1 ORGS · 12 ACTIVITIES ← all strategies ·
theory of action →

Memory as Resistance

By centering memory, storytelling, and domestic labor in theatrical narratives, organizations challenge dominant power structures and affirm marginalized identities, because reclaiming personal and collective stories disrupts erasure and reasserts dignity in the face of institutional oppression. This strategy uses theater as a site of moral resistance by transforming everyday experiences—particularly those of caregiving, domestic work, and oral history—into powerful counter-narratives. Unlike traditional theater that may prioritize spectacle or mainstream themes, this approach elevates the sacredness of ordinary lives to confront false dominant narratives and foster social change through emotional truth and cultural memory.

1
orgs running it
12
activities of those orgs
3
clusters touched
who runs it

organizations running this strategy · 1

what it looks like in practice

activities of orgs running this strategy

A sample of programmatic activities from the orgs above. These are what the strategy looks like on the ground.

  • Developing Educational Resources for Theatrical Productions Arizona Theatre Matters
    capacity building
    The organization produces and publishes educational and discussion guides, including study guides and digital engagement toolkits, to support classroom discussion, community engagement, and audience reflection around its theatrical productions. These resources are expanded and made available online.
  • Developing Educational Resources for Theatrical Productions Arizona Theatre Matters
    capacity building
    The organization produces study guides and digital engagement toolkits to support classroom discussion, community engagement, and audience reflection around its theatrical productions. These resources are expanded and published online to provide contextual materials and enhance the educational value of their performances.
  • Development of educational and community engagement resources Arizona Theatre Matters
    capacity building
    Produces and publishes study guides, digital engagement toolkits, and discussion materials to support classroom instruction, audience reflection, and community engagement around theatrical productions. These resources are expanded and shared online for broad access.
  • Digital theater distribution and accessibility Arizona Theatre Matters
    direct service
    Operates a digital platform via a YouTube channel launched in 2020, offering captioned, Artistic Sign Language-integrated, and audio-described performances to a global audience. The platform has over 118,000 subscribers, more than 1.3 million views, and reaches viewers in 194 countries, with content available in over 300 captioned languages.
  • Glendale International Fringe Festival (GIFF) Arizona Theatre Matters
    direct service
    Organizes and hosts the Glendale International Fringe Festival, a 16-day curated performance festival featuring 50 performances from around the world. All events are offered free of charge and unticketed, with options for in-person attendance, livestreaming, and accessible Video On Demand access.
  • Hands in Harmony performance ensemble Arizona Theatre Matters
    direct service
    Operates Hands in Harmony, a resident sign language performance ensemble composed of native Natural Sign Language speakers, which integrates signing into the creative storytelling process. In 2024, introduced a BIPOC Deaf sign language team featured in all mainstage content.
  • Operating Hands in Harmony Sign Language Ensemble Arizona Theatre Matters
    direct service
    Arizona Theatre Matters operates Hands in Harmony, a resident sign language performance ensemble composed of native speakers of Natural Sign Language, which integrates signing into the creative process for storytelling within their theatrical productions.
  • Operating Hands in Harmony Sign Language Ensemble Arizona Theatre Matters
    direct service
    Arizona Theatre Matters operates Hands in Harmony, a resident sign language performance ensemble composed of native speakers of Natural Sign Language. This ensemble integrates signing directly into the creative process for storytelling, enhancing accessibility and artistic expression within their productions.
  • Organizing the Glendale International Fringe Festival (GIFF) Arizona Theatre Matters
    direct service
    Arizona Theatre Matters organizes the Glendale International Fringe Festival (GIFF), a 16-day curated performance festival that hosts 50 performances from around the world. All performances are offered free of charge to the public, both in-person and livestreamed, with accessible Video On Demand options.
  • Producing Accessible Theatrical Performances Arizona Theatre Matters
    direct service
    Arizona Theatre Matters creates and presents engaging, thought-provoking theatrical experiences, including full-scale productions, solo works, satire, opera, and historical narratives. These performances integrate storytelling, history, and sound, and are made universally accessible through features like captioning, Artistic Sign Language integration, and audio descriptions, reaching global audiences via a YouTube channel with over 118,000 subscribers and 1.3 million views across 194 countries.
  • Producing Accessible Theatrical Performances Arizona Theatre Matters
    direct service
    Arizona Theatre Matters creates and presents engaging, thought-provoking theatrical experiences, including full-scale productions, solo works, satire, opera, and historical narratives. These performances integrate storytelling, history, and sound, and are made universally accessible through features like captioning, Artistic Sign Language integration, and audio descriptions, reaching audiences globally via a YouTube channel with over 118,000 subscribers and 1.3 million views across 194 countries.
  • Production of theatrical performances Arizona Theatre Matters
    direct service
    Creates and presents full-scale theatrical productions, including adaptations of Shakespeare, original works, historical narratives, solo performances, opera, and satire, both in-person and through digital formats. The organization has produced at least 45 full-scale productions, including titles such as "The Ferryman's Toll" (2025), "The Tempest" (2024), "Even Unto Death," and "Mackers."