Mary Torpey started as assistant director of Freelance Players’ Brookline Troupe in 2003 and is now the director of both the Needham and Dover Troupes. According to Mary, “The plays are the heart and soul of Freelance Players—both the older classics and the new! Some of my favorites are Monopoly, Clam’s Casino, America’s Next
Summer is here and with it the end of our 2018-2019 programming, a time for reflection, learning and planning. As I approach the one year anniversary of my role as Executive Director, I reflect on all we have learned throughout the year, examine what has worked, where we can improve, and how we plan for
Our Winter Workshop Series went out with a bang with not one but two Family Celebrations for our 4th grade students! At the Murphy School celebration, we collected some success stories: "At the beginning of the workshops, my daughter immigrated from Guatemala. She started out very shy, but [Urban Improv] helped her come out of
Merle Perkins has been with Urban Improv since it began in 1992, as just a nine-week program for 4th graders at the Tobin and Farragut Schools in Roxbury. After 26 years of working as an actor-educator, Merle now facilitates the workshops, guiding student participation and dialogue. Urban Improv Artistic and Education Director Yaa D. Acheampong
Dear Rehearsal for Life Friends, As many of you know, our two flagship programs, Urban Improv and the Freelance Players, are newly unified under the name, “Rehearsal for Life.” Having founded the Freelance Players in 1974, it has also been my privilege to be one of the founders of Urban Improv, our youth empowerment program,
Urban Improv and Banned in Boston are featured in Boston Herald's Thursday, January 18 SideTrack Column! Olivia Vanni highlights Banned in Boston whose expected guests include Aerosmith bass player, Tom Hamilton; co-host of NESN’s “Dining Playbook,” Jenny Johnson; Ray Magliozzi, co-host of NPR’s “Car Talk;” State Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz; and Jim Peyser. Check out the
An article in Wicked Local Dedham details that Nina Chehwan, of Dedham, will perform in the Freelance Players’ production of “Come As You Are” at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 8, 9; and 2 p.m. Dec. 10 at Park School. 171 Goddard Ave., Broockline. Set in the Catskills in 1948, “Come As You Are” is a musical
Boston Globe writer Mark Shanahan recaps the 2017 Banned in Boston fundraiser to support Urban Improv. The article mentions notable participants Governor Charlie Baker, Attorney General Maura Healey, US Representative Jim McGovern, State Senator Sonia Chang-Diaz, City Councilor Tito Jackson (portraying Al Sharpton) and many others. To view the full article, follow this link: https://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/names/2017/04/08/boston-boldfacers-are-banned-boston/6LDYDx9g0KZkk9KJ9AlENO/story.html
An article published in Wicked Local Malden features Malden resident Yaa Acheampong and her involvement with Urban Improv. Yaa recently transitioned from an actor/educator into the associate director role at Urban Improv and continues to impact the lives of the programs' participants. To read the full article, follow this link: http://malden.wickedlocal.com/news/20170327/malden-resident-helps-students-with-conflict-through-urban-improv
An article published in Wicked Local Weston features how an Urban Improv assembly at Weston Middle School used structured improvisational theater to teach violence prevention, conflict resolution and decision making. The Urban Improv Troupe of actor/educators demonstrated its “rehearsal for life” methodology, performing interactive scenes on the topic of cyber bullying. More than 170 students
