About Face Theatre 07/08 Season

Outreach

THE HOME PROJECT

How safe are the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer (LGBTQ) students on your campus or at home? The truth may surprise you.

Since 1999, AFYT has reached tens of thousands of students and teachers through our Educational Outreach Tour, one of the country's most acclaimed programs designed to help schools create safe, nurturing environments by addressing issues facing LGBTQA youth using theatre as a catalyst for change.

Start the conversation in your school with THE HOME PROJECT, a 30-minute touring performance and interactive discussion developed from true stories of LGBTQ young people who have experienced homelessness; disowned by their families because of their gender or sexual identities. Up to 40% of youth living on the streets identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender. This statistic indicates the persistent discrimination against LGBTQ youth in our culture. It's a vital opportunity for students, faculty and staff to experience dynamic theatre while critically engaging ideas and issues that live in every classroom and on every campus.

AFYT's Outreach Program is designed to help students and faculty:

• INCREASE understanding and awareness of how stereotypes and assumptions can create an oppressive school and home environment
• EXAMINE the current culture of your school and asses how best to address issues of inclusiveness and tolerance to increase the safety, empowerment and leadership capacity of your students
• PROVIDE tools to create an action plan to ensure a campus environment that accepts and embraces diversity

THE HOME PROJECT tours with five actors, a full sound system and minimal technical requirements from our hosts. Each performance is followed by an interactive discussion between the audience, cast and staff. We also offer storytelling, ally-building and diversity workshops that we bring to your campus.

To book About Face Youth Theatre's touring production or one of our workshops for your school, please contact AFT Education Director, Paula Gilovich at paula@aboutfacetheatre.com or at (773) 784-8565 x 116

"About Face Youth Theatre fearlessly attack(s) tricky issues... the show is wry, smart and moving." - The Chicago Tribune

"I feel more confident now in standing up for LGBTQ people. Those who are ignorant can eat my dust." - Student

"The search for a place where one belongs transcends youth and all the classifications they fear define or diminish them." - The Chicago Reader

"...the students were encouraged to think about new ideas and they felt empowered to talk about how that made them feel. All in all, it was education at its finest." -Student