Newsletter | May 2020

Keeping Busy & Staying Connected at Rehearsal for Life

Come check out the ways Rehearsal for Life is staying connected to our socially-distanced students and supporters! From pivoting our annual fundraiser Banned in Boston to a successful virtual event , to translating our Urban Improv program into digital Classroom Care Packages , to moving our Freelance Players rehearsals online, we have been learning and growing right alongside the remote learners, teachers and families we support. Most importantly, we have been staying connected as a community and supporting one another through these uncertain times. Learn more below. 🎭

Urban Improv Classroom Care Packages

Our Teachers Say: "[The Care Package on how to cope at home] was terrific. I thought it would just be a quick fun thing during our video group meetings, but the students offered really insightful comments about being bored and finding things to do to keep from getting frustrated... [with] a level of depth far beyond what I was getting earlier when I asked the SAME questions. So I tip my hat to all of you, your video resonated with the kids. " — Jonathan Holden, 4th-grade teacher, Nathan Hale Elementary School

Urban Improv continues to reach the students at our partner schools through new digital Classroom Care Packages . These short video packages incorporate songs, scenes and discussion questions to engage and inspire our students.

Our "Forward Share" song asks us to remember that our actions have consequences, even when they're actions we take online or on our phones.

Our fun and engaging Care Package content is now available to everyone on our Educator Resources page . Please share this opportunity to engage students in dialogue about their social and emotional health. And we are always looking for student and educator feedback — help us improve our content by taking this survey . 🎭

F reelance Players Online

The shows must go on! Currently, all six Freelance Players Troupes have traded in-person meetings for rehearsals over Zoom, in order to adapt the following favorites: Mystery at the Hopeless Hotel, America’s Next Top Monster, Buzz On, Mything Links, Clam’s Casino , and our newest Freelance play, Shakespeare’s Daughters .

Mom to the rescue! Theater professional and Freelance parent Rachel Padula-Shufelt created these special costumes for her daughters appearing in the Newton Troupe's adaptation of Mything Links . Photo courtesy of Ms. Padula-Shufelt.

Final performances are scheduled for late May and early June — theater redefined by our Freelance students! You can expect adapted scripts, recorded scenes and music, original homemade costumes, “Zoom box” choreography, character sketches, playbill covers — and even one performance that will be live-streamed! 🎭

Youth Unscripted

This spring, sixteen Youth Unscripted students prepared their capstone performance, “ The Strings That Bind Us ,” and produced original songs, all completed remotely. We are proud to present one of those songs, "Waited Too Long," in its world premiere :

A theatrical highlight in February for our high-schoolers was an evening at the A.R.T. to see Gloria: A Life . Rehearsal for Life was selected as a non-profit partner to invite our youth to attend this special evening and share our mission with the audience. Students were still buzzing about the performance on the train ride home! 🎭

Students and staff on the set of Gloria: A Life following the inspiring performance.

Support Our Students Your generous gift allows us to to continue to innovate in and deliver our impactful programming to our students and the world. From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you for your investment in the young people of Boston and beyond, who need our support now more than ever.

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