Poetic Justice Theatre Ensemble

Now celebrating our 10th season serving the community, our multi-generational, multi-ethnic troupe's focus is on stimulating dialogue and inviting positive action towards the creation of a more just and joyous world for all people. Collectively run, we specialize in the internationally acclaimed interactive performance and workshop techniques, Theatre of the Oppressed and Playback Theatre among others. In our improvisational performances, audience members are not passive spectators but active spect-actors -- invited onstage to explore solutions to their own questions and struggles.
Playful, empowering, inclusive of all opinions, and deeply effective.

2010-11 Ensemble members:
Top: DD Wigley, Gary Lilley
Row 2: Kai Addae, Raven McMillen, Alana Karsch, Amanda Lujan
Row 3: Leif Hansen, Shawn Kellogg, Ashnie Butler Zhaleh Almaee, Richard Sloane
Bottom: Marc Weinblatt, Emily Neumann

The 2010-11 season included the creation and performance of two original Forum plays: "It Doesn't Happen Here" on racism & multi-racial families and "Makin' it in Hard Times" on poverty. Several members of the ensemble, including two youth facilitators, also worked with a group of high school students to develop and perform an original Forum play, "Where's my Life...boat?" on the systemic programming of youth.

 

In 2008-09, the troupe developed and performed "Don't Look, Don't See: Dramas from Below the Radar", two company created Forum Theatre plays -- "Walking the Line", on poverty and "Dousing the Flame" on the silencing of youth. This project debuted as an open-to-the-public run at Port Townsend's Key City Public Theatre, May 8-11, 2009. "Dousing the Flame" also performed for a youth only audience at the Boiler Room, Port Townsend's youth driven coffee house and community center.

How does Poetic Justice work?
Sometimes we come with a pre-scriped Forum Theatre play on a particular issue (as described above) then invite dialogue through the interactive Forum. At other times, we come with nothing scripted or prepared except for a few theatrical devices meant to draw out and reflect the truth and wisdom of people in the room. Audience stories, struggles, successes, and dreams for the future are brought to life through physical imagery and improvisation. The audience is ultimately invited onstage to actively explore solutions to the complex questions raised. It can literally be a rehearsal for the future in which audience “spect-actors” take action towards creating the kind of world they want. Audiences are frequently left with richer awareness as well as a greater belief in their ability to effect change in their own lives.

The ensemble is prepared to work with any issue or population and offers itself as a free service to local groups in need, particularly those struggling with issues of marginalization.

More examples of Poetic Justice performances:

The 2008-09 season also included 10 performances at 5 local senior residential facilities sponsored by the "Art to Elders" program.  We used an original Forum play, "Loss", as a centerpiece for dialogue around the residents' real life struggles as well as their joys.

The 2007-08 season included a series of private performances for youth at Port Townsend High School and the Jefferson County Health Dept’s “Peer-In” youth support group as well as for clients and staff at Jefferson County Mental Health. In addition, Poetic Justice did a special public event "Save the Earth - Save Ourselves" as part of a world-wide T.O. project exploring obstacles to action around Global Warming.

The 2006-07 season included free open-to-the-public performances, “Flying or Dying” at the Boiler Room exploring substance abuse, “Cracks in the Rainbow” and “Stereotype Straightjackets” exploring gender and sexual orientation issues.

A major focus of the 2005-06 season was our Seniors/Elders project, "The Wisdom Keepers" -- a series of interactive performance / dialogues on what is like to grow older in today’s society. For more info on this project click here.


 
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