02/19/2025
Social Change Theater Festival Press Release
Mark will be part of the opening panel and will give a workshop - Newspaper Theatre – demystifying “objectivity” though critical performance - on Sunday, March 2, in the evening.
Contact: Cathy Taylor, Cathy Taylor Public Relations
[email protected]; (773) 564-9564
Kevin Aoussou, Associate Director, Still Point Theatre Collective
[email protected]; 704-650-7132
Still Point Theatre presents First Annual
Social Change Theater Festival
Creating a Platform for Theater That Drives Impact
Chicago’s historic Athenaeum Center for Thought & Culture
March 1-3, 2025
Chicago, IL (February 18, 2025)– Still Point Theatre Collective, a Chicago-based organization dedicated to using theater as a tool for social justice, presents the first annual Social Change Theater Festival, March 1-3, 2025, from its new home at Chicago’s historic Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport Ave.
This groundbreaking new festival will provide a much-needed space for artists, activists, and audiences to engage with performance as a tool for social change. The festival is rooted in a commitment to theater that uplifts and empowers marginalized voices by bringing together individuals and organizations dedicated to using theater for justice and transformation.
Tickets for the Social Change Theater Festival are now available. Tickets and a full schedule of events are available at: https://www.stillpointtheatrecollective.org/.
Festival Highlights
Women of Grace House, a reentry program supporting formerly incarcerated women, will present a deeply moving performance of Behind the Mask. Playwright Brian Beals brings Jabril’s Chains, an insightful and emotional work followed by a talkback. WorkersTEATRO, known for its community-driven performances, will lead a performance and workshop highlighting labor struggles and advocacy. The festival will also include a screening and discussion of Shakespeare Behind Bars (2024), a documentary exploring the transformative effects of Shakespeare in prison settings.
Still Point Associate Director Kevin Aoussou comments, “Theater has the power to spark dialogue, shift perspectives, and ignite action. Yet, for many artists creating work addressing pressing social issues, finding a stage can be challenging. This festival seeks to fill that gap by showcasing works that hold a mirror to society and amplify voices that push for change.”
The festival aims to:
• Raise awareness, voices, and resources for theater that drives social impact.
• Change perspectives, policies, and the way theater engages with the world.
• Empower artists, activists, and communities to create meaningful work.
• Inspire action, dialogue, and a new vision for theater’s role in society.
In addition to performances and panels, the festival will offer guided meditations led by Nicoya Helm, networking sessions, and a community closing celebration—ensuring that attendees leave inspired and connected to a growing movement of change-makers in the arts.
About the Social Change Theater Festival
The Social Change Theater Festival was founded to provide a platform for artists whose work addresses critical social issues. By uniting theater makers, activists, and audiences, the festival seeks to harness the power of storytelling to drive awareness, advocacy, and action.
The inaugural Social Change Theater Festival is a three-day celebration of socially conscious theater designed to inspire, connect, and empower. Through thought-provoking performances, transformative workshops, and meaningful dialogue, this festival brings together diverse voices from Chicago and across the country to reimagine the role of theater in shaping a better world.
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