An intergenerational group of Penn students and West Philadelphia Cultural Alliance members shares a semester of learning about August Wilson’s plays, culminating in a performance the class creates inspired by stories from the community.

“The people need to know the story. See how they fit into it. See what part they play.”

TPACE interweaves artistry, identity, and pedagogical tools for a course that actively links theory and practice. Through facilitation, creation, reading, discussion, and seeing performances, graduate and undergraduate students develop skills to use theatre and other arts to address diversity and difference in educational and community settings. Offered by Penn’s Graduate School of Education & Greenfield Intercultural Center.

Working with high school students over multiple sessions to create and perform their own plays and short pieces, including adaptations of Shakespeare and Greek plays, and new writing inspired by history and economics.

Young ones have plenty to say about their world and how it could be more fair and just. Whether they adapt existing literature - like Have You Filled a Bucket Today? - or start with a pressing question, elementary school residencies give them the forum to use their boundless creativity to make their voices heard, developing original plays to perform for their communities.

One-time workshops for groups of all ages across many settings. Past workshops have included The Road Map of Shakespeare’s Verse, August Wilson-Inspired Playwriting, Acting Our Town, Teaching Artist Training, and more.