“Thrilled and honored to welcome the brilliant artists of Epic Theatre Ensemble- all NYC Public School students- to perform for staff today. Living proof that art can change our communities and the world.”
— Chancellor Richard A. Carranza, New York City Public Schools
Every summer, our youth ensemble is commissioned by a university or community-based partner to focus on a specific aspect of education policy or pedagogy. They research the subject, interview the stakeholders, weave together transcribed selections from the interview material with their own original writing to form a script and perform the play to content-connected audiences around the United States and internationally. After each performance, the student artists facilitate a conversation with the audience about the questions and themes in the play. Since 2015, the touring plays of Epic’s Youth Ensemble have received 300 performances in 35 cities in 3 countries for 62,000 audience members.
Click here to email us about bringing one of these plays or films to your community.
CREATION OF THE NATION – commissioned by The Public Good at Teachers College, Columbia University
“1619 is the creation of this nation.”
What impact does the legacy of slavery have on the U.S. today? Inspired by The 1619 Project, CREATION OF THE NATION explores how students can use their own identities to get education and how educators can find the courage to teach truthful history. *CREATION OF THE NATION is available to be screened as a film only.
WHY TEACH – Commissioned by The Public Good at Teachers College, Columbia University
“In some countries, the word that they use for teacher translates to future-builders”
Given our unprecedented national teacher shortage, why should a young person consider a career in education? The youth artist/researcher/facilitator team at Epic shines a light on the science, art, and activism of teaching in this 25 minute play.
FixED, or You Do Not Exist – commissioned by The Public Good at Teachers College, Columbia University
“Education is this field in the U.S, where everybody thinks they know because they went to school.”
Who should get to decide what gets taught in school? The student researchers/artists of Epic survey the current landscape of anti-CRT legislation, “Don’t Say Gay”, and other forms of state-sponsored classroom censorship and invite audiences to more clearly define and defend a student’s right to learn. *FixED, or You Do Not Exist is available to be performed as an in-person play only.
BETWEEN THE LINES – commissioned by The Poverty & Race Research Action Council
“Brilliance isn’t allocated along zip code but often your race is.”
The youth artists/researchers of Epic Theatre Ensemble explore the connections between America’s housing policies and educational segregation. How have we managed to parcel out privilege in a Public School system that’s supposed to be free and open to everyone? *BETWEEN THE LINES is available as either an in-person play or as a film.
CENT$ABILITY – commissioned by Strong Economy for All Coalition
“Capitalism only works when someone’s at the bottom.”
Who and what is money for? The student artists/researchers from Epic look at wealth inequality and its relationship to the American Dream. *CENT$ABILITY is available as either an in-person play or as a film.
IN THE NAME OF SAFETY – commissioned by The National Coalition on School Diversity
“When you control a man’s thinking you do not have to worry about his actions.” – Carter G. Woodson
3 million students are in schools with police but no nurses. 6 million students are in schools with police but no school psychologists. 10 million students are in schools with police but no social workers. The artist/researchers of Epic examine the culture of policing in schools. *IN THE NAME OF SAFETY is available as either an in-person play or as a film.
DEFAULT – commissioned by The Public Good at Teachers College, Columbia University
“The master’s tools will never dismantle the master’s house.” – Audre Lorde
What difference does it make to students if their school’s curriculum reflects the history, experiences and knowledge of their communities and families? DEFAULT is a funny and moving original play created by the youth researchers/writers/artists of Epic that examines the impact that Ethnic Studies courses and Culturally Relevant Pedagogy have on students, teachers, administrators, and families. *DEFAULT is available to be screened as a film only.
PERFECT CIRCLE – commissioned by Legal Momentum and Legal Services NYC
“Why do we allow adults in schools to pretend that there is a real distance between their own attitudes and those of the bullies?”
In a recent national survey, 1 in 4 students say that they’ve been bullied in school, but 70% percent of NYC Public Schools reported zero incidents of harassment, bullying, or discrimination. In PERFECT CIRCLE, the youth researchers/writers/artists of Epic look at the local, state, and federal protections in place for students, and explore why bullying is so persistent when everyone says they’re against it. *PERFECT CIRCLE is available to be performed as an in-person play only.
NOTHING ABOUT US – commissioned by New York Appleseed
“Nothing about us without us is for us.”
NOTHING ABOUT US is a rigorous, passionate and hilarious exploration of educational segregation written and performed by those most affected and least consulted: NYC Public High School students. What does separate but equal mean to us today? Transformation, empathy, and youth voice drive the conversation in this thirty-minute touring play by Epic. *NOTHING ABOUT US is available to be screened as a film only.
OVERDRIVE -commissioned by The Public Good at Teachers College, Columbia University
“Everybody is a genius, but if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree it will live its whole life believing it is stupid.” – Albert Einstein
How many jobs demand that employees come up with the right answer on the spot, from memory, while the clock is ticking? How often are we forbidden to ask coworkers for help? How common is it for working professionals to be given a secret pencil-and-paper exam? The student researchers/writers/performers of Epic interviewed a diverse group of education stakeholders about the role of Standardized Assessments in Public Schools. Their findings will surprise you. OVERDRIVE is a twenty-five minute touring play that powerfully poses the question: Do we truly measure what we value and value what we measure? *OVERDRIVE is available to be screened as a film only.
For more information about how to bring Epic’s touring shows to your community, email Jim Wallert at Jim@EpicTheatreEnsemble.org
