Urban Improv Assemblies
Book Rehearsal for Life’s team of teaching artists to work with your school or community group in the Urban Improv Assembly format to build community and enhance dialogue on difficult issues. Assemblies run 60 minutes, and curriculum is available for 4-12th grades.
Our Urban Improv Assembly model can be adapted for all ages 3rd Grade and up, including adults of any age! Assemblies promote three key social emotional skills:
- Self & Social Awareness
- Relationship Skills
- Pro-Active Decision Making
We use the Urban Improv method, combining improvisational scenes and live group discussions to reinforce empathy and respect, while giving participants the opportunity to learn, reflect, practice and share.
Available Assembly Topics Include:
Microaggressions – (6th-12th grade or adults)
A la carte selection of scenes where characters experience microaggressions (racial, gender, sexual orientation, identity expression, ability, etc) in their daily lives and navigate their own emotions and social relationships around them.
Cyberbullying & Technology – (5-8th grade)
Millie and Faye have been friends since kindergarten. After an argument leads to Millie sharing a private video made for her eyes only, Faye is left friendless with a viral video of herself on the internet.
Bullying & Bystander Issues – (3-6th grade)
It’s Marty’s first day at a new school and things are off to a not-so-great start. The teacher mispronounced his name and now everyone is laughing at him, especially Sam and Carla. Things come to a head when Marty, Sam and Carla are assigned to a group project and Marty and Carla refuse to work together.
Custom Assembly Topics
For over 20 years Urban Improv has been providing custom assemblies to schools and community groups. If your topic isn’t on the above list don’t fret! Email Jamie Ullrich, Head of Urban Improv & Community Partnerships @ jullrich@rehearsalforlife.org with your needs and she will be in touch about how we can collaborate to create an assembly designed specifically for your community.
Pricing for Custom Assemblies
10-30 participants = $1,000*
31-60 participants = $1,100*
61-90 participants = $1,300*
*custom assembly rates listed are a starting rate, final fees will depend on estimated planning and rehearsal time
Questions?
Email Jamie Ullrich, Head of Urban Improv & Community Partnerships @ jullrich@rehearsalforlife.org
What our partners say:
“I felt privileged to be a part of something so empowering, uplifting and validating not just for our Bigelow students but for myself as a BIPOC who’s had to struggle my way through in enabling myself to speak up in a white-dominated workplace… I was simply blown away by how so many students energetically leaned in (despite it being such a sensitive topic), eager to listen & speak up, and showing willingness to advocate for others.”
“You will not believe the conversations and action you inspired amongst the residents that will surely continue and impact our clinical work. We all felt incredibly lucky to have your time, professional acting skills, non-judgmental ways, and openness to working with us. The scenes we did felt so realistic, yet you injected such a sense of comfort and comedy to help temper the difficult nature of these real-life circumstances… Literally every resident was so impressed with you all, and saying what a powerful workshop it was that you held.”
The Urban Improv Assembly gets a very positive response from both the students and the faculty. Urban Improv’s method allows our students to share their perspectives and participate in a fun, informative, and memorable way. They reference the assembly throughout the school year.
You are our favorite partnership. We have a lot of partners, but this one is the best.
“Urban Improv ignited a dialogue and students continued to discuss and dissect the dilemma after the Assembly ended. To me, this is a sign of success.”
Schools and organizations we have worked with:
Elementary & Middle Schools
- Ambrose Elementary School
- Boston Renaissance Charter Public School
- Boston Teachers Union School
- Buckingham Browne & Nichols
- Charles River School
- Dale Street School
- Driscoll School
- East Somerville Community School
- Frederick Middle School
- Hale Elementary
- Hanscom Middle School
- Heath School
- International School of Boston
- John F. Kennedy Elementary
- Lila G. Fredericks Pilot Middle School
- Mission Hill K-8 School
- Murphy K-8 School
- Nashoba Brooks
- Our Sisters School
- Ralph Wheelock School
- Smith Leadership Charter School (Helen Y. Davis Leadership Academy)
- The Park School
- The Pike School
- Wellesley Middle School
- Weston Middle School
Organizations
- Boston Center for Youth and Families
- Boys & Girls Club of Boston
- Duxbury Council on Aging
- Germaine Lawrence
- Islamic Center of Boston
- McLean Hospital
- ProjectME
- Winchester Multicultural Network
- Boston Medical Center
- Boston Children’s Hospital
Colleges & Universities
- Babson College
- Harvard University
- Lesley University
- Mount Ida College
- Simmons College
High Schools
- Arlington School
- Beaver Country Day School
- Bedford High School
- Belmont High School
- Belmont Hill School
- Berwick Academy
- Boston Arts Academy
- Boston Green Academy
- Boston Latin Academy
- Brimmer and May School
- Cambridge School of Weston
- Chapel Hill-Chauncy Hall School
- English High School
- Excel High School
- Gann Academy
- German International School
- Governor Dummer Academy
- Groton School
- Landmark School
- Madison Park High School
- Maimonides School
- Milton Academy
- Newton North High School
- O’Bryant High School
- St. John’s Preparatory School
- St. Marks School
- TechBoston Academy
- Thayer Academy
- The Rivers School
- Winsor School
- Worcester Academy
Outside New England
- Aspen Country Day, Aspen, CO
- Facing History and Ourselves, New York City
- Herbert Hoover School, Glendale, CA
- Life After Trauma Organization, Philadelphia, PA
- Perkiomen School, Philadelphia, PA
- Positive Nature, Washington, DC