 "How to Make a Home," a powerful show by playwright Amina McIntyre, is bringing the conversation about homelessness directly into Atlanta living rooms. NCDD Member Org, Out of Hand Theater's innovative production follows Antonio, a single father navigating housing insecurity while caring for his young daughter. Actor Markell Wayne Williams portrays ten different characters in this intimate performance that transforms audiences from passive viewers to engaged participants. The show runs March 7-April 27, 2025, with performances hosted in over 40 homes across Metro Atlanta in partnership with Partners for Home and Mayor Andre Dickens. Read more about the show in the blog post below. The National Coalition for Dialogue and Deliberation is excited to highlight an innovative theatrical experience currently touring Metro Atlanta that perfectly embodies our mission of fostering conversation around critical social issues through NCDD Organizational Member, Out of Hand Theatre. A Theater Experience That Comes HomeOut of Hand Theater's production of "How to Make a Home," written by playwright Amina McIntyre, is transforming the conversation around homelessness in Atlanta through an intimate and powerful theatrical experience. Instead of a traditional theater setting, the production is performed in living rooms across the metro area, creating unique spaces for both artistic expression and meaningful community dialogue. As recently reported by Noah Washington in The Atlanta Voice, this approach is part of Out of Hand Theater's "Shows in Homes" series, which each year focuses on a pressing social justice issue. The living room setting is particularly poignant for a production about housing insecurity. The Story Behind the Production"How to Make a Home" follows Antonio, a single father and veteran, as he navigates Atlanta's Continuum of Care system while trying to secure stable housing for himself and his 8-year-old daughter. The play portrays his daily struggles, frustrations, and his determination to maintain hope while providing for his child. Actor Markell Wayne Williams performs all ten characters in this one-man show, bringing to life the various people Antonio encounters on his journey—from an eager chaplain to an idealistic politician and a wayward teen. The living room setting creates an intentional intimacy that transforms audiences from passive viewers to active participants in the conversation. This issue—losing housing, struggling to find stability—can happen to anyone." This approach aligns perfectly with NCDD's values of creating spaces where difficult conversations can happen with empathy and understanding Beyond Empathy to ActionMcIntyre's vision for the play goes beyond creating empathy: "I don't just want audiences to feel empathy—I want them to recognize that they may already know someone who's struggling with homelessness," she told Washington. "These are real people, sitting next to you in a room, working alongside you. If we start viewing them with dignity, we're more willing to build community with them." The production is particularly timely as Atlanta faces growing housing challenges. According to data cited in Washington's article, Atlanta saw a 7% increase in its homeless population in 2024, reaching approximately 2,867 individuals. Join the ConversationThis production represents a powerful model for how arts can facilitate dialogue around complex social issues. The partnership between Out of Hand Theater, Partners for Home, and Mayor Andre Dickens demonstrates how cross-sector collaboration can create meaningful civic engagement opportunities. We encourage NCDD members and friends in the Atlanta area to attend a performance and participate in the conversations that follow. The production runs from March 7 through April 27, 2025, with performances in over 40 locations across metro Atlanta. Read Noah Washington's article on The Atlanta Voice here.
For invitation-only performances, contact [email protected] for more information. Visit Out of Hand Theater's website for the most current schedule and to purchase tickets. How would you use theater to spark dialogue in your community? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
0 Comments
Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply. |
Categories
All
|
RSS Feed
Follow Us
ABOUT NCDD
NCDD is a community and coalition of individuals and organizations who bring people together to discuss, decide and collaborate on today's toughest issues.
© The National Coalition For Dialogue And Deliberation, Inc. All rights reserved.
© The National Coalition For Dialogue And Deliberation, Inc. All rights reserved.