HOW TO USE THESE PLAYS
Looking for inspiration on how to use Free Plays in your community?
Check out some of these great examples from our partner organizations!
#1: Educational Content
The Goodwin Project with Children’s Theatre Madison (CTM)
CTM created educational content and materials free for public use. The materials tackle topics such as racism, American history and legacy, and engaging classroom activities to foster compassion and empathy for others.
Plays are accompanied with bonus content such as:
1) A teacher’s guide
2) A parents’ and caregivers guide
3) A powerpoint
4) Video adaptation and talkback of the play
5) An interactive activity that can be done at home or in the classroom
Talkback with Goodwin Project Educational Content Team
Video adaptation of “Nothing Rhymes with Juneteenth”
#2: Debut performance for theatre company launch
CollideOscope Repertory Theatre Company (CRTC) (with NYU Steinhardt’s Masters in Drama Therapy)
Video adaptation of “Black Flag”
In New York City, the NYU Steinhardt Master’s in drama therapy program launched a new theatre company named CollideOscope Repertory Theatre Company (CRTC).
CRTC’s mission is to advance racial justice and healing through performance, as well as to create a space of belonging for students, alumni, and artists who identify as Black, indigenous, and people of color.
For their debut performance, they chose to produce Free Play, reading all five plays in the collection.
“These five short plays allow us the space to laugh, to talk, to cry, to scream, to be creative, and most importantly, the space to be together.”
- Adam Stevens, Artistic Director of Free Plays at CollideOscope
Video adaptation of “Nothing Rhymes with Juneteenth”
#3: Staged or Zoom performance
Western Theatre Company
(at Western Colorado University)
Students of Western Colorado University staged Black Flag on their college campus in October 2023. Each performance was accompanied by a moderated conversation with the director Heather Hughes, a member of WCU’s residential life, and the cast and audience discussing themes of the show.
Production photos
Additional performances
-
Black Theatre Girl Magic (in collaboration with Mad Cow Theatre)
“The partnership with Black Theatre Girl Magic to produce the events will be a sustaining and long term relationship that will connect Mad Cow Theatre to more Black artists.
These plays are easily digestible and great conversation starters and our audience has engaged with them and with our theatre company. We'd highly recommend [Free Plays] to start a conversation on antiracism with a community.”
-
Rude Mechanicals (Eastern Washington's premier Shakespeare theatre company)
“We had a very positive experience producing these plays. The audience response was very positive, especially with families who were looking for ways to discuss with their children what was(is) happening in our country. It's been great to continue hearing from additional audience members as they continue to discover the productions online.” - Ellicia Elliot, Founding Artistic Director of Rude Mechanicals
-
Dallas Children's Theater (DCT)
“We had a fantastic experience producing the plays. Everyone, including DCT's Staff and Board of Trustees, has been tremendously supportive of the project. The plays were rehearsed virtually and filmed in person.
Our audience response has been very positive and I strongly recommend these plays to other institutions. We are all extremely grateful to [Free Plays] for providing such sensitive and vividly human stories to our field and could not be more proud to have the opportunity to use them to open doors to candid and meaningful conversation. “
- Robyn Flatt, Founder