Outreach Programs

Stageworks puts kids in front row-Academy Prep - Wednesday, 19 May 2010
When you watch actors on stage, you don't really think of it as a teaching moment. But it is for one acting company in Tampa. Stageworks is reaching out to kids who are troubled, or at risk. They are using the theater to help teach the kids right from wrong.

Teco Energy Conservation Play
An original play about energy conservation touring the 3rd - 5th grad public schools in Hillsborough County. A partnership with TECO Energy. Stageworks actors perform TECO Power play for TECO employees and their kids on "Bring a child to school day at TECO!"



Stageworks Rainbow Tribe Programs
The Stageworks Rainbow Tribe is a company of multi-racial actors/directors/teachers who use the power of live performance to teach at-risk children about tolerance, empowerment, anger management, AIDS, gang prevention, and African American History. Our programs are so effective and in such great demand that we cannot expand them quickly enough.

Most of our programs have been in existence for 15 plus years. Companies and government entities that have supported us over the years are: The Tampa-Hillsborough Arts Council, Florida State Education Fund, NEA, CitiGroup, Holland and Knight Foundation, Target, Glazer Foundation, Saunders Foundation, Eckerd Fund, JP Morgan Chase, Tampa Community Foundation and Time Customer Service.

We also partner with many other social service organizations in the community to develop our programs, including the Art Council, Tampa Housing Authority, Department of Juvenile Justice, National Conference of Community, Tampa Bay AIDS Network, Gulf Coast Community Care, Greater Palm River Point and Tampa Electric.

Stageworks Workshop Programs
Although some of our programs tour the Hillsborough County schools and reach a large number of kids, the programs that have been found to be the most effective are those that deal with a smaller number of kids in a workshop format where the special needs of each child can be addressed. Research has proven that life-to-life is the most successful way to change behavior. We are dedicated to altering behavior and making lives better for every at-risk child. Stageworks' workshop programs provide an opportunity for children to experience theater as an art form, study the basics of theatrical performance, and achieve focus and emotional stability through dance, drama and musical expression. The performing arts can also instill a sense of empowerment and self-efficacy as well as help develop leadership skills. Our programs also provide the type of positive adult role-modeling, mentorship and peer interactions often found lacking in neighborhoods prone to violence, gang activity and juvenile delinquency.

YEA Ensemble: Anger Management Workshop
Mission : To teach coping skills to deal with anger as well as conflict resolution skills thru dramatic role play. Target Population: At-risk and juvenile justice youth ages 13-18 . Scope of program : 12 weeks, 24 2 hour sessions. Program description: Two Stageworks' master teachers train 12 at-risk or juvenile justice youth in anger management and conflict resolution techniques using ensemble drumming to channel anger and improvisations to teach positive and negative ways to express anger. The 12 teens are guided to create their own performances that demonstrate what they have learned in the program featuring a range of relationship issues: peer to peer, child to parent, student to teacher, youth to authority figure. The program concludes with 3 or more YEA ensemble performances for their peers, family and staff. The student artists who complete the program are paid a stipend/honorarium.

Stageworks Gang Out Program
Anti-gang Initiative Gang Workshop Skit Mission : Gang Prevention--to offer at-risk youth a performing arts/empowerment program as an alternative to gang involvement. Target Population : 12-15 at-riskyouth ages 7-14 who are located in 9 gang “hot spot” areas in Tampa . Scope of Program : 12 weeks, 12 2 hour sessions. Program Description : Stageworks' actor/coaches train 12-15 at-risk youth in anger management and peer pressure coping techniques using ensemble drumming to channel anger and dramatic improvisations to teach interpersonal and communication skills necessary for making responsible decisions handling peer pressure, bullies, and gangs as well as solving personal problems without resorting to violence. The workshop culminates in a 30 minute show for peers, staff, family demonstrating these new interpersonal skills.

Palm River Youth Corps
Mission: Youth leadership -- Use of dance, drumming and drama to develop collaborative skills and leadership capacity in at-risk youth. Target Population : 20 youth, ages 12-15 from Palm River area. Scope of Program : 9 weeks, 18 3 hour sessions. Program Description : Working in cooperation with the Greater Palm River Point, Stageworks' teachers train youth in hip hop dance, drumming and drama as part of a summer youth corps program. The program culminates in a performance that addresses the youths' perspectives on relevant social issues such as gangs and racism.

Civil Rights Ambassadors: Learn It! Share It!
Mission : Use the performing arts to teach Civil Rights and African American history. Target: At-risk and juvenile justice youth ages 10-18. Scope: 10 sessions of 2 ½ hours, scheduled as needed. Program Description : Students are trained by Stageworks' actor/coaches to perform a monologue of their choice from original and historical materials based on American Civil Rights figures. One performance is held for their peers, family and staff.

Student performing Chief Seattle

Stageworks' Rainbow Tribe Tours

The Stageworks' Rainbow Tribe is a multi-racial ensemble that tours public schools, juvenile justice sites and at-risk sites throughout Hillsborough County . Stageworks' Senior Cabaret Tour : African-American vocalists/musicians tour 10-15 Hillsborough County Day-care/Nutrition sites run by the county for indigent or physically impaired senior citizens.

Stageworks' Inner Circle AIDS Play
A multi-racial youth ensemble of 4 actors perform a play concerning 4 teens friends who discover that one of them has AIDS. This 45 minute drama is performed in the at-risk secondary school and throughout the juvenile justice system. The performance is followed by a Q & A period prepared in conjunction with Tampa Bay AIDS network and the National Conference of Community. The actors are trained by TBAN to both ask and answer questions about 10 of the most critical and frequently misunderstood facts regarding AIDS.

African American Greats Tour
Two Stageworks' African American actors perform 5-7 minute dramatic monologues about 5 AfricanAmerican historical figures including well-known civil rights figures (Rosa Parks and Jackie Robinson) as well as lesser known African American notables who broke the “color barrier”: (aviation—Bessie Coleman, science/research---Dr. Charles Drew, business---Berry Gordy and Madam C.J. Walker, education---Mary McLeod Bethune). Following the performance, the actors conduct a Q & A on African American history.