Life Stories for Disadvantaged and At-Risk Youth

Past Programs and Partnerships

Life Stories at Montgomery County Department of Corrections
The Theatre Lab has implemented a 10-week Life Stories program on site annually at the Montgomery County Department of Corrections’ Youthful Offender unit since 2001 in cooperation with the Unit’s Moral Reconation Therapy Program for juvenile offenders.  Each year, this partnership provides a unique self-discovery and -evaluation experience for 14 to 20 juvenile offenders that creatively combines the cognitive-behavioral approach of moral reconation therapy and the intuitive-emotional approach of the dramatic process.

Life Stories at I.D.E.A. Public Charter School
In winter 2006, The Theatre Lab offered a ten-week Life Stories course for 22 middle school students attending the I.D.E.A. Public Charter School in Anacostia.

Life Stories at Operation Prevention Auto Theft
In summer 2006, TTL formed a Life Stories partnership with the Metropolitan Police Department’s Operation Prevention of Auto Theft (O.P.A.T.) program for first-time youth offenders ages 12 to 16.  14 young people wrote and acted in an original 40-minute film comprised of vignettes from their lives and personal commentary.

Life Stories at City Lights School
From 2003-2005, The Theatre Lab offered four Life Stories programs in collaboration with City Lights School serving emotionally disturbed youth in Northeast DC.

Life Stories at House of Ruth
The Theatre Lab offered a ten-week Life Stories program for children living at the House of Ruth in 2005.  These young people, all children of substance abusing mothers in rehabilitation, were participating in the Reunified Families Project.  The Theatre Lab has continued to partner with House of Ruth to provide scholarships for residents to attend our summer acting and magic camps.

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