STAGE THE CHANGEThe Arts as a Social Voice

MISSION • To help students become global citizens through

creativity and performance

• To provide communities with inspirational original

performance which serve as a catalyst for change

STAGE THE CHANGE

STAGE THE CHANGEA Brief History

STAGE THE CHANGE was founded in 2012 through the Hauppauge High School Drama program. After positive reception throughout the community, the “Anti-Bully Project”– a series of student written vignettes meant to address bullying, peer pressure, healthy relationships, and other sensitive topics – proceeded to receive recognition throughout New York State from countless theatre, education, and social issue organizations.   Founding Director Ruthie Pincus was thrilled to find that her students were not only capable of producing theatre to begin conversations but eager to write and share their own perspectives. Pincus recognized the potential to expand beyond the high school setting and explore other human rights issues. The next step was clear: create an open forum to celebrate professionals who have used their art form to inspire social change while empowering students to use their unique voices to do the same. What arose was a one-day annual conference filled with panel discussions, interactive workshops, keynote speakers, and student performances. As the organization grows, the conference will serve as a launching point for new works created by students to showcase in their communities and inspire change in the world   Guest presenters have included Drama Desk Award Winner and activist Anna Deavere Smith; Broadway actor and playwright John Cariani (Almost Maine, Something Rotten); Sheryl Kaller and Tom Kirdahy, the director/producer team behind Broadway’s Mother’s and Sons; Jeanine Tesori, composer of Broadway’s Fun Home, Shrek and Thoroughly Modern Millie. This year’s special guest speakers will be Four-Time Tony Award Winning playwright Terrence McNally, and Five-Time Tony Nominated Producer Tom Kirdahy

Stage the Change works in partnership with Tilles Center for Performing Art’s Department of Arts Education. The annual conference is hosted at Tilles Center on the campus of LIU Post

In 2015 Stage the Change expanded its focus to include dance as a vehicle to inspire social change. This year’s conference will expand to include the film arts.  

STAGE THE CHANGE: THE ARTS AS A SOCIAL VOICE strives to cultivate socially mindful artists. Through an annual conference, participants are challenged to find new ways to use their voice. The 4 different sections of the conference reflect this goal:

• A panel with theatre and dance professionals to explore how the arts can bring about social change

• A keynote speaker • An exhibition of juried socially mindful student work • Interactive breakout sessions for students and

educators

STAGE THE CHANGEAbout the Conference

●The Artist as Citizen and a City of Artists ●Making a Difference Using Dance

●Exploring Diaspora, Community In Motion ●The Seven Principles for Inclusive Education

●Using Boal’s Image Theatre Techniques to Map a Theory of Social Change ●Writing With a Social Voice

 

The breakout sessions at each conference aim to target a variety of unique skills which can inspire

social change. Past workshops topics include:

STAGE THE CHANGE2017 Conference

Honored Guest Speakers:

2016 Jeanine Tesori

2015 Anna Deavere Smith

2014 Tom Kirdahy Sheryl Kaller

2013 Joe Norton

Notable Presenters Artists Striving to End Poverty Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS Dominique Morisseau Epic Theatre Ensemble Howard Sherman New York Theatre Workshop Nilaja Sun Stephen Sondheim’s Young Playwrights Inc. Tectonic Theatre Project

STAGE THE CHANGEPast Conferences

STAGE THE CHANGE2016 Conference

STAGE THE CHANGEParticipants

• Adelphi University • Baldwin School District

• Baldwin High School • Brooklyn College • Cold Spring Harbor School District

• Cold Spring Harbor Junior High School • Cold Spring Harbor Senior High School

• Commack School District • Commack High School

• Deer Park School District • Deer Park High School

• East Williston School District • Division Avenue High School

• Farmingdale School District • Farmingdale High School

• Franklin Township Public Schools • Franklin High School

• Hauppauge Public Schools District • Hauppauge High School

• Hempstead School District • Hempstead High School

• Hicksville School District • Hicksville High School

• Hofstra University

• Nassau BOCES • Long Island School for the Arts

• Long Island University • North Babylon School District

• North Babylon High School • North Shore School District

• North Shore High School • North Shore Middle School

• New York City Public School District • P.S. 176X • JHS 227

• Smithtown Public School District • Smithtown High School East • Smithtown High School West

• Stony Brook University • Rockville Center School District

• South Side High School • Valley Stream School District

• Valley Stream High School • South Huntington School District

• Walt Whitman High School • William Floyd School District

• William Floyd High School • Wyandanch School District

• Wyandanch High School

STAGE THE CHANGEIn the News

STAGE THE CHANGEIn the News

Stage the Change on FiOS1 News http://www.fios1news.com/longisland/stage-the-change-

nov-4-2016#.WHEV6bYrLfa

STAGE THE CHANGEVideos

WLIW Interview with STC Founder Ruthie Pincus http://www.wliw.org/programs/wliw-arts-beat/february-5-2015/

MyLITV Interview with STC Founder Ruthie Pincus https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7VoHMVLfc0

Stage the Change Promotional Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgOGpXAfwPc

Interview with Sheryl Kaller and Tom Kirdahy: STC 2014 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUbQrNdSNsM&t=26s

“Year after year, I watch students, educators and communities empowered by the use of our ‘arts voices’ I am so proud to be part of a community that not only cherishes, but supports and encourages our student voices as we teach them how to hone their passions to ‘stage a change.’ […] “It is so very important as we gather our ‘allies’ in this mission, to understand and appreciate the difference that we make in the lives of our students, communities and our audiences. It is a privilege to be among this generous community of people that give their time and efforts to this very important cause.”

“Bringing kindness and dignity to the forefront through theatre empowers students to make a difference in their own schools, communities and their world.”

“If theatre is our art form and means of expression, it becomes our most powerful voice.”

STAGE THE CHANGEAbout the Founder

RUTHIE PINCUS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF STAGE THE CHANGE: THE ARTS AS A SOCIAL VOICE, is a Theatre teacher at Hauppauge High School in Hauppauge, New York. Ruthie came to teaching as an actress and director. For the past 17 years she has been teaching theatre and enabling her students to create original theatre pieces based on issues such as human rights, celebrating diversity, equality and kindness. By creating Stage the Change, Ruthie has taken her cause beyond the walls of her own high school, with her mission of enabling other schools to teach their students to use their "theatre voices" to change their world. As she continues to teach and empower other students and teachers, her goal is to help to create global citizens among our students and allow them and the communities that support them, to understand the power of theatre and all of the arts in our educational systems and beyond.

STAGE THE CHANGEPhotos

STAGE THE CHANGEPhotos

Stage the Change Aligns with Dignity for all Students Act

Stage the Change is registered with Nassau and Suffolk BOCES Arts in Education Services.

STAGE THE CHANGEFollow Us

https://www.facebook.com/stagethechange/

https://twitter.com/stagethechange

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzrb-Ag_kcSIm7W_ECvvWHw

Our Website http://www.stagethechange.org/

Stage the Change is co-sponsored by Hauppauge Public Schools and Tilles Center for the Performing Arts' Department of Arts Education at LIU Post

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