For general questions or to book a performance
Hilda Tijerina
Senior Manager of Theatre for Change
Imagination Stage
Using theatre productions and educational workshops to bridge cultural divides and lift up underrepresented voices, Imagination Stage’s Theatre for Change program explores complex social justice issues to help build a new generation of compassionate, collaborative children who are capable of changing the world.
Theatre for Change: Touring Production
The Last Martyr
- March 24, 2025 – May 16, 2025
- Best for Grades 8+
Written by Malik Work
Directed by Alina Collins Maldonado
Sound Design and Music Composition by D.J., Nick Hernandez
Approximate Run Time is 55 minutes
Post Show Workshop is 30 minutes
The Last Martyr tells the story of star crossed lovers, Najad Washington and Nour Youssef. After being released from prison, Najad experiences the loss of not only his friend, but of his girlfriend due to gang retaliation. He is faced with the difficult decision of staying in the never ending cycle of revenge or channeling his grief to make a positive change in his community. Influenced by Romeo & Juliet, this new production uses hip hop, spoken word, poetry and rap to tell a story that navigates grief, forgiveness, family, gang affiliation, and community.
This play is inspired by written work from incarcerated students in our Voices Beyond Bars program. It was developed in and commissioned by Imagination Stage’s Theatre for Change program and is intended for students 8th grade and up. This performance experience includes a learning guide and a post-show workshop with the cast.
To book a performance, please contact:
Hilda Lee Tijerina
Theatre for Change Senior Manager
¡Óyeme!
This multifaceted initiative includes an intensive series of educational workshops for immigrant youths—offered through in-school programs—and Óyeme, the beautiful, an Imagination Stage-commissioned, touring production inspired by the experiences shared by the students who have participated in the workshops.
Enhancing the impact and engagement of the show is a range of resources, including a learning activity guide, a post-performance workshop for attendees, and professional development training for teachers.
To receive a virtual Óyeme, the Beautiful experience, contact
Hilda Lee Tijerina
Theatre for Change Senior Manager
301-280-1688
Virtual Only
10 Seconds
This play by Miriam Gonzales is based on conversations and discoveries from two years of workshops with police officers and young people ages (12-18). The piece was filmed in spring 2021 to offer a virtual tour of the show during the pandemic for audiences in the DC and Dallas regions. In November 2021, the live production premiered at the Martin Luther King Jr. Public Library in Washington, DC, and has toured to more than 30 schools and 14 community centers since then. All performances are accompanied by an audience workshop facilitated by a teaching artist, as well as a discussion guide.
To receive a virtual 10 Seconds experience, contact
Hilda Lee Tijerina
Theatre for Change Senior Manager
301-280-1688
[email protected]
Voices Beyond Bars
In a continuation of our mission to explore complex social issues to help build a new generation of compassionate, collaborative children who are capable of changing the world, the Theatre for Change department of Imagination Stage launched the Voices Beyond Bars (VBB) program in 2019 that included 18 young men between the ages of 17 and 21. This was possible through a successful partnership with the Montgomery County Correctional Facility in Boyd, Maryland that continues to this day.
The VBB program was launched with the goal of having participants increase their competency in self-awareness and self-actualization through the use of theatre arts and other creative techniques. Workshops for VBB include instructions on improvisation, poetry writing, playwriting, and performance techniques. The workshops culminate in a final presentation of original poetry, monologues, and short scenes written by incarcerated young people.
The Youth and Police Partnership
Imagination Stage’s Youth and Police Partnership brings together young people and DC law enforcement officers to build trusting relationships and find common ground. Officers and youth use acting, improv, and visual art as a way to begin conversations around themes that are relevant to their lives and the communities they live and work in. Through this program, a space is provided for youth and officers to create art and share experiences that strengthen relationships and foster a community of trust and understanding that can be taken beyond the workshop.
Our lead partner is the DC Police Foundation; the project is supported by Wells Fargo, DC Commission for the Arts and Humanities, and The Children’s Theatre Foundation of America.
Contact
Daniel Sanclemente
Theatre for Change Coordinator