Using Transformative Theater in
Classrooms and After School Programs
OPENING DIALOGUE • CREATING CHANGE

Transformative Theater is an exciting and effective tool for creating change. Sabrina offers 6-12 week programs for schools that address important issues in your community such as bullying,healthy relationships, drugs & alcohol, and self-esteem.
"In most things you see, everyone's just silent and watches. But this was totally different - the kids were so engaged! We all were. It was so important that the kids themselves came up with the possible solutions."
- David Binkowski, Math Teacher at Balboa HS
- David Binkowski, Math Teacher at Balboa HS
In this program, a group of students decides on an important issue in their community to focus on. This group then moves through a learning and growth process where theater is used to continue to explore the issue and create a skit that will present the issue to the rest of the students at the school, staff and parents. The students involved have roles as actors in the skit, as well as facilitators for the presentation.
This presentation then utilizes a dynamic interactive form of theater (called Forum Theater), that includes the audience in coming up with realistic and viable positive change. The audience is active and involved throughout the presentation - defining the issue, dialoguing about the problems that are present, and brainstorming alternative solutions. Members of the audience actually volunteer to come up on stage and act out an alternative version of the skit with the actors by adding a character or standing in for an existing character. This powerful experience for both the actors and the audience allows everyone to be a part of creating sustainable change.
To deepen and sustain the change that this dialogue can inspire, Sabrina offers follow-up discussion questions and tips for teachers to use in their classrooms after the presentation is complete.
This presentation then utilizes a dynamic interactive form of theater (called Forum Theater), that includes the audience in coming up with realistic and viable positive change. The audience is active and involved throughout the presentation - defining the issue, dialoguing about the problems that are present, and brainstorming alternative solutions. Members of the audience actually volunteer to come up on stage and act out an alternative version of the skit with the actors by adding a character or standing in for an existing character. This powerful experience for both the actors and the audience allows everyone to be a part of creating sustainable change.
To deepen and sustain the change that this dialogue can inspire, Sabrina offers follow-up discussion questions and tips for teachers to use in their classrooms after the presentation is complete.
Sabrina Hinojosa, M.S. Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, MFC #44385