WHAT WE DO:
Through a variety of programs battling such issues as bullying, consent and sexual violence, alcohol and drug abuse, and workplace discrimination, we hope to make an impact in the lives of students around the world. Each program includes a year-long curriculum, tied to the Common Core standards, that covers the terminology used in the live performances and begins to establish the scop
e and scale of each is- sue. We provide students with fun resources that are both informational and accessible, while teachers receive specific lesson-plans covering ways to have meaningful and successful conversations with students about these issues. The impACT on Stage actors will provide an interactive, in-your-face performance that questions students’ awareness of these issues and challenges them to act as “UpStanders,” not just “ByStanders.” Each performance concludes with actors providing concrete tools the students can use to resolve dangerous situations safely and peacefully. The post-performance curriculum we provide ensures that students are given the opportunity to discuss and digest the presentation. Working with school counselors and administrators, we provide resources for students to reach out for further help should that become necessary. HOW WE DO IT:
Every actor involved with impACT on Stage goes through an intense audition process to ensure the highest quality performance. In addition to working professionally in their respective fields of performance, our actors are models for the behaviors that they are trying to promote, ensuring that students can learn by example. Our first step is always to meet with school administrators and craft a program specifically tailored to the needs of each individual school. Once we have prioritized with school officials which issues will be featured in the performance, we begin the writing process. Actors bring their own experiences to the table in creating a collection of realistic scenarios to which students can easily relate. Some scenes will resolve negatively, showing what is the most-often outcome of such situations. Some resolve positively, modeling the behavior we wish to promote. In these cases, we involve the students directly in the process, asking them what they would do were they placed in the situation and helping them to come to appropriate conclusions. WHY WE DO IT:
While we recognize that we will never live in an entirely peaceful society, we imagine a world in which students are more aware of these kinds of issues, and more able to adequately advocate for themselves and for their peers. It is the ultimate goal of impACT on Stage to establish a culture of compassion and kindness, and to foster a community where students feel safe and comfortable wherever they are: at school, at home, and everywhere else.
