration is at the center of all of our processes from rehearsals to organizational structure to community relationships.

Theater Arts Group
http://www.tcg.org
Theatre Communications Group
520 8th Avenue, 24th floor
New York, NY 10018-4156
Ph: 212.609.5900
Fx: 212.609.5901

Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for the American theatre, offers a wide array of services in line with our mission: to strengthen, nurture and promote the professional not-for-profit American theatre. Our programs and services seek to increase the organizational efficiency of our member theatres, cultivate and celebrate the artistic talent and achievements of the field and promote a larger public understanding of and appreciation for the theatre field.

Wise Fool Community Arts
http://www.zeitgeist.net/wfca/wisefool.htm
2633 Etna Street
Berkeley, CA 94704
Ph: 415.905.5958

Wise Fool Puppet Intervention is a theatre project dedicated to community, celebration and change. In the traditions of public art and processional theatre, we combine giant puppetry, mask, stilt dancing, wild costumes, eclectic sculpture, music, movement, fire and song to create highly participatory, issue-oriented, outdoor theatre that is accessible to all. We develop and produce full-length theatre works, visually support a wide range of community and cultural organizations and offer free and low cost workshops in puppetry arts, stilt walking and processional theatre. It is our intention to use art as a vehicle for community building and education, to promote cultural diversity and to gain media exposure for vital issues by creating striking imagery that cannot be ignored. Wise Fool's work is the distillation of many voices and concerns. We continually seek to create opportunities for people to experience playfulness, magic and hope.