We’re excited to share with everyone this amazing program we’ve created connecting Walden Theatre Conservatory students with at-risk Shawnee Academy and immigrant Newcomer Academy students–all through theatre! And best of all, you can get involved yourself by following the link to the project’s listing on the crowd-funding site power2give.org.

Every dollar of support for this program will be matched dollar-for-dollar by corporate gifts from LGE-KU. So make your holiday gift go twice as far!

DONATE HERE

This innovative new project by Walden Theatre uses theatre-based activities to create dialogue and common understanding among three very different groups of young people:

• English as a Second Language students from Newcomer Academy at Shawnee, who’ve recently immigrated to the United States representing 18 countries and speaking 24 languages.
• The Academy @ Shawnee students hailing from neighborhoods in Louisville’s West End that consistently struggle with crime, poverty, & low education/employment.
• Acting students from Walden Theatre’s after-school Conservatory Program, a diverse group of students from 123 schools and 57 zip codes in the Greater Louisville area.

PHASE 1:

During a school-day residency at Shawnee, Walden Theatre teaching artists lead a combined classroom of Newcomer and Academy @ Shawnee students in expressive theatre activities that allow students to experiment with storytelling and performance. Students demonstrate learned techniques through journaling about their life stories.

PHASE 2:

Acting students from Walden Theatre’s after-school Conservatory Program use journals from Phase 1 to compose and perform dramatic works that will be compiled into an original production performed for the Shawnee student body and again for the general public.