Theatre Espresso is pleased to announce that we have received a $10,000 grant from the Stevens Foundation for performances of American Tapestry at Lawrence Heritage State Park for fall 2011. This grant--combined with committed funds from MassHumanities and Mass Cultural Council--brings us closer to reaching our goal of making this program available to every fifth grader in Lawrence in fall 2011. To coincide with the centennial celebration of the Bread and Roses Strike of 1912, we are also raising funds to bring eighth graders to the State Park Visitors Center, from January to March, to participate in the play during the hundredth anniversary of the three months when the Strike occurred. Theatre Espresso also received a grant from Eastern Bank.

Theatre Espresso Partnership with Boston Collegiate Charter School

As part of our planning for a year-long partnership with Boston Collegiate Charter School, beginning in fall 2011, Theatre Espresso Artistic Director, Wendy Lement, and Managing Director, Derek Nelson, conducted a workshop on May 23 for teachers at BCCS.  They presented a variety of practical drama structures that teachers can implement in Social Studies and Language Arts lesson plans for elementary and middle school students.  Wendy, Derek, Espresso actress Jackie Davis and TE board member, Beth Dunakin, presented a simliar workshop at a recent conference sponsored by the Boston Area Educators for Social Justice.