As we slow down to make space for a break, we’re reflecting on all we accomplished together in 2022. The past two years pushed us to experiment with how we stay connected and share our work. Like in our shows, we tried to harness everything we learned with each “intervention” and put that learning into action.

Here’s some of what blossomed in the past 12 months! Help us with the next 12 — donate today!

In 2022, we took our performances outside, inside, and into digital space! Our Forum Theatre Troupes were featured as part of FAB Open Streets on the Lower East Side, and 34th Ave Open Streets in Jackson Heights! This fall, we returned to indoor performances for the first time since 2020.

Our Housing Works Troupe, ESCUCHA, and Rapid Response presented public performances for a general audience, as well as special community performances hosted by Amida Care and NICE (New Immigrant Community Empowerment).

We even experimented with hybrid shows that took place online AND in-person, and Rapid Response’s project 1-800-Keep-Ur-Crib was our first experiment with sharing a video episode prior to the live show.

The December 1 presentation of Episode 2, 1-800-Keep-Ur-Crib!

In July, we released a 200-page book, to share our learning and practices from the past 10 years. The Wildcard Workbook: A Practical Guide to Jokering Forum Theater is available as a free download. We have had wonderful conversations with people who are reading the book, and exploring Theatre of the Oppressed with groups around the world.

Since July, over 500 people have downloaded the book!

Meanwhile - inside TONYC - we were making plans for internal change. For 10 months, a working group of TONYC administrators, Jokers, and Board members collaborated with the U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives (USFWC) to design more democratic workplace practices that will involve individuals from across our organization in decision making. The process gave us space for hearty discussion; helping people understand the workings of our organization and why this feels important to members of our staff and actor community. The upcoming year will include training, as we build this new structure.

At the same time, our community collaborated on key financial planning. A committee of staff, actors and board members coordinated an internal participatory budgeting process AND a pay equity project. For participatory budgeting, community members submitted project ideas that will be supported by $25k of our 2023 budget. The funded projects include a Festival where all troupes will perform and a documentary video about the people of TONYC

This means we’ll have a TONYC Festival in Fall 2023!

All this creativity and collaboration was a wonderful way to celebrate our 10th anniversary year, and we missed celebrating with you!

While our October 1st birthday party was rained out, our upcoming festival and documentary projects - designed by our community - will provide plenty of opportunities to get together and celebrate the people of TONYC, and the plays that we have created over our 10 years together! We hope you’ll join as we carry the celebration over into our 2023 events!

All of this work wouldn’t be possible without our fantastic funders and donors — like you! Consider giving today to Theatre of the Oppressed NYC. 100% of your donation makes it possible for us to continue to share our plays and explore our practices.

We look forward to inviting you to shows and workshops in 2023...

Sulu LeoNimm & the TONYC Team