“Bringing kindness and dignity to the forefront through theatre empowers students to make a difference in their own schools, communities |
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STAGE THE CHANGE, a program which has now serviced over 5,000 students, was founded in 2013 through the Hauppauge High School Drama program after a staggering response to their original production, “The Anti-Bully Project.” A series of student-written vignettes, “The Anti-Bully Project” was created to address topics including bullying, peer pressure, healthy relationships and other issues important to high school students. After touring performances of “The Anti-Bully Project,” the drama department began to gain recognition throughout New York State from several theater, education and social activist organizations.
Founding Director, Ruthie Pincus, was thrilled to find that her students were eager to write and share their own perspectives through their creation of thoughtful and conversation-provoking theater. |
Pincus recognized the potential to expand beyond the high school setting and explore more and more challenging topics including racism, LGBT acceptance, and human rights issues and more. The next step was clear: Create an open forum to empower students to use their “arts voices” to inspire social change.
What evolved was a one-day annual conference filled with panel discussions, interactive workshops, keynote speakers and student performances which would encourage and enable students to produce their own original works of theater, film and dance. The conference serves to launch new works created by students, which they can showcase in their own communities and, at the same time, inspire change. As the years passed STC is bringing their work into our schools with Voices of Change and has instituted the Summer Ambassador Leadership Program for students across to gather and raise their arts voices as a catalyst for change in their communities.
Guest speakers and panelists have included Tony-Award winning Broadway stars Brian Stokes Mitchell (Ragtime, Women on the Verge, Kiss Me Kate, Man of LaMancha) , Gavin Creel (Hello Dolly, Book of Mormon, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Hair), television, film and stage actress Jessica Hecht (Friends, Fiddler on the Roof), Broadway composer Jeanine Tesori (Fun Home, Shrek, Thoroughly Modern Millie), Terrence McNally, four time Tony Award winning playwright, Broadway Producer and activities Tom Kirdahy, Drama Desk Award Winner, writer, actress and activist, Anna Deavere Smith, and Broadway activist and playwright, Dominque Morisseau (Ain't too Proud, Detroit '67, Skeleton Crew, Paradise Blue).
Stage the Change is sponsored by Tilles Center for the Performing Arts at LIU Post & Hauppauge Public Schools.
This project is made possible with funds from The Arts Reach Fund at Long Island Community Foundation and the Decentralization Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature, and administered
by The Huntington Arts Council. HEARTS (Helping Enrich the Arts of Port Washington)- Fiscal Sponsor.
by The Huntington Arts Council. HEARTS (Helping Enrich the Arts of Port Washington)- Fiscal Sponsor.
