What better way to celebrate the season after a 45th Anniversary Homecoming of Artists than by celebrating the Theatre's most prevelant Audience. This 2007-08 Season of Literature to Life performances was selected in appreciation and acknowledgement of Teachers across the country, and our newest roster selections capture the student/teacher relationship with honesty and humor.
In addition to classics and contemporary best-sellers from Season's past, this year's roster includes two memoirs which will premiere in early spring 2008. One is the journey of a modern "manchild", an original solo-production entitled The Beautiful Struggle currently in development at The American Place Theatre by Tony Award winner Lemon Andersen. Lemon's writing is rich with intuitive urban poetry, and his story is a powerful portrayal of being raised in poverty and educated in the "hip-hop" culture. As he crafts the stage adaptation this winter, he is also developing his to-be-published literary memoir of the same title.
We are proud to announce that the 2008 Literature to Life Award Author and selection is dedicated teacher and charming storyteller Frank McCourt and his memoir, Teacher Man. Wynn Handman, artistic director, adapted and directed McCourt's humorous and heartfelt thirty year journey as a public high school teacher. "I thought I was teaching," he says. "I was learning." Mark your calendar for the annual Gala Award presentation and premiere of Teacher Man on TUESDAY APRIL 29, 2008.
Details on each of our Literature to Life offerings is available under the roster section of this site. Favorites making their way back on the roster this year include The Things They Carried, by Tim O'Brien and Zora, a theatrical biography by Laurence Holder. If you have any questions about national tours of Literature to Life, or New York City Performances, Residencies, or Professional Development programs, or if you would like to be added to our mailing list, simply send an email to the education department at
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LITERATURE TO LIFE, The American Place Theatre’s performance-based literacy program, presents professionally staged verbatim adaptations of significant American literary works. This educational program gives students a new form of access to literature by bringing to life the world of books with performances that create an atmosphere of discovery and spark the imagination. Literature to Life encourages reading, writing, and critical thinking and has already provided a catalyst for learning and self-expression for over 300,000 students nation-wide. The Theatre, having received over 30 Obies and 16 Audelcos, is critically acclaimed as a birthing place for artistic endeavors at the crossroad of literature and live performance for now 45 years.
At a recent production of The Kite Runner in Nantucket, MA, Plum TV assembled a wonderful video package which showcases the experience of having a Literature to Life performance in your community.
The 7-minute video includes performance excerpts, interviews with the Actor and Master Teaching Artist, as well as conversations with the audience. It's a great way to get to know Literature to Life!
Many thanks to our partners at Nantucket Antheneum for hosting us in their community!
"You truly offer the essence of theatre, the magical spark that can be ignited only by actors, the writer's words, and a live audience"
- Jaqueline Pine, Executive Director, Early Stages
In addition to classics and contemporary best-sellers from Season's past, this year's roster includes two memoirs which will premiere in early spring 2008. One is the journey of a modern "manchild", an original solo-production entitled The Beautiful Struggle currently in development at The American Place Theatre by Tony Award winner Lemon Andersen. Lemon's writing is rich with intuitive urban poetry, and his story is a powerful portrayal of being raised in poverty and educated in the "hip-hop" culture. As he crafts the stage adaptation this winter, he is also developing his to-be-published literary memoir of the same title.
