This month…

• Register for Spring Trainings
• World TO Day: Image Theatre Gift
• Call for Volunteers
• Wear Us!

Registrations Open!

We’ve added something for you next month! Join us in Manhattan for another in-person 2-hour training. We got this feedback from the February session: “I really understand now why you all say it's all about games and play. I've accessed the Wildcard Workbook before, but I'm going to revisit it now and I think it will make so much more sense now that I have this context of seeing it in person.“

April 3, 6pm-8pm In-Person, Midtown Manhattan
Intro to Theatre of the Oppressed

Facilitated by Julián Pimiento
Sliding scale: $35-80
Full Info and Registration

Creativity is the key to transformation. An Intro to Theatre of the Oppressed workshop will allow you to experience the power of embodied play!  Our experienced facilitators will lead you through a series of games, discussions, and role-play improvisation. The experience will be an opportunity to share power and build trust, equipping you with tools to educate, empower, and mobilize others in new ways.  This will lay the foundation for collectively brainstorming actionable next steps in the face of interpersonal conflict or institutional injustice. Each activity and debrief discussion is designed to help communities reflect deeply on the status quo and how we maintain or change it.

May 9, 1:30pm - 4pm Eastern Time, On Zoom
Online Legislative Theatre Training

Facilitated by Sulu LeoNimm and Julián Pimiento
Sliding Scale: $75-$150
Full Info and Registration

Ready to Reimagine the Rules? Join Us for a Legislative Theatre Workshop. Tired of decisions being made without your community’s voice? Legislative Theatre is a tool for turning real-life struggles into forum plays that demand change and shape policy from the ground up. Whether you’re working to abolish oppressive laws or disrupt harmful practices, this workshop empowers you to engage in radical, participatory democracy. Together, we’ll imagine new futures, strategize bold actions, and keep the dialogue going—because the fight doesn’t stop at the theatre door.

Save May 10th for this year’s spring showcase! Information coming next month…

World Theatre of the Oppressed Day

Maybe the theatre itself is not revolutionary. But these theatrical forms are without a doubt a rehearsal of revolution. The truth of the matter is that the spectator-actor practices in a real act even though he does it in a fictional manner. While he rehearses throwing a bomb on stage, he is concretely rehearsing the way a bomb is thrown. Acting out his attempt to organize a strike, he’s concretely organizing a strike. Within its fictional limits, the experience is a concrete one.

- Augusto Boal, Theatre of the Oppressed, 1977

On March 16th, we celebrate the birthday of Augusto Boal, creator of Theatre of the Oppressed. As we think about our practice in this year, we are grateful that it gives us tools to:

• share our struggles in community with each other
• find solidarity in our outrage
• break the programming that tries to keep us quiet, compliant and isolated
• practice action

So, on Boal’s Birthday aka “World TO Day”, we’ve adapted a short image theatre exercise for you to try - by yourself or with friends - to rehearse revolution!

Image Theatre: Rehearse for the Revolution

Try it out, share it in groups and with friends. To see actions other people are taking, explore One Million Experiments, Choose Democracy’s Resist List, and The Local Peace Economy’s Inspiration page.

Join Us

Virtual Volunteer Orientation
April 09, 2025 at 6:00pm - 7pm ET

Join us for a virtual orientation for old and new volunteers. Meet members of the TONYC community while you learn about the roles you can play in supporting TONYC's work at upcoming events! This includes support in public trainings, shows, and fundraisers!

RSVP Here!

The Ides of Merch

Theatre of the Oppressed NYC now has items available on Bonfire!