The Life Stories® Institute
Learn to teach individuals and communities how to share their real-life experiences through original works of dramatic art and self-expression
The Life Stories® Institute is an award-winning “train-the-trainer” program where you’ll learn how to harness the transformative power of theatre to strengthen individuals and communities. This program is for anyone looking for mind-expanding ways to work with groups who might benefit from learning how to make their voices heard.
Life Stories® is The Theatre Lab’s award-winning program that teaches people to create and perform original works of dramatic art based on their lived experiences. Our programs have served seniors in assisted living facilities, justice-involved youth, DCPS students, college professors, military veterans and many more. Now you can learn how to facilitate Life Stories® in your community!
The institute is an interactive program led by Theatre Lab Co-Founders and Co-Directors Buzz Mauro and Deb Gottesman, creators of Life Stories®. They will guide you through demonstrations, discussions, interactive panels, and your own model teaching session to prepare you to start a program in your own organization or establish a new partnership with an organization in your community.
This program is for artists, educators, community-focused leaders, social service providers, and anyone who wants to learn how to teach The Theatre Lab’s Life Stories® curriculum in their own classroom, organization or community.
Click below to learn more about the self-directed online Life Stories® Institute course. For questions, contact Bryce Sulecki, Life Stories® Manager, at bryce@theatrelab.org.
What You'll Learn
The online Life Stories® Institute course will teach you:
- Techniques for teaching people to create and share their real-life experiences through original works of dramatic art
- Ways to create a welcoming atmosphere in which members of your community can unleash their creativity
- Tips for financing and managing everything from small one-time classes to an ongoing series of training opportunities
- Everything you need to know about creating dramatic presentations, including acting skills that anyone can learn and anyone can teach
- Best practices for creating sustainable projects that provide opportunities for self-expression and actually help your community take advantage of them
“This was an unforgettable course; one of the best training experiences I have ever had. I would say run, don’t walk, to sign up.”
Who Is the Life Stories® Institute For?
The Life Stories® Institute is for people of all ages, background, and skill sets. Acting or teaching experience is not required. Past participants have been graduate students, grandparents, volunteers, business owners, members of the clergy, actors, teachers, counselors, life coaches, artists, and more.
The Life Stories® Institute may be a good fit for you if:
- you’d like to make a difference using the arts.
- you work with individuals from historically underrepresented populations.
- you want to inspire positive professional breakthroughs in your employees.
- you want to apply the work to guidance counseling.
- you’re a life coach or mental health counselor.
- you’re a teacher interested in incorporating the arts into your lesson plans.
- you’re an actor and want to expand your repertoire beyond just acting.
- you’re looking to connect with others creating meaningful work.
- you want to cultivate growth among your colleagues.
- you’re looking for ways to share your passion with others.
Hear from Past Life Stories® Institute Participants:
“Superior, professional, empathetic, constructive.”
“There are so many different applications for this training. Even if you aren’t sure that you’d ever teach a Life Stories® course, the Institute has so many eye-opening ideas about how theatre and storytelling can have a place in your classroom. And if a storytelling-based theatrical experience is something you know want to bring to your group or classroom, then Life Stories is nothing short of essential.“
“The training was interesting and engaging, and presented in a way that was organized and structured efficiently. The course was well-adapted for the online platform; I didn’t feel like any instruction was lost through Zoom.“
“Both Deb and Buzz are consummate professionals. That is reflected in everything they do. Their depth of knowledge and skills coupled with humility and grace, make them a particularly engaging and effective pair in both their instruction and leadership.“
“My overall impression(s) is that the Life Stories® Institute is one built on passion, expertise, and a desire to grow community. I was impressed with the format of the learning activities, the variety of activities, and the context for why they were important to growing students’ skills as facilitators of performing arts experiences.”