Drama as a Catalyst for Learning and Change

CAT uses theatre as a medium to promote social, emotional, and intellectual growth in communities throughout New York City.  Working from early childhood through the adult years, CAT offers interactive dramas that explore curricular themes and social issues such as literacy, personal responsibility, inter-cultural understanding, peer pressure, violence, sexuality, substance abuse, and HIV/AIDS prevention.  Audience members become participants in fiction-based group improvisations.  Questions emerge from the dramatic conflict, and participants are challenged to find their own answers.  Through theatrical conventions, reality is viewed afresh, prejudices revised, and conflicts seen from many points of view.  Throughout, professionally trained actor-teachers process these experiences so that participants are able to transfer the new skills and insights into their real lives.

CAT's in-school projects support the New York State Department of Education Learning Standards and enhance students' literacy skills from early childhood through high school.