"Through the work of the People's Theatre, we're bringing together all of the great ideas of local residents, and finding solutions for problems that affect all of us. We're looking at democracy in action, and People's Theatre is one of the best examples out there." -NYC Council Member, Ydanis Rodriguez
“I've had a really great experience with Action Theatre thus far. It's really amazing to see all different kinds of people, different ages, genders, races, getting together, and working for a common cause: to get people's voices/stories heard. Its been interesting to see the members of the group grow as people and performers, and i think everyone is really excited and enthusiastic about the idea of being on stage.” -Brittany Maldonado (Uptown Action Participant)
(Translated From Spanish) "Action Theatre is for me like a therapy. It is a program that fills an emptiness in our community. With the group, even without speaking the same language, I feel as if I'm with family. Thank you all for accepting me into your group. I admire you all for being so giving and tolerant. I will ask you for a favor: don't change. The world needs people like you. Thank you. Thank you so much." -Maria Aristy (Uptown Action Participant)
“Every other Wednesday night from 7-8:30 at The Nagle Y, I get the opportunity to play with people from my Washington Heights/Inwood neighborhood in a way that reveals and begins to address social conditioning's stealthy and unhealthy effects on me. As I leave rehearsal and walk on Nagle Avenue toward Broadway, I feel more connected to my neighborhood and the people in it. A very cool and surprisingly simple idea was revealed to me after playing one of my first Theater of the Oppressed games. It is that any strategy not specifically prohibited in the instructions of the game is available to solve the problem of the game.” -Matt Higgins (Uptown Action Participant)
I wish to express how delightful it was to see my children be a part of the Live Your Life Program –LIVE on stage and have the opportunity to act at the Morris-Jumel Mansion here in Washington Heights! A truly golden moment for our family. And to see all the kids play out their roles in the play they all wrote…talk about collaboration! As parents, we really appreciated how this program tied theater arts, to healthy eating, being active and leading a balanced life …LIVE YOUR LIFE!...rocks on and of f stage…I recommended it to any fun loving parent, here in the Heights! -Giseeleen He (Mother of a Live Your Life! Participant)
“(The class) is something that I look forward to because it brings out things in us and keeps us going. It keeps our intellect going. Without it we would not be as sharp as we are, we’d lose it in time. We need more things like this! Shakespeare and other things to discuss on intellectual levels.” -Vinsor Fraser (Isabella House Resident)
“This is my highpoint of my week here, this class.” -Bill Harkins (Isabella House Resident)
