Playback Theatre In Schools

Following a multiple-show series on bullying:
"With ingenuity, energy, and knowledge of the task at hand, you created an interactive learning environment where students felt safe enough to take risks in regard to a difficult social issue. You were very sensitive to the needs of our students, and I think your ability to 'read' them and to connect to the topic in an inviting way is commendable."
Dr. Hasna Muhammad,
Assistant Principal, Monroe-Woodbury Middle School, Monroe, NY

Following a school-wide series of shows on bullying and sexual harassment:
"…The scenarios were timely, quite relevant, and portrayed incidents that affect our pupils. What is unique about Hudson River Playback Theatre is its ability to elicit stories from the children and to immediately enact them. Equally meaningful are the strategies for resolving conflict. The troupe members elicit the strategies from the pupils and demonstrate how they could be used. Quite powerful!
[The school] was also privileged to have Playback Theatre make a presentation to parents. The parents were most appreciative of this opportunity."
Dr. Edward Sullivan,
Principal, Chancellor Livingston Elementary School, Rhinebeck, NY

Following four performances for 3rd to 5th graders and an evening show for families:
"The Immigrant Stories performances gave many recent immigrants the opportunity to have their often-silenced voices heard. You and your talented troupe of actors approached this topic with such compassion and skill, enabling the participants to feel both comfortable sharing their stories and affirmed by their life-experiences….The teachers were deeply moved by the richness and value of these performances and shared their desire for future performances.
Felipa Gaudet,
Kindergarten teacher, Violet Avenue Elementary School, Hyde Park, NY

Students who learned to do Playback Theatre and performed for their peers wrote:

I LOVED participating in playback. I loved being able to express myself freely without being judged.

I've learned to be less worried about what other people think about me and how to express myself openly around other people.

Playback theatre can help students be more confident with their memories.

I would LOVE to take part in this project again.

I enjoyed this group very much. I liked being funny and serious with kids I knew and kids I now know.

"I learned that bullying is everywhere you go and there is a way to stop it."

I learned that by re-enacting other people's stories it gives them an image about what they could have done to prevent the situation.

It [Playback] can help [students] express themselves and see things in different ways.

I learned not to be shy, and what to do in a bullying situation.

I learned that acting is kind of hard but fun at the same time.

I liked hanging out with the kids in other grades, and performing in front of other kids.

I learned that you should always try to do something when someone's being bullied.

[Playback Theatre] helps students realize the other things they can do to help people in bullying situations.

I LOVED PARTICIPATING! It was so much fun.

I learned that even if you aren't the one being bullied you could still help.

I would love to continue taking part in this.

[I learned] to help people and not bully cause it is mean.

I learned that even if a person is different they could be cool.

I absolutely enjoyed participating so much!

I think it's helped me realize what other people go through.

[Playback Theatre] can help by making everything safer and make people realize that bullying is bad.

Sometimes keeping stuff to yourself is bad so they got to say how they feel.

I really liked how people can come together and work together.

[I learned] that a lot of times people were feeling different than [how] they acted. [Playback theatre] helps you understand people's feelings.

I learned that being yourself is not a crime.

Over the past ten years Hudson River Playback Theatre has worked with over 20,000 students from kindergarten to 12th grade in the following schools:

Monroe-Woodbury Middle School
Monroe-Woodbury High School
Pine Tree Elementary School, Monroe
Central Valley Elementary School, Central Valley
North Main Elementary School, Monroe, NY
Sophie Finn Elementary School, Kingston
Edson Elementary School, Kingston
Meagher Elementary School, Kingston
Graves Elementary School, Kingston
Crosby Elementary School, Kingston
JFK Elementary School, Kingston
Miller Jr,. High School, Kingston
New Visions Program, Kingston
Highland High School
Highland Middle School
Onteora Elementary School, Boiceville
Onteora Middle School, Boiceville
Onteora High School, Boiceville
Woodstock Elementary School
Zena Elementary School, Woodstock
Rondout Middle School
Rondout Junior High School
Rondout High School
Marbletown Elementary School
Duzine Elementary School, New Paltz
New Paltz High School
Beacon High School
Rombout Middle School, Beacon
Newburgh Free Academy
Leptondale Elementary School, Walkill
Ostrander Elementary School, Walkill
Hyde Park Elementary School
Violet Avenue Elementary School
Todd Middle School, Poughkeepsie
Cornwall Elementary School
Liberty Middle School, Liberty
John Flannery High School, Goshen
Ellenville High School
Saugerties High School
Suffern High School
BOCES Alternative School, Port Ewen
Upper Nyack Elementary School
Rhinebeck High School
Chancellor Livingston Elementary School
High Meadow School, Stone Ridge
Oakwood School, Poughkeepsie
Dual Language School for International Students, Brooklyn.

If you can't stop another guy get a group of friends.

I think other students would benefit from the show because then they would understand what it feels like to get bullied around and they wouldn't do it.

I think it helped me feel better about my feelings.

By saying stop!

I think you helped me by talking about things.

If some people watching the show were bullies themselves then they may actually know how people feel when they bully.

It helped me stop being a bully.

I learned a lot. It helped me because my brother gets picked on a lot.

I won't bully people, and I learned I should stick up for me and other people.

I know I'm not the only one getting bullied.

I think other students and I have learned with more people on your side sometimes you can help.

We might stop bullying and stand up for what is right.

Hudson River Playback Theatre specializes in school programs on school bullying, diversity awareness, and immigration.

We have worked with over 20,000 students from Kindergarten through 12th grade. (Scroll down for comments from students and faculty.)

Program designs are flexible and include:

Residencies for middle school and high school students: HRPT members train a selected group of students in basic Playback Theatre techniques. The students also develop leadership by gaining in-depth knowledge of the topic at hand. After training, students perform alongside professional company members in a series of shows for other students in their school.

Performances series for elementary schools: we come to your school with a team of five performers, carrying out shows for up to 50 students per one-hour show, up to three shows per day.

Performances for parents: in conjunction with a residency or performance series, we recommend an evening performance for parents on the same topic that their children are exploring.

Staff development: a performance for staff is an excellent way to build effectiveness in dealing with a challenging issue such as bullying.