By Jacob Clinkscales, Storycatchers Teaching Artist

“Stories have the power to create empathy within us, and over time, people begin to see the world through the eyes of the ones they have opposed.”

In June, Storycatchers teaching artists, myself included, performed at the Santa Fe Art Institute’s (SFAI) The Art of Change. This event brought together artists of many disciplines who strive to create social change through their work. Ira Glass–host of the popular radio show This American Life, a longtime friend of Storycatchers, and the event’s moderator–offered the above thoughts on the power of story. His words deeply resonated with me. [Read more…]

by Tory Davidson, Community Engagement Manager

It’s not every day that the Changing Voices team is clad in polished shoes and button-down shirts, welcomed into a skyscraper in downtown Chicago, and given the run of the place. In June, Deloitte let us do exactly that.

[Read more…]

by Cheryl Coons, Program Manager of the Temporary Lockdown Ensemble

“No one has forgotten you. There is reason to hope, and you guys give me hope.”

Those are the words that the legendary civil rights activist Congressman John Lewis spoke to our Temporary LockDown Ensemble when he visited the Cook County Juvenile Detention Center at the end of May. The 18 members of our ensemble came face to face with history, in a never-to-be-forgotten exchange of ideas, wisdom, and words of comfort with the Congressman. [Read more…]

The work of Storycatchers Theatre has gained national attention once again as one of the first recipients of an award from the Art for Justice Fund in November 2017. [Read more…]

An interview with Kari Betton, Music Director and Composer, Storycatchers Theatre
Conducted by Tory Davidson, Community Engagement Manager, Storycatchers Theatre

In March, Steppenwolf Theatre’s young adult production of The Burn toured to the juvenile justice facilities in which Storycatchers works. In addition to watching the performances, youth were involved in workshops with Steppenwolf and Storycatchers teaching artists. This created opportunities for youth living in all three facilities to participate in discussions about the themes and ideas in the play. I sat down with Kari Betton, a music director and composer for Storycatchers and a teaching artist for Steppenwolf, to learn more.

[Read more…]

Written by Rachel Hauben Combs, Development Director

A wise Chicago theatre artist once said that and it has never been truer.  Today, both artistic endeavors and social justice causes are increasingly dependent on individual donors.

In 2016, our very own “Temporary Lockdown” (TLD) program at the Cook County Juvenile Detention Center was nearly a casualty of the not-for-profit funding crisis.  For years, a single foundation had provided the bulk of TLD’s program budget.  When that dedicated funder shifted its strategy and focus, Storycatchers faced an excruciating choice: whether to eliminate the program for fiscal year 2017/2018. [Read more…]

Written by Aimee Stahlberg, Strategy and Process Manager Changing Voices

“How can I get me some real power?” That’s the ending line of Storycatchers Theatre’s current Changing Voices production. After touring for several months, members of the Changing Voices Ensemble recently discussed ways they might be able to obtain the power that the characters in their stories so desperately desire. Changing Voices Ensemble members agreed that their voices and what they share can change how they are seen and how their stories are understood. “Sometimes it’s easy to get caught up in the mistakes I’ve made and forget about all the difficult things I’ve had to overcome,” Deshawn W. recently shared with an audience.

[Read more…]

I have always believed in the power of stories to transform people. Storycatchers Theatre embodies this belief by providing young people with the tools they need to express themselves, change, and grow; this mission is the reason I joined the organization in July 2016 as Executive Director. One thing I have learned is the importance of a committed Board of Directors – something that Storycatchers is so lucky to have.

Today, I’d like to share with all of our friends what our Board means to us. As a result of their expertise, ideas, and passion, we have seen our growth nearly double in just two years’ time. The Artistic and Administrative team joins me in thanking each member of our incredible Board for their enduring support, dedication and strategic vision.

[Read more…]

Written by Meade Palidofsky, Founder and Artistic Director

When I direct rehearsals at Warrenville every fall, I am immersed in the adolescent energy and off-stage drama around me. Overhearing a range of comments – from bursts of encouragement to sharper exchanges – I remember that often, the most challenging part of being in a show is allowing yourself to trust the whole group, to create an ensemble larger and stronger than your clique.

[Read more…]

A dynamic partnership with Steppenwolf Theatre is underway, as Storycatchers Teaching Artists and the Changing Voices Ensemble prepare for the March 2017 tour of  the Steppenwolf for Young Adults (SYA) production of Monster. The play, directed by Hallie Gordon and adapted by Aaron Carter from Walter Dean Myer’s best-selling young adult novel, will tour to IYC-Warrenville, IYC-Chicago, and the Cook County Juvenile Detention Center, offering a total of eight performances within the three residential facilities. [Read more…]