About Alive and Aloud

Our mission is to "challenge young minds and increase cultural understanding by breaking down socioeconomic and geographic barriers to the arts."

How do we challenge young minds?
Hopefully we help educators challenge young minds. Or rather we help young minds challenge themselves. One way we do this is by providing supplemental learning materials developed by leading curriculum specialists to complement the plays. These materials offer vocabulary words, research topics, historical context, reading and writing exercises, visualization activities, talking points, and Internet-based research activities. Studies by groups like RAND and the NEA show that listening to audio recordings stimulates literacy, strengthens analytical thinking skills, and increases comprehension of challenging material.

Here at LA Theatre Works, we try to produce plays that provide perspectives that need to be heard. Some of these works are classics like "The Crucible" by Arthur Miller or "Julius Caesar" by William Shakespeare. Others provide valuable supplements to this traditional canon. "Jump at the Sun'" written by Kathleen McGhee Anderson, speaks truth the life and times of Harlem Renaissance writer, Zora Neale Hurston. Docudramas such as "The Great Tennessee Monkey Trial" adapted from the original trial transcripts, offer provocative insight as well as interactive application to significant historical moments in United States history.

In November 2004, we will provide schools with Nicholas Rudall's stunning adaptation of "Oedipus the King" by Sophocles. Included with the play will be a Q&A session with Rudall about the historical background of the play.

Our program is currently being implemented in 473 California schools and 2,400 schools nationwide. We target school districts with high percentages of students receiving state-based assistance. Generally, ALIVE & ALOUD targets underserved rural and urban school systems with inadequate funding for supplemental and integrated arts curriculum.

The Process:
Even if you have enrolled before in Alive and Aloud, it is necessary that you re-enroll by filling out an online form to receive the next shipment. Shipments are sent approximately on a yearly basis depending on funding. By May be sure to evaluate the recordings used in the past year. It is important that you provide a valid email so that we can send you an email reminder.

It is our goal in the next year to increase communication with educators. If you haven't noticed we have tried to provide as many tools as possible for you to get in touch with us. Once you are enrolled, take advantage of this website. Use the online forum to contact other teachers, offer suggestions, brainstorm ideas, or provide feedback about a specific play. With language filters and easy posting, it can be used for classroom assignments or homework help. Also available is a link so that you can email colleagues about the Alive and Aloud program.